Today on Conversations with Nick Thompson, we’re going to talk about a mental health phenomenon that I was previously unfamiliar with: ambiguous grief. 

Ambiguous grief is loosely defined as being suffered when a loved one isn’t as they once were but is still alive. 

When we grieve a death, the finality of death forces us towards closure and pushes us through the stages of grief. 

In ambiguous grief, we don’t receive that same closure because even though the person we knew is gone, they are still alive. This can occur when a long-term relationship ends, when a parent has a cognitive degenerative disease, or any other circumstance where someone you love has been changed for good. We are left in a limbo where we may hope that the person we once knew may come back, even though we know deep down that they never will.

That leads us to today’s guest, Stephanie Sarazin. Stephanie is the author of the book “Soulbroken: A Guidebook for your Journey Through Ambiguous Grief,” and the foremost expert on the subject. I met Stephanie through a mutual friend, and I was very intrigued by her story. As I was researching this topic, all roads led to Stephanie, making me realize that this is something she is making discoveries daily as the foremost expert in the field.

In our conversation, Stephanie shares her true story about her marriage ending and how it led her to define ambiguous grief. Stephanie is very passionate and vulnerable, a trait that makes her so compelling.

Find Stephanie Sarazin here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephing_thru/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniesarazin/ 

Website: https://www.ambiguousgrief.com/ 

Pre-Order Stephanie’s book “Soulbroken” here: https://www.amazon.com/Soulbroken-Guidebook-Journey-Through-Ambiguous/dp/1538709759/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2DY7GWMILY7JW&keywords=stephanie+sarazin&qid=1661981786&sprefix=stephanie+sarazin%2Caps%2C197&sr=8-1 

Find Nick Thompson here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXipWcR8Pit6vYHd1ZcKgKg

I’ve been thinking lately about how I can become healthier, improve my well-being, and be more self-sufficient and holistic in regard to what I’m putting into my body. This train of thought led me back to how this all got started: when I began making my own toothpaste. Those of you who know me from Love is Blind know that I’ve been making my own toothpaste for years. It began by falling down a rabbit hole of exploring and researching the ingredients in products we use every day. I was shocked to discover the number of dangerous chemicals that are in toothpaste despite FDA approval, chemicals that can cause cancer, cognitive issues, hormonal imbalance, and many more side effects that we may not even realize are happening.

There weren’t many organic toothpaste brands at the time, so I began making my own. For eight years, I’ve been creating and using homemade toothpastes, soaps, condiments, recipes, and much more in an effort to live a healthier life. The benefits have been obvious, as I started feeling and looking better within weeks of beginning this journey.

This brings us to today’s guest, Leslie Guevara. Leslie reached out to me the night that my toothpaste scene aired on Love is Blind. She asked me if I’d be interested in trying her natural, organic toothpaste. After doing some research, I discovered she runs a small business called Tru-Eden and that her product is actually FDA-approved.

I was very skeptical at first, because even most “natural” toothpastes often have at least one negative ingredient in them. However, Leslie’s focus on oral health and how it continues to contribute to overall immunity and health convinced me. She sent me a sample of Tru-Eden toothpaste to try, and I was blown away. I wasn’t just impressed with the toothpaste, but also her story, what led her to make her own toothpaste, how she discovered these ingredients, and why she turned it into a business.

Leslie’s authenticity and patience with me led us to form a lasting friendship. I can’t wait to share my conversation with Leslie with you today. 

You can find Leslie and Tru-Eden Toothpaste here:

Website: https://www.tru-eden.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truedentoothpaste/ 

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/truedentoothpaste

Find Nick Thompson here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXipWcR8Pit6vYHd1ZcKgKg

For the first episode of Conversations with Nick Thompson, I’m excited to share one of my favorite interviews I’ve conducted for the podcast. 

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about society’s division and how we are missing each other in politics, social issues, wellness, and work lives. While walking around my home city of Chicago, I have noticed that the homeless population is growing in the city. Racial injustices have left our society bitter and divided, We’re facing a great number of challenges as a nation, and I feel that the media is only pushing us further and further apart. What can we as individuals do to help heal the growing divide?

One of the main goals creating this podcast is to destigmatize conversations around often taboo topics such as mental health, politics, culture, and more. I believe one of the most effective ways to do this is to use my platform to showcase people who are good humans doing good things for humanity.

This week’s guest, Jesyka Harris, is doing incredible things to benefit humanity as a whole. Jesyka is an attorney, TV host, activist, avid traveler, mother, fashion model, and human rights advocate based in Los Angeles, California. I don’t know how she does it all, but her story I found her story so compelling that I had to bring her on the show.

In this episode, we discuss human rights, homelessness, and justice. Jesyka also shares her story about becoming an activist, her mixed-race identity, and challenges she’s faced in her personal and professional life.

You won’t want to miss this great conversation!

You can find Jesyka here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesyka.harris/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JesykaHarris

Blog: https://unboxedlife.me/

Find Nick Thompson here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXipWcR8Pit6vYHd1ZcKgKg

You may know Nick Thompson from season two of Netflix’s hit reality show “Love is Blind,” but there’s a side of him you may not know: The Storyteller.

Nick believes everyone has a story to tell and should shine as their authentic self. Nick’s most passionate about building human connections to remove stigmas around mental health, holistic lifestyles, culture, free speech, and more.

As an activist, Nick volunteers for political campaigns and social justice causes in his community. His activism and reality TV experience led him to co-found the UCAN Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to supporting reality TV cast members and advocating for change in the industry.

“Eyes Wide Open with Nick Thompson” elevates these societal issues with honest, authentic conversations with expert guests. All to ensure we show up in the world with our eyes wide open.