Grief is a Sneaky Bitch

By Lisa Keefauver, MSW

Grief is a Sneaky Bitch creator and host Lisa Keefauver is on a mission to reimagine grief one conversation at a time, helping us to center aliveness in a world full of loss.

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How many episodes does Grief is a Sneaky Bitch have?

The podcast currently has 134 episodes available.

Best of Grief is a Sneaky Bitch

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Number 1: Casey Mulligan Walsh | The Full Catastrophe
Casey Mulligan Walsh, author of The Full Catastrophe, joined host Lisa Keefauver for a profound conversation on how much loss shapes us more deeply than we realize—especially when it's modeled by those we'd turn to for guidance. In this raw and insightful conversation, Casey reveals how early trauma and unspoken grief patterns silently influence our lives. From surviving the sudden death of her parents as a child to navigating the chaos of divorce and the heartbreak of losing her son, Casey shares her journey toward reclaiming agency, understanding her parts, and finding peace in the liminal spaces of life. Discover how early grief beliefs—built on myths, avoidance, and emotional suppression—can trap us in survival mode and obscure our true selves. Casey shares concrete frameworks like parts therapy and Viktor Frankl’s tragic optimism that help us embrace life's uncertainties without losing hope. You'll learn how resilience isn’t about denying pain but about developing a muscle of hope, presence, and acceptance in the face of ongoing tragedy. We break down: the importance of curiosity and compassion in rewriting our stories; the way early loss robs us of roots and stability—and how to rebuild both through choice; and the role of reflective practices in unveiling the narratives driving our behavior. Casey’s story challenges us to see that even in the darkest times, a shift in perspective can foster peace, purpose, and aliveness. ABOUT GUESTCasey Mulligan Walsh writes about life at the intersection of grief and joy, embracing uncertainty, and the nature of true belonging. Her award-winning memoir, The Full Catastrophe: All I Ever Wanted, Everything I Feared, was released from Motina Books in February 2025. She has written for The New York Times, HuffPost, Next Avenue, Modern Loss, The Manifest-Station, Hippocampus, Barren Magazine, and numerous other literary magazines; her essay, “Still,” published in Split Lip, was nominated for Best of the Net. She is a founding editor of In a Flash literary magazine and serves as an ambassador and Board member for the Family Heart Foundation. Casey lives in upstate New York with her husband, Kevin, and too many books to count. When not traveling, they enjoy visits from their four children and ten grandchildren—the very definition of “the full catastrophe.” LEARN MORE ABOUT CASEY: www.caseymulliganwalsh.com. Substack newsletter Embracing the Full Catastrophe; Facebook @Casey Mulligan Walsh, Casey Mulligan Walsh, Author; Instagram @caseymulliganwalsh, LinkedIn @Casey Mulligan Walsh, BlueSky @caseymulliganwalsh; Threads @Casey Mulligan Walsh READ BOOK: The Full Catastrophe https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-full-catastrophe-all-i-ever-wanted-everything-i-feared-casey-mulligan-walsh/c0cbe91f9be3317d ABOUT HOST AND SHOWLisa Keefauver is an author, keynote speaker, narrative therapy trained social worker, widow, assault & cancer survivor turned grief activist on a mission to help us center aliveness in a world full of loss by reimagining the narratives of grief, one conversation at a time. LEARN MORE ABOUT LISA: at https://lisakeefauver.com/ ACCESS GRIEF SUPPORT: https://lisakeefauver.com/support READ BOOK: Grief is a Sneaky Bitch: An Uncensored Guide to Navigating Loss. https://bookshop.org/p/books/grief-is-a-sneaky-bitch-an-uncensored-guide-to-navigating-loss-lisa-keefauver/ffd73d6b6921e6b5?ean=9781477329306&next=t& READ ESSAYS: AFGO with Lisa Keefauver on Substack - https://afgowithlisakeefauver.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 09, 20261h 12min
Number 2: Mae Yoshikawa | Surprising Capacity of the Heart
Mae Yoshikawa, author, TEDx speaker, and the creator of Kizuki Journaling, joins host Lisa Keefauver to explore her profound journey through grief, culture, and embodiment. Her reflections challenge us to see grief not as a problem to fix, but as an integral part of human experience that deepens our capacity to love and live fully. Key topics:Cultural differences in grieving: Japanese vs. American approaches to deathThe importance of acknowledging and expressing emotion, rather than suppressing itAmbiguous loss: navigating the slow deterioration of her mother’s Alzheimer’sWidowhood and what she hopes her children will understand about griefThe transformative power of yoga, meditation, and embodied practices in healingHow cultural norms shape our grief narratives and emotional responsesThe role of storytelling, mindfulness, and observation in expanding emotional capacityPractical tools for holding space for