Life Shift | True Stories of Healing, Grief & Loss

What happens when five grief-focused podcast hosts come together to speak grief out loud?

This is a special recording of Giving Grief a Voice, a live panel hosted by Reimagine.org. In this heartfelt and honest conversation, five hosts share how telling and hearing stories of loss can bring comfort, connection, and hope. Together, we explore the cultural power of naming grief out loud and the practical ways podcasts can hold space for those navigating life after loss.

You’ll hear about:

How grief storytelling creates community and helps us feel less alone

The ways podcasts can challenge cultural silence and expand grief literacy

What it takes to share your own grief story with care, integrity, and purpose

Whether you’re a griever, a listener, or someone curious about starting your own grief-focused show, this episode offers compassion, practical insight, and the reminder that you are not alone.

Guest Bios
Grant Garry – Award-winning filmmaker, actor, singer, and Certified Grief Educator. Director of the documentary Meet Me Where I Am and host of the Where I Am podcast, Grant blends storytelling and performance to honor the realities of loss.
Lisa Keefauver, MSW – Social worker, widow, cancer survivor, and author of Grief is a Sneaky Bitch. She hosts a top-rated podcast of the same name, reimagining how we approach loss through curiosity and storytelling.
Nina Rodriguez – Grief guide, podcast host, and founder of Grief and Light, born from the sudden loss of her only sibling. She offers circles, coaching, and resources for a grief-informed, hopeful world.
Tara Accardo – Grief and Soul Purpose Coach, host of Life With Grief Podcast, and creator of Losses Become Gains. She guides others through loss with compassion and practical tools.
Matt Gilhooly – Host of The Life Shift Podcast, Matt explores the pivotal moments that shape us, often rooted in personal experiences with grief, resilience, and transformation.

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Real people. Honest moments. Life, unfiltered.

The Life Shift Podcast is a collection of candid conversations with people who’ve experienced the moment when everything changed – and chose to keep going.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, cracked open, or quietly transformed, there’s probably an episode for you.

Share this clip with your friends if you're a fan of The Life Shift – you never know who might need to hear the stories on this show.

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This is a personal invitation to something meaningful.

On Thursday, August 7, I’ll be part of a virtual panel hosted by Reimagine called “Giving Grief a Voice.” We’ll be talking about how grief-focused podcasts – including Grief is a Sneaky Bitch (Lisa Keefauver), Grief and Light (Nina Rodriguez), Life with Grief (Tara Accardo), Where I Am (Grant Garry), and The Life Shift – are helping to normalize conversations about grief and offer meaningful connection in the wake of loss.

I’ll be joining these thoughtful creators to explore how podcasting can hold space for honest, healing stories – and how simply hearing someone else’s truth can remind us we’re not alone.

This event is for you, whether you're grieving, listening, or wondering how your own story might be shared someday.

🗓 Thursday, August 7

🕒 3:00 – 4:30pm ET

🎟 Free to attend

🔗 Register here: letsreimagine.org/76768/giving-grief-a-voice

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What if the memory that saved your life came from a letter you almost forgot?

Michael Allison’s life has been anything but easy. From childhood abuse to combat in Iraq, the grief of loss to the silence of survival, Michael carried the weight of a thousand lifetimes before reaching a breaking point. Standing on a Florida bridge, he made a decision that would change everything.

In this powerful conversation, Michael shares how he:

Michael’s story is a reminder that even in our darkest hour, something beautiful can still begin.

Your next chapter might be one decision away.

Michael W. Allison is a U.S. Marine Combat Veteran, Purple Heart recipient, TEDx speaker, best-selling author, and resilience coach who has transformed adversity into impact. After surviving a devastating VBIED car bomb attack in Iraq and navigating the aftermath of PTSD, TBI, and deep personal hardship, Michael reached a breaking point – but chose to stay. That decision became the foundation for his healing.

Now, as the Founder and CEO of The Adversity Academy, Michael empowers individuals and organizations to embrace resilience, rewire their mindset, and lead with purpose. His UN-Leadership and Break The Bottle – 3-D methodologies challenge conventional leadership paradigms and inspire growth through accountability, transformation, and mental strength. Michael has been featured by Microsoft, NBC, TEDx, ESPN, and VFW Magazine and speaks globally on personal reinvention, resilience, and overcoming limiting beliefs.

