This week, I am honored to have journalist, documentarian and seasoned NPR contributor Jill Yesko joining the show.

Jill shares her personal journey of losing her mother to COVID and the complexities of navigating grief during a time of social isolation. We discuss the impact of family dynamics on grief, as well as the process of creating a documentary film ("Erased") about Jill's mother's past, and the importance of memory and legacy in the healing process.

In 1967, Jill's sleek and fashionable mother, Sally, suddenly disappeared from their New Jersey home. She eventually returned, only a shell of her former self; and Jill was never given an explanation as to what had taken her away from the family all that time.

After Sally died from Covid at an assisted living facility in 2020, Jill did some research. She discovered her mother hadn't just disappeared; she'd been admitted to High Point Hospital, a private psychiatric facility in Port Chester, New York. 

You'll have to tune in to this compelling conversation to learn more about this incredible journey that Jill has taken- I KNOW you're going to be glad you did. 

Thank you, as always, for listening. Please rate and review where and when you can- lots of love!

More about Jill:

https://www.instagram.com/sayyesjill/ 

Dorothy Roberts and I really earned this conversation today, folks. After navigating some technical difficulty in the beginning, we were able to dive into a really powerful and beautiful conversation surrounding her book, "The Mixed Marriage Project." 

Her beautiful memoir explores the themes of grief, loss, and the complexities of identity through the lens of her parents' interracial marriage. We'll touch on the cultural context surrounding interracial relationships, which given our current climate, feels more poignant than ever. Dorothy highlights the importance of family history, the lessons learned from parents, and how she's implemented continuing bonds through her work.

Ultimately, our time today is a shining example of the significance of storytelling in understanding (and processing) loss.

Thank you SO much for listening; if you like what we're doing on the show, please rate and review wherever possible, and tell your friends! 

More about Dorothy:

https://www.npr.org/2026/02/10/nx-s1-5704334/dorothy-roberts-the-mixed-marriage-project

Buy her book HERE!

I am so, so grateful to welcome the extraordinary Dr. Alexandra Sowa to our space this week. You may be wondering, "Meghan, what the heck does a doctor who works closely with GLP1s have to do with grief?" Turns out, quite a lot. Anyone who has experienced a significant weight loss or gain and has found themselves grieving the change in their form will probably want to share this conversation far and wide.

In this episode, Dr. Sowa discusses the biological factors influencing weight gain- debunking the myth that effort alone determines weight management. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the role of environment and mental health in sustainable weight loss strategies. We talk all things GLP-1, of course, and Dr. Sowa brings valuable advice to folks who have been considering that step, or have taken that step- and now find their feelings are all over the place. 

I really enjoyed how this conversation braided a lot of topics together that folks might not always find related...but really, when you think about, grief is pretty far-reaching. I hope you all found this episode as valuable and special as I did. If so, PLEASE don't hesitate to leave us a rating and a review wherever possible. 

More about Dr. Sowa:

Elena Brower is a bestselling author, artist, podcast host, teacher, mentor and chaplaincy student. Her debut book, Art of Attention, was published in 2012, and her bestselling journals Practice You and Being You, along with her courses, classes, and talks, explore stages of studentship, practice, life, and listening. In this conversation, Meghan and Elena discuss Elena's latest book, Hold Nothing, and have a beautiful conversation about learning to receive, be vulnerable, and "love ourselves with rigor." 

Ronald Simpson-Bey would call his grief a proponent of his survival. While he was incarcerated (for a crime he didn’t commit) during the early 2000s, his young adult son was fatally shot. Ronald’s conviction was finally overturned in 2012, and he would return to mainstream society as a grieving father who had lost such a formative piece of his life.

These days (after becoming a paralegal while imprisoned) Ronald is a staunch advocate for individuals fighting wrongful conviction, and acts as a pillar of strength and wisdom in his community and beyond. Ronald is currently working as the Executive Vice President for JustLeadershipUSA (JLUSA). He is also a 2015 Leading with Conviction (LwC) Fellow with JLUSA.

Thank you SO much for coming back to another season of Grief is My Side Hustle! Please be sure to leave a five-star rating and review wherever possible. We truly appreciate you!

For more about Ronald:

Kim Long is a psychologist based in Alberta, Canada. She and her team created the incredible resource hub, Dochas Psychological services, where they offer the groundbreaking Lifejacket app, as well as the Dochas compass, a short quiz that can help guide you toward the therapist and goals that will best serve YOUR desired outcome. Find out more about these groundbreaking tools here. 