grief in ourselves and othersThe shift from seeking certainty to embracing what is through mindful presence ABOUT GUEST Mae Yoshikawa is an author, TEDx speaker, and the creator of Kizuki Journaling, a self-awareness practice rooted in the Japanese concept of kizuki—a moment of deep realization that changes how we relate to ourselves and our lives. Trained in yoga and mindfulness, and recognized by platforms such as Yoga Journal and adidas, Mae brings decades of embodied practice to her work. After the sudden loss of her husband, her path became a living exploration of grief, presence, and meaning beyond fixing or “moving on.” Bridging Eastern philosophy with lived experience, she guides people to meet loss, identity shifts, and life transitions with clarity, compassion, and truth. LEARN MORE ABOUT MAE: https://maey.live KIZUKI JOURNALING: https://kizukijournaling.com KIZUKI the PODCAST: https://open.spotify.com/show/7KKMi7W9VOC8ZbNgroJGBW? si=1be426519a3642c9 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/maeyoshikawa ABOUT THE SHOW & HOSTLisa Keefauver is an author, keynote speaker, narrative therapy trained social worker, widow, assault & cancer survivor turned grief activist on a mission to help us center aliveness in a world full of loss by reimagining the narratives of grief, one conversation at a time. LEARN MORE ABOUT LISA: at https://lisakeefauver.com/ ACCESS GRIEF SUPPORT: https://lisakeefauver.com/support READ BOOK: Grief is a Sneaky Bitch: An Uncensored Guide to Navigating Loss. https://bookshop.org/p/books/grief-is-a-sneaky-bitch-an-uncensored-guide-to-navigating-loss-lisa-keefauver/ffd73d6b6921e6b5?ean=9781477329306&next=t& READ ESSAYS: AFGO with Lisa Keefauver on Substack - https://afgowithlisakeefauver.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 02, 20261h 13min
Number 3: J.S. Park | We Are Made of Us
J.S. Park returns to Grief is a Sneaky Bitch for a deeply moving conversation about the themes in his forthcoming book, We Are Made of Us. Together, we explore what it means to contend with family-of-origin, family dynamics, and inherited trauma. This episode may change how you see your family, your grief, and your own capacity to heal. They pull back the curtain on intergenerational trauma, revealing how our familial patterns can be both the wound and the way forward. J.S. (who goes by Joon) shares powerful insights from his work as a chaplain, including how to recognize and reframe inherited family burdens. We also unpack the idea that cycles (whether of trauma or love) aren’t meant to be “broken” once and for all, but carried with intention—and that we can create safe circles as we heal. Along the way, they touch on some of Lisa’s favorite themes: seeing the world as both/and rather than either/or, the power of the questions we ask ourselves, and the importance of noticing evidence of our healing instead of focusing only on our broken parts. ABOUT GUESTJ.S. Park is a hospital chaplain, published author, and online educator. For eleven years he has been an interfaith chaplain at a 1000+ bed hospital that is designated a Level 1 Trauma Center. His role includes grief support, attending every death, trauma, and Code Blue, and end-of-life care. J.S. has been interviewed by CNN, NPR, CBS News, Good Morning America, The Today Show, Bay News 9, and FOX13 Tampa Bay, among others, for his work in death and dying. He is the author of As Long as You Need and We Are Made of Us, an upcoming book on contending with our family-of-origin, family dynamics, and inherited trauma. J.S. served for three years as a chaplain at one of the largest nonprofit charities for the homeless on the east coast. J.S. is a board certified chaplain and has a MDiv completed in 2010 and a BA in Psychology. He also has a sixth-degree black belt. READ HIS BOOKS: As Long As You Need and pre-order We Are Made of Us READ HIS ESSAYS: J.S. Park on Substack ABOUT HOST AND SHOWLisa Keefauver is an author, keynote speaker, narrative therapy trained social worker, widow, assault & cancer survivor turned grief activist on a mission to help us center aliveness in a world full of loss by reimagining the narratives of grief, one conversation at a time. LEARN MORE ABOUT LISA: at https://lisakeefauver.com/ ACCESS GRIEF SUPPORT: https://lisakeefauver.com/support READ HER BOOK: Grief is a Sneaky Bitch: An Uncensored Guide to Navigating Loss. https://bookshop.org/p/books/grief-is-a-sneaky-bitch-an-uncensored-guide-to-navigating-loss-lisa-keefauver/ffd73d6b6921e6b5?ean=9781477329306&next=t& READ HER ESSAYS: AFGO with Lisa Keefauver on Substack - https://afgowithlisakeefauver.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 21, 20261h 22min
Number 4: Sara Rian | Complexity of Love and Loss
