When Dan McNamee was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at 40, he didn't know how much time he had left. Five years later, he’s in remission—grateful, scarred, and transformed. In this powerful episode, Dan shares his journey through chemotherapy, clinical trials, and the emotional terrain of facing mortality at such a young age while raising two young sons. With a family of doctors at his side and a deep desire to leave something behind, Dan wrote Everything That Makes Me Happy Makes Me Sad—a love letter, a legacy, and a lifeline for his family. He opens up about writing through uncertainty in the darkest hours, training for the NYC Marathon with Project Purple, and what he’d say to someone newly diagnosed. This is a story of survival, vulnerability, and the grace that comes with living like everything matters and the only option is to persevere.

This episode is for anyone living with pancreatic cancer and for their caregivers. There is always HOPE, don't give up.

Pick up a copy of Dan's book: Everything That Makes Me Happy Makes Me Sad - Fun Life Tips from Death's Abyss

 Visit his website: https://www.funlifetips.com/

Check out his Substack too: Everything That Makes Me Happy Makes Me Sad

Follow Dan on Instagram: danmcnamee1

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When Jessica Kueck was just 11 years old, her 3-year-old brother Aaron drowned—an unspeakable tragedy that cracked her world open and quietly redefined her family. Jessica shares what it was like to be the “forgotten mourner,” the older sibling who held space for everyone else while her own grief went largely unseen. 

Now a devoted mother, spiritual seeker, and aspiring memoirist, Jessica reflects on how this early loss shaped her identity, how her grief evolved over the decades, and how becoming a parent brought newfound healing. We talk sibling dynamics, silent burdens, Jewish traditions, spiritual embodiment, and the deep wisdom she’s gained by navigating this invisible grief. 

Jessica’s story is an invitation to recognize the losses we don’t always name—and to offer compassion to the siblings who are so often left behind. Her message is simple but powerful: you are not alone, and your grief matters.

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To connect with Jessica, you can message her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.kueck86/

Jessica mentions a few sibling loss resources:

Books: 

Always A Sibling: The Forgotten Mourner's Guide to Grief  https://www.amazon.com/Always-Sibling-Forgotten-Mourners-Guide/dp/030683149X

Surviving Sibling Loss: The Invisible Thread that Connects Us Through Life and Death https://www.amazon.com/Surviving-Sibling-Loss-Invisible-Connects-ebook/dp/B08RSPGWW8

Remembering Ruth: A Memoir of Childhood Sibling Loss https://a.co/d/5loqGsw 

Coping With Sibling Loss in Adulthood: When Your Brother or Sister Dies in Adulthood: Dealing With Grief, Guilt, and Regret. (The Turning Point Series) https://www.amazon.com/Coping-Sibling-Loss-Adulthood-Brother/dp/B0D9N63TZ1/ 

The Empty Room: Understanding Sibling Loss https://www.amazon.com/Empty-Room-Understanding-Sibling-Loss/dp/0743201523

Other:

The Sibling Loss Project https://siblinglossproject.substack.com/

Sibling Loss Grief Group https://www.gretchnevans.com/our-sibling-grief-groups

The Surviving Siblings Podcast https://www.thesurvivingsiblings.com/

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This week we sit down with Ian McCartor—visual artist, hospice nurse, Certified Grief Counselor, and President & Executive Director of The Ash Rose Foundation. With over a decade of end-of-life care experience, Ian brings a rare combination of clinical compassion and creative vision to his work with grieving individuals and families.

At the center of this conversation is the compassion that Ian has for his clients as he walks with them through their grief journey. The Ash Rose Project is a 30-Day guided grief processing program that pairs daily journaling prompts with weekly counseling check-ins. At the end of this journey, the individual is presented with an incredible personalized ash portrait—a custom artwork made using a loved one’s cremation ashes and composed with the participant’s reflections in mind. This unique process honors both memory and meaning, helping individuals celebrate their loved one in a beautiful way. The artwork becomes a physical representation of the love and life they shared together.

