Our conversation this episode is with Sara Murphy, Ph.D., CT. She is a death educator, certified thanatologist, and a suicidologist. She is a faculty member at the University of Rhode Island and conducts workshops and seminars on death, dying, and bereavement nationwide. Dr. Murphy is the author of the booklet, “Grieving Alone & Together: Responding to the loss of your Loved One during the COVID-19 Pandemic,” which is a free resource for helping professionals and individuals published by Funeral Service Foundation and available at rememberingalife.com, a great resource offered by the National Funeral Directors Associations for those who are grieving. Dr. Murphy can be reached at [email protected].

The opinions expressed in the podcast by the guest are solely those of the guest and should not reflect the opinions of their employer or other associated organization. The guest's opinions do not reflect the opinion of podcasts or Faith & Grief Ministries.

Our conversation is with Leslie Gray Streeter, author of the memoir, Black Widow, our Faith & Grief September Book Club selection. As the book jacket says, the book is "a sad-funny journey through grief for people who avoid books with words like "journey" in the title."  Leslie's book writes about navigating her grief after the unexpected death of her husband and the love of her life, Scott. It's a love story that will have you laughing out loud and getting a tissue or two. Learn more about Leslie at lesliegraystreeter.com & RSVP for the book club discussion at faithandgrief.org/book-club.

The opinions expressed in the podcast by the guest are solely those of the guest and should not reflect the opinions of their employer or other associated organization. The guest's opinions do not reflect the opinion of podcasts or Faith & Grief Ministries.

Our conversation in this episode is with Elaine Gantz Wright. She is a writer, ghostwriter, and artist living in Dallas, Texas. She talks about her experience with her grief during this time and the Faith & Grief Weekend Retreat, A Safe Place: a retreat for bereaved parents.  Elaine is the single mother of two extraordinary and brilliant young men — Ian, a gifted visual artist and recent graduate of Purdue University, and Elliot, an insatiable iconoclast and musician, who died suddenly and tragically in a motorcycle accident on August 5, 2018.  As Elaine navigates her grief journey, she is passionate about supporting other healing hearts on this most agonizing of paths.  

Learn more about our weekend grief retreats at faithandgrief.org/retreats and about Elaine on her blog elainegantzwright.com.

We talk with four healthcare professionals from different parts of the country about their experience during the pandemic and with grief.  We want to thank our guests for sharing their stories with us and for the work they are doing each and every day.

First is a conversation with Maddie Ozbrink and Emily Rift, both Physical Therapists in the Cardiac ICU Unit at Ochsner's Health in New Orleans. Maddie & Emily talk about working in one of the first hot spots in the US. Next, we hear from Carrie Schirato, who is an Emergency Department Nurse Practioner at Baylor Univerisity Medical Center in Dallas. Carrie talks about what working in the ED during the pandemic has been like and how her faith has been impacted. And we hear from Rachel Blumenthal, an RN, who works at Rush Medical Center Cardiac IUC Unit in Chicago. Rachel shares her experience as a nurse and as a griever, her husband Mike died unexpectantly in May 2019.  

The opinions expressed in the podcast by the guest are solely those of the guest and should not reflect the opinions of their employer or other associated organization. The guest's opinions do not reflect the opinion of podcasts or Faith & Grief Ministries.

We talk with NiEtta Reynolds, host of The Help Show podcast, a podcast dedicated to connecting individuals to mental health care community resources. The podcast was started by NiEtta following the tragic and shocking death of a dear friend. This life-changing event, her friend’s death by suicide, began the journey in starting The Help Show. Listen & learn more at thehelpshow.org & on Apple podcasts.

The opinions expressed in the podcast by the guest are solely those of the guest and should not reflect the opinions of their employer or other associated organization. The guest's opinions do not reflect the opinion of podcasts or Faith & Grief Ministries.

We talk with author, Mary Potter Kenyon, about her book, Refined By Fire, our August book club selection. Mary talks about what grieving right now during COVID-19 feelings like and about the raw grief stories she shares in her book.

As the book cover suggests, “Where is the handbook for widows?” Mary lamented as she planned a funeral for the beloved husband whose triumph over cancer she chronicled in Chemo-Therapist: How Cancer Cured a Marriage. During the ensuing weeks, as she attempted to make sense of his untimely death, she filled two journals, blogged, and read the inspirational writings of others who had gone down the road of grief before her–authors like C.S. Lewis and Madeleine L’Engle. Learn more about the book and our book club atwww.faithandgrief.org/book-club.

The opinions expressed in the podcast by the guest are solely those of the guest and should not reflect the opinions of their employer or other associated organization. The guest's opinions do not reflect the opinion of podcasts or Faith & Grief Ministries.

On this episode, we talk with Speaking Grief Producer/Director, Lindsey Whissel Fenton, & Ajai Blue-Saunders, who participated in the Speaking Grief project. Speaking Grief is a public media initiative aimed at creating a more grief-aware society by validating the experience of grievers and helping to guide those who wish to support them. Learn more at SpeakingGrief.org.

The opinions expressed in the podcast by the guest are solely those of the guest and should not reflect the opinions of their employer or other associated organization. The guest's opinions do not reflect the opinion of podcasts or Faith & Grief Ministries.

We welcome three of the authors of The Daily Devotionals for Nurses Collection, Rev. Dr. Jonanna Bryant DNP, Ms. Onissa Mitchell, MSN, RN, APRN-FNP-C, and  Mrs. Chiketa Kelly-Dale, ADN, LPN. We discuss nursing,  grief during the pandemic and the struggles we are all experiencing as we navigate this time. Dr. Bridgette Jenkins, DNP and Dr. Michelle Spears, DNP also contributed to the collection. They are friends who met through Black Nurses Rock, a non-profit dedicated to showcasing the nursing profession and celebrate Black Nurses and their accomplishments. The devotional collection will be out later this summer.

The opinions expressed in the podcast by the guest are solely those of the guest and should not reflect the opinions of their employer or other associated organization. The guest's opinions do not reflect the opinion of podcasts or Faith & Grief Ministries.

Eric Markinson, Hospice Chaplain from CC Young Senior Living in Dallas joins us to talk about grief during COVID. Eric tells us about his experience working in a senior care facility and where he find comfort during this time. Eric talks about his own experience with grief, after the death of his mother and later his father. Learn more about CC Young Senior Living at ccyoung.org.

The opinions expressed in the podcast by the guest are solely those of the guest and should not reflect the opinions of their employer or other associated organization. The guest's opinions do not reflect the opinion of podcasts or Faith & Grief Ministries.

Our conversation on this episode is with Cat Golden, CEO & Founder of Nurses Inspire Nurses. She and her team at Nurses Inspire Nurses have built a community of over 30,000 nurses around the world. Cat talks about supporting nurses, how the pandemic has impacted nursing and running a small business. You can learn more at nursesinspirenurses.com.

The opinions expressed in the podcast by the guest are solely those of the guest and should not reflect the opinions of their employer or other associated organization. The guest's opinions do not reflect the opinion of podcasts or Faith & Grief Ministries.