Sara Rian joins host Lisa Keefauver for an honest, courageous, and vulnerable conversation exploring the both/and of living, loving, and the devastating grief and trauma we experience in the wake of death by suicide. She has been drawn to grief poetry ever since her mother Susan’s death in 2018. Sara offers deep compassion for her mothers choice to end her life, speaks about the complexity of being a clinician who also works with people experiencing thoughts of suicide, and she shares how and what she did to metabolize her mother’s death - including producing 7 extraordinary books of poetry. She reflects on what allows her to be present and love authentically, not out of fear, but because of the preciousness of this life. ABOUT THE GUESTSara Rian is an accomplished poet, author, mother, wife, licensed therapist, and griever living in Metro Detroit. She has been drawn to grief poetry ever since her mother died in 2018. As a mental health professional, suicide loss survivor, and grieving human, Sara shares her work with others to let them know that they are not alone in their love or grief. MORE ABOUT SARA AND HER BOOKS: To learn more about Sara or pick up one of her extraordinary books of poetry, including, As A Waterfall head to www.sararianbooks.com ABOUT THE SHOW & HOST Lisa Keefauver is an author, keynote speaker, narrative therapy trained social worker, widow, assault & cancer survivor turned grief activist on a mission to help us center aliveness in a world full of loss by reimagining the narratives of grief, one conversation at a time. LEARN MORE ABOUT LISA: at https://lisakeefauver.com/ ACCESS GRIEF SUPPORT: https://lisakeefauver.com/support READ BOOK: Grief is a Sneaky Bitch: An Uncensored Guide to Navigating Loss. https://bookshop.org/p/books/grief-is-a-sneaky-bitch-an-uncensored-guide-to-navigating-loss-lisa-keefauver/ffd73d6b6921e6b5?ean=9781477329306&next=t& READ ESSAYS: AFGO with Lisa Keefauver on Substack - https://afgowithlisakeefauver.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 05, 20261h 14min
Number 5: Angela Schellenberg | Attachment, Trauma, and Grief
In a world overwhelmed by collective trauma and personal grief, how can we rebuild trust, safety, and connection—starting from within? Angela Schellenberg, trauma therapist and expert in attachment and somatic healing joins host Lisa Keefauver as she unpacks how early wounds shape our current relationships with ourselves and others—and reveals transformative tools to rewire that deep wiring. This episode shatters the myth that grief is linear or predictable. Angela shares her powerful journey through childhood loss, from her father's violent death to her mother's mental illness, illustrating how unprocessed trauma embeds itself in our nervous system, often surfacing as shame, frozen grief, and disconnection. She illustrates how these early attachment wounds generate patterns—seeking the familiar, recreating dysfunctional dynamics, and feeling unsafe in our own bodies—often without conscious awareness. You'll discover: how healing attachment wounds through relationship and community is not just possible but essential; why trauma lives in the body—and how somatic therapies like EMDR and equine therapy mobilize profound change; the importance of moving beyond intellectual understanding to embodied trust; and practical ways to cultivate self-compassion, discernment, and inner safety. Angela emphasizes that attachment wounds are always healable—when we have a safe container, mindful movement, and compassionate community—and urges us to reclaim our innate wisdom. This episode is essential listening for anyone navigating grief, trauma, or relational wounds, especially in turbulent times. If you’re yearning to shed the shame, unlock your inner resilience, and forge authentic connections—Angela’s insights will change the way you see healing. ABOUT GUEST Angela Schellenberg is a licensed trauma and grief therapist, Equine Therapist, Attachment-Focused EMDR specialist, and certified Mother Hunger® Facilitator based in LA County. Licensed in California, Washington, and Arizona, Angela specializes in helping women in grief recognize how their early attachment wounds may be showing up in their grief. She lost both parents by the age of 22 and brings deep personal and clinical insight to her work. Angela created the Healing with Horses Somatic Grief Retreat in Malibu, co-leads early mother loss retreats with Hope Edelman, and has taught at the Omega Institute. She is also the founder and host of the Grief, Trauma & Your Mama podcast. LEARN MORE ABOUT ANGELA at: www.angelaschellenberg.com ABOUT THE SHOW & HOST Lisa Keefauver is an author, keynote speaker, narrative therapy trained social worker, widow, assault & cancer survivor turned grief activist on a mission to help us center aliveness in a world full of loss by reimagining the narratives of grief, one conversation at a time. LEARN MORE ABOUT LISA: https://lisakeefauver.com/ ACCESS GRIEF SUPPORT: https://lisakeefauver.com/support READ BOOK: Grief is a Sneaky Bitch: An Uncensored Guide to Navigating Loss. https://bookshop.org/p/books/grief-is-a-sneaky-bitch-an-uncensored-guide-to-navigating-loss-lisa-keefauver/ffd73d6b6921e6b5?ean=9781477329306&next=t& READ ESSAYS: AFGO with Lisa Keefauver on Substack - https://afgowithlisakeefauver.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 26, 20261h 15min