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In this episode, we deep dive into the reality of experiencing life's duality in its fullness as guest, Kera Sanchez, experienced both the birth of her daughter and the unexpected loss of her mother only a few days apart.
She shares how her grief left her with no choice but to turn "lemons into lemonade" as she learned to navigate loss and joy through the power of dark humor and community.
Kera channeled her love for her mother through her creative gifts, creating legacy journals, a first-of-its-kind magazine for grievers, and a welcoming space for all through her social media channels.
Kera Sanchez is a High School Spanish teacher in the Chicago area, a wife, and mom of two. After her mom unexpectedly died while on vacation in Italy at the age of 57, she dove deep into a grief journey, where she channeled her unexpressed love in the form of the Legacy Letters guided journal, offering a way to write and leave handwritten legacies of love, advice, and support for loved ones, to ensure families all over the world don't have to face unexpected loss without a legacy left behind. She also released a second journal, "No Legacy Lost", a guided memory and grief journal. Through her Instagram community, she pokes fun at her grief journey with relatable memes and dark humor. In early 2024, she launched Get Griefy Magazine, as a community outlet for grievers to publish their poetry, writing, art, photography, and more.
Kera Sanchez Social & Website:
Nina Rodriguez Social & Website:
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#griefandlight #griefandlightpodcast
Interested in sponsoring an episode? Contact us via [email protected].
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Grief and Light™ is an award-winning, independent podcast exploring the honest, messy, deeply human experience of loss and grief.
Grief-fluency is a life-affirming skill we were never taught. We're here to change that.
Hosted by grief-informed guide and sibling loss survivor Nina Rodriguez, the show fosters a more grief-informed, hopeful world, one conversation at a time. At its heart is one belief: to grieve fully is to live fully.
Now in Season 5, with 130+ episodes, the show features changemakers, researchers, creatives, and leaders exploring loss, identity, uncertainty, and what it means to keep living when life changes.
Connect with Nina: Website · Instagram · Substack
Subscribe to the newsletter
🏆 Ear Worthy Best Life Lessons 2026 · Signal Awards Silver Winner 2026 · TalkDeath Readers’ Choice Best Podcast 2025 · 2× Women Who Podcast Awards Winner · Podground Editor’s Pick 2026
DISCLAIMER: Grief and Light™ is hosted by a grief-informed guide, not a licensed therapist, doctor, or attorney. Nothing shared here is intended as therapy, medical advice, or legal counsel. Seek qualified support.
Full Disclaimer
...Trigger Warning: Discussion of sensitive topics. Listener discretion is advised.
What role does creative expression play in navigating the complexities of grief?
Eileen Kielty, founder of Kaia Evolutions, a culmination of her life’s work and a love letter to her sister, Katie, who died by suicide in June of 2019.
She has degrees in both dance and psychology, as well as extensive training in somatic integration, embodiment and intimacy practices, and is passionate about consent-driven spaces with an emphasis on social justice.
She recognizes the importance of illuminating the darker, often hidden, parts of the human experience through sharing openly and authentically, as we’re not meant to do this alone. Eileen believes in the power of creative expression and its ability to reveal the unspoken language of being alive; that the body always knows, and that movement is our direct connection to our deepest truth.
In this candid episode, Eileen shares her perspective and experience as a surviving sibling, and trauma survivor, as well as how the creative expression of dance and movement has helped her and her clients navigate some of life's biggest challenges.
Eileen Kielty's Social & Website:
Nina Rodriguez Social & Website:
Disclaimer: griefandlight.com/safetyanddisclaimers
#griefandlight #griefandlightpodcast
Interested in sponsoring an episode? Contact us via [email protected].
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Grief and Light™ is an award-winning, independent podcast exploring the honest, messy, deeply human experience of loss and grief.
Grief-fluency is a life-affirming skill we were never taught. We're here to change that.
Hosted by grief-informed guide and sibling loss survivor Nina Rodriguez, the show fosters a more grief-informed, hopeful world, one conversation at a time. At its heart is one belief: to grieve fully is to live fully.
Now in Season 5, with 130+ episodes, the show features changemakers, researchers, creatives, and leaders exploring loss, identity, uncertainty, and what it means to keep living when life changes.
