My Long-Term Relationship With Grief - Barri Leiner Grant & The Memory Circle
Release Date: 08/08/2024
Fifty-Seven Fridays: Myra Sack On Love, Loss & Grieving Her Daughter
Grief Out Loud
In this deeply moving episode we talked with about the love, loss, and legacy of her daughter, Havi. Diagnosed with Tay-Sachs disease at just 15 months old, Havi's life was brief but profoundly impactful. Myra shares how she and her family navigated the unbearable reality of their daughter's illness and death, including transforming their Shabbat ritual into "Shabbirthdays" held every Friday to celebrate Havi's life. Myra reflects on the arduous medical rollercoaster that led to Havi's Tay-Sachs diagnosis, the challenges of navigating a world that struggles to support the...
info_outline
Living With Incurable Cancer: Caroline Catlin On Time, Grief, & Mortality
Grief Out Loud
What does it mean to live with an incurable illness while navigating grief, time, and the complexity of human connection? In this episode of Grief Out Loud, we sit down with —writer, artist, and grief care worker—to explore her experience of living with an incurable brain cancer diagnosis. Caroline shares how her relationship with cancer has evolved over the past six years, from the early days of fighting for a diagnosis to the ongoing reality of regular scans and the uncertainty of what’s next. She speaks candidly about anticipatory grief, the way mortality shapes her daily...
info_outline
What Now? Carla Fernandez & Renegade Grief
Grief Out Loud
In this episode of Grief Out Loud, we welcome back , co-founder of , to talk about her new book, , in which she explores the question: "Now what? What are we supposed to do after someone dies?" Carla reflects on the death of her father, the unconventional paths she’s taken to process her grief, and how The Dinner Party came together from a desire to create non-traditional spaces for young adults navigating loss. In this conversation we delve into the dominant narratives around grief — and how the few that do exist may not fit for most of us. From potluck meals to altar...
info_outline
A Tribute To My Dad - Bryan Jung & This Is Why
Grief Out Loud
In this episode Bryan Jung talks about the experience of being only nine years old when his father, a prominent lawyer in the Korean community, was tragically shot by another lawyer. Fifteen months later and just nine days before Bryan’s 11th birthday, his father died. Bryan reflects on the impact of his father’s death, the strength of his family, and how he continues to honor his dad’s legacy. He shares how his grief evolved over time, the role of community support, and the lessons he’s carried into his own life. Bryan also discusses founding , an online...
info_outline
How Many Siblings Do You Have? Navigating Sibling Loss with Judy Lipson
Grief Out Loud
In this episode, we talk with Judy Lipson, author of A Celebration of Sisters. Judy shares her journey of sibling loss, reflecting on the deaths of her sisters—Margie, who died of anorexia, and Jane, who died in a car crash—and how their absence shaped her identity. She opens up about the complexities of sibling grief, the impact of Margie's long battle with an eating disorder, and the moment when the grief she had pushed aside for so long finally caught up with her. Through writing, ice skating, and organizing a fundraiser in their honor, Judy found ways to reconnect with her sisters and...
info_outline
When Grief & Betrayal Collide: Jessica Waite’s Story
Grief Out Loud
When husband, Sean, died suddenly, she knew him as a dedicated father to their young son and a loving, engaged spouse. In her book, The Widow’s Guide to Dead Bastards, Jessica reveals the shock and heartbreak of discovering Sean's double life. What began as a devastating loss quickly became even more complex as she uncovered the many secrets he had kept—hidden debt, drug use, and infidelity. Jessica talks about the rage, confusion, and emotional turmoil of grieving someone you love while simultaneously reckoning with the truth of who they really were. She reflects on anger as a catalyst...
info_outline
Were You Close? Always A Sibling With Annie Sklaver Orenstein
Grief Out Loud
In this episode we talk with , author of Always A Sibling: The Forgotten Mourners. Annie talks about her older brother, Ben, who died when he was deployed in Afghanistan, and how his sudden death reshaped her understanding of grief and loss. They discuss the unique challenges of sibling loss and how Annie ultimately decided to write the book she wished she had when Ben died. We Discuss: Annie’s relationship with her brother Ben and his role in her life The day Annie learned of Ben’s death and the immediate aftermath How grief intersected with anxiety The unique and often overlooked...
info_outline
What Remains: Rupert Callender on Grief, Rituals, and Redefining Funerals
Grief Out Loud
In this episode, we talk with , author of . Ru shares his personal experience with profound childhood loss to becoming a self-proclaimed radical undertaker. We also discuss the impact of grief at different life stages, how participation in funerals can be helpful for children, and reimagining rituals to accurately reflect the life of the person who died. Main topics: Parental Loss and Early Grief: Ru reflects on the loss of his father at age 7 and his mother in his 20s, sharing how these defining losses shaped his perspective on death and grief. Boarding School and Emotional Austerity:...
info_outline
Shatterproof: Telling The Truth About Grief with Lauren Sisler
Grief Out Loud
Grief can be shattering - and it can also reveal unexpected strength and resilience. In this episode, we’re joined by , award-winning sports broadcaster, ESPN Sideline reporter, and author of . Lauren shares her powerful story of losing her parents, who died within hours of each other during her freshman year of college, and how grief, fear, and shame, kept her from telling her story. Lauren discusses: The initial shock of loss. How grief evolved for her over the years and the tools that helped. The power of sharing her story and connecting...
info_outline
It's Okay That It's Not The Same - Grief At The Holidays
Grief Out Loud
[This episode originally aired December, 2023] This time of year can be grueling for anyone, but particularly for those who are grieving. So, each year we put out an episode to help you feel less alone and hopefully more equipped to traverse the next few weeks. Today's guest, Melissa Peede Thompson, M.S., is a Grief Services Coordinator at Dougy Center. While she has lots of professional knowledge in this realm, we asked her to talk about her personal experience of grieving during the holidays. Melissa was six when her sister died of gun violence. She was 13 when her father died in a...
info_outlineWhen Barri Leiner Grant was 28, her mother Ellen died suddenly. Barri was hit with intense grief, but back then the expectation was to hurry up and get back to work and life. She didn't have the time, space, or tools to acknowledge and attend to grief. Over the past 31 years, Barri and her grief have gotten to know each other on a deep level. In this long-term relationship, she's learned that her grief gets louder each time she reaches a new milestone or faces a transition. Even with that knowing, the grief can still find ways to catch her off-guard. Recently, one of those times was watching her daughter turn the same age Barri was when her mother died.
We discuss:
- How Barri's mom, Ellen, was a woman before her time
- The day her mother died and the last sounds she heard
- What the early days of grief felt like
- The untenable expectation to get back to "normal"
- Finding Hope Edelman's book, Motherless Daughters
- The grief tending tools Barri turned to over the past 31 years
- Her daughter turning the age Barri was when her mother died
- The newer grief of being a caregiver for her father who has dementia
- How The Memory Circle came to be and Barri's work as a grief coach
- One of Barri's favorite ways to engage with grief - writing
Barri Leiner Grant is the founder and Chief Grief Officer™, of The Memory Circle for grief support--a place and space she created in 2019, for those learning to live with loss. She left a longtime career as a journalist and motherloss peer guide, to pursue full-time work and training as a Certified Grief Coach and Educator. Connect with Barri on Instagram and Substack.