Ian’s work is a powerful reminder that even in the ashes, beauty remains. Grief, when given time and space, can become an act of love and transformation.

🕊️ Learn more at www.theashrose.org. You are welcomed to attend annual Gallery Gatherings to meet individuals who have been part of the Ash Rose Project and see their loved ones represented through the works of art. 

Donations in any amount help keep The Ash Rose Foundation and its community thriving. Thank you!

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Thanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you!

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This week we sit down with Kathy Morrison of Campbell River, British Columbia to discuss how the profound loss of her father at the age of four shaped her life in ways she only came to understand decades later. Raised in a family where emotions weren’t openly expressed, Kathy grew up carrying silent fears, unspoken questions, and a deep longing to feel "whole".

Decades later, it was the loss of her beloved dog that opened the door to long-overdue healing—and how hospice grief counseling, mindfulness practices, and community support helped transform her journey. Kathy finally began to process not only her childhood loss, but also the grief of other losses she had experienced over time.

Kathy now advocates for children’s grief support through hospice counseling - raising funds and awareness through cycling in hopes that future generations will have the grief support she wished she'd had at a young age. Kathy's story is a testament to the truth that healing is possible at any age, and that community, movement, and connection can bring meaning to even the deepest sorrow. Her message is simple but powerful: grief needs to be done in community.

Support Kathy on her Cycle of Life Tour  with the Campbell River Soul Cyclers here! 

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This week we sit down with the incredible Kerry Irish, LCSW, OSW-C, FAOSW—a psychosocial oncology counselor, interfaith minister, and co-founder of the Dempsey Center and dive into the world of oncology counseling. 

With nearly three decades of experience in oncology and hospice settings, Kerry shares what it means to walk beside someone through serious illness—not to fix or rescue, but to listen, witness, and hold space with compassion. She opens up about her journey from leadership back to hands-on clinical care, the healing power of creativity and guided imagery, and how she supports both patients and caregivers through uncertainty, sorrow, and hope.

We also discuss her forthcoming book, Navigating Serious Illness: A Pathway for Exploring Life, Love, and Legacy, co-authored with Debra Mattison. Part reflection guide, part journal, part spiritual companion, the book invites readers to find meaning, connection, and peace during life’s most vulnerable moments. 

Whether you're living with illness, caring for someone who is, or holding space as a clinician, this episode is a tender, wise, and inspiring guide.

Pre-order Kerry's book here! Release date is set for July 24, 2025. 

If you'd like to connect with Kerry Irish directly, you can reach her at: [email protected].

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Join us this week as we remember when my sister, Jennifer Collinson, my dad, Dallas Hartung, and I sat down to interview my mom, Emily Doak Hartung in an intimate garden-side legacy conversation as she was nearing the end of her life. 

She told us stories about her childhood, shared her greatest joys, highlighted the lessons she wanted to pass on, and described how she hoped to be remembered. What unfolded was a beautiful, vulnerable, and love-filled conversation that our family greatly treasures today. You’ll hear the questions we asked, the stories mom shared, and the tender moments that arose as we captured her legacy together as a family. 

My hope is that this inspires you to begin a similar conversation with someone you love — to preserve their words, their wisdom, and their love for generations to come. While creating a Life Story project is heartfelt, it can sometimes be heavy. I invite you to explore the possibility - it can also be celebratory and so full of joy. Trust me, you won't regret capturing these wonderful anecdotes and memories with your loved one! 

For a guide on how to get started with your own Legacy Conversation, email [email protected] with the subject line "Legacy Questions".

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Sending a very special and heartfelt thank you to The Dempsey Center for not only providing a space and platform for us to have this conversation as a family, but to Christine Brome, Manager for Counseling Services at The Dempsey Center for coordinating everything behind-the scenes. Thank you to Johnny Mehler of Good Eye Productions for filming and editing A Legacy Love Letter. Very grateful for these two individuals, The Dempsey Center, and our support network for making our dreams a reality. What a blessing! 

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Thanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you!

Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.

