Ep. 012 - Love letters from one loss mom to another. Part 3
The Empty Arms Podcast -- real stories of miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss.
Release Date: 05/08/2024
Ep. 041 - Co-Authors Speak: NICU loss and how to journey through it.
The Empty Arms Podcast -- real stories of miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss.
In this episode of The Empty Arms Podcast, I sit down with Emily Souder, LCSW-C, PMH-C and Mahaley Patel, LMFT, PMH-C, co-creators of Your NICU Story, a powerful journal to help families process their NICU stay. Together, we explore the power of storytelling in grief, the importance of naming experiences that often feel unspeakable, and how words can become a lifeline for families navigating loss. Mahaley shares the story of her daughter, who died in the NICU, and the profound heartbreak of loving a child in a space filled with machines, uncertainty, hope, and fear. We talk about...
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Ep. 040 - The intentional search for joy after loss.
The Empty Arms Podcast -- real stories of miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss.
After loss, joy can feel impossibly far away. But what if rediscovering joy isn’t about moving on but about carrying love forward? In this episode, I sit down with Hannah Joy, a mother who has learned that the intentional search for joy can be one of the most powerful ways to honor her daughter’s legacy. Hannah shares her journey through grief and the turning point when she realized she didn’t want her daughter’s life to be remembered only through sadness. With honesty and grace, she offers practical advice on how to begin picking up the pieces after loss, how time and perspective...
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Ep. 039 - When motherhood remains a dream: Hailey and Isla’s story
The Empty Arms Podcast -- real stories of miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss.
On this episode of The Empty Arms Podcast, Hailey shares her heartbreaking and deeply honest journey of loss, longing, and love. After years of trying to have a baby and multiple rounds of IVF, Hailey finally became pregnant with her daughter, Isla. At 26 weeks, she tragically lost her. The grief was overwhelming, compounded by previous losses, and left her living in a world without children, a place filled with invisible motherhood and quiet longing. Through her pain, Hailey has created Isla’s Embrace, a project dedicated to meeting other loss families where they are, helping them feel...
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Ep. 038 - The healing power of four paws -- Stacey & Koda's story.
The Empty Arms Podcast -- real stories of miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss.
In this episode, I sit down with Stacey — a woman who is no stranger to grief and has turned her own pain into purpose. Through her healing journey, Stacey discovered the incredible comfort and connection that therapy dogs can bring. She’s since built a powerful therapy dog program through her local hospital, creating moments of joy, peace, and healing for patients, families, and staff alike. Together, Stacey and her loyal therapy dog partner, Koda, are spreading love and light in the most beautiful ways. We talk about how animals have a remarkable ability to connect with people on a...
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Ep. 037 - Ectopic Pregnancies: Inside our bodies, outside our control.
The Empty Arms Podcast -- real stories of miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss.
In this deeply moving episode, I am joined by five brave women who share their stories of ectopic pregnancy loss -- a type of loss that is not only emotionally devastating, but physically life threatening. These women open up about the intense physical pain, the medical emergencies, the surgeries, and the heartbreaking aftermath that followed. For some, it was their first loss. For others, it was one of many hurdles in a long fertility journey. Each voice adds power to a conversation that is all too often left in the dark. Together, we shine a light on what it means to grieve a pregnancy...
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Ep. 036 - Before the World Knew: Stories of Early Pregnancy Loss
The Empty Arms Podcast -- real stories of miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss.
In this powerful and deeply honest episode, I’m joined by five incredibly brave women who have all experienced early pregnancy loss. Together, we sit in the heaviness, the honesty, and the silence that so often surrounds early miscarriage — a type of loss that is common, yet still so misunderstood and rarely spoken about. Each woman brings her unique story — the moment everything changed, the physical toll their bodies endured, the emotional rollercoaster, and the isolation that often follows. We talk about the grief that shows up in unexpected ways, the anger, the guilt, and the...
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Ep. 035 - PCOS, Ectopic Pregnancies, IVF & Women's Reproductive Rights.
The Empty Arms Podcast -- real stories of miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss.
This week, I’m joined by Janel St. Peter—an incredible woman whose story is as heartbreaking as it is powerful. Janel opens up about her long and emotional journey through PCOS, ectopic pregnancies, and failed rounds of IVF. With raw honesty, she shares the grief, frustration, and isolation that can come with trying to conceive in a body that doesn’t follow the rules. But Janel’s story doesn’t end with loss—it grows into advocacy. Fueled by her own experiences, she has become a fierce voice for women’s reproductive rights and the right to be heard, supported, and believed. If...
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Ep. 034 - A Special Mother's Day Episode -- Love Letters to our Babies.
The Empty Arms Podcast -- real stories of miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss.
Mother’s Day is a beautiful celebration — but for many, it’s also a day heavy with grief. In this special episode, we hold space for loss moms who carry motherhood in their hearts rather than their arms. These brave mothers read letters written to their babies who have died — letters full of love, longing, and the kind of strength that only comes from living with unimaginable loss. This episode is a tribute to the babies who are forever missed, and to the moms who never stop loving them. You are not alone and your grief deserves a voice. This episode is sponosred by Breezy...
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Ep. 033 - Dr. Jessica Zucker talks about her books "I had a Miscarriage" & "Normalize It."
The Empty Arms Podcast -- real stories of miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss.
This week, we're joined by award-winning author and psychologist Dr. Jessica Zucker, whose groundbreaking book "I Had a Miscarriage" sparked a global conversation around pregnancy loss and grief. Jessica joins me on the podcast to share insights from her powerful new release, "Normalize It!" — a bold call to break the silence, challenge stigma, and embrace honest conversations about reproductive experiences. Tune in as we talk healing, storytelling, and how vulnerability can lead to profound connection and cultural change. You won’t want to miss this one. This episode is sponsored by...
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Ep. 032 - Lolo Paz unpacks 5 ways to take care of yourself after pregnancy loss.
The Empty Arms Podcast -- real stories of miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss.
This week on the podcast, we’re joined by the deeply compassionate Lolo Paz, founder of A Soulful Sorrow. In this conversation, we walk through her powerful Instagram post, “5 Ways to Take Care of Yourself After Pregnancy Loss,”and unpack each of the five practices that can offer real comfort and healing after loss. From resting without guilt to honoring your loss in meaningful ways, Lauren shares wise, grounded, and deeply practical insights that every grieving parent deserves to hear. This episode is an invitation to give yourself the space, support, and care you need — and a...
info_outlineBe sure not to miss this 6 part series as we lead up to Mother's Day. Surviving the loss of your child is a pain unlike most that people experience in their life. It is not only the tangible loss of your child but the dreams and hopes that you have for your life and that baby, gone too. Not many understand what it feels like to mourn the loss of a future but you do. You know what it feels like to measure milestones based on how many moments have been missed. You keep track of birthdays, anniversaries and holidays. You are acutely aware of how much time has passed since the last time you held your baby in your arms or in your womb. Loss changes us.
One of the letters read on this episode was taken from a beautiful book that we hold dear at the non-profit. The book is called "From Mother to Mother: On the loss of a child" and is written by Emily R. Long. The book can be purchased here https://www.amazon.com/Mother-Loss-Child/dp/0996555676/ref=asc_df_0996555676/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693685197992&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6685245597402821148&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9002695&hvtargid=pla-559221771581&psc=1&mcid=4871186681b43199b10b9f97e07ed7a8&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwouexBhAuEiwAtW_Zx2aa--RFlU08FSj2Wuf7SJDnZU0vxElb2Jl1lDFjFedA5SYqbekhERoCYXMQAvD_BwE. Thank you, Emily, for your beautiful letter.