End-of-Life University

Ep. 525 Writing as a Lifeline Through Loss and Grief with Christina Holbrook and Jane Flynn


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Learn about a beautiful memoir co-written by friends whose correspondence helped them both navigate a year of overwhelming loss and grief.

My guests today are Christina Holbrook and Jane Flynn, co-authors of a shared memoir from a year when they were both confronting loss and grief–the diagnosis a glioblastoma brain tumor and the death of a child by suicide. Through a series of emails the two long-term friends shared not only their grief but also the little moments of life’s wonder and joy. They discuss their newly released book Antiphon: A Call and Response in a Year of Grief and Renewal and how writing together helped them navigate overwhelming grief while offering support to one another. Learn more at the website:

jane-flynn.com

Get the book here

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:
  • The long trajectory of friendship between Chris and Jane
  • Their personal grief that led to a year of email correspondence
  • Why they decided to share their writings in Antiphon
  • The waterfall metaphor for grief and how it applies to each of their stories
  • How writing helps us express complex and painful emotions
  • Why sharing our pain lightens the burden for both parties
  • How writing about the ordinary events of a day helps us stay in the present moment
  • The little joys that are present even within deep grief
  • Links mentioned in this episode:
    • Latest post on Substack: Using AI to Talk to Children About Grief
    • What Really Matters Podcast
    • View my  Patreon tier for Soul Supporters and receive extra reflections as a special bonus
    • NEW Gift Guides for Caregivers, People Receiving Care, and People Who are Grieving
    • Get my two newest books!! Stories from the Dark Night and The Tao of Death
    • Get EOLU Podcast Merch here
    • Conversations on Death with ChatGPT – Audiobook herePrint Book here
    • Leave me a message by email: [email protected]TwitterFacebook or Instagram
    • Support your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to Souloin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and receive free gifts like the “Mind if we talk about death?” mini-poster or Love Your Life sticker or coffee mug. PLUS get our regular bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, monthly What to Watch recommendations, Behind the Scenes Bonus content, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously!
    • Buy me a coffee
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    • If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal, especially Austyn Wells! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

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      End-of-Life UniversityBy Karen Wyatt MD

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