Grief is universal, but for Black communities, it carries a unique weight—shaped by generational trauma, cultural silence, and societal expectations. In this Black History Month episode of Permission to Breathe Podcast, Dr. Tammy Isaac explores the complexities of grieving while Black.

Valentine’s Day has come and gone, but for many, the emotions it stirred still linger. In this episode of Permission to Breathe, Dr. Tammy Isaac explores the pain that can arise around this holiday—grief for a loved one who is no longer here, heartbreak from a relationship that ended, or the quiet loneliness of feeling unseen.

In this episode of thePermission to Breathe Podcast, Dr. Tammy Isaac explores the powerful connection between grief, emotional pain, and heart health. She shares personal experiences, including the loss of her mother to congestive heart failure and her own hospitalization from grief-related stress. We’ll discussTakotsubo Cardiomyopathy, also known asBroken Heart Syndrome, a condition that mimics a heart attack but is triggered by intense emotional trauma. Learn how grief can manifest physically, why it's essential to care for both your emotional and physical heart, and practical strategies to promote healing and well-being. This episode is a reminder to love yourself enough to prioritize your heart.

Welcome to the final episode of Season 1 of the Permission to Breathe Podcast. It’s been an incredible journey, hasn’t it? Over the past few months, we’ve explored so many profound and tender aspects of grief and the human experience. From learning how to embrace our emotions, to discussing the interplay of grief and breathing, each episode has been a step toward giving ourselves the permission to heal, feel, and, most importantly, breathe.

The holidays are a season of light and joy for many, but for some, it can feel like a season of heaviness—a time when the weight of sadness seems to linger. Maybe you’re not quite sure what you’re feeling or why. Is it grief? Is it the holiday blues? Or is it a mix of both?

In this episode, we’ll explore how to recognize and understand the holiday blues, how it differs from deeper grief, and what we can do to care for ourselves during this emotionally charged time. So, let’s take a moment together, take a deep breath in…and out…and prepare to gently explore this topic.”