What's Your Grief Podcast
In this podcast Eleanor Haley, MS and Litsa Williams, MA, LCSW-C, the mental health professionals behind the website and book 'What's Your Grief', leave no stone unturned in demystifying the complicated and messy world of living life after loss. One digestible topic at a time, Haley and Williams distill topics ranging from grief theory to coping. Grievers and grief professionals alike will find their approach practical, relatable, informative and engaging. Grief is sad and confusing, but your grief support doesn't have to be.
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The Confusion of Grieving Without Tears
04/19/2024
The Confusion of Grieving Without Tears
There are many complicated and unexpected grief experiences. One that comes up time and again is why sometimes we expect to cry and . . . don't. It's more common than you'd think and in this episode we're chatting about why. If you like the podcast, you'll love WYG Grief Support Hub (it's our griever member community - think of it as our Patreon, but a zillion times better). Support the podcast and get TONS more grief support. You can Visit for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss. If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. You can also at any time to help us keep the lights on. Get Lessons to Write On: A Guided Grief Journaling Intensive Pick up the What's Your Grief Book
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Grieving When the Relationship was Complicated
04/09/2024
Grieving When the Relationship was Complicated
People are complicated. Human relationships are complicated. There are many people in our lives with whom we have love-hate relationships with. We don't just grieve when the people we have positive relationships die. We can also grieve people who harmed us, caused us pain, and were abusive. There are many reasons why grieving these people can bring up unique challenges. In this episode we talk about those difficulties and what you can do to cope. If you like the podcast, you'll love WYG Grief Support Hub (it's our griever member community - think of it as our Patreon, but a zillion times better). Support the podcast and get TONS more grief support. You can Visit for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss. If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. You can also at any time to help us keep the lights on. Get Lessons to Write On: A Guided Grief Journaling Intensive Pick up the What's Your Grief Book
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The Ebbs and Flows of Grief Over Time
04/03/2024
The Ebbs and Flows of Grief Over Time
You hear all the time that grief isn't linear, but that doesn't change the surprises in the ways it ebbs and flows over time. In this episode we talk about the predictably unpredictably cycles of grief and the ways grief continues wax and wane as it intersects with so many other aspects of life. But we start with a good old chat about trying to get our sh*t together and just how hard that can be. If you like the podcast, you'll love WYG Grief Support Hub (it's our griever member community - think of it as our Patreon, but a zillion times better). Support the podcast and get TONS more grief support. You can Visit for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss. If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. You can also at any time to help us keep the lights on. Get Lessons to Write On: A Guided Grief Journaling Intensive Pick up the What's Your Grief Book
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Grieving a Friend
03/22/2024
Grieving a Friend
In this episode, we talk about grieving a friend. Litsa has had four friends die in the last four years. As a grief therapist and someone who is not new to grief, it has left her reflecting on some of the unique and unexpected aspects of these losses. Though we're primarily focusing on when a friend dies in this episode, you can about grieving a friend following a falling out or estrangement. If you want to read more about the death of a friend you can check out these articles: If you like the podcast, you'll love WYG Grief Support Hub (it's our griever member community - think of it as our Patreon, but a zillion times better). Support the podcast and get TONS more grief support. You can Visit for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss. If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. You can also at any time to help us keep the lights on. Get Lessons to Write On: A Guided Grief Journaling Intensive Pick up the What's Your Grief Book
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Revisiting the Continuing Bonds Theory of Grief
03/16/2024
Revisiting the Continuing Bonds Theory of Grief
Continuing Bonds Theory is both one of our favorite grief theories and also a griever favorite. And yet it's been ages since we've done an episode about it. So long, in fact, that a new book and a fair bit of new research has come out that has further shaped how with think about continuing bonds. If you're grieving and you haven't heard of continuing bonds, we think you'll probably like it. And if you're familiar with continuing bonds, we hope it will remind you of some of your connections and also bring a few new insights. Books referenced in the episode: If you like the podcast, you'll love WYG Grief Support Hub (it's our griever member community - think of it as our Patreon, but a zillion times better). Support the podcast and get TONS more grief support. You can Visit for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss. If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. You can also at any time to help us keep the lights on. Get Lessons to Write On: A Guided Grief Journaling Intensive Pick up the What's Your Grief Book
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How Do You Categorize Grief?
03/07/2024
How Do You Categorize Grief?
If you've ever wondered why our grief support isn't broken down by type of loss, today you'll find your answer. In this episode we talk about the question "what's your grief?". Specifically, we break down why, for us, this question has always had less to do with who died and more to do with the unique nature of your relationship with that person and the specific experiences and challenges of your grief. If you like the podcast, you'll love WYG Grief Support Hub (it's our griever member community - think of it as our Patreon, but a zillion times better). Support the podcast and get TONS more grief support. You can Visit for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss. If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. You can also at any time to help us keep the lights on. Get Lessons to Write On: A Guided Grief Journaling Intensive Pick up the What's Your Grief Book
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The Many Complicated Feelings Around Final Goodbyes
02/29/2024
The Many Complicated Feelings Around Final Goodbyes
In this episode, we address a question from a bereaved mom who didn't see her daughter after her daughter's death. She finds herself wondering if she should have fought harder to see her daughter. This brings up so many questions held by grievers no matter what decisions they made around a death -- often some variation of "should I have done something differently and would that have eased this pain?" *** The WYG Hub (it's our griever member community - think of it as our Patreon, but a zillion times better) is open for new members from now through March 1st! Support the podcast and get TONS more grief support! Visit for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss. If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. You can also at any time to help us keep the lights on. Get Lessons to Write On: A Guided Grief Journaling Intensive Also, if you like the podcast we're pretty sure you'll love our book! Available in print, ebook, or on audible.
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Building Walls to Avoid Further Loss
02/22/2024
Building Walls to Avoid Further Loss
This week we respond to a question from one of our Hub members. Grief anxiety is very real and, unfortunately, the very connections that can ease anxiety in grief can also be the source of that anxiety. We're chatting about that complicated experience after loss when you find yourself fearful of creating new relationships for fear of losing people while also wanting connection and fearing being alone. The thoughts and feeling are so complicated. *** The WYG Hub (it's our griever member community - think of it as our Patreon, but a zillion times better) is open for new members from now through March 1st! Support the podcast and get TONS more grief support! Sign up for our free February Visit for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss. If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. You can also at any time to help us keep the lights on. Get Lessons to Write On: A Guided Grief Journaling Intensive Also, if you like the podcast we're pretty sure you'll love our book! