Tendrils of Grief
In this episode of Tendrils of Grief, we are honored to welcome Kelly Daugherty, a seasoned social worker with over two decades of clinical experience and a Fellow in Thanatology: the study of death, dying, and bereavement. Based in Malta, NY, Kelly is the founder of Greater Life Grief Counseling and the Center for Informed Grief, LLC. Her personal journey with grief began as a teenager following the loss of her mother to breast cancer, inspiring her lifelong dedication to supporting individuals navigating the complexities of grief. Kelly's mission extends beyond individual support to creating...
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In this deeply grounding episode of Tendrils of Grief, I’m joined by Sheena Nancy Sarles—lifelong student of well-being, certified yoga teacher, author, and creator of Yoga for Living with Loss™—for a powerful conversation about grief as an embodied experience and the wisdom of learning to live with loss rather than trying to heal or fix it. After the profound losses of her parents, sister, and best friend, Sheena began to notice what many grievers intuitively feel but rarely hear validated: grief doesn’t only live in the heart or mind—it congests in the body. Through years of...
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In this deeply moving episode of Tendrils of Grief, I sit down with Ksenia Merck—artist, architect, and creative storyteller—to explore how love, creativity, and spiritual connection continue long after loss. Ksenia shares her powerful grief journey following the death of her husband, William F. Merck II, and how honoring his final wish led her to bring his genre-blending science fiction novel, Ghost Flower, to life through posthumous publication and her own original illustrations. What unfolds is an intimate conversation about enduring bonds, creative healing, and the unseen ways our...
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In today’s episode with Karen Roldan, a licensed funeral director, embalmer, and the creator of Behind the Funeral, to pull back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood industries in our lives — death care. With nearly twenty years of experience and a deep respect for the families she serves, Karen brings honesty, compassion, and clarity to conversations many of us avoid until we’re forced to have them. As a graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science and a licensed professional in funeral services, cremation, pre-need planning, and cemetery property, Karen offers a rare insider...
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Today I sit down with Kyle Kittleson, the on-camera host for MedCircle, known for making complex mental health topics accessible through thoughtful, compassionate conversations. Kyle opens up about his personal grief journey after losing his mother as a teenager and how unprocessed loss shaped his emotional world for years. Drawing from both lived experience and thousands of interviews with leading mental health experts, Kyle shares powerful insights on grief, trauma, emotional healing, and rebuilding life after loss. We talk about why there’s no “right” way to grieve, how avoidance...
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In this episode of Tendrils of Grief, I sit down with Samina Bari—a corporate leader, author, and grief advocate whose life changed forever after the sudden loss of her husband. Known for advising CEOs and boards on over $40 billion in global M&A transactions, Samina brings that same clarity and strength to a deeply personal conversation about grief, widowhood, and rebuilding life after loss. We talk openly about the realities of sudden grief—the loneliness, identity shifts, and emotional overwhelm that often go unseen. Samina shares why grief makes people uncomfortable, how...
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In this episode, I’m joined by Marie Crews, a transformational coach, speaker, retreat facilitator, and best-selling author whose work is grounded in one core belief: your story can set you free. For over 15 years, Marie has helped women rewrite the narratives that limit them—guiding them through grief, trauma, and profound life transitions with compassion, courage, and clarity. Marie’s 25-year journey of self-discovery led her to the practice that became her greatest healing tool: journal writing. This deeply personal process inspired her to create The Nautilus Way: Write Your Way Free,...
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In today's episode Julie Fingersh, an accomplished writer and freelance journalist with a knack for exploring the intricacies of life. Through her essays, editorials, and reporting, Julie dives into topics like culture, wellness, relationships, and parenting adult children—all while offering insights on how to lead a better, more meaningful life. Her work has graced the pages of The New York Times, Oprah Magazine, The Huffington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, and The Miami Herald, to name a few. Julie's current blog is a midlife sequel to her award-winning humor column she wrote in her...
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I sit down with Rev. Kate J. Meyer, LPC—an ordained minister, licensed professional counselor, hospice professional, and acclaimed author—whose life’s work is dedicated to bringing grief out of the shadows and helping people move through loss with honesty, compassion, and faith. Drawing from decades of experience in hospice care, private practice, and spiritual counseling, Kate offers deeply grounded insights into the emotional, spiritual, and psychological realities of grief. She shares why so many grievers feel unseen or misunderstood within their faith communities, how spirituality...
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We sit down with Zoilita Grant, a transformational mindset expert with over 50 years of experience in subconscious reprogramming, hypnosis, and personal development. Zoilita has helped thousands of people break free from old patterns, release fear, and step into a life of clarity, confidence, and purpose. Known for her grounded, heart-centered approach, Zoilita blends science-backed techniques, hypnosis for healing, and mindset transformation tools that empower individuals to create real, lasting change. Her message is simple yet profound: everything you need to transform your life is already...
info_outlineIn this episode, I’m joined by Marie Crews, a transformational coach, speaker, retreat facilitator, and best-selling author whose work is grounded in one core belief: your story can set you free. For over 15 years, Marie has helped women rewrite the narratives that limit them—guiding them through grief, trauma, and profound life transitions with compassion, courage, and clarity.
Marie’s 25-year journey of self-discovery led her to the practice that became her greatest healing tool: journal writing. This deeply personal process inspired her to create The Nautilus Way: Write Your Way Free, a powerful and proven method that helps women break emotional patterns, process grief, rewire limiting beliefs, and intentionally shape who they’re becoming.
Her story is one of extraordinary resilience. Raised in poverty in rural Louisiana and a single mother of two at a young age, Marie fought to build a stable life for her family. She eventually left corporate America to pursue her calling—supporting women’s healing and studying mind-body psychology. But in 2017, Marie faced unimaginable heartbreak when she suddenly lost her son, just two years after her mother’s unexpected death.
Instead of letting grief define her, she turned inward, using the same tools she teaches to rise again, rediscover her strength, and choose life with intention. This lived experience, combined with years of transformational coaching, makes her uniquely equipped to support women with authenticity, empathy, and hard-won wisdom.
Today, Marie leads life-changing women’s retreats, including one exclusively for grieving mothers, in her newly built Gulf-front home in Florida—a sacred space for healing, confidence, and personal awakening. Her work consistently helps women reconnect with forgotten parts of themselves, uncover subconscious patterns, and step forward with renewed peace, purpose, and self-trust.
Marie Crews is a certified health and wellness coach, a successful entrepreneur, and the best-selling author of Even When…She Rose—a testament to her unwavering commitment to rising through adversity and helping others do the same.
This episode dives into:
✨ The healing power of journaling and emotional expression
✨ Rewiring limiting beliefs and breaking generational patterns
✨ Navigating profound grief and loss authentically
✨ Mind-body practices for trauma and emotional release
✨ Rebuilding identity after loss and life transitions
✨ The transformative impact of women’s retreats and community
If you're seeking healing, clarity, or a deeper connection to your own inner wisdom, Marie’s story—and her work—will inspire you to rise, no matter what you’ve endured.
Episode Highlights
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Journaling for grief recovery
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Emotional healing tools for women
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Transformational coaching for women
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Navigating grief and loss
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Grieving mothers support
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Trauma-informed journaling
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Mind-body connection healing
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Women’s healing retreats Florida
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Gulf-front healing retreat
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Healing after losing a child
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Personal transformation stories
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Breaking generational trauma
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Rewriting limiting beliefs
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Journaling for emotional breakthroughs
Know Marie Crews
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Website: www.mariecrews.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marieeurecrews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@empowermentandgriefguide
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