Connect with Nina: Website · Instagram · Substack
Subscribe to the newsletter
🏆 Ear Worthy Best Life Lessons 2026 · Signal Awards Silver Winner 2026 · TalkDeath Readers’ Choice Best Podcast 2025 · 2× Women Who Podcast Awards Winner · Podground Editor’s Pick 2026
DISCLAIMER: Grief and Light™ is hosted by a grief-informed guide, not a licensed therapist, doctor, or attorney. Nothing shared here is intended as therapy, medical advice, or legal counsel. Seek qualified support.
Full Disclaimer
...“Grieving room is endangered in a culture that thinks it is more helpful to rush past grief than to lean into it.”
Leanne Friesen is the brilliant soul behind the groundbreaking book, "Grieving Room: Making Space for All the Hard Things After Death and Loss."
As the curator of the popular Instagram platform, @grieving.room, she has cultivated a nurturing space for those navigating the tumultuous waters of grief.
***
Click here to watch on YouTube
***
With a profound understanding that grief defies easy solutions, Leanne advocates for the power of creating room for the complexities of grief, rather than rushing to fix or diminish it.
Drawing upon her extensive experience as an ordained minister and grief educator spanning over two decades, Leanne offers invaluable insights into the sacred process of grief, and how the cognitive understanding of loss and grief falls short of the lived experience.
She learned this heartbreaking reality after the loss of her sister, Roxanne, after an eight-year battle with melanoma.
In this episode, we discuss imperfect goodbyes, sibling loss, living the "are you serious?!" era after loss, making room to grieve, and so much more!
Leanne Friesen Social & Website:
Nina Rodriguez Social & Website:
Disclaimer: griefandlight.com/safetyanddisclaimers
#griefandlight #griefandlightpodcast
Interested in sponsoring an episode? Contact us via [email protected].
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Grief and Light™ is an award-winning, independent podcast exploring the honest, messy, deeply human experience of loss and grief.
Grief-fluency is a life-affirming skill we were never taught. We're here to change that.
Hosted by grief-informed guide and sibling loss survivor Nina Rodriguez, the show fosters a more grief-informed, hopeful world, one conversation at a time. At its heart is one belief: to grieve fully is to live fully.
Now in Season 5, with 130+ episodes, the show features changemakers, researchers, creatives, and leaders exploring loss, identity, uncertainty, and what it means to keep living when life changes.
Connect with Nina: Website · Instagram · Substack
Subscribe to the newsletter
🏆 Ear Worthy Best Life Lessons 2026 · Signal Awards Silver Winner 2026 · TalkDeath Readers’ Choice Best Podcast 2025 · 2× Women Who Podcast Awards Winner · Podground Editor’s Pick 2026
DISCLAIMER: Grief and Light™ is hosted by a grief-informed guide, not a licensed therapist, doctor, or attorney. Nothing shared here is intended as therapy, medical advice, or legal counsel. Seek qualified support.
Full Disclaimer
..."Grief is not this OR that; it's this AND that." - Nina Rodriguez
Grief thrusts us into the messy middle, which in time may become the magical middle.
But what the heck is it anyway?! The irony of this universal experience is that it's so unique to each experiencer, the answer of what is it depends on who you ask.
That said, there are some words, descriptions and frameworks that seem to describe aspects of big-picture GRIEF, that when understood, may give us the tools needed to understand and navigate through this nuanced experience.
Grief is love with nowhere to go...
AND unique to each person...
AND nuanced...
AND it lasts forever...
AND dynamic, evolving as we evolve...
AND...
This episode gets a little nerdy, AND it's great for those of us who seek to understand this life experience.
I also check in, providing updates on new and upcoming developments.
Tune in and DM me on Instagram @griefandlight to let me know what you think!
Referenced in this Episode:
Nina Rodriguez Social & Website:
Disclaimer: griefandlight.com/safetyanddisclaimers
#griefandlight #griefandlightpodcast
Interested in sponsoring an episode? Contact us via [email protected].
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Grief and Light™ is an award-winning, independent podcast exploring the honest, messy, deeply human experience of loss and grief.