In this conversation, Meghan and Kim explore the complexities of grief and loss, discussing how these experiences shape identity and the societal expectations surrounding them. They delve into the therapeutic approaches to grief, emphasizing the importance of patience and self-permission in the grieving process. They also touch upon the challenges new parents face, the cultural norms surrounding grief and loss, and the importance of support systems. 

We hope you enjoy this Thanksgiving bonus episode. If you eat all your veggies...maybe we'll be serving another bonus for dessert. Who's to say? Well, we are....but stay tuned!

Thank you, as always, for listening. Please rate and review where possible- it REALLY helps!  

We need more people like Katie Leonard in the world, truly. When I heard about Katie's work, I knew I needed to sit down with her for this podcast. Katie is a pediatric hospice nurse. And while I've had a few wonderful conversations with hospice nurses on Grief is My Side Hustle, this one hit a bit differently.

Katie reveals that, after a brief time in pediatric oncology, she wanted to branch outside of the hospital space. After working as a case manager in pediatric neurology, she'd learned a lot about children with life-limiting and chronic conditions.

Katie has a true passion for end-of-life care and supporting families through this beautiful, but extremely difficult process. I loved learning about her as a person, as well as what carries through this extraordinary work, while also maintaining her other life roles. Trust me, this is a must-listen conversation! 

Thank you so much for your continued support- please give a rate and review wherever possible. 

More about Katie:

Casey Mulligan Walsh is a gorgeous writer and her book now has two major awards to prove it! 

I'm so excited to bring you all this conversation with my sweet, sweet friend, who found herself pondering what kind of legacy she'd leave the world of grief and loss- and ended up writing this gorgeous memoir! It is SUCH a gif to all of who are struggling in the wake of untenable, devastating pain. Casey has endured being orphaned as a young girl, going through a tumultuous divorce, and the death of her son at age 20. This book, for lack of more splendid adjectives, is beautiful, bold and courageous. 

It is absolutely a roadmap for all of us who struggle with what on earth we are meant to do when it feels like, at every turn, we are greeted with catastrophe. 

I hope you all are able to take something amazing away from this conversation. Casey is also a featured author at this year's Grieftastic Book Fair, so please be sure to grab your copy and have her sign when you meet her! Tickets still available at grieftastic.com . 

Thank you, as always, for listening, rating and reviewing! 

More about Casey Mulligan Walsh:

https://www.instagram.com/caseymulliganwalsh/ 

Alison Larkin is such a gift. She is an English-American, having been born here in the states and then adopted by British parents who raised her across the pond. 

These days, she is a comedian, novelist, actress, and audiobook narrator. Her novel, "The English American," sprang from her autobiographical one-woman comedy show about an adopted English woman who finds her birth parents in the United States. 

The grief of being adopted and searching for your birth parents might be enough, you say-but no. Alison also lost her soulmate, Bhima, five days after they decide to get married. 

Alison's story is as layered and devastating as it sounds; she had no choice but to make it into something funny, right? Enter her one-woman show and subsequent book, "Grief...A Comedy." The woman truly is griefy gold. 

She proves as much when Alison serenades my producer and I at the end of the episode with a song she wrote herself. She hits every sad nerve, and yet inspires such hope and wonder after loss. 

We LOVE Alison Larkin- and we're certain you will, too!

More about Alison:

https://alisonlarkin.com/alison-larkin-bio/ 

Kristina Amelong's brother, Jay, knew from an extremely young age that he was going to die. Not only that, but he predicted how it would happen, and that he would not live to be an adult. Kristina's gripping and gorgeous memoir, "What My Brother Knew," tells the heartbreaking story of a tragedy rooted in an understanding that reaches far beyond anything that she or I are capable of fully grasping; thus the pinnacle of our conversation today. 

I have always said that I struggle with my own spirituality, and my understanding of things that feel juuuussssttt out of our reach. With Kristina, it feels safe and comforting to discuss this topic; like there is someone on my team in this headspace. I hope, in listening to our chat today, that you feel the same. She is a warm and curious presence, and I'm SO intrigued by her journey!

These days, Kristina is a writer, photographer, and hollistic healer. According to her own website, "More than anything, I am drawn to stories that ask questions about who we are and why we are here. My spiritual studies have awakened in me a confidence in my connection with All-That-Is. I feel called to lead others to face the uncertainty of our collective future with hope. We can evolve together!"

Thank you, as always, for listening. Please rate and review us where possible, and feel free to reach out meghanriordanjarvis.com and leave suggestions or comments!

Learn more about Kristina: