Send us a text

In this deeply honest episode of the Life With Grief Podcast, I sit down with artist and spoken word poet Tiriq Rashad to talk about grief, loss, and the role creativity can play in healing.

Tiriq shares his experience navigating multiple profound losses, including the sudden death of his mother in a car accident and the loss of a child. We explore how these losses shaped his emotional world, his identity, and his relationship with art.

We also dig into:
✨ Navigating the multiple layers of grief.
✨ The inspiration behind his spoken word album, Kiss My Art, and how art became an outlet for processing grief
✨ Creativity as a powerful tool for emotional expression when words feel difficult or insufficient
✨ The importance of community and support in grief and why isolation can deepen pain
✨ Therapy, vulnerability, and emotional honesty, especially in spaces where grief is often minimized
✨ Healthy ways to release overwhelming emotions like anger, sadness, and longing

This conversation is for anyone grieving a loved one, searching for meaningful ways to express their emotions, or looking for permission to feel deeply without fixing or rushing their grief.

It’s a reminder that grief changes us, but creativity, connection, and compassion can help us carry it.

Connect with Tiriq:

• https://tiriqrashad.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/tiriq_rashad

Support the podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/lifewithgriefpodcast

Work with me:

• Micro-Moments for Transformation: https://lossesbecomegains.com/transformation
• 14-Day Relief in Your Grief Challenge: https://lossesbecomegains.com/relief-in-grief
• Work with me one-on-one: https://lossesbecomegains.com/work-with-tara

Connect with me further:

• Leave a voice note through Speakpipe! https://www.speakpipe.com/LifeWithGrief
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lossesbecomegains/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifewithgriefpodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/losses.become.gains
• Website: https://lossesbecomegains.com/
• Shop the LBG Daily Journal: https://lossesbecomegains.com/journal

Check out my other podcast, Taste Toast Travel...

Send us a text

Grief doesn’t just change your life, it reveals YOU. In this episode of Mourning Sips & Soul Shifts let's explore what I like to call the "mirror effect" of grief. The way loss acts as a mirror that reflects our unacknowledged strengths, emotional patterns, and capacity for renewal.

We dig into:
✨ Why grief acts as a mirror rather than something to “get over”
✨ How loss reveals strength you didn’t know you had
✨ The emotional and behavioral patterns grief brings to the surface, and why they’re not flaws
✨ How grief can quietly reshape your priorities, relationships, and sense of identity
✨ What it means to live with grief in a more intentional, compassionate way

This conversation is for you if you don't recognize yourself after a loss, or if you've been surprised by both how deeply grief has undone aspects of your life, and how resilient you've been at the same time. Together, we explore why grief removes distractions and brings our inner world into sharper focus.

This episode offers a grounded, validating perspective for anyone navigating life after the death a loved one, and for those learning how to live with grief rather than trying to fix or bypass it.

Support the podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/lifewithgriefpodcast

Work with me:

• Micro-Moments for Transformation: https://lossesbecomegains.com/transformation
• 14-Day Relief in Your Grief Challenge: https://lossesbecomegains.com/relief-in-grief
• Work with me one-on-one: https://lossesbecomegains.com/work-with-tara

Connect with me further:

• Leave a voice note through Speakpipe! https://www.speakpipe.com/LifeWithGrief
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lossesbecomegains/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifewithgriefpodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/losses.become.gains
• Website: https://lossesbecomegains.com/
• Shop the LBG Daily Journal: https://lossesbecomegains.com/journal

Check out my other podcast, Taste Toast Travel...

Send us a text

In this episode of Life With Grief, I sit down with author Theo Boyd for a deeply honest and heart-opening conversation about navigating layered loss and finding hope after profound grief.

Theo is the author of "My Grief Is Not Like Yours"and "Hope All the Way", and she shares openly about the many losses that have shaped her life. Together, we explore what it truly means to live with grief when loss keeps stacking, and how healing and purpose can still exist alongside heartbreak.

We dig into:
✨ The accidental death of Theo’s mother and how that loss reshaped her world
✨ Losing her long-time counselor and the grief of losing a trusted support system
✨ Discovering her husband’s infidelity, navigating divorce, and grieving the life she thought she had
✨ Finding her father after he died by suicide and the complexity of suicide loss
✨ What it means to stay present with grief instead of rushing to “move on”
✨ Personal outlets for grief and ways to release what the body is carrying
✨ How hope and healing can show up in unexpected and spiritual ways
✨ Wisdom inspired by her deaf mother’s life and how it continues to guide her
✨ Gentle, grounding practices to help regulate the nervous system

This episode is a reminder that grief is deeply personal and never one-size-fits-all. Even in the midst of unimaginable loss, it’s possible to move toward purposeful living—without minimizing the pain or rushing the healing.

