One of the biggest questions I wanted to answer with my podcast is how to keep our hearts open. It is too easy, especially for the LGBTQ+ community to close ourselves off from loving someone because the risk of losing it is all too real. And we've all experienced grief in some way. One moment you’re fine… and the next, a song, a smell, or a grocery store aisle takes you out...

Today’s episode is a powerful one. I’m joined by Jim Laveck—author of Life After Losses and two additional books about navigating grief, healing, and love. Jim’s not just writing about grief from theory—he’s lived it. By the age of 47, Jim had lost not one, but two husbands. And oddly enough they were both named Bob.

In this conversation, Jim shares the heartbreak, the healing, and the hope he found along the way. We talk about what grief actually looks like and how it’s not so linear and we also discuss how the importance of being gentle with yourself through the roller coaster of emotions.

Whether you’re grieving someone, something, or just trying to figure out how to keep your heart open in queer dating scene—I hope this episode serves as a reminder to keep your hearts open and to never give up an opportunity to love and be loved in return.