Grief Dreams Podcast

Heather Varner is an east-coast born and bred Canadian who moved to Ontario with her then-boyfriend (now-fiancé) after her mother died in 2014. In the 4.5 years since, Heather has dealt with her grief through therapy, faith, and plenty of writing. She has written pieces about grief and loss that have been published by Time, xoJane, and Elite Daily, and shares her grief journey through her Instagram account @stormsandsilverlinings. At the start of this calendar year she launched a blog called Storms and Silver Linings.

In this episode we talk about her love of reading and writing, her relationship with her mother, the death of her mother, writing her grief, and grief dreams of her mother.

Aditi Loveridge is a Certified Life Coach, Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, and owner of Pregnancy Loss Healing. Aditi supports mothers in their journeys after pregnancy or infant loss. Her work includes supporting mothers who have recently experienced loss, are trying to conceive after loss of any kind (pregnancy/infant loss, failed IVF, missed adoption), pregnant again after loss, and those still struggling after the birth of their baby. Aditi helps mothers who have experienced loss to reconnect with trust so that they can step beyond anxiety and fear.

In this episode we talk about her grief journey following 2 miscarriages, starting her business, issues people can face after pregnancy loss, tips for helping others through pregnancy loss, and a grief dream of her child.

You can find more about Aditi at www.pregnancylosshealing.com, on Facebook: @pregnancylosshealing, and on Instagram: @pregnancylosshealing

Pennie Hunt is a speaker, author, and the President and founder of Journey Through, LLC. Her book is titled “Love Your Life-No Matter What - 76 Tips to Live Life with Love and Gratitude.” She also writes a weekly blog called “Writings From The Corner of Spirit & Brave.”

In this episode we talk about a series of life changing events (including the death of her son and dog), her weekly blog, getting a memorial tattoo, and grief dreams of her son and dog.

You can find more information on Pennie at www.PennieHunt.com

In this episode we recap some of the dream conversations we have had with guests since August 2018. This is episode 5. 

In this update episode we (Joshua and Shawn) talk about reaching our 100th episode, Joshua getting his PhD, our new donation options, and plans for 2019.

An article by Brock University discussing Joshua’s research - https://brocku.ca/brock-news/2018/12/grief-dreams-can-provide-comfort-and-healing-during-holidays/

This is our first Guest Grief Dream Update Episode with Darwyn Dave from Episode 18. In this episode we talk about his recent loss of his mother, his first grief dream of her, and preparing of the holidays.

You can find more about Darwyn at http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com 

Devan Christian is a Registered Clinical Counsellor in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley. After experiencing many deaths in her own life, she pursued a career path in which she could support those who were experiencing their own grief and loss. Five year ago, she started working in the Hospice Child & Youth and Adult Bereavement Programs; now, she supports those in her surrounding communities with their grief, mental well-being, caregiver stress and life transitions through her private practice in Chilliwack, BC, as well as through her local Community Mental Health Centre.

In this episode we talk about her many losses, continuing bonds, starting her private practice, tips for grieving over the holidays, and her own grief dreams.

You can find more about Devan at http://www.devanceciliacounselling.com/

Blog Post - Getting Though The Holidays While Grieving http://www.devanceciliacounselling.com/blog/

While sorting through his father’s belongings, Joe Agostinelli found a letter that was written to him from his father before his battle with leukemia came to an end. The letter had a profound impact on Joe, detailing his father’s love and pride, as well as his continued hopes and dreams for him. At the time of his father’s passing, Joe and his wife had just welcomed a son into the world. These two monumental events happening so close together put Joe on a path of self, societal, and (end of) life examination, inspiring him to create Ultimo Gifts, a service that allows you to keep giving gifts and heartfelt reminders after you have passed on. 

In this episode we talk about his father’s illness and death, being a father himself, finding his father’s letter, Ultimo Gifts, and two dreams of his father.

You can find more about him at https://www.ultimogifts.com/, and on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @UltimoGifts

Jan Warner is the author of Grief Day by Day: Simple Practices and Daily Guidance for Living With Loss. When her beloved husband Artie died nine years ago, she felt as though she had died too. To give her life meaning after the loss she started the Grief Speaks Out Facebook page, that is a supportive worldwide community with over 2.5 million likes.   

In this episode we talk about her relationship with her husband, his death and her grief, authoring her first book on grief, differences she has noticed in people’s grief, and her grief dreams of her husband.

Jess Etchemendy formed 174 Supply Company, which is a discussion of how grief can be transformed through creativity. After the death of his brother, Jess’s trade has become the vehicle he uses to transform his grief. 174 was the motorcycle numbers of his younger brother. Jess’s mission is for the world to look past my brother’s addiction to see a kid who passionately loved living and desired adventure. 

In this episode we talk all about leather and being a Leathersmith, his brother’s life, addiction, how he continues a bond with his brother (e.g., riding, leathering, etc.), and grief dreams of his brother.

You can find more about Jess at https://www.174supplyco.com 

Instagram: @174supplyco and @companioncollective