Finding griefy friends can be tough.

A lot of times, we think people who’ve experienced the same kind of loss as us will automatically be the best kind of support — and while that’s true for some, it’s not always the case.

In this Griefy Tip episode, I talk about my experience in early grief — trying to connect with people who understood father loss — and what I’ve learned along the way about what to look for in griefy friends who truly get it. I haven’t quite found those friends just yet, but I still believe they’re out there. If you’ve had a hard time finding your people, don’t stop searching.

You shouldn't have to navigate grief alone. Let's stay connected:🎶 Listen to my music (Griefy Pop for your heavy heart):https://open.spotify.com/track/6KojoR...📱 Follow along on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/newellamusic📱 Follow along on TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@newellamusic

Anxiety about all sorts of things seems to be a common experience for many of us who are grieving. Anxiety before loss was hard enough, but after loss, it can feel so much more intense. I want you to know that this is completely normal—and if you’re going through it, I’m so sorry. It can be truly overwhelming.

In this Griefy Tip episode, I share a bit about my own experience with anxiety after loss and how it’s eased over the years as I’ve continued to process my grief.

I hope that this short episode encourages you, that you feel less alone, and reminded that it doesn’t have to stay this way.

If this Griefy Tip resonated with you, I’d love for you to follow along with the Grief City Podcast. I hope to keep walking with and supporting more people through the hardest seasons of their lives. We can't do this grief journey alone.

Pet loss is an incredibly common—and deeply painful—kind of grief.

Last Thanksgiving, we said goodbye to our sweet dog, Poe, a blue-nosed pit bull we rescued five years ago from a kill shelter in South LA.

Poe brought so much joy, peace, and comfort into our lives, especially after the loss of my dad. Even when you know your pet won’t live forever, nothing truly prepares you for the heartbreak when they’re gone.

In this episode, I share my personal experience with losing Poe—what it was like facing his health complications, the weight of that grief, and how we eventually opened our hearts to love another little companion. I also reflect on the similarities and differences between losing a parent and losing a pet.

If you’ve experienced the loss of a beloved animal, I hope this episode brings you comfort, validates your grief, and reminds you that you’re not alone.You shouldn't have to navigate grief alone. Let's stay connected: 🎶 Listen to my music (Griefy Pop for your heavy heart):https://open.spotify.com/track/6KojoR...📱 Follow along on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/newellamusic📱 Follow along on TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@newellamusic

The seven stages of grief are widely accepted—but grief isn’t that simple. While each stage reflects a valid emotion many grievers experience, the idea that you move through them in order and then you’re “done” grieving just isn’t accurate. Grief doesn't follow a timeline, and it definitely doesn’t fit neatly into boxes.

In this Griefy Tip episode, we’re talking about how the stages can help us understand grief—but also how they can limit our understanding of what grief really looks like.

I know how hard it can be to feel joy after losing someone you love. But even the smallest moments of joy are essential for healing. It doesn’t have to change your whole day—sometimes, it’s enough to notice joy in the little things, the simple things. They matter more than we realize. That's what this Griefy Tip is all about.

Today, I hope you find a bit of that joy—something small that makes you smile, even if just for a moment.

Ever feel like skipping your birthday because, after loss, it just doesn’t feel worth celebrating?
Yeah... I’ve been there too.

When my dad passed away in 2021, my birthday came less than a month later—and it was one of the hardest days I’ve ever faced. Since then, birthdays have carried a bittersweet weight.

Today, as I turn 33, I want to share a few thoughts from the heart. This episode is for anyone who’s navigating a birthday through the fog of grief. Let’s acknowledge the pain, but also make space for love, care, and the quiet reminder that being alive—despite it all—is still a gift.

You shouldn't have to navigate grief alone, let's stay connected:

🎶 Listen to my music (Griefy Pop for your heavy heart):https://open.spotify.com/track/6KojoR...📱 Follow along on Instagram:  / newellamusic  📱 Follow along on TikTok:  / newellamusic  

I wish this wasn’t part of grief—but it is.
The stress of loss can overwhelm both your brain and body. Forgetfulness, poor decision-making, and that heavy “foggy” feeling? They’re all common experiences after loss.

In this Griefy Tip episode, I’m talking about Grief Brain—what it is, how it shows up, and a few ways you can find some relief along the way.

I know — it sounds ridiculously simple, and definitely not profound. But taking walks has been one of the most powerful tools for my emotional well-being after loss.

You’ve probably heard it before, and there’s a reason for that: it works.

In this short episode, I’m sharing why something as ordinary as going outside and moving your body can make an extraordinary difference — especially on the heavy days.

So… go take a walk today. Really.

At 13, Melvin Adams lost his father. But the grief he felt wasn’t just about losing a parent — it was about losing the possibility of the father he never really had. His dad hadn’t shown up the way a father should, and that kind of loss comes with its own layers of pain.

And yet, through that loss, something unexpected happened: other men stepped in. Coaches, mentors, even my own dad — they became the father figures who helped shape Melvin into the man, leader, and father he is today.

In this episode, Melvin shares his powerful journey from father loss to healing — from growing up in hurt to becoming a Harlem Globetrotter and motivational speaker who now inspires kids across the country. We talk about grief, manhood, mentorship, and the quiet power of the people who show up when it matters most.

Nothing truly prepares you for the shift that happens after losing a parent.

It’s not just about missing them—it’s about navigating the sudden changes in family roles and dynamics that follow. It’s heavy, it’s complicated, and it’s real. This griefy tip is here to remind you that you’re not alone in feeling all of it—the confusion, the frustration, and the emotional weight of these shifts.