Grief, Gratitude & The Gray in Between

Debra Meyerson was previously a tenured professor at Stanford University, where she studied, wrote, lectured, and taught about diversity, gender, identity, and organizational change. In September 2010, her life and career were derailed by a severe stroke that initially left her paralyzed on the right side, and completely mute. Years of intensive therapy and a relentless work ethic enabled Deb to regain her independence, but she still lives with physical limitations and speech challenges. She wrote Identity Theft: Rediscovering Ourselves After Stroke to help other survivors and those closest to them navigate an emotional journey that she found very difficult—and rewarding.

Steve Zuckerman is Debra’s husband and life partner since 1988, and her care partner since her stroke in 2010. He had a successful first career as a business leader and then launched West Coast operations for Self-Help, a nationally recognized economic justice nonprofit. After co-founding Self-Help Federal Credit Union and serving as president for 12 years, Steve stepped out of his leadership role in 2020 to cofound and build Stroke Onward with Debra – working to catalyze change in the system of stroke care.

• Links:  To learn more about some of the things discussed in this podcast, please see the links below: Stroke Onward website: Stroke Onward Identity Theft: Rediscovering Ourselves After Stroke:  Identity Theft: Rediscovering Ourselves After Stroke Stroke Onward Community Circle (SOCC): Sign in | Stroke Onward Stroke Onward Gatherings: Stroke Onward | Gatherings WCNY Documentary:  Inclusive Sports | Stroke Across America: Trauma, Adaptation, Purpose | PBS

Episode Highlights

• The "Second Trauma": Debra discusses the identity crisis she faced when her university medical leave ended, forcing her to realize she could not return to her life as a tenured Stanford professor.

• Stroke as a Family Illness: The couple shares how trauma shifts family roles, including how their daughter learned that vulnerability is a form of strength rather than weakness.

• Toxic Positivity vs. Action: Steve and Debra explain why "sugary positivity" can be harmful and how practical help—like a friend volunteering to walk their dog—offers true support.

• Rehabilitation vs. Recovery: Steve highlights the gap in the medical system between physical rehabilitation (fixing function) and emotional recovery (rebuilding a rewarding life).

• Combatting Isolation: The hosts discuss their cross-country cycling trip, where they connected with some of the 7 million U.S. stroke survivors who often feel deeply isolated.

• New Tools for Aphasia: The discussion covers the second edition of their book, Identity Theft, which explores how AI voice technology can assist survivors.

Contact Kendra Rinaldi if you'd like more information about coaching with her, having her as a guest speaker  or being a guest the podcast. https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/

Tim's debut novel, Alice the Cat (Fitzroy Books) was chosen as an American Book Awards 'Best Book' Finalist for 2023, received a Bronze Medal in the 2024 Feathered Quill Book Awards, and is a Finalist in both the 2024 National Indies Excellence Awards for Teen Fiction and the Independent Author Network's Book of the Year Awards. His second novel, The Lightning People Play (Black Rose Writing) in the summer of 2025.  He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University Los Angeles and a BFA from NYU/Tisch School of the Arts. He has appeared in 200+ projects across theatre, film, television, voice-over, and new media. Recent publications  include F(r)iction, Scare Street, Lunch Ticket, MeowMeow PowPow, From Whispers to Roars, Drunk Monkeys, Hare's Paw, Lit Angels, The Wax Paper, Excerpt,  and Critical Read/RAFT, for which he won the ‘Origins’ contest for his essay, "You Have Changed Me Forever." Tim is an octopus and spider enthusiast. He goes wild for anything with eight legs. He recently discovered he is a masterful hula hooper and can whirl nonstop for eons. He possesses enviable collections of stickers, labradorite, night-sky projector lights, vintage vinyl, and rare first-edition hardcover copies of some of his favorite novels. No one has ever made a better vat of chili, and his lasagna is infallible. He teaches writing for UCLA Extension Writers' Program, The Townies Inc. in Ojai, runs private workshops, and coaches authors.

https://www.timcummings.ink/ https://www.instagram.com/octospark/

Storytelling as Service

• Tim Cummings, UCLA instructor and author of Alice the Cat and The Lightning People Play.
• Writing as a “time machine” to reconnect with younger selves.
• Transforms trauma into light, using storytelling as service.