Grief-fluency is a life-affirming skill we were never taught. We're here to change that.
Hosted by grief-informed guide and sibling loss survivor Nina Rodriguez, the show fosters a more grief-informed, hopeful world, one conversation at a time. At its heart is one belief: to grieve fully is to live fully.
Now in Season 5, with 130+ episodes, the show features changemakers, researchers, creatives, and leaders exploring loss, identity, uncertainty, and what it means to keep living when life changes.
Connect with Nina: Website · Instagram · Substack
Subscribe to the newsletter
🏆 Ear Worthy Best Life Lessons 2026 · Signal Awards Silver Winner 2026 · TalkDeath Readers’ Choice Best Podcast 2025 · 2× Women Who Podcast Awards Winner · Podground Editor’s Pick 2026
DISCLAIMER: Grief and Light™ is hosted by a grief-informed guide, not a licensed therapist, doctor, or attorney. Nothing shared here is intended as therapy, medical advice, or legal counsel. Seek qualified support.
Full Disclaimer
...There are losses that rearrange our understanding of life and how we show up in the world.
The death of a young person, a baby, a spouse or a sibling can be particularly devastating, due to the traumatic and out-of-order elements surrounding the loss.
Surviving one loss can feel unbearable. But all four?
Today’s guest shares her story of immense loss — a journey marked by the departure of her one-year-old son, Garret, her beloved husband, Jack, her resilient brother, Seth, and her sister-in-law, Brooke.
In her own profound grief, Angie Hanson found solace in a mission to change the narrative around grief, to bring light into the darkest moments, and to offer genuine support to those walking the path of loss.
She founded Butterflies + Halos, a greeting card company that seeks to bridge the gap between sympathy and understanding, between condolence and companionship.
Through her story, Angie illuminates the way forward for those grappling with their own losses, and offers insight into how we can better support one another through life's most challenging moments.
Angie Hanson Social & Website:
Nina Rodriguez Social & Website:
Disclaimer: griefandlight.com/safetyanddisclaimers
Some of the conversation includes candid recounts of sensitive matters related to loss of loved ones. Listener discretion is advised.
#griefandlight #griefandlightpodcast
Interested in sponsoring an episode? Contact us via [email protected].
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Grief and Light™ is an award-winning, independent podcast exploring the honest, messy, deeply human experience of loss and grief.
Grief-fluency is a life-affirming skill we were never taught. We're here to change that.
Hosted by grief-informed guide and sibling loss survivor Nina Rodriguez, the show fosters a more grief-informed, hopeful world, one conversation at a time. At its heart is one belief: to grieve fully is to live fully.
Now in Season 5, with 130+ episodes, the show features changemakers, researchers, creatives, and leaders exploring loss, identity, uncertainty, and what it means to keep living when life changes.
Connect with Nina: Website · Instagram · Substack
Subscribe to the newsletter
🏆 Ear Worthy Best Life Lessons 2026 · Signal Awards Silver Winner 2026 · TalkDeath Readers’ Choice Best Podcast 2025 · 2× Women Who Podcast Awards Winner · Podground Editor’s Pick 2026
DISCLAIMER: Grief and Light™ is hosted by a grief-informed guide, not a licensed therapist, doctor, or attorney. Nothing shared here is intended as therapy, medical advice, or legal counsel. Seek qualified support.
Full Disclaimer
...Clinically Trained, Mystically Guided.
Casey Stevens embodies the philosophy encapsulated in this motto. She is a Spiritual Psychotherapist and Consciousness Coach, and founder of Shrink Bigger.
Casey shares her deeply personal journey of transformation, from navigating the loss of her husband and ensuing grief to embracing her true calling as an embodied healer. Through candid reflections and profound insights, Casey delves into the fusion of clinical expertise with mystical guidance, offering listeners a glimpse into her unique approach to healing and transformation.
Throughout the conversation, Casey explores the intricacies of her holistic therapeutic framework, which honors the interconnectedness of the bio-psycho-social-spiritual aspects of human experience. Drawing from her own experiences and clinical practice, she sheds light on the importance of shadow work, inner child work, family triangulation dynamics, organizing your energy, and conscious awareness in the process of healing and self-discovery.