If you’re navigating multiple losses, complicated grief, or trying to hold onto hope after everything has changed, I hope this conversation reminds you that you’re not alone—and that your grief is allowed to look exactly the way it does.

Connect with Theo:

• https://thinktheo.com/
• Instagram: @think_theo
• Facebook: @THINKTHEO
• LinkedIn: @Thelizabeth 
• YouTube: @thinktheo3573
• Threads:  @think_theo

Support the podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/lifewithgriefpodcast

Work with me:

• Micro-Moments for Transformation: https://lossesbecomegains.com/transformation
• 14-Day Relief in Your Grief Challenge: https://lossesbecomegains.com/relief-in-grief
• Work with me one-on-one: https://lossesbecomegains.com/work-with-tara

Connect with me further:

• Leave a voice note through Speakpipe! https://www.speakpipe.com/LifeWithGrief
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lossesbecomegains/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifewithgriefpodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/losses.become.gains
• Website: https://lossesbecomegains.com/
• Shop the LBG Daily Journal: https://lossesbecomegains.com/journal

Check out my other podcast, Taste Toast Travel...

Send us a text

Grief doesn’t just affect how we feel, it impacts how we think, plan, and make decisions. If you’ve been avoiding decisions lately or feeling frozen and overwhelmed by even small choices, you’re not alone (and you’re not broken).

Let's explore why decision-making feels so difficult in grief, how the nervous system and brain are affected by loss, and why decision avoidance is often a form of self-protection. I'm also sharing how new year pressure can intensify this struggle when clarity feels out of reach.

I'm also introducing you to the GENTLE Decision Path, a compassionate, grief-informed framework designed to help you move from decision avoidance to decision empowerment—without forcing certainty or rushing yourself.

Let dig into:
✨ Why grief makes decision-making harder from a brain and nervous system perspective
✨ Why avoiding decisions doesn’t mean you’re stuck—it means you’re protecting yourself
✨ How new year energy can create pressure when grief needs gentleness
✨ A simple framework for making empowered, grief-informed choices

This episode is for anyone navigating life after loss and looking for a gentler, more aligned way to make decisions again.

Support the podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/lifewithgriefpodcast

Work with me:

• Micro-Moments for Transformation: https://lossesbecomegains.com/transformation
• 14-Day Relief in Your Grief Challenge: https://lossesbecomegains.com/relief-in-grief
• Work with me one-on-one: https://lossesbecomegains.com/work-with-tara

Connect with me further:

• Leave a voice note through Speakpipe! https://www.speakpipe.com/LifeWithGrief
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lossesbecomegains/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifewithgriefpodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/losses.become.gains
• Website: https://lossesbecomegains.com/
• Shop the LBG Daily Journal: https://lossesbecomegains.com/journal

Check out my other podcast, Taste Toast Travel...

Send us a text

In this deeply moving episode of Life With Grief we welcome Danny Lesslie, who shares the intimate and transformative story of losing his wife, Raffi, to vulvar cancer and navigating life, fatherhood, and grief in the aftermath.

Danny opens up about the raw realities of anticipatory grief, caregiving through cancer, and what it meant to walk alongside Raffi during her battle. He reflects on the strength found in vulnerability, the evolving grief journey he shares with his daughters, and why open conversations around male grief are so deeply needed.

We also explore Danny’s book, Thank You, Cancer, a powerful collection of personal writings from both Danny and Raffi that offers a rare dual perspective on love, loss, resilience, and hope in the face of terminal illness. Their words illuminate not only the darkness of cancer and grief, but also the unexpected moments of connection, meaning, and light that can emerge even in life’s most painful chapters.

This episode is an honest, emotional conversation about grief after cancer, widowerhood, parenting after loss, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.

Connect with Danny:

• https://dannylesslie.co/
• https://www.instagram.com/momentumwithdanny/

Support the podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/lifewithgriefpodcast

Work with me:

• Micro-Moments for Transformation: https://lossesbecomegains.com/transformation
• 14-Day Relief in Your Grief Challenge: https://lossesbecomegains.com/relief-in-grief
• Work with me one-on-one: https://lossesbecomegains.com/work-with-tara

Connect with me further:

• Leave a voice note through Speakpipe! https://www.speakpipe.com/LifeWithGrief
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lossesbecomegains/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifewithgriefpodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/losses.become.gains
• Website: https://lossesbecomegains.com/
• Shop the LBG Daily Journal: https://lossesbecomegains.com/journal

Check out my other podcast, Taste Toast Travel...