Art as Lifeline & Found Family

• Acting became a lifeline after losing his mother at 16.
• Theater community offered belonging after bullying.
• His work champions marginalized voices and underdogs.

Navigating Grief

• Tim has endured profound family loss.
• Writing and movement (like dance aerobics) became healing practices.
• His advice: feel your feelings — they are the way through.

Contact Kendra Rinaldi to be a guest on the show or to inquire about  grief coaching  sessions

https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/ 

Email : [email protected]

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Rebecca (Becky) Faye Smith Galli is an author, columnist, and advocate who writes about love,
loss and healing. Surviving significant losses—her seventeen-year-old brother’s death; her son’s
degenerative disease and subsequent death; her daughter’s autism; her divorce; and nine days later, her paralysis from transverse myelitis, a rare spinal cord inflammation that affects one in a million—has fostered an unexpected but prolific writing career. Her website (BeckyGalli.com) houses over 400 published columns. Her books, Rethinking Possible – A Memoir of Resilience (2017) and Morning Fuel – Daily Inspirations to Stretch Your Mind Before Starting Your Day(2024) reflect what she believes: “Life can be good—no matter what.” She continues to write Thoughtful Thursdays—Lessons from a Resilient Heart, a column for her subscriber family that shares what’s inspired her to stay positive.

Contact Rebecca Faye Smith Galli  https://rebeccafayesmithgalli.com/

 List of Topics:

• Author Introduction: Rebecca Faye Smith Gali (Becky) is introduced as an author, columnist, and advocate who writes about love, loss, and healing. Discussion includes her books: Rethinking Possible, a Memoir of Resilience and Morning Fuel, Daily Inspiration.

• Early Loss and Resilience: Discussing the death of her 17-year-old brother, Forrest, in a water skiing accident when Rebecca was 20, and observing the vastly different ways her parents grieved (one public, one private).

• The Power of Structure: How structure (like college classes) and avoiding isolation helped her move through initial grief, noting that resilience is a muscle that requires work and mindfulness.

• The Parallel Paths Concept: Learning about the powerful concept of pursuing parallel paths (e.g., hoping her son would outgrow seizures while also preparing for the reality that he might not) to manage the "immobility of uncertainty".

• Navigating Complex Family Dynamics: Discussing her son Matthew's epilepsy and subsequent death at age 15, raising her daughter Madison with autism, and consciously deciding to pursue an "amazing divorce" after three years of intensive counseling.

• Sudden Illness and Acceptance: Being paralyzed from the waist down by transverse myelitis and using the parallel paths concept in her health journey. She recounts her "big toe moment," realizing acceptance meant reinvesting the energy spent on hope into "living fully in the life I had".

• Three Tools for Navigating Grief: The essential strategies Rebecca uses: being honest about feelings (including anger and chronic disappointment), seeking resources (professional help, nature, support), and keeping moving by finding one small thing to be grateful for.

• The Importance of Perspective: The reminder that "life can be good no matter what".

• Avoiding Comparison: Using the analogy of the Dalmatian and the Chihuahua in the mud to illustrate that everyone's grief journey is different, and comparison should be avoided.

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

Diane Namm is a book author with over 65 titles (children's, YA, and non-fiction adult). Her most recent picture book What Happens After? is about losing someone you love, respecting the grieving process, and finding a way forward. Kirkus Reviews describes it as “A simple, emotionally effective exploration of loss.

https://www.instagram.com/dianenamm/

https://www.amazon.com/What-Happens-After-Diane-Namm/dp/B0DNF5988R

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/221620126-what-happens-after

https://www.dianenamm.com

• Children's Author Perspective: Diane Namm, author of over 65 titles, shares her journey from working as a children's book editor in New York to writing full-time in Los Angeles.
• Dual Audience Approach: Her picture book, What Happens After, is written for the "dual audience response" of both children and adults, serving as a "hug" and a conversation starter.
• The Power of Direct Language: The book intentionally avoids common euphemisms (like "passed on") and uses the clear word "dies" to address the "elephant in the room" directly, providing a clear springboard for discussion.
• Validating Grief: Diane used the writing process as a cathartic experience to validate big feelings for children and emphasize that there is no timeline or deadline for mourning.
• Honoring Legacy: The discussion focuses on how to keep the person in your life by incorporating memories into holidays and routines, stressing the real value in not forgetting them.
• Pre-Loss Reading: A key takeaway is the value of reading the book with loved ones before they die to gather information (like favorite songs or memories) that helps children know how to honor the loved one later.