Listen to Michael’s story and rediscover what it means to stay, heal, and lead with heart.

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What happens when the story you've believed for 35 years turns out to be incomplete?

When Lisa Sugarman was ten, she was told her father died of a heart attack. But decades later, one unexpected question revealed a long-held secret that shifted everything. In this open and emotionally honest conversation, Lisa and I explore what it means to grieve someone twice, how silence can shape our stories, and the power of finally speaking the truth out loud.

You’ll hear how she:

→ If you connected with this story, please share it with someone who might need to hear it.

Lisa Sugarman is an author, a nationally syndicated columnist, a 3x survivor of suicide loss, and a mental health advocate. She serves as a storyteller with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), a crisis counselor with The Trevor Project, and the founder of The HelpHUB, a free and inclusive online platform offering mental health resources, tools, and crisis support. Lisa is the cohost of The Survivors Podcast, a facilitator for Safe Place support groups at Samaritans Southcoast in Boston, and a contributor to the Mental Health Television Network (MHTN). Her writing has appeared in outlets such as Healthline Parenthood, Psychology Today, Thrive Global, The Washington Post, and TODAY Parents. She is also the author of How To Raise Perfectly Imperfect Kids And Be Ok With It, Untying Parent Anxiety, and LIFE: It Is What It Is.

Lisa lives and writes just north of Boston. You can connect with her at TheHelpHUB.co.

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What do you do when the life you dreamed of looks nothing like the one you’re living?

Jenny always knew she wanted to be a mom. But when her first child, Sarah, was born with special needs, the parenting story she had imagined began to unravel. For years, she carried invisible bricks of guilt, believing she had to fix what wasn’t broken. Everything shifted the day she gave herself permission to just love her daughter exactly as she was.

In this conversation, Jenny shares what happens when we stop chasing a picture-perfect life and start honoring what is. It’s about love, resilience, and learning to see the spark that’s always been there.

Jennifer Celeste Briggs is a writer, mother, and advocate for emotionally connected parenting. She has a BA in English Literature from Swarthmore College and lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband and two daughters. Her daughter Sarah has a genetic anomaly and autism, which led Jenny to create and lead a home-based Son-Rise Program called Sarah-Rise. After training at the Autism Treatment Center of America, she coordinated hundreds of hours of therapeutic play with the help of volunteers. Her blog, Watching Sarah Rise, has become a source of comfort and inspiration to others navigating life’s unexpected paths. Jenny’s mission is to help parents feel seen and to spread the word about the power of presence, joy, and connection.

Connect with Jenny

Website: www.watchingsarahrise.com

Facebook: facebook.com/jenniferbriggsauthor

Instagram: @jennifercelestebriggsauthor

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What if burnout wasn't the end—but the beginning of your most authentic life?

After ten years in the classroom, Ryan Hennessey realized he was running on fumes. A powerful moment at a heart-led business retreat cracked something open in him and gave him the clarity he’d been chasing. He didn’t just walk away from teaching—he walked toward a life built on freedom, integrity, and impact.

This one’s for anyone standing at the edge of change, wondering if they’re allowed to want more.

Ryan Hennessey is a former beloved science teacher who walked away from the classroom after a decade to pursue a life aligned with purpose, freedom, and impact. After a powerful realization at a heart-led business retreat, Ryan made the courageous decision to leave a career that once defined him to create a life that truly fulfilled him. Now, he hosts adventure-based wellness retreats, coaches others through major life transitions, and helps people reconnect with what sets their soul on fire. His story is one of integrity, reinvention, and what it really means to take back your power.

Connect with Ryan:

Instagram: @IamRyanHennessey

Substack: substack.com/@iamryanhennessey

Website: www.Ryan-Hennessey.com

Links + Resources:

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This episode includes discussion of suicide loss and grief. Please listen with care.

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What do you do when your life changes in an instant?

When Donna Kendrick lost her husband to suicide, she was left standing at a painful crossroads – three young kids, a new house, and a future she could no longer picture. But by the light of a backyard bonfire, she made a vow: this would not be the end of her story.

