Grief & Happiness

Here is the key to activating your feel good hormones!

Let's Connect:

• You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking here
• You can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.
• You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:
• You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking here
• Request your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide here

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If you’ve ever wondered how facing fear head-on could change your life, episode 374 is for you. Author Diane Hartman shares how solo trips through Ireland’s backroads—complete with wrong turns, roundabouts gone wrong, and deep solitude—help her confront decades of buried grief. Through journaling and courage, she turns loss into resilience and shows how getting lost can sometimes be the exact path to finding yourself.

In This Episode, You Will Learn: 

(01:00) Diane’s path from librarian to writer and her call to Ireland

(03:46) How her first solo trip tested her courage behind the wheel

(07:59) The lifelong impact of losing her father to suicide at age ten

(12:56) Supporting grieving children as a school librarian

(14:15) Choosing to transform trauma into empathy and purpose

(16:23) The role of self-talk, compassion, and counseling in her healing

(21:14) How daily journaling shaped her memoir

(22:46) A teacher grant, writer’s retreat, and the push to publish

(25:24) Writing for travelers, grievers, and anyone seeking resilience

(26:53) Where to find Getting Lost on My Way and follow Diane’s journey

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Diane Hartman, an author and retired school librarian from Indiana. Her memoir, Getting Lost on My Way: Self-Discovery on Ireland’s Backroads, draws from her solo journeys through Ireland after the early loss of her father to suicide and the end of a long marriage. Through travel and journaling, she discovers resilience, courage, and healing, transforming her grief into a story of self-discovery and gratitude. Passionate about inspiring others to face fear with courage, Diane shows how even life’s deepest losses can become gateways to growth and renewal.

Throughout this episode, she shares how traveling alone through Ireland’s winding backroads—often lost and confronting challenges like driving on the opposite side of the road—forces her to confront fear, grief, and self-doubt. By embracing the discomfort of solitude, she learns the power of self-talk, compassion, and courage, uncovering lessons that shape both her memoir and her life. Her story is a reminder that solo journeys can spark profound healing, self-trust, and empathy, offering hope to anyone navigating grief or searching for a deeper sense of self.

Connect with Diane Hartman:

Website

Substack

Instagram

Facebook

Book: Getting Lost on My Way

Let's Connect: 

Website

LinkedIn

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

The Grief and Happiness Alliance

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Every single moment is valuable. Experiencing each of those moments with love and joy rather that stress and anguish is a gift that you can give yourself every day, every moment.

Let's Connect:

• You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking here
• You can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.
• You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:
• You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking here
• Request your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide here

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’ve ever felt trapped in a relationship that was breaking you, episode 372 is for you. Author and healing guide Sarah May shares how she left an abusive marriage that nearly cost her life—and how yoga, therapy, plant medicine, and writing helped her rebuild. With raw honesty, she shows how choosing yourself can open the door to freedom, resilience, and lasting love.

In This Episode, You Will Learn: 

(01:05) From heartbreak to homecoming: Sarah’s story and memoir

(03:32) Marrying young, betrayal, and the devastating impact of divorce

(06:50) Coping with infidelity, trauma, and a near-fatal helicopter crash

(10:45) Leaving everything behind and starting a cross-country road trip

(13:13) Why shifting from victimhood to responsibility changed everything

(17:00) How love and fear kept her stuck—and the courage to walk away

(19:13) The family patterns that shaped her relationships (and how she broke them)

(23:20) The healing power of yoga, therapy, journaling, and plant medicine

(30:27) Why self-love is the foundation of safe, lasting relationships

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Sarah May, an author, healing guide, and founder of She Journeys. Her memoir, She Journeys: A Memoir of Heartbreak and Homecoming, traces her experience of an abusive marriage, divorce, and the long process of reclaiming her voice. Drawing on this journey and years of spiritual and therapeutic work, she now supports women one-on-one through intuitive guidance, Reiki, meditation, and somatic practices. Passionate about turning grief into growth, Sarah lives in a camper van with her husband, embracing a life of freedom, healing, and love.