To be on the newsletter subscribe on the website https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/

To contact Kendra Rinaldi email her at [email protected]

Welcome to a solo episode where I discuss a very personal topic: honoring and celebrating my parents' wedding anniversary (October 29th) even though my mom died nine years ago and my dad has since remarried.

I share the fascinating, intercultural love story of how my Italian-American father, who was traveling in South America, met my Colombian mother. This date is where our family started, and I feel strongly about continuing to honor that legacy.

I also share the bittersweet memories attached to this time of year. This period holds the anniversary of their wedding, but also the anniversary of my mom's passing in November. I reflect on the magical and miraculous way my mother followed a hunch to travel to Orlando right before she died, which ensured all of us siblings were able to be present when she took her last breath.

It’s okay to honor these complex dates and allow the emotions—the grief, the joy, and the immense gratitude—to come through.

Thank you for tuning in! If you feel inspired, please subscribe to my newsletter via the website, or check out my subscription content on Apple Podcast for additional bonus episodes. If you have a story to share, email me at [email protected]

https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/

Pam Baker is the founder and CEO of Widows Who Wine™, a national community and app designed to help widows rediscover connection, support, and joy after profound loss. After losing her husband, Jon, to glioblastoma in 2021, Pam turned her personal experience into purpose—becoming an author and podcast host to guide others through the complexities of grief and estate planning. She is the author of Where’s the Key to the Safe? and hosts two podcasts: The Lost Love Stories, which offers heartfelt conversations for anyone who has lost someone they love, and Coffee, Cancer & Cocktails, a candid and compassionate space to discuss the messy intersections of illness, caregiving, and resilience. A seasoned philanthropist and community leader, Pam and her team have raised millions for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation following the diagnoses of two of her children. Based in Roswell, Georgia, she is the proud mother of four young adults and is known for opening her heart and home to a life filled with purpose, people, and plenty of laughter.

https://lastinglegacyconsulting.com/       https://www.instagram.com/bakereed/

 https://www.linkedin.com/in/pambaker1818/    https://www.facebook.com/pam.r.baker.5/ 

Show Highlights: 

• Background: Pam and her husband, John (a financial advisor), were married for 24 years. Pam's experience navigating her children's cystic fibrosis (CF) diagnosis prepared her for John's aggressive glioblastoma. John lived three years after his diagnosis, passing peacefully at home. Pam and John created the Facebook Live series, Coffee, Cancer, and Cocktails, to control their narrative. Pam's current podcast, The Lost Love Stories, encourages sharing honest memories of lost loved ones.
• Community (Widows Who Wine): Pam created this social group for women to find sisterhood and thrive after loss, as existing grief support often had a heavy religious overtone.
• Financial Preparedness: Where's the Key to the Safe? is a workbook designed to help manage the "business of death" and prevent major financial decisions during "grief fog.

Contact Kendra Rinaldi to be a guest or  for Grief Coaching  [email protected]

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Jennifer Schrappe LPCC-S has been a therapist for over twenty years, specializing in trauma. She is the Founder and Director of Chrysalis Enterprises, a private counseling practice in Columbus, Ohio. In addition to her work at Chrysalis, she is also a professional speaker. Jennifer has created the Heal Your Money Stuff, Calm Your Life program for those who struggle with ongoing money management issues, and is developing a program for entrepreneurs who are in recovery from food addiction.

www.jenniferschrappe.com
@jenniferschrappelpcc (Instagram)

Show Highlights:

This episode features Jennifer Schrappe, a licensed professional clinical counselor and supervisor specializing in trauma and emotional woundedness. The discussion centers on various healing modalities and how unresolved pain impacts daily life.

Trauma Expertise and Personal MotivationJennifer Schrappe utilizes IFS-informed (Internal Family Systems Informed) therapy as a trauma therapist. Her path was driven by a deep desire to help others avoid the pain she experienced, particularly relating to internalizing blame for her parents’ divorce and a resultant 40-year food addiction.

Healing Childhood Wounds (IFS)Schrappe guides clients to connect with the wounded child part (e.g., a 10-year-old) to unburden its pain and find safety and compassion. This process allows the client’s emotional protectors (like anxiety or the inner critic) to calm down, as they realize they are no longer reacting to pain from decades ago.

Neutralizing Recent Trauma (RRT)For recent traumatic incidents, she may use Rapid Resolution Therapy (RRT) to neutralize the traumatic effect and stop the brain from "looping" the memory (causing flashbacks or intrusive thoughts). RRT leverages neuroplasticity by having the client remain in a calm, safe place while the therapist retells the traumatic memory with purposefully incorrect details, forcing the brain to relearn the memory without the trauma and sting.

Life Impact and Self-ProtectionUnresolved trauma and anxiety can affect all aspects of life, including relationships, money management, and work. Jennifer views unhealthy or unproductive behaviors as self-protective responses. She also emphasizes that struggles like depression are not personal failings but signs that an internal part is "crying out for help".

Programs and Entrepreneur SupportHer work extends to webinars and programs, such as "Heal Your Money Stuff" and "Calm Your Life Program," addressing how internal parts interfere with daily functioning, specifically around money management patterns (e.g., fear spending, guilt spending). She is also developing support for entrepreneurs navigating addiction recovery or emotional struggles that crash with their business endeavors.

To sign up forthe podcst Newsletter go to https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/

Send me an email and let me know what you found impactful about this episode and if you have suggestion for other topics [email protected]

Andy Campbell is a resilient survivor and inspirational author who has overcome numerous life-altering challenges—a victim of childhood sexual abuse and bullying, the loss of his mother at an early age, and the eventual estrangement from his father, his battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and the loss of his youngest son to suicide. Despite enduring multiple surgeries, grueling chemotherapy treatments, and the tragic loss of his youngest child, he has demonstrated remarkable strength and perseverance, and developed a deep understanding of resilience and knows firsthand what it takes to overcome monumental challenges. To share with others what he has learned through his experiences, Andy has written Overcoming Life’s Toughest Setbacks: 15 Breakthrough Core Beliefs to Transform Challenges into Opportunities!. In this book readers can access actionable insights from the 15 Core Beliefs crafted to empower us to navigate through life’s labyrinth. Your journey from experiencing life’s storms to dancing in its rain unfolds in this book’s insightful examples.

www.askandycampbell.com

• The Power of the Physician: Andy details the need to seek a true "physician"—one with "insatiable curiosity" who partners with the patient—rather than a statistic-focused doctor.
• A New Approach to Illness: Andy deliberately chooses to "struggle against" cancer, viewing the cells as defective rather than malicious, which helped him manage anger and cortisol levels.
• The Metastasizing Pain of Suicide: He discusses the shift from feeling parental guilt to realizing he had "zero control" over his son’s decision. Andy explains the horrific truth that the pain of suicide does not end with the person but "metastasizes" onto remaining loved ones "like a cancer".
• Putting Your Helmet On: A core life philosophy: you must "put your helmet on before you need it" by engaging in health, mental health, and physical care before crisis hits.
• Irreplaceable Threads: Andy emphasizes that every human is an "irreplaceable thread in the fabric of the universe" and encourages listeners to struggle to stay alive and leave an aspirational legacy.
• The 15 Core Beliefs: These phrases act as the "rope bridge" that connects a person from complete devastation back to making slow progress.
• Final Wisdom: "Do not take out of the creator’s hands the ability to move the universe in your favor".