Listeners are invited to explore the transformative power of quantum healing principles and learn practical techniques for cultivating mindfulness, self-awareness, and alignment with one's true self. Through her inspiring journey and compassionate wisdom, Casey offers hope and guidance to those navigating their own paths of healing and transformation.
Casey Steven Social & Website:
Nina Rodriguez Social & Website:
Disclaimer: griefandlight.com/safetyanddisclaimers
#griefandlight #griefandlightpodcast
Interested in sponsoring an episode? Contact us via [email protected].
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Grief and Light™ is an award-winning, independent podcast exploring the honest, messy, deeply human experience of loss and grief.
Grief-fluency is a life-affirming skill we were never taught. We're here to change that.
Hosted by grief-informed guide and sibling loss survivor Nina Rodriguez, the show fosters a more grief-informed, hopeful world, one conversation at a time. At its heart is one belief: to grieve fully is to live fully.
Now in Season 5, with 130+ episodes, the show features changemakers, researchers, creatives, and leaders exploring loss, identity, uncertainty, and what it means to keep living when life changes.
Connect with Nina: Website · Instagram · Substack
Subscribe to the newsletter
🏆 Ear Worthy Best Life Lessons 2026 · Signal Awards Silver Winner 2026 · TalkDeath Readers’ Choice Best Podcast 2025 · 2× Women Who Podcast Awards Winner · Podground Editor’s Pick 2026
DISCLAIMER: Grief and Light™ is hosted by a grief-informed guide, not a licensed therapist, doctor, or attorney. Nothing shared here is intended as therapy, medical advice, or legal counsel. Seek qualified support.
Full Disclaimer
...How does grief impact our mental health, and what strategies can we employ to nurture our well-being through times of loss and transition?
Join us as we explore the intersection of grief and mental health with the amazing Dr. Mekel Harris, Memphis-based licensed psychologist helping other perfectly imperfect folks navigate life's challenges in order to grow in lifestyle, love, leadership, and loyalties to God, self, and others. She also shares insights into her own grief experience and the ripple effect it had on her career after the loss of her beloved mother to pancreatic cancer.
GIFT: 5 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Grief-Informed Clinician
She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Baylor University, an M.A. in Psychology from Houston Baptist University, and a Ph.D. in Clinical/School Psychology from the University of Houston, and further honed her skills through a pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
She serves diverse communities through hospital-based programs, higher education, and her private practice, Harris Psychological Services, LLC.
Dr. Harris' is co-founder of Bloomwell Partners, LLC, empowering organizations with the tools to support those navigating grief in the workplace.
She is also an author and speaker, having presented at over 30 conferences worldwide, and a TEDx Talk.
Her memoir, "Relaxing Into the Pain: My Journey Into Grief & Beyond," offers profound insights into the human experience of loss.
A sought-after expert, Dr. Harris has shared her wisdom through various media platforms, including Equanimity Magazine and The Washington Post. Her advocacy for mental health extends to her role as VP of the Board of AIMHITN, and as a recurring guest on FOX13 Memphis.
Let's delve into the heart of grief and the transformative power of relaxing into our grief.
Dr. Mekel Harris Social & Website:
Nina Rodriguez Social & Website:
Disclaimer: griefandlight.com/safetyanddisclaimers
Interested in sponsoring an episode? Contact us at [email protected].
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Grief and Light™ is an award-winning, independent podcast exploring the honest, messy, deeply human experience of loss and grief.
Grief-fluency is a life-affirming skill we were never taught. We're here to change that.
Hosted by grief-informed guide and sibling loss survivor Nina Rodriguez, the show fosters a more grief-informed, hopeful world, one conversation at a time. At its heart is one belief: to grieve fully is to live fully.
Now in Season 5, with 130+ episodes, the show features changemakers, researchers, creatives, and leaders exploring loss, identity, uncertainty, and what it means to keep living when life changes.
Connect with Nina: Website · Instagram · Substack
Subscribe to the newsletter
🏆 Ear Worthy Best Life Lessons 2026 · Signal Awards Silver Winner 2026 · TalkDeath Readers’ Choice Best Podcast 2025 · 2× Women Who Podcast Awards Winner · Podground Editor’s Pick 2026
DISCLAIMER: Grief and Light™ is hosted by a grief-informed guide, not a licensed therapist, doctor, or attorney. Nothing shared here is intended as therapy, medical advice, or legal counsel. Seek qualified support.
Full Disclaimer
..."Everybody else rushed me past the agony, but grief is the one and only voice that told me, 'take as long as you need'." J.S. Park – As Long As You Need
Life-altering loss and grief can alter our perception of time, an effect experienced by many grievers that I like to call "grief time".
Grief time is non-linear, both a blink and an eternity. Grief also demands your time and attention, whether in the moment or after decades delayed.
In this episode, we delve into how our perception of time, and how we dedicate time to processing our grief can have long-lasting effects and outcomes. We discuss practical actionable steps and tools to help anchor us to the present moment and normalize this common phenomenon experienced by many.
Episodes & Article Referenced:
Nina Rodriguez Social & Website:
Disclaimer: griefandlight.com/safetyanddisclaimers
#griefandlight #griefandlightpodcast
Interested in sponsoring an episode? Contact us via [email protected].
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Grief and Light™ is an award-winning, independent podcast exploring the honest, messy, deeply human experience of loss and grief.
Grief-fluency is a life-affirming skill we were never taught. We're here to change that.
Hosted by grief-informed guide and sibling loss survivor Nina Rodriguez, the show fosters a more grief-informed, hopeful world, one conversation at a time. At its heart is one belief: to grieve fully is to live fully.
Now in Season 5, with 130+ episodes, the show features changemakers, researchers, creatives, and leaders exploring loss, identity, uncertainty, and what it means to keep living when life changes.
Connect with Nina: Website · Instagram · Substack
Subscribe to the newsletter
🏆 Ear Worthy Best Life Lessons 2026 · Signal Awards Silver Winner 2026 · TalkDeath Readers’ Choice Best Podcast 2025 · 2× Women Who Podcast Awards Winner · Podground Editor’s Pick 2026
DISCLAIMER: Grief and Light™ is hosted by a grief-informed guide, not a licensed therapist, doctor, or attorney. Nothing shared here is intended as therapy, medical advice, or legal counsel. Seek qualified support.
Full Disclaimer
...How can a mother move forward after the life-altering death of her son?
Is it even possible?
Our guest is on a mission to bring hope to those who navigate the challenging journey of grief, the trauma of loving someone suffering from substance use disorder, and the reality of life after losing a child.
Kathy Wagner is a grief-focused writer and author, and a mother of three grown children who understands the profound pain of loss. Her journey includes the devastating experience of losing her son Tristan to fentanyl poisoning in 2017.
Since that time, Wagner has advocated for improved access to quality addiction
recovery services and was a grief support group facilitator for Healing Hearts Canada.
In this episode, we discuss her beautiful memoir, "Here With You: A Memoir of Love, Family, and Addiction," where she candidly shares the highs, lows, and the beautiful resilience that emerged from her family's journey through addiction, recovery, and ultimately, loss.
Kathy's essays have found their way into The New York Times, Best Health Magazine, The Globe and Mail, and The Sun Magazine, and her first book is making waves with its release in Canada, as well as in the U.S. and worldwide (available Spring 2024).
Get ready for a touching and inspiring conversation with a woman who's turned her pain into a beacon of hope for others.
Kathy Wagner Social & Website:
Nina Rodriguez Social & Website:
Disclaimer: griefandlight.com/safetyanddisclaimers
#griefandlight #griefandlightpodcast
Want to sponsor an episode? Contact us via [email protected].
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Grief and Light™ is an award-winning, independent podcast exploring the honest, messy, deeply human experience of loss and grief.
Grief-fluency is a life-affirming skill we were never taught. We're here to change that.
Hosted by grief-informed guide and sibling loss survivor Nina Rodriguez, the show fosters a more grief-informed, hopeful world, one conversation at a time. At its heart is one belief: to grieve fully is to live fully.
Now in Season 5, with 130+ episodes, the show features changemakers, researchers, creatives, and leaders exploring loss, identity, uncertainty, and what it means to keep living when life changes.
