Grief, Gratitude & The Gray in Between

Catherine Porth is the Founder of Let Her Speak where she curates women-empowered events, conducts female-focused research, and develops leadership-growth education. She founded Let Her Speak originally with one purpose - to share the stories of women who often get overlooked and forgotten. Her mission is to bring more visibility and support to all women in business. She believes that through community, research, and education - more women will rise to leadership positions.

Catherine has over 12 years of experience in service, business development, training, and insights research. She has worked in a broad range of industries including financial services, workplace design, and technology start-ups. For every role Catherine has had, one thing that remains consistent is that she takes on an "owner's heart" with every business she works for or with. She believes her wide range of experience and passion for the entrepreneurial community has made her uniquely effective in working with entrepreneurs who have to wear all the hats as they build their businesses.

Catherine holds a bachelor's degree in marketing and entrepreneurship from the University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business and a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee Haslam College of Business.

Born and raised in Iowa, she has called Knoxville, TN home for the last 4.5 years with her husband, dog, and rabbit.

Contact information for Let Her Speak:

Website: www.letherspeakus.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letherspeakus

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letherspeakus/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/let-her-speak/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-porth/

Email: [email protected]

Contact Kendra Rinaldi to be a guest or for coaching:

https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/

In this converstaion with Mark Poehner (Marco), we cover a few topics such as his experience as a foreigner growing up in Colombia during a time of inmense violence . We also talk about his family dynamics and upbringing and his approach to parenting. We talk as well as his passion to reforestation and conservation of endagered forest species in Colombia. And how everything in life is intricately interconnected.

Here is more about him in his own words:

"It wasn’t until I was in my 50s and read Third Culture Kids, by David C. Pollock and Ruth E. Van Reken, that I understood how growing up in Colombia and going to Colegio Bolívar molded my identity and social adaptation. Like many other CB students and alumni, I am a hybrid of two or more cultures, having entered Colombia at age 5, in January 1961. It was a bewildering introduction to a society at war with itself, with extremes and contrasts between wealth and poverty, ethnic diversity, natural beauty and abundance and the ugliness of the Violencia.

My father, who had been born to missionary parents in Pereira, Caldas (1926, prior to the secession of Risaralda), also felt “called” to minister to the poor and downtrodden, so he ventured into the most remote regions, jungles and marginalized neighborhoods, where the refugees settled; and he took me with him. I formed deep bonds with the forests and pueblos of Colombia. I became a “grincolombiano” or “grindio.”

On my 17th birthday I left home, Colegio Bolívar and Colombia, to make it on my own. Borrowing my airfare, I went to the USA, where I began working as a farm laborer, a dock worker, and even a janitor at my high school, to subsist. It took four years to afford college, where I felt out of place socially. I worked a few years as a journalist, then turned to teaching, first adults, then children.

In my early 30s, in a crisis of identity, I returned to Colombia to explore my national affinity. Teaching some wonderful 4th grade classes at CB, from 1988 to 1991, I realized that I was both Colombian and USAmerican, and that it was my choice to embrace both.

During that time I was offered an abandoned farm in upper Pance, above the town and the end of the road. I bought it in February 1989, borrowing from my retirement account. I devoted it to reforestation with native species, and to the conservation of endangered forest species. I learned the hard way, that the idealism of “self-sustained” farms takes 26-hr. workdays; so I kept the project going on my meager teacher budget.

Dealing with the violence of my upbringing (frequent fighting in my neighborhood, ongoing disturbances in the countryside and the city), I pursued a different approach to relationships and communication. After marrying and becoming a father, I was given a mentor in “Effective Communication and Relationship Building.” I studied under Selwa Saíd for 17 years, learning how to teach and raise children without coercion, punishment or yelling, and to listen to the intent and desire of others in conflict. I thoroughly changed my approach to teaching and parenting.

