Host, Nina Rodriguez, sits down with Rebecca Feinglos, a certified grief support specialist and founder of Grieve Leave, to explore her profound journey through loss. After experiencing the death of both parents and navigating the end of her marriage, Rebecca took a courageous year-long 'grieve leave' to fully immerse herself in healing. Together, they delve into the non-linear nature of grief, the powerful impact of loss on identity, and the contrasting experiences of anticipatory versus sudden grief.

Rebecca opens up about how connecting with her body through yoga and prioritizing rest became essential tools in her emotional recovery, and she emphasizes the importance of self-care in embracing grief as a path to personal growth. They also dive into how workplaces can better support grieving employees and how societal expectations of productivity often clash with the need for deep rest and reflection. Additionally, they examine the role of social media in breaking the silence around grief, highlighting how platforms like Grieve Leave have become crucial spaces for community support and honest conversations. This heartfelt discussion reminds us that embracing grief can lead to transformation and that connection—whether through movement, rest, or community—is key to healing.

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***

Takeaways:

• Loss can significantly reshape one's identity and life perspective.
• Sudden loss can leave unresolved feelings and shock that lingers.
• Taking time off work can be a privilege that allows for healing.
• Yoga can help reconnect the mind and body during grief.
• Rest is essential for mental health and recovery from grief.
• Grief can unlock deeper emotions related to past losses.
• Community support is vital in navigating the grief journey.
• Society glorifies productivity, often at the expense of well-being.
• Rest is crucial for creativity and mental health.
• Grief in the workplace is a pressing issue that needs attention.
• Empathetic workplaces can significantly support grieving employees.
• Grief can stem from various losses, not just death.
• Creating grief-informed spaces involves everyday interactions.
• Social media has amplified conversations about grief.
• Community support is essential for navigating grief.
• Grief is a non-linear process that requires understanding.
• Policies should reflect the complexities of grief experiences.

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Join THE COMMUNITY | A virtual space where we can navigate grief, together.
***

Connect with Rebecca Feingloss:

• grieveleave.com
• @grieveleave

Connect with Nina Rodriguez:

• @griefandlight
• griefandlight.com
• 1:1 Grief Support
• Subscribe to my newsletter

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Host Nina Rodriguez explores the complexities of grief and the various support options available for those navigating loss. She discusses the importance of community, the differences between one-on-one support, and peer-led and specialist-led support groups, and addresses common fears associated with sharing grief in a group setting. She addresses common fears associated with joining support groups and the benefits of professional facilitation in creating a safe and nurturing environment for sharing experiences.

Nina also highlights the unique challenges of sibling grief and the need for specialized support groups.  Ultimately, she encourages listeners to seek the support that resonates with them, whether through peer-led groups or professional guidance.

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Join “Forever a Sister”, a 4-week grief support experience for bereaved siblings.
foreverasister.com
***

Takeaways:

• Sharing stories in a safe environment helps process and integrate loss.
• Grief support can take many forms, including one-on-one and group settings.
• Community support is essential for healing and reducing feelings of isolation.
• Professional facilitation in support groups can provide structure and safety.
• Vulnerability in sharing grief can lead to deeper connections and reestablishing a sense of harmony.
• Grief is best navigated with the right tools and support.
• Establishing agreements in support groups creates a sense of safety and trust.
• Community can alleviate feelings of isolation.
• Peer-led groups offer shared experiences but may lack professional guidance.
• Specialist-led groups provide structure and tools for healing.
• Vulnerability in grief support is met with compassion.
• The bond between siblings is unique and deserves dedicated space for processing grief.
• Sharing stories can help rewire the brain to cope with trauma.
• It's important to know what to look for when it comes to support, and finding the one that feels right to you can be beneficial and transformational.

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Join THE COMMUNITY | A virtual space where we can navigate grief, together.
***

Connect with Nina Rodriguez:

• @griefandlight
• griefandlight.com
• 1:1 Grief Support
• Subscribe to my newsletter
• Join Grief and Light: The Community

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In this episode, Nina Rodriguez speaks with Charniah Wilson, who shares her journey of navigating grief after the sudden loss of her partner, Ken. Cha discusses how she channeled her grief into creativity through her platform 'Grief is Ghetto,' and 'Cha's Random Thoughts,' where she combines humor and healing. The conversation explores the complexities of grief, the importance of community support, and the lessons learned from loss. Cha emphasizes the significance of breathing through overwhelming moments and finding light amidst the chaos of grief. She reflects on her relationship with Ken as a blueprint for her life and how humor plays a vital role in coping with loss.

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***

Takeaways:

• Conscious breathing will help center us during overwhelming moments.
• Each person's grief journey is unique and personal.
• Community support is crucial in navigating grief.
• Finding humor in grief can be a powerful coping mechanism.
• Our love for our person can serve as a blueprint for future relationships.
• It's okay to take one moment at a time in grief.
• Light and joy can coexist with grief.
• The process of grieving can change over time.
• Grief is chaotic and can feel 'ghetto'.
• Sharing experiences can help others feel less alone. 

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Join THE COMMUNITY | A virtual space where we can navigate grief, together.
***

Connect with Cha Wilson:

• charniahwilson.com
• IG: @cwilson_06
• TikTok: @charniahwilson

Connect with Nina Rodriguez:

• @griefandlight
• griefandlight.com
• 1:1 Grief Support
• Subscribe to my newsletter

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In this episode, host Nina Rodriguez speaks with Annah Elizabeth, a grief coach and founder of the Five Facets of Healing™. They discuss the complexities of grief, the importance of recognizing personal loss, and the journey of healing. Annah shares her own experiences with loss, including the death of her son and the betrayal of loved ones, and how these events shaped her understanding of grief. The conversation emphasizes that healing is a personal journey, not a destination, and introduces The Five Facets of Healing™ framework, which helps individuals navigate their grief and find hope.

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***

Takeaways:

• Annah's journey began with the loss of her firstborn son, Gavin.
• She emphasizes the importance of knowing grief does to have to last a lifetime.
• Each person's grief experience is unique and should be honored.
• Healing is a journey, not a destination.
• Grief and healing can occur simultaneously.
• Loss, grief, and healing are distinct but interconnected.
• Recognizing the significance of loss is crucial for healing.
• The Five Facets of Healing provide a framework for understanding grief.
• Pain and suffering are distinct; pain can be tended, while suffering can be adjusted.
• Significant life loss events can impact individuals deeply, regardless of their nature.
• It's important to honor all forms of loss, not just those associated with death.
• We are all born with five universal gifts that influence our healing journey.
• Self-acceptance and agency are crucial in the healing process.
• Hope is essential; healing is possible for everyone.
• Connecting with others can provide support and understanding during grief. 

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Join THE COMMUNITY | A virtual space where we can navigate grief, together.
***

Connect with Annah Elizabeth:

• IG @annahelizabethheals
• annahelizabeth.com

Connect with Nina Rodriguez:

• @griefandlight
• griefandlight.com
• 1:1 Support
• Subscribe to my newsletter

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Host, Nina Rodriguez, reflects on her journey through grief as she commemorates the fifth anniversary of her brother's passing. She shares personal insights on the emotional complexities surrounding grief anniversaries, the importance of creating meaningful rituals, and the impact of her brother's life on her own. Through a poignant reading of the speech she delivered at his memorial, Nina emphasizes the interconnectedness of life and the enduring legacy of love and remembrance.

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***

Takeaways:

• Grief is a personal journey that evolves over time.
• Creating rituals can help honor the memory of loved ones.
• Anticipatory grief can often feel more intense than the actual anniversary.
• It's important to allow oneself to feel emotions without pressure.
• Milestones in grief can bring unexpected challenges.
• Finding joy in memories can be a healing process.
• The impact of a loved one can ripple through many lives.
• It's okay to not have grand gestures for anniversaries.
• Connection with nature can provide comfort during grief.
• Sharing stories keeps the memory of loved ones alive.

***
Join THE COMMUNITY | A virtual space where we can navigate grief, together.
***

Connect with Nina Rodriguez:

• @griefandlight
• griefandlight.com
• 1:1 Support
• Subscribe to my newsletter

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Multidisciplinary artist, creative grief guide, and podcast host, Gabriela Georges, talks about her journey through loss and how it has shaped her work. She shares the profound influence of her mother, Samira, who passed away shortly after a cancer diagnosis when Gaby was only 20, and how this loss inspired her to create The Grief Cocoon, a podcast and space for individuals to process their grief creatively. This episode explores themes of family dynamics, the impact of grief on personal identity, and the healing power of creative expression, community support, and nature. Gaby emphasizes the value of writing as a tool for self-awareness and learning. She also highlights the importance of embracing life fully, even in the face of loss, and encourages listeners to find ways to honor their loved ones through their creative expression.

