Playing is an important component of your life at any age.

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• 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 loss can open the door to unexpected purpose, episode 400 of the Grief and Happiness podcast is for you. Artist and author Marcie Shrewsbury Lopez shares how caring for her husband through his final days—and facing the grief that followed—sparked a powerful new creative chapter. From unexpected signs on the beach to the healing pull of art and animals, Marcie shows how even deep sorrow can guide you toward meaning and renewal.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

(01:07) Rebuilding life through art, friends, and horses

(01:57) How horses create emotional breakthroughs in grief

(03:45) The equine-therapy moment that unlocked years of tears

(06:13) Why art helps access and heal deeper emotions

(07:41) The dream, the meeting, and the love story that changed everything

(16:06) How a 46-year age difference led to a joyful, adventurous marriage

(23:00) The sacred lessons she learned while caregiving

(26:06) The beach signs that continue to comfort her

(27:10) How grief opened the door to her strongest creative work yet

Marcie Shrewsbury Lopez is an artist, author, and storyteller whose work explores love, loss, and transformation. After the passing of her husband Adrian, she stepped more fully into her creative path, developing a body of artwork that reflects deep emotional truth. Her paintings have been featured in exhibitions across New Jersey, and her memoir shares the remarkable love story and spiritual journey that shaped her life. Marcie continues to inspire others through her art, writing, and the meaningful connections she builds around grief and healing.

In this episode, Marcie reflects on the profound impact of her 20–year marriage and the ways grief opened new doors to healing. She shares how reconnecting with horses offered unexpected comfort, emotional release, and a grounding presence during mourning, and how her art became a powerful way to access and process her feelings. Marcie also recounts the extraordinary way she met and married Adrian, their life of adventure and unconditional love, and the sacred experience of caregiving at the end of his life. Her insights highlight how creativity, animals, spiritual signs, and continued bonds can gently guide us forward after loss.

Connect with Marcie Shrewsbury Lopez:

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Book: Marcie Shrewsbury Lopez - A PLACE OF PROMISE

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The Grief and Happiness Alliance

Book: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief

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What one intention are you making for this year? Start it with the words: “I am.”

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.

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If you’ve ever felt caught off guard by aging or unsure how to rebuild after loss, episode 398 of the Grief and Happiness podcast is for you. Author and artist J.J. Hubal shares the moment she “woke up old” and how that shock—combined with deep grief—pushed her to rethink her life. Through candid stories and her signature humor, she reveals how small, brave steps and saying “yes” can spark unexpected renewal. Her journey shows that your next chapter can begin at any age.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

(01:22) J.J.’s journey as a writer, artist, and teacher

(05:23) How deep loss in her 60s sparked Goodbye Old, Hello Bold

(08:51) Why aging can feel sudden—and why honesty helps

(11:32) The turning point that made her ask, “Now what?”

(14:10) How saying “yes” creates new possibilities at any age

(17:27) Why tiny steps matter more than big dramatic changes

(21:41) How creativity and community rebuilt her confidence

(24:52) The power of stepping outside your comfort zone

(29:41) How keeping your “pilot light” lit fuels renewal

(33:54) What happens when you keep showing up anyway

(36:27) Why embracing aging unlocks untapped potential

J.J. Hubal is a lifelong writer, artist, and former special education teacher whose work combines gentle humor, honesty, and simple, expressive illustrations. Her book Goodbye Old, Hello Bold grew from her own journey through aging and reinvention, capturing her philosophy of “I write and draw what I live.” Now retired from teaching, she devotes her time to writing and cartooning, offering relatable, uplifting guidance to anyone navigating change or seeking renewed purpose later in life.

In this episode, J.J. shares candid insights on aging, grief, and rebuilding a life when everything familiar seems to fall away. She describes how accumulated loss in her 60s left her feeling directionless, and how writing and drawing became the tools that helped her move forward, one small step at a time. Her reflections highlight the power of saying yes, embracing tiny acts of courage, and recognizing new possibilities even when motivation is low. J.J.’s stories offer listeners a hopeful reminder that meaning, creativity, and connection can flourish at any age when we choose to stay open to what’s next.

Connect with JJ Hubal:

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Facebook

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Cartoons

Book: JJ Hubal - A Week at the Beach

Book: JJ Hubal - Living With Your Higher Power

Book: JJ Hubal - Goodbye Old, Hello Bold

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The Grief and Happiness Alliance

Book: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief

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What can you do to make the holidays brighter for someone?

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.

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If you’ve ever wondered how aware our loved ones truly are in their final moments, episode 396 of the Grief and Happiness Podcast is one you shouldn’t miss. Deborah Weed shares stunning, intimate moments from her husband’s last days—unexpected reactions, powerful signs, and the impact of playing the music he loved. Her story reveals why keeping your voice and trusting your instincts during grief matters more than you think. This episode invites you to stay open, stay present, and recognize the quiet miracles that can appear even in the hardest moments.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

(00:55) Why true self-worth matters more than self-esteem

(03:36) How reclaiming her voice changed Deborah’s healing

(05:35) The moment her husband responded in hospice

(08:10) How music and intuition guided his final hours

(12:19) Why treating loved ones as aware makes a difference

(16:31) The unexpected miracles she witnessed in grief

(20:45) How forgiveness cleared long-held pain

(25:02) Why fully grieving can lead to unexpected peace

Deborah Weed is the founder of the Self-Worth Initiative, a lifelong creator, and a powerful advocate for helping people understand their inherent value. With a background that spans major creative and corporate roles—including development work for Citibank and a $26 million attraction project for Disney and Universal—she blends experience with heart-centered purpose. After a serious health crisis transformed her understanding of confidence and resilience, she committed herself to teaching true self-worth through storytelling, family-focused productions, and her current project, the Quills Up movement and musical.