Now retired, I live between my two countries, between Cali and Central Coast California. Between forestry and surfing. As a hermit in the Farallones de Cali and as a dad on the Monterey Peninsula. As many other CB alumni, I’m a hybrid, a bridge builder, and hopefully a resource for a more peaceful and healthy future."

Contact Mark Poehner

FB: Marco Poehner

WA: +1 831-512-2880

316-562-6627 (when I have a signal)

Contact Kendra Rinaldi: https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/

Emma Payne is the Founder & CEO of Grief Coach, a secure, private and easy way to get meaningful grief support when someone dies.

Emma is a seasoned technology entrepreneur, MIT graduate, and award-winning change-agent, who started building online communities before Netscape was born. Her 25 year career leading online and mobile projects has included building tools to register young people to vote, creating online networks of support for families facing health challenges, and launching North America’s first online crisis intervention line. She also founded a scrappy, action-oriented, national non-profit focused on women & technology, that broke boundaries and developed leaders for 17 years.

Grief Coach combines Emma's passion for mobile technology and engagement, with her deep commitment to giving people the confidence and tools they need to support each other through grief. She knows that, while nothing makes grief go away, supporting someone through loss is powerful and transformative for the supporter, and alters the trajectory for the grieving person too.

Contact Emma Payne: https://grief.coach/who-we-are/emma-payne/

Grief Coach discount for listeners: https://grief.coach/gggpodcast

Contact Kendra Rinaldi to be a guest or for coaching: http://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com

Adriana Sorgi is a self published author of the book "Your Breakdown Is Your Breakthrough". In our conversation we talk about different aspects of grief that she experienced throughout her life. We talk about how her parents divorce impacted her as a young teenager, she talks about her history of eating disorders and how becoming a mother saved her life. We talk about her own divorce and how letting go of patterns that weren't serving her anymore, allowed her to truly be empowered.

A little more about Adriana Sorgi, in her own words:

"I am passionate about helping women claim everything about themselves... the good, what they judge as “bad” and everything in between. I believe that only from this place we have the capacity to create meaningful relationships, and a life that is inspiring to us.

I absolutely love helping women realize their value, take a stand for their truth and reveal their hearts without shame or apology.

As a coach, I don't hold back. I am direct, honest and will always stand for your truth. It is my commitment to empower you to step fully into who you truly are.

"You gotta claim the hell out of who you are without apology." This is the only way for you to discover how powerful you can be.

I want to help you allow HEALTHY love in by honoring every piece of you first. I believe that a big part of creating a healthy "romantic relationship" starts with being clear in what you want, knowing your boundaries and speaking your truth moment by moment.

I am a mother of two teenagers, a Spiritual Entrepreneur, and a Relentless Soul Seeker.

My credentials include an M.A. in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica, a Soul-Centered Professional Coaching certification, an Enneagram training certification, a Fitness Training certification and more...

I am a published author of Your Breakdown Is Your Breakthrough. Now available for sale on Amazon.

I I also write for the Huffington Post and Facilitate women’s groups on relationship and dating. "

Contact Adriana Sorgi:

https://www.instagram.com/adrianasorgicoaching/

https://www.adrianasorgi.com

Contact Kendra Rinaldi:

https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com

Sue Egan lost her brother to suicide six years ago. As she sat in a therapist's office a year later she began to pick up the pieces of her belief system and learned how to live with his suicide.

"I felt no one could possibly understand what it was like. I felt so alone in my grief, and had memories that would flash back of events I never thought would happen in my life.

There had been no warning signs, no suicide note or explanations. I have spent the last six years on my own journey of making meaning of my brother's death and working out how I can live with suicide as a part of my new life story.

Through my own psychotherapy, EMDR therapy and finding the strength to research sucide bereavement within my doctoratal research and hosting a podcast about suicide loss, I have healed as much as I can. By speaking to many others bereaved through suicide, I have found a safe place to talk - to share what seems to be unthinkable thoughts and to hear stories from those who 'just get it.'

I have learnt that we often have to rebuild not only our own lives but how we feel about our lost loved one.