In this honest and deeply human conversation, Donna shares how she navigated grief, rebuilt her life, and created a purpose-filled path for her family. Through heartbreak, she discovered strength she didn’t know she had – and now, she’s helping others do the same.

You’ll hear how she:

Listen to Donna’s full story and the moment she chose to keep going – with grit, purpose, and heart.

Donna Kendrick is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner and founder of Sephton Financial. After losing her first husband suddenly in 2013, Donna navigated widowhood with three young children, inspiring her to support families in transition through financial planning. She is the host of the Wisdom and Wealth Podcast and author of A Guide to Widowhood and A Guide for Blended Families. Donna is also an avid long-distance runner who, through her running group, raises funds for causes such as Safe Harbor, a grief counseling program for children. She lives in Jenkintown, PA, with her husband Jim and their six children.

✨ Don’t leave your loved ones without answers. Get instant access to a complimentary personal document locator and on-demand webinar at sephtonfinancial.com/webinar

Resources

To listen in on more conversations about pivotal moments that changed lives forever, subscribe to The Life Shift on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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The Life Shift was just named one of the top 60 life-changing podcasts by FeedSpot: https://podcast.feedspot.com/life_changing_podcasts/

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Can one quiet moment change everything you thought your future would be?

When Mikelann Valterra sat across from her husband at their favorite sushi spot, she didn’t plan to end her marriage with a handshake. But that one act, quiet and deeply human, cracked open the life she had built and forced her to rebuild it from scratch. At 40, with her son by her side, she moved into her childhood bedroom and began the long, messy, and ultimately beautiful work of becoming herself again.

For anyone who has felt like their future disappeared in a single moment, this conversation offers hope, healing, and a reminder that starting over is never the end.

Three powerful takeaways from Mikelann’s story:

Listen to the episode to hear how Mikelann turned heartbreak into a whole new rhythm.

www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

Mikelann Valterra, MA, AFC, is a money coach, financial recovery expert, author, and Argentine tango dancer who helps women in midlife reclaim their lives after divorce. After a painful split left her with $7,000 in debt and no financial foundation, Mikelann confronted her childhood money story and rebuilt from the ground up, moving into her high school bedroom at 40 and slowly rebuilding her life and her confidence. For over 25 years, she’s been a respected voice in financial psychology, offering practical tools to reduce money anxiety and transform earning, saving, and spending habits. Her latest book, Rise Above the Money Fog, is available now.

Connect with Mikelann:

Website: seattlemoneycoach.com

Medium: Read her story

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikelannvalterra

Instagram: @seattlemoneycoach

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To listen in on more conversations about pivotal moments that changed lives forever, subscribe to The Life Shift on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Featured in FeedSpot’s Top 60 Life-Changing Podcasts: podcast.feedspot.com/life_changing_podcasts

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What do you do when the dream you’ve chased your entire life suddenly stops feeling right?

By the age of 17, Miron Pingasov had raced at 150 mph, broken bones, lost a close friend on the track, and watched his childhood passion for racing turn into something more political than purposeful. Faced with the weight of expectation and the pull of something deeper, Miron made a decision most wouldn’t at his age – he walked away.

In this episode, Miron opens up about the grief, clarity, and courage it took to choose a new path. His story is a reminder that we’re allowed to outgrow our dreams and that starting over doesn’t mean failure. It can actually be the beginning of real freedom.

Three things you’ll take away from Miron’s story:

About Miron Pingasov

Miron Pingasov has raced open-wheel cars at 150 mph, flown solo at 10,000 feet, and co-founded businesses in real estate, clothing, and media – all before turning 18. Now a student at Syracuse University pursuing a degree in Aerospace Engineering, he’s also the co-founder of PT Development in Florida and works alongside his former racing sponsor on litigation funding initiatives in the UK.

Miron believes that the earlier we fail, the sooner we learn – and the sooner we learn, the sooner we succeed. Whether behind the wheel, in a boardroom, or on campus, he brings speed, structure, and a deep curiosity for growth. He’s especially passionate about helping younger individuals trust themselves, take risks, and find meaning on their own terms.

Learn more at www.ptdevelopmentfl.com or follow him (when he’s not on a social break) on Instagram @mironpingasov.

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