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***

Takeaways:

• Loss can inspire us to live with greater purpose and intention.
• Creative expression, such as writing and poetry, can be a powerful tool for processing grief.
• Sharing our stories and experiences of grief can help us feel less alone and provide insights for others.
• The Grief Cocoon represents the messy and transformative process of grief. Writing can be a powerful tool for self-awareness and learning in the grief journey.
• Sharing grief with others in a community can provide validation, support, and a sense of not being alone.
• The Swedish proverb 'grief shared is grief halved' highlights the importance of sharing grief with others.
• The Grief Cocoon offers various services, including group work, one-on-one sessions, and a mobile app with coping tools.
• Movement and nature can be therapeutic in processing grief.
• Exploring and traveling can be ways to honor loved ones and find joy in life after loss.
• Signs and synchronicities can provide comfort and a sense of connection with loved ones who have passed away.

Connect with Gaby Georges:

• thegriefcocoon.com
• IG @thegriefcocoon
• Podcast

Connect with Nina Rodriguez:

• @griefandlight
• griefandlight.com
• 1:1 Support
• Subscribe to my newsletter

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Join us for a powerful conversation with Moira Khan, a Certified Grief Educator and creator of GriefSpan, an online grief support community. After losing her mother, brother, and father within just five years, Moira faced the immense challenge of being the last remaining member of her immediate family.

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***

In this episode, she reflects on the impact of these losses on her identity and her decision to start anew in Madrid. Moira shares how her grief journey inspired her to become a grief educator, emphasizing the importance of community, support, and honoring the memories of loved ones. Through GriefSpan, she offers one-on-one support, helping others find meaning in their grief.

Tune in as Moira encourages us to lean into our grief, share our stories, and discover the strength in vulnerability.

Takeaways:

• Grief can be a challenging personal journey, especially when experiencing multiple losses within a short period of time.
• Leaving loved ones behind when moving to a new country can be difficult, but sometimes taking a chance on oneself is necessary.
• The loss of immediate family members can redefine one's sense of identity and create a heaviness in carrying forward the family name.
• Remembering and honoring loved ones through storytelling and rituals is important for keeping their memory alive.
• Teaching children about grief and allowing them to witness and express emotions is crucial for their emotional development. Allowing oneself to feel and express grief is important for healing.
• Accepting the loss of loved ones is a journey that takes time and can be up and down.
• Relating to others who have experienced similar losses can provide comfort and validation.
• Leaning on others for support and asking for help is crucial in navigating grief.
• Sharing stories and experiences can help others on their grief journey.

Connect with Moira Khan:

• @griefspaneducation
• Website & 1:1 Sessions
• Facebook

Connect with Nina Rodriguez:

• @griefandlight
• griefandlight.com
• 1:1 Support
• Subscribe to my newsletter

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In this deeply resonant episode, Annie Sklaver Orenstein, the insightful author of 'Always a Sibling: The Forgotten Mourners Guide to Grief,' dives into the often-overlooked experience of sibling grief—a complex journey that’s rarely given the attention it deserves. Annie bravely shares her personal story of losing her brother Ben, a heart-wrenching loss that ignited her passion to create a much-needed resource for bereaved siblings.

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***

Nina and Annie explore the profound impact of sibling relationships on identity and how it shapes the grieving process. They discuss the powerful role of memory-keeping, the struggle to honor one’s own grief while meeting the expectations of others, and the desperate attempts to keep the memory of a lost sibling alive.

The episode also delves into the importance of language in the grieving process, the often unspoken fears around experiencing joy after loss, and the yearning for a physical connection with a sibling who is no longer there.