I may never be fully healed or be able to fully accept my brother's suicide, but I am in a stronger position than I ever have been. So although life will never be the same again, it is the best it will ever be - knowing I cannot rewind time and stop my brother doing what he felt he had to."

Sue is a psychotherapist and a final year doctoral psychology student and is devoted to providing a safe therapeutic space for others who need to rebuild their lives after a sucide loss.

Sue is a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Contact Sue Egan:

https://www.suicidegriefsupport.com/

https://www.suicidegriefsupport.com/podcasts/the-healing-narratives-of-suicide-loss-2

https://www.facebook.com/suicidegriefsupport

https://www.instagram.com/suicide.grief.support

Contact Kendra Rinaldi to be a guest or for coaching:

http://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com

Danielle Remigio is a Student Affairs professional, writer, trainer, and TEDx speaker based in the Boston, Massachusetts area. She has a B.A. in Psychology from Western New England University and an M.S. in College Student Development & Counseling from Northeastern University. Her grief journey began in 2016 when she lost her mother, paternal grandfather, and father within 18 months of one another. Danielle has gone on to engage in conversations about the true needs of those grieving and gave her TEDxTalk in March of 2021 entitled "Cleaning Up the Grief Process" to help people understand how to approach the uncomfortable process of grief in their communities. She wants to grow and connect with others to normalize conversations around grief and reduce the stigma around the emotional processes we go through. Danielle is currently in the process of writing a memoir about her experiences to continue to share her life with anyone who could benefit from it.

Contact Danielle Remigio:

https://www.danielleremigio.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dl_remigio/

TedXTalk: https://youtu.be/azVaK5vLlgM

Contact Kendra Rinaldi to be a guest on the podcast, to have as a guest on a podcast or event or for coaching services: https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/

Carol Schoneberg has been a hospice educator and grief counselor in Maine since 1992. She has served as an End-of-Life Educator,

Bereavement Services Manager, and grief counselor at Hospice of Southern Maine— Maine’s only free-standing not-for-profit hospice—since its inception in 2004.

Carol provides end-of-life education to staff, volunteers, healthcare providers, universities, and the community at large. Certified as an Advance Care Planning Facilitator Trainer through the Respecting Choices program at Gundersen-Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, Wisconsin in 2001, she believes strongly that helping people talk about their choices for end of-life care can make a huge difference in the way families experience the dying process.

Her experiences working with the dying and the bereaved have inspired and taught her much about the resiliency of the human spirit.

Contact Carol Schoneberg:

https://www.hospiceofsouthernmaine.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/hospice-of-southern-maine/

https://www.instagram.com/hospiceofsouthernmaine/

https://www.facebook.com/HospiceofSouthernMaine

Contact Kendra Rinaldi: https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/

Catalina Osorio Arteaga Kocturk nos cuenta en estra entrevista su proceso de duelo despues de la muerte de su padre. Aqui hay un poco mas sobre Cata, en sus propias palabras:

"Naci en Medellin, Colombia. La mayor de 3 hermanos y la unica mujer. Siempre me senti muy amada y feliz. Creci alrededor de doctores por ser mi papa uno de ellos y me apasione locamente por la medicina. Al terminar mi bachillerato comence a estudiarla y dos años despues me fui para NY con la excusa de mejorar mi Ingles. Alla me enamore de la ciudad, de las nuevas oportunidades que me brindaba y de un hombre turco! Decidi dejar mi pais y la vida que habia empezado a contruir y comenzar de nuevo en NY. Con muchisimo esfuerzo estudie sicologia y al graduarme me mude para Estambul donde me case, forme una familia y donde llevo casi 19 años! Aca, soy esposa, mama de dos adolescentes y profesora de prescolar.

El 15 de Enero del 2020 recibi la peor noticia de mi vida: Mi papa habia muerto de un infarto.