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In this heartfelt episode of Giving Grief Grace, wellness coach and yoga teacher Maria McKeon shares her powerful journey of transformation through grief, healing, and service. Maria opens up about the experiences that shaped her path—from founding a healing sanctuary for women with cancer to embracing holistic wellness as a way of life.

Rooted in mindfulness, movement, and deep compassion, Maria’s approach to grief is both practical and profound. She invites us to consider how connection, presence, and purpose can offer a path through pain—and how we might learn to heal our bodies and spirits in tandem.

Whether you’re a caregiver, grieving a loss, or simply navigating a season of change, Maria’s wisdom is a gentle, empowering reminder: healing begins within.

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Maria McKeon is a wellness coach, yoga and Pilates teacher, and co-founder of Mary’s Place by the Sea, a nonprofit sanctuary supporting women on their cancer journey. With over 30 years in the nonprofit and wellness space, Maria helps others heal through movement, mindfulness, and holistic health practices rooted in compassion and connection.

You can work with Maria by signing up for her weekly online yoga classes, and for more 1:1 time, she also offers fitness or wellness coaching at MariaMcKeon.net.  

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Thanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you!

Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.

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In this deeply moving episode, artist, writer, and storyteller Jessie Hansen shares the story of how losing her father became the catalyst for profound personal transformation. What began as anticipatory grief after her father's cancer diagnosis turned into sudden loss after a fatal car accident. Rather than numbing herself with alcohol, Jessie chose sobriety—and in that choice, everything changed.

Jessie opens up about how she turned to meditation, painting, and writing as ways to process pain and reconnect with herself. In the rawness of her grief, she uncovered a radiant inner truth: her voice, her purpose, and her deep connection to her soul. Jessie's story is one of courage, clarity, and becoming—and it’s a powerful reminder that when we give grief grace, it can give us back ourselves.

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Discover more about Jessie and her soulful offerings at JessieHansen.com. Through her Authentic Soul Collective membership, members receive daily intuitive guidance from Spirit that brings clarity, comfort, and support on their healing journeys. She also offers a women’s empowerment clothing line designed to inspire strength and celebrate each woman’s unique path. Co-host of the podcast, Journey to your Dreams, Jessie shares her journey back to her authentic self and interviews others on their own paths to healing, resilience, and growth. You can find a copy of her book Love, Me on Amazon or available for download on her podcast website. 

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Through breathwork, Reiki, and guided meditation, interfaith Spiritual Director Cathie Wallace shares practical tools to help both caregivers and those facing the end of life cultivate inner peace. In this heart-centered conversation, we explore Cathie’s own journey of spiritual awakening and discuss the transformative power of presence, energy healing, and mindfulness.

Cathie brings decades of compassionate service to her current work with the hospice community, where she has not only provided end-of-life doula support and shared her Reiki expertise, but also taught the community about “life story”—which helps individuals reflect on and share the narrative of their lives as a source of meaning and healing.

Cathie Wallace is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ (UCC), a certified End-of-Life Doula, interfaith Spiritual Director, Reiki Master, and Mindfulness Meditation Teacher. She received her meditation teacher certification from none other than Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield, and continues to guide others with deep spiritual insight and grace.

If you'd like to work with Cathie 1:1, you are welcome to email her at [email protected]. 

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What does it really mean to care for someone at the end of life? In this episode, we sit down with Registered Nurse Jean Jennings who has over 40 years of experience working in hospice care for both pediatric and adult patients. From practical advice to emotional support, she offers gentle guidance for caregivers navigating one of life’s most sacred and challenging journeys. 

Whether you're currently caring for a loved one or simply want to better understand the holistic support system that hospice programs offer, this conversation is filled with compassion, heart, and hope.

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Jean Jennings, RN began her nursing journey over 40 years ago supporting chronically ill children and families. After her own rare ovarian germ cell cancer diagnosis and treatment (only 5 other women in the US had it at that time!), she transitioned to the hospice side of care as a staff RN for 27+ years. Thank you Jean for your support of so many families when they needed it most. You are a gift to this world. Also, congratulations on your recent retirement! 

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