Throughout this episode, Sarah shares how leaving her marriage felt like a death, plunging her into depression before she slowly rebuilt her life on a cross-country road trip. Practices like yoga, meditation, therapy, breathwork, plant medicine, and journaling became vital in her healing and later shaped her work as a guide. She emphasizes the power of self-love, responsibility, and moving beyond victimhood, showing how profound loss can ultimately lead to resilience, gratitude, and a deeply fulfilling new chapter.

Connect with Sarah May:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Book: Sarah May - She Journeys

Let's Connect: 

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• The Grief and Happiness Alliance
• Book: Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Great self-care includes knowing when and how to take a break. Here are the directions!

Writing a list of happy experiences you have had can bring you joy and give you lots of things to write about in your journal!

Let's Connect:

• You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking here
• You can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.
• You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:
• You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking here
• Request your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide here

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’ve ever wondered how children can learn to face grief with courage and creativity, episode 370 is for you. Author and educator Jerry Woodbridge joins Emily to share how her experiences of loss and widowhood inspired her to write Joy Overcame Sorry, a middle-grade novel that helps kids process the death of a parent through story and journaling. With wisdom drawn from her own grief journey, Jerry shows how writing, empathy, and faith can guide children—and their families—toward resilience, healing, and hope.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

(01:01) Jerry’s lifelong calling as a teacher and writer

(02:30) The devastating losses that shaped her perspective on grief

(06:45) How journaling provided clarity and emotional release

(10:40) From grief to creativity: writing her first book Trading My Sorries for the Joy of the Lord

(13:40) Why empathy—not casseroles—helps grievers feel seen

(16:30) Turning pain into purpose and helping others heal

(20:36) The differences between sudden and anticipatory grief

(23:06) How children process grief—and why resources like camps and books matter

(25:21) Choosing joy while holding sorrow at the same time

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Jerry Woodbridge, an educator, author, and grief advocate who helps children and families process loss through storytelling and journaling. After the deaths of her husband and four babies, Jerry turned to writing as a way to find clarity and healing. Author of Joy Overcame Sorry and its companion Joy’s Journal, she draws on her decades of teaching experience and personal journey to guide middle-grade children in expressing emotions. Through her books and commitment to grief literacy, Jerry shows how writing and empathy can transform sorrow into resilience and hope.

Throughout this episode, Jerry shares how journaling became her lifeline after losing her husband and four babies. What began as private writing grew into books that help children put words to their grief. She introduces Joy Overcame Sorry, a story of a ten-year-old coping with her father’s death, and Joy’s Journal, a companion that guides kids through their own emotions. Jerry highlights the value of early grief literacy, the difference between sympathy and empathy, and the healing power of presence. Her message shows how sorrow and joy can coexist, with love as the bridge between them.

Connect with Dr. Jerry Woodbridge:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

LinkedIn

X

Get Jerry’s books!

Let's Connect: 

Website

The Grief and Happiness Alliance

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writing a list of happy experiences you have had can bring you joy and give you lots of things to write about in your journal!

Let's Connect:

• You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking here
• You can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.
• You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:
• You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking here
• Request your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide here

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’ve ever wondered how it’s possible to survive the loss of a child, episode 368 is for you. Author and healer Vickie Menendez joins Emily to share how losing four children became the catalyst for her healing, spiritual connection, and mission to help others. Through stories of synchronicities, raising vibration, and reframing grief into love, Vickie shows how even the deepest sorrow can transform into purpose.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

(01:03) The book that came from the heart

(01:49) Reframing tragedy through love

(04:40) Messages through rainbows

(06:11) First loss at 20 years old

(07:40) Overdose and a cascade of losses

(10:40) The double blow of 2017–2018

(12:40) Discovering tools for healing

(15:02) Transforming grief into purpose

(25:38) The gift of mandalas

(31:35) The chrysalis journey

In today's episode, I'm joined by Vickie Menendez, a grief guide, author, and spiritual healer who helps others turn loss into healing and empowerment. After the unimaginable deaths of her four children, she discovered practices that reframed grief through love and spiritual growth. Author of Mother of All Memoirs: The Crystal’s Butterfly Effect and The Compass to the Soul, Vickie blends personal experience with modalities like breathwork, mandala art, and MAP (Make Anything Possible) therapy. Through her books, workshops, and private sessions, she shows others how to raise their vibration, process emotions, and reconnect with their true essence, offering hope and practical tools for navigating profound loss.

Throughout this episode, Vickie shares her journey from the stillbirth of her daughter in 1980 to the later losses of three more children. Though devastating, these experiences became the foundation of her healing work. She explains how spiritual coaching, breathwork, and MAP therapy helped her process grief and shift perspective. Instead of remaining in sorrow, she now sees her children as pure love, often felt through signs like rainbows and synchronicities. She highlights the power of raising one’s vibration to connect with loved ones, honoring their legacies by helping others heal, and transforming pain into purpose.

Connect with Vickie Menendez:

• Website
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Vickie Menendez: Mother of All Memoirs book series

Let's Connect: 

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Pinterest
• The Grief and Happiness Alliance
• Book: Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everyone needs people, especially while grieving. Listen to Michal Franti’s song here.

People need People: https://youtu.be/PaDUAGcfuWw?si=CUH-ctFnhxEB-cRA

Let's Connect:

• You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking here
• You can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.
• You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:
• You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking here
• Request your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide here

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’ve ever wondered how to talk to children about death, episode 366 is for you. Author and grief advocate Clarissa Moll shares how losing her husband reshaped life as a widowed mother of four—and why honest conversations help kids more than protection. Through her children’s book Hope Comes to Stay and her own story, Clarissa shows how grief can grow resilience, compassion, and even joy.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

(1:00) Life shattered by sudden loss

(1:40) Choosing joy amid grief

(2:40) The story behind hope comes to stay

(4:30) Teaching kids that pain exists—and joy too

(5:10) The myth of invincibility

(8:30) Why we must talk about death with children

(13:40) Lost rituals, lost comfort

(15:40) The power of consolation and community

(17:30) The limits of online support

(18:50) Staying present for the grieving

In today's episode,  I'm joined by Clarissa Moll, an author, podcaster, and grief advocate who helps people navigate loss with honesty and hope. After her husband’s sudden death in 2019, Clarissa began writing and speaking about grief, parenting through loss, and finding joy in life’s hardest seasons. She produces and moderates The Bulletin, Christianity Today’s flagship news podcast, and is the author of Beyond the Darkness: A Gentle Guide for Living with Grief and Thriving After Loss and the children’s book Hope Comes to Stay. Drawing on personal experience and compassionate insight, Clarissa encourages open conversations about death, resilience, and community. Through her books, podcasting, and speaking, she offers families practical tools to face grief together while cultivating compassion and courage. She lives with her four children, carrying forward her late husband’s legacy with honesty and joy.

Throughout this episode, Clarissa shares a deeply personal perspective on grief and resilience. After becoming a widowed mother of four, she dedicated her work to guiding others through loss, showing that grief, though painful, can nurture compassion and interdependence. In Hope Comes to Stay, she demonstrates how stories of hardship help children grasp both the reality of suffering and the possibility of joy. Clarissa stresses the importance of speaking directly with kids about death—avoiding euphemisms and giving them the language they need—and reflects on how modern culture conceals death, erasing rituals that once offered comfort. Ultimately, she highlights the irreplaceable role of community support—meals, childcare, presence—over the illusion of handling grief alone.

Connect with Clarissa Moll:

Website

Instagram

Substack

LinkedIn

Get Clarissa’s books!

Let's Connect: 

Website

LinkedIn

Twitter

The Grief and Happiness Alliance

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.