La verdad es que esta es la primera vez que escribo sobre todas las muertes que han sido parte importante de mi vida. Me doy cuenta que han sido muchas… Mi abuela materna, mi hermanito Sebastian, mi tio Hugo, mi primo Carlos Andres, mi amiga Gladys, mi primer embarazo, , mi amiga turca, mi tio Jaime, mi amiga Day… Todas tocaron algo profundo en mi, pero la muerte de mi papa fue completamente devastadora. Todavia me cuesta describirlo y la verdad todavia no he vuelto a mi estado “normal”. El dolor ha sido tan profundo que desestabilizo TODAS mis estructuras, todos los aspectos de mi ser. Aproximadamente a las 3 semanas de su muerte comence a sentir una rabia profunda contra mi cultura. No podia aceptar, ni entender, ni perdonar que no nos enseña absolutamente nada relacionado con la muerte y el duelo. Dicen que “la ignorancia es atrevida”, pero la ignorancia sobre la muerte es completamente cruel. Yo me senti como si me hubieran tirado al mar en medio de una fuerte tormenta, sin preguntarme si sabia nadar y sin brindarme ningun tipo de flotador… CRUEL.

La pandemia encerro al mundo entero y yo, en medio de 4 paredes que seguian pareciendome el mas oscuro y tempestuoso de los oceanos, me obsesione con el tema. Comence a leer libros, ver videos, peliculas, documentales, a escuchar podcasts, a seguir especialistas en redes sociales y a ser parte de webinars que ofrecian la informacion y el apoyo emocional que tanto necesitaba. Con cada dia que pasaba me daba cuenta que mi nuevo proposito de vida estaba completamente ligado a compartir ese conocimiento, a desmitificar la muerte y a generar consciencia de su existencia para impulsar un cambio cultural al respecto. Comence con mis circulos mas cercanos. Empece a tener conversaciones con mis hijos, mi esposo y forme un grupo en WhatsApp con 14 miembros de mi familia donde comenzamos a tratar el tema de la muerte por primera vez. El grupo sigue activo y ha sido una experiencia maravillosa. Tambien tuve una charla con mis amigas del colegio la cual fue muy especial. Decidi prepararme como especialista en duelo. Ya tengo varios certificados. Sigo aprendiendo, sigo compartiendo y sigo motivada a aportar un granito de arena. "

Contacta a Catalina https://www.instagram.com/con.cata.osorio/

Contacta a Kendra para ser invitado en el podcast o para coaching.

https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/

Melissa Pierce was widowed overnight at the age of 44 when her husband Dave didn’t wake up on a cold Saturday morning in 2011. As a solo parent to their two sons, Melissa knew she had to take care of herself first so she could care for her kids - they needed her support more than ever - so she began the work of processing her deep grief and practicing self-care to move forward. She is a testament to trusting her gut and standing behind her choices. Melissa is an author, founder and creator of Filled With Gold monthly self-care support boxes for widows, and host of the Filled With Gold Widow podcast. She is happily remarried to her husband-in-this-life, Sean, and they now call the Oregon coast home.

Contact Meliessa Pierce and find out more about the self-care support boxes for widow, her book and her podcast:

https://www.filledwithgold.org/

Contact Kendra Rinaldi for coaching or to be a guest:

http://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com

Janine Libreros es madre, docente, escritora e hipnoterapeuta. Es creadora del Scanner mente/cuerpo/alma y contexto y en actualmente está haciendo una certificación Internacional en hipnosis clínica en Miami. En este podcast, Janine comparte sus vivencias y aprendizajes de vida y duelo después del trágico accidente aéreo en el que falleció su hermana Nancy. También comparte su proceso de duelo años después cuando falleció su padre y también cuando ella perdió el bebe que estaba esperando. Y como dice ella,

“por medio de la muerte conocí la vida”.

Conéctate con Janine por Facebook https://www.facebook.com/janine.libreros y por Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/jani_libreros/

Conéctate con Kendra Rinaldi para recibir coaching o para ser invitado en el podcast https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/