To find out more information about working with Kendra Rinaldi https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/event-details/lets-connect-15-minute-discovery-call

To be a guest on the podcast https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/book-online

Sally McQuillen, LCSW, CADC, is a psychotherapist in private practice specializing in addiction recovery, grief and trauma healing. An avid reader with a double major in writing and dance criticism in college, she began working in public relations and marketing prior to obtaining her master’s degree in social work. Reaching for Beautiful is Sally’s first book. She and her husband live on the north shore of Chicago where they raised their three children.

https://www.sallymcquillen.com/ 

Key topics in this conversation include:

• The Nature of Grief: Sally describes grief as a complex experience where many deep emotions can exist at once. She and Kendra discuss how past losses don't always prepare you for new ones, and even with coping tools, they may not be accessible in the moment of trauma.
• A Family's Journey with Addiction: Sally opens up about the legacy of addiction in her family, from her father to her own recovery, and finally to her son's struggles. She shares how she became fully transparent about her past when Christopher needed help at age 16.
• The Loss of Christopher: Christopher passed away in a canoeing accident with three friends during a college break. After being sober for three years, he had relapsed, wanting to fit in with his fraternity brothers. The tragedy of multiple families losing their children at once was an overwhelming and traumatic experience.
• Parenting from Love Over Fear: Sally reflects on parenting Christopher from a state of "fight or flight" and emphasizes the importance of parents calming their own nervous systems. She found that consciously letting go of fear deepened her connection with her son before he passed away.
• Signs and Hope: Sally's belief that Christopher is still alive in spirit has been fundamental to her survival. A pivotal conversation on an airplane introduced her to A Course in Miracles, which reinforced her path of choosing love over fear.
• Honoring Christopher's Legacy: Sally and her family keep Christopher's memory alive by supporting two charities in his name: The Penguin Project for young adults with special needs and the In Balance Ranch Academy, which provides scholarships for addiction treatment.
• A Message of Hope: Sally offers a powerful message to any parent who has lost a child: the loss is survivable, even when it feels impossible. She aims to offer hope to others walking this difficult path.

Contact Kendra Rinaldi to be a guest on the podcast 

Inquire about a Free Discovery Coaching Call with Kendra Rinaldi

Randi Pearlman Wolfson is a Los Angeles based grief educator and author. After experiencing the death of her dad when she was ten years old, it became her life-long dream to provide hope and healing to grieving children and adults. For over twenty years, she has educated the community, including mental health professionals, clergy, students, teachers, and various other professionals, on the topic of grief.

As founder/writer at Grief & GRITS™ on Facebook and Instagram, Randi provides a caring heart and voice for little grievers™ and adult grievers. She is the author of “Eddie’s Brave Journey: How one little elephant learned all about grief” a story for the littlest of grieving hearts. To learn more about her book please go to: EddiesBraveJourney.com

• Meet Randi Pearlman Wolfson: Introducing Randi, the founder of the popular grief community Grief and Grits and author of the children's book, Eddie's Brave Journey.
• A Lifelong Griever: Randi shares how the death her father when she was 10 in 1966 shaped her life, combining her personal experience with over a decade of professional work in the grief space.
• Writing for Her Inner Child: Randi's book, Eddie's Brave Journey, was written for her own 10-year-old self. In 1966, there were no children's grief books, so she created the resource she never had.
• The Story of Eddie: The book follows a little elephant named Eddie grieving his grandpa. Elephants were chosen because they are known to grieve as a community. The story uses direct language like "died" and teaches kids they can hold two feelings at once.
• Grief in Everyday Moments: Randi and Kendra discuss how small, daily disappointments (like a meal not turning out right or a friend canceling) are also forms of grief, and how these can be used to teach children about loss before they experience a major death.
• Talking About Grief Isn't Always Sad: Randi explains that creating a safe space for grief to "come out" is one of the greatest honors of her life and not inherently sad.
• Identifying as a "Little Griever": One of Randi's missions is to help adults who experienced the death of a parent in childhood identify as "little grievers," validating how that  continues to shape them.

Contact Kendra Rinaldi at [email protected] for more information about how to schedule a coaching call

To book a podcast https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/book-online