Connect with Nina: Website · Instagram · Substack
Subscribe to the newsletter
🏆 Ear Worthy Best Life Lessons 2026 · Signal Awards Silver Winner 2026 · TalkDeath Readers’ Choice Best Podcast 2025 · 2× Women Who Podcast Awards Winner · Podground Editor’s Pick 2026
DISCLAIMER: Grief and Light™ is hosted by a grief-informed guide, not a licensed therapist, doctor, or attorney. Nothing shared here is intended as therapy, medical advice, or legal counsel. Seek qualified support.
Full Disclaimer
...In this deeply introspective episode, Catherine Baars opens up about her personal experiences with grief, especially in the context of navigating a complex relationship with her father, whom she lost a mere six months as of this recording.
For as long as she can remember, Cat's relationship with her father was strained due to his substance use disorder, which eventually led to their estrangement and a final reconciliation before he passed.
She bravely shares insights into the delicate interplay between death and spirituality, shedding light on her own healing journey from religious trauma.
As a professional astrologer, Cat guides others towards understanding their life's purpose through dedicated readings based on each individual's birth chart.
Through her unique perspective and lived experience, she offers a message of hope, healing, and resilience to anyone grappling with life's profound changes and challenges.
Catherine Baars Social & Website:
Nina Rodriguez Social & Website:
Disclaimer: griefandlight.com/safetyanddisclaimers
#griefandlight #griefandlightpodcast
Want to sponsor an episode? Contact us via [email protected].
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Grief and Light™ is an award-winning, independent podcast exploring the honest, messy, deeply human experience of loss and grief.
Grief-fluency is a life-affirming skill we were never taught. We're here to change that.
Hosted by grief-informed guide and sibling loss survivor Nina Rodriguez, the show fosters a more grief-informed, hopeful world, one conversation at a time. At its heart is one belief: to grieve fully is to live fully.
Now in Season 5, with 130+ episodes, the show features changemakers, researchers, creatives, and leaders exploring loss, identity, uncertainty, and what it means to keep living when life changes.
Connect with Nina: Website · Instagram · Substack
Subscribe to the newsletter
🏆 Ear Worthy Best Life Lessons 2026 · Signal Awards Silver Winner 2026 · TalkDeath Readers’ Choice Best Podcast 2025 · 2× Women Who Podcast Awards Winner · Podground Editor’s Pick 2026
DISCLAIMER: Grief and Light™ is hosted by a grief-informed guide, not a licensed therapist, doctor, or attorney. Nothing shared here is intended as therapy, medical advice, or legal counsel. Seek qualified support.
Full Disclaimer
...From the publisher's feed
Grief-fluency is a life-affirming skill we were never taught. We're here to change that.
Welcome to Grief and Light™, an award-winning, independent podcast exploring the…
Created and hosted by Nina Rodriguez, a grief-informed guide and bereaved sister, this space is for those navigating life-altering loss and for anyone who wants to better understand grief and show up for someone who's grieving.
•••
After the sudden death of my younger brother, Yosef, one day after we celebrated his 32nd birthday, I found myself searching for answers. I was surprised by how little we talk about grief publicly, how much we misunderstand it, and how few tools we're given to navigate it.
That search became Grief and Light™, launched on March 30, 2023, and grew into a mission to foster a more grief-informed, hopeful world.
Now in Season 5, with 130+ episodes, the podcast features honest conversations with first-hand experiencers, authors, researchers, creatives, and changemakers.
Together, we explore the many faces of grief, the secondary losses that often go unnamed, and what it means to keep living when life changes. Because grief isn't something to fix, rush through, or leave behind. It's something we can learn to understand, navigate, and make room for.
Here, grief and hope can coexist. So can heartbreak and joy. This isn't about finding a silver lining or turning pain into a lesson. It's about making space for the full human experience, on our own terms.
My hope is that these conversations offer a little more language for what you're experiencing, a little more understanding for the people around you, and a reminder that to grieve fully is to live fully.
“We're all just walking each other home.” — Ram Dass
Thank you for being here.
We're in this together.
💜 Nina Rodriguez, forever Yosef's sister
Founder x Host | Grief and Light™
For more, visit griefandlight.com

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