Good Grief: Life After Loss

On the 11th anniversary of her brother Sam’s death, Skylar is doing something a little different on Good Grief. Instead of talking about grief, loss, or how Sam’s death changed her life, she’s inviting listeners to meet the person at the center of it all.

In this episode, Skylar shares stories, memories, quirks, and moments from growing up with Sam, giving listeners a glimpse into who he was beyond the tragedy of how he died.

Because Sam was more than the person Skylar lost. He was her big brother, and this is his story.

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The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

Everyone remembers October 1. Skylar remembers September.

October 1st is the date Skylar’s brother, Sam, died. It’s the date people remember, the date the texts and calls come in, the date that lives on the calendar.

But September was the month before. The month Skylar left school and flew to Australia. The month her family spent at Sam’s bedside. The month filled with fear, hope, sadness, and disappointment, all while not knowing what their lives were about to become.

Eleven years later, Skylar reflects on the kind of grief that begins before a loss actually happens, and why sometimes the hardest part isn’t the day someone dies, but the weeks spent wondering if they’re going to.

This is the month before.

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In this episode of Good Grief, Life After Loss, Skylar dives into the special kind of awkward that comes with grieving out loud — the questions nobody warns you about, the conversations that spiral out of nowhere, and the split-second decisions about what to share and with whom. From a nail salon chat that took a sharp turn, to a bar conversation she wasn't ready for, Skylar walks through real, recent moments where grief showed up uninvited — and finds the humor in all of it. She also gets into a theory about name tattoos, and asks the bigger question: is the awkwardness coming from other people, or from her? A funny, honest look at what it's really like to explain loss to strangers, friends, and coworkers, on the spot, in real time.

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The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

What happens when a small community experiences another devastating loss?

This week, I’m reflecting on grief from a perspective I’ve never had before: not as the person at the center of a loss, but as someone watching a community rally around a family going through something I know all too well.

After losing my brother Sam ten years ago, I know what it feels like to have your most private pain become a very public one. But this time, I was on the outside, and it gave me a new perspective on community, grief, and the complicated ways we show up for one another.

Because grief doesn’t happen in a vacuum. One loss can bring another back to the surface, especially in a community that has already experienced so much of it.

There’s no perfect way to grieve, and no perfect way to support someone who is grieving. But there are ways we can show up: gently, consistently, and without expecting anything in return.

Because sometimes, all we can do is carry them, and carry each other.

Donate to Jack's GoFundMe here.

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The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

Note: This is a republished archive episode from 2025. We're bringing back some of our most impactful conversations for new listeners while we prepare new episodes.

In this deeply moving episode, Skylar sits down with Linh Luu, who survived a tragic and preventable car accident that took the lives of her boyfriend, Misha Romanenko, and her beloved dog, Keeper. Linh shares her journey of living again after profound loss, and coping with the waves of grief, navigating painful words from others, and finding healing through advocacy.

From her brave decision to share her story openly on TikTok, to the unexpected moments that have shaped her path, Linh’s story is one of resilience, love, and the fight for justice. Whether you’re grieving yourself or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers hope, compassion, and a reminder that even in the darkest times, healing is possible.

Links:

• ABC 7 News Article

• SFDA’s email: [email protected] 

• DA Brooke Jenkins X profile: https://x.com/brookejenkinssf?s=21

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In this episode of Good Grief, Skylar sits down with Jason, who takes us back to his late twenties, when he lost his mom, Connie, after her four-year battle with breast cancer. Jason opens up about the almost eight years he spent avoiding his grief entirely — pushing it down, numbing it, refusing to face it. He shares what finally changed: getting sober, walking into therapy, and choosing to do the hard work of grieving head-on. Now, Jason is on the other side of that journey — able to feel connected to his mom again, open to the signs she sends him, and genuinely at peace. This conversation is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to begin healing. Jason also shares a clip from the song, “I Go Through” by O.A.R., and how it inspired him to stop avoiding grief and instead face it head-on. 

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Sam would have turned 27 on June 12th. Instead of spending the day grieving her brother, Skylar spent it buried in work, preparing for a company-wide presentation, answering messages, and racing through a packed schedule. Before she knew it, the day was over, and she never had the chance to truly grieve.

In this episode, Skylar opens up about the guilt of feeling disconnected from grief, the pressure to honor important dates a certain way, and what happens when life gets so busy that grief gets pushed aside. Because sometimes, grief doesn't disappear, it just gets lost in the calendar. 

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The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

Grief doesn't just affect your heart—it affects your brain, your body, your routines, and your mental health.

In this episode, Skylar talks about something we don't discuss nearly enough: the mental health of grievers. From "grief brain" and brain fog to the dark thoughts that can sometimes creep in after loss, we'll explore how grief impacts us far beyond sadness.

Whether your loss was recent or years ago, this episode is a reminder that taking care of yourself isn't forgetting the person you lost—it's part of learning how to carry them with you.

Mental Health Resources:

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The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

One year ago, Skylar hit publish on the very first episode of Good Grief: Life After Loss — and today, one year and 41 episodes later, she's reflecting on everything this podcast has taught her. From the loneliness she felt as a 14-year-old grieving her brother Sam, to the weeks she was too exhausted to talk about grief and questioned whether she was even qualified to be here, to the unexpected gift of finding community through her listeners — this episode is an honest look at what a year of hosting a grief podcast has really been like. If you've ever felt alone in your grief, this one's for you.

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If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal at

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The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

Mother’s Day can be beautiful, but for a lot of people, it’s also incredibly complicated.

In this episode, Skylar talks about the uncomfortable reality of grief on days that the world expects you to celebrate. From losing a mother or child, to infertility, strained relationships, or simply feeling the absence of someone who should still be here, this episode explores the many ways grief can quietly show up on Mother’s Day.