Send us a text

After loss, many people find themselves asking a quiet but heavy question: What do I even want anymore?

Let's explore how grief reshapes our goals, dreams, and vision for the future—and why that doesn’t mean anything has gone wrong. Loss changes us. It changes what feels meaningful, what feels safe to hope for, and how we imagine our lives moving forward.

This episode is an invitation to gently revisit your goals through a new lens. One shaped by lived experience, loss, and deeper self-awareness. Rather than forcing clarity or rushing to “dream big again,” we talk about honoring the pause, releasing misaligned dreams, and redefining success in a way that feels supportive in this season of grief.

If you’ve been feeling disconnected from your old ambitions, unsure of what’s next, or pressured to have it all figured out after loss, this conversation is for you.

Inside this episode, we talk about:
✨ Why goals and dreams often feel different after experiencing loss
✨ How grief shifts values, priorities, and our relationship with the future
✨ Letting go of old dreams without guilt or shame
✨ Redefining success after loss in a more compassionate, sustainable way
✨ Giving yourself permission to move forward without a timeline

You don’t need to be who you were before, you’re allowed to evolve—and to dream differently now.

If this episode resonated with you, be sure to follow Life With Grief so you don’t miss future conversations that meet you where you are. And if you know someone navigating loss who might need this reminder, feel free to share this episode with them!

Support the podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/lifewithgriefpodcast

Work with me:

• Micro-Moments for Transformation: https://lossesbecomegains.com/transformation
• 14-Day Relief in Your Grief Challenge: https://lossesbecomegains.com/relief-in-grief
• Work with me one-on-one: https://lossesbecomegains.com/work-with-tara

Connect with me further:

• Leave a voice note through Speakpipe! https://www.speakpipe.com/LifeWithGrief
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lossesbecomegains/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifewithgriefpodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/losses.become.gains
• Website: https://lossesbecomegains.com/
• Shop the LBG Daily Journal: https://lossesbecomegains.com/journal

Check out my other podcast, Taste Toast Travel...

Send us a text

In this episode of the Life With Grief Podcast, I’m joined by Grief Activist and Guide, Author, and Licensed Clinical Social Worker Lisa Keefauver for a deeply honest and expansive conversation about living with grief, trauma, and resilience.

Lisa shares her personal and professional journey with grief, including the devastating loss of her husband and navigating a cancer diagnosis of her own. Together, we explore how grief reshapes identity, relationships, and the way we move through the world after loss.

This episode dives into narrative therapy, the importance of holding space for grief without trying to fix it, and how community, compassion, and connection play a vital role in healing. Lisa also speaks to the often-overlooked truth that joy and grief can coexist, and how allowing both can be a powerful act of self-trust and survival.

Whether you’re grieving the death of a loved one, navigating illness, or supporting someone through loss, this episode is a reminder that you don’t have to walk this path alone—and that healing doesn’t mean forgetting, fixing, or moving on.

Connect with Lisa:

• www.lisakeefauver.com
• https://www.instagram.com/lisakeefauvermsw/
• AFGO with Lisa Keefauver on Substack
• "Grief is a Sneaky Bitch" book sold at independent bookstores and online booksellers

Support the podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/lifewithgriefpodcast

Work with me:

• Micro-Moments for Transformation: https://lossesbecomegains.com/transformation
• 14-Day Relief in Your Grief Challenge: https://lossesbecomegains.com/relief-in-grief
• Work with me one-on-one: https://lossesbecomegains.com/work-with-tara

Connect with me further:

• Leave a voice note through Speakpipe! https://www.speakpipe.com/LifeWithGrief
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lossesbecomegains/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifewithgriefpodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/losses.become.gains
• Website: https://lossesbecomegains.com/
• Shop the LBG Daily Journal: https://lossesbecomegains.com/journal

Check out my other podcast, Taste Toast Travel...

Send us a text

Entering a new year while grieving can feel incredibly complex. While the world celebrates fresh starts and new beginnings, your grief doesn’t simply disappear when the calendar changes.

In this episode, we explore:
✨ Why the “fresh start” narrative can feel painful when you’re grieving
✨ How to approach the new year as a gentle continuation, not a restart
✨ Letting go of forced positivity and making space for emotional complexity
✨ Why capacity-setting matters more than goal-setting in grief
✨ Honoring fear, hesitation, and uncertainty about the future
✨ How to carry love and memory forward without pressure to “move on”
✨ Finding hope that feels quiet, realistic, and supportive

This conversation is for anyone who feels caught between longing for hope and excitement, and honoring the sadness, fear, or tenderness that grief brings.