In this episode, Deborah shares deeply personal insights on the difference between self-esteem and self-worth, how illness reshaped her identity, and how grief awakened her voice and inner strength. She recounts the extraordinary experiences surrounding her husband’s final days—moments of awareness, music, connection, and forgiveness that revealed how present our loved ones remain, even at the end of life. Her stories encourage listeners to trust their instincts, keep their voice during grief, and remain open to the miracles, healing, and clarity that can appear when we allow ourselves to feel fully and love deeply.

Connect with Deborah Weed:

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Get Deborah’s books!

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The Grief and Happiness Alliance

Book: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief

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What can you do during this holiday season that will bring your happiness.

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 questioned why your grief feels different, episode 394 of the Grief and Happiness podcast is for you. Award-winning author and grief educator Theo Boyd shares the life-shifting losses that shaped her work and the signs that helped her forward. She explains why comparing grief adds to the pain and why sadness is not a disorder. Her story offers a clear, hopeful reminder that healing begins when you honor your own way through loss.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

(01:02) How a tragic farm accident changed Theo’s life overnight

(02:40) Why journaling became her first lifeline through overwhelming grief

(03:55) The moment she realized her notes needed to become a grief book

(04:50) How compounded loss shaped My Grief Is Not Like Yours

(06:10) The story behind her second book Hope All the Way and the signs that inspired it

(09:03) What her national grief study reveals about America’s hidden grief crisis

(11:37) Why society’s discomfort with sadness harms grievers

(12:47) The real meaning of “complicated grief” and why labels can be damaging

(14:22) How early counseling support helped her survive the darkest period

(17:22) How signs and moments of meaning helped her rediscover purpose

Thelizabeth “Theo” Boyd is an award-winning author, speaker, podcast host, and certified grief educator whose work centers on validating the many forms of loss. A former high-school English and creative writing teacher, she turned to journaling after a series of life-altering events, including the accidental death of her mother, the sudden loss of her longtime counselor, the end of her marriage, and later her father’s suicide. These experiences shaped her first book, My Grief Is Not Like Yours, and her upcoming release Hope All the Way, which also incorporates findings from her national study on the state of grief in America.

In her conversation with Emily, Theo reflects on how writing became both an anchor and a purpose after her world collapsed. She explains why grief must be witnessed, why comparisons rarely comfort, and how meaning deepens into purpose only when it serves others. Theo also shares the powerful signs she’s received from her parents, the importance of normalizing sadness instead of pathologizing it, and the urgent need to address the country’s grief crisis. Her perspective offers listeners a grounded, hope-filled reminder that healing grows from honesty, connection, and staying open to moments of grace along the way.

Connect with Theo Boyd:

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YouTube

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What can you change in your life that will bring you happiness and fulfilment? 

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 pressured to “push through” grief alone, episode 392 of the Grief and Happiness Podcast is a must-listen. Evermore founder Joyal Mulheron shares what she learned after losing her daughter—how bereavement can quietly damage a person’s health, stability, and future, and how our systems often worsen the pain. Drawing on years of policy work and real stories from grieving families, she reveals what truly helps people begin to recover. Her insights will change how you understand loss and how you support others through it.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

(01:03) Joyal’s story and the loss that changed her mission

(02:10) Leaving policy work to build Evermore

(04:19) What national tragedies revealed about America’s grief gap

(06:02) What six years of listening taught her about bereavement

(07:45) The real health and economic costs of grief

(09:57) Why people pull away—and how to truly support a griever

(11:54) Emily’s turning point: the power of saying yes

(17:30) Why community witnessing matters

(18:47) The harm of common grief clichés

(21:37) How workplaces often get grief wrong

(23:12) How loss reshapes relationships

(29:31) Reconnecting with long-lost friends during grief

(33:14) Finding meaning—and why systemic change is urgent

Joyal Mulheron is the founder and executive director of Evermore, a national nonprofit working to improve how society supports bereaved people. After a policy career advising governors, federal agencies, and the White House on science-based public health strategy, the death of her daughter redirected her work toward understanding the real impact of loss. Since then, she has become a leading advocate for reform, helping secure paid bereavement leave for U.S. Armed Forces and creating the country’s first community bereavement response guide. Her mission bridges science, policy, and community action to build more compassionate and effective systems for those experiencing grief.

In the episode, Joyal explains how personal tragedy revealed the deep health, social, and economic effects of bereavement—and how current systems consistently fall short. Drawing on years of research and conversations with families nationwide, she emphasizes that bereavement is a life-altering event that requires more than emotional support. She shares how Evermore pushes for stronger national policies, better community responses, and evidence-based tools that help people “weather” loss rather than face it alone. Her insights highlight the urgent need for more humane, prepared, and responsive structures for grieving individuals.

Connect with Joyal Mulheron:

Evermore Website

Evermore Instagram

LinkedIn

Instagram

Let's Connect: 

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