Takeaways:

• Sibling grief is a unique experience that is often overshadowed by other types of grief.
• There is a lack of resources available specifically for grieving siblings.
• Sibling dynamics play a significant role in shaping identity and can be disrupted by the loss of a sibling.
• Sibling grief is valid regardless of the closeness or quality of the relationship.
• Siblings may feel desperate to keep the memory of their lost sibling alive, leading them to take on roles or responsibilities that may not align with their true selves.
• The relationship between parents and siblings after loss can be complicated, with some siblings feeling unsupported or burdened by their parents' expectations.
• Siblings experience various forms of grief, including anticipatory grief, traumatic grief, and complicated grief, which can overlap and coexist.
• Experiencing joy can be terrifying for siblings, as it highlights the absence of their lost sibling and the vulnerability of opening themselves up to love and potential loss again.
• Having language and an audience to share their grief journey can be empowering and validating for siblings, helping them navigate their grief and find meaning in their loss.
• The longing for physical connection with the lost sibling, such as hugs, can persist even years after the loss, and it's okay to acknowledge and sit with that sadness.

Related Episode: What the heck is grief anyway?!

Contact Annie Sklaver Orenstein:

• @anniesklaverorenstein
• Website & Book

Contact with Nina Rodriguez:

• @griefandlight
• griefandlight.com
• Subscribe to my newsletter

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Dr. Joshua Black, leading grief and bereavement researcher, speaker, and host of the Grief Dreams Podcast, shares his journey into the field of grief dreams (e.g., dreams of the deceased), and the profound insights they offer into the grieving process and continuing connections beyond death.

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***

Dr. Black also explores the statistics and research findings on grief dreams, highlighting the prevalence of positive dreams and the potential for dream recall to increase the likelihood of having a grief dream. He offers practical tips for increasing dream recall and emphasizes the importance of valuing and exploring dreams.

He discusses the cultural and religious influences on dreams and the importance of interpreting dreams from a different perspective, and emphasizes the need to be open-minded and understand that dreams can have different meanings for different individuals. Dr. Black challenges the negative connotations associated with dreams and highlights the positive impact they can have on post-traumatic growth and faith.

He also explores the concept of continuing bonds and the different types of bonds that individuals form with their deceased loved ones, emphasizing the importance of understanding attachment styles and trauma in relation to continuing bonds. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the power of love, Ram Dass' teachings, and the significance of dreams in connecting with that love.

Additional Takeaways:

• Increasing dream recall can increase the likelihood of having a grief dream.
• Positive dreams of the deceased are more common than negative dreams, and can provide comfort and healing.
• Dreams can be prompted and influenced by valuing and exploring dreams, writing them down, and discussing them with others.
• Grief dreams can be a source of meaning and connection for those who have lost a loved one. 
• Negative connotations associated with dreams should be challenged, as dreams can have a positive impact on beliefs and faith.
• Understanding attachment styles and trauma is crucial in forming continuing bonds with deceased loved ones.
• Dreams can provide a powerful connection to love and can help individuals process grief and trauma.
• Interpreting dreams should be a personal and individual process, focusing on the emotions and personal experiences associated with the dream.

Connect with Dr. Black:

• @griefdreams
• griefdreams.ca
• Podcast
• About

Connect with Nina Rodriguez:

• @griefandlight
• griefandlight.com
• Schedule a Clarity Call
• Subscribe to my newsletter

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In this conversation, Oscar 'O.G.' Guerrero shares his story as a father navigating the devastating and sudden loss of his two-year-old son, Ollie, and how he has found a way to channel his grief into helping other men heal from trauma and loss.

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Watch this episode on YouTube
***

Oscar delves into the immediate challenges and trauma faced after the loss, the process of forgiveness, dreams and encounters with his son, and the transformation of his purpose through coaching and podcasting. He discusses the importance of creating a supportive environment for men to grieve and heal, and how movement and exercise played a crucial role in his own healing process. Oscar also addresses the negative comments and judgment he received, emphasizes the power of forgiveness, and not allowing others' opinions to define his journey.

He shares his mission to help men heal and break generational trauma through the Mended Man Podcast, and through his post-traumatic growth coaching program, the Mended Man Brotherhood.

Support Oscar and Rebecca's nonprofit organization, Ollie's Footprint, to prevent drowning accidents.

Related Podcast Episode: Embracing Life After Loss: A Mother's Story with Rebecca Guerrero

Connect with Oscar Guerrero:

• @oscarcguerrero
• Mended Man Podcast
• Mended Man Brotherhood (Facebook)

Connect with Nina Rodriguez:

• @griefandlight
• griefandlight.com
• Schedule a Clarity Call
• Subscribe to my newsletter

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