 Perhaps you're:
✨ Entering a new year after loss
✨ Struggling with new year grief or holiday grief hangover
✨ Feeling pressure to feel excited or motivated while grieving
✨ Navigating grief, anxiety, or emotional exhaustion
✨ Wanting grief-informed support without toxic positivity

Rather than forcing positivity or setting unrealistic expectations, this episode offers compassionate reframes that allow grief and hope to coexist. You’ll be invited to soften the pressure of “starting over” and instead approach the new year with honesty, self-trust, and emotional spaciousness.

💛 If this episode resonates be sure to follow the show, leave a review, or share it with someone who may need it!

Angel & Auras Card Pull episode: click here

Support the podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/lifewithgriefpodcast

Work with me:

• Micro-Moments for Transformation: https://lossesbecomegains.com/transformation
• 14-Day Relief in Your Grief Challenge: https://lossesbecomegains.com/relief-in-grief
• Work with me one-on-one: https://lossesbecomegains.com/work-with-tara

Connect with me further:

• Leave a voice note through Speakpipe! https://www.speakpipe.com/LifeWithGrief
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lossesbecomegains/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifewithgriefpodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/losses.become.gains
• Website: https://lossesbecomegains.com/
• Shop the LBG Daily Journal: https://lossesbecomegains.com/journal

Check out my other podcast, Taste Toast Travel...

Send us a text

In this special end-of-year episode, I’m closing out 2025 by pulling Angel and Aura cards for listeners using the Angels and Auras Oracle deck. This episode offers gentle spiritual guidance and emotional support for anyone navigating grief as we prepare to step into a new year.

I share three individual readings along with a collective message for all of you, touching on themes of continued connection with loved ones who have passed, resilience through personal challenges, and the quiet reassurance of divine support. These messages are especially meant for those feeling tender, uncertain, or reflective as 2026 approaches.

This episode is here to help you feel more grounded and supported. This is an invitation to slow down, receive guidance, and remain open to new opportunities while honoring your grief.

If you’re entering 2026 carrying loss and longing for reassurance, meaning, or hope, this episode is here to remind you that you are not alone—and that grief and possibility can coexist.

• Shop the Angels & Auras Oracle Deck
• Last year's episode (ep 88)

Support the podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/lifewithgriefpodcast

Work with me:

• Micro-Moments for Transformation: https://lossesbecomegains.com/transformation
• 14-Day Relief in Your Grief Challenge: https://lossesbecomegains.com/relief-in-grief
• Work with me one-on-one: https://lossesbecomegains.com/work-with-tara

Connect with me further:

• Leave a voice note through Speakpipe! https://www.speakpipe.com/LifeWithGrief
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lossesbecomegains/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifewithgriefpodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/losses.become.gains
• Website: https://lossesbecomegains.com/
• Shop the LBG Daily Journal: https://lossesbecomegains.com/journal

Check out my other podcast, Taste Toast Travel...

Send us a text

In this episode of Mourning Sips & Soul Shifts on Life With Grief, let's explore the powerful and grounding practice of choosing a word of the year—especially when traditional New Year’s resolutions feel unrealistic, overwhelming, or misaligned during grief.

Rather than focusing on rigid goals, I'm inviting you to choose a single intentional word to anchor you throughout the year. This practice can offer clarity, emotional steadiness, and self-trust while navigating loss, life transitions, and personal growth.

I'm gently walking you through a step-by-step process to discover your word of the year in this episode. Through a few personal reflections and real-life examples, I'm sharing how a word of the year can serve as a compassionate guide through grief, uncertainty, and change—without pressure, perfection, or productivity culture.

This episode is especially supportive for anyone who:

✨ Is grieving and feels disconnected from traditional goal-setting

✨ Feels unsure, tender, or cautious about the future

✨ Wants a more intuitive, grief-informed way to set intentions

✨ Is craving grounding, clarity, and emotional alignment in the new year

Tune in to learn how choosing a word of the year can help you move forward gently, stay connected to yourself, and honor your grief while still allowing space for growth, meaning, and possibility.

Support the podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/lifewithgriefpodcast

Work with me:

• Micro-Moments for Transformation: https://lossesbecomegains.com/transformation
• 14-Day Relief in Your Grief Challenge: https://lossesbecomegains.com/relief-in-grief
• Work with me one-on-one: https://lossesbecomegains.com/work-with-tara

Connect with me further:

• Leave a voice note through Speakpipe! https://www.speakpipe.com/LifeWithGrief
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lossesbecomegains/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifewithgriefpodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/losses.become.gains
• Website: https://lossesbecomegains.com/
• Shop the LBG Daily Journal: https://lossesbecomegains.com/journal

Check out my other podcast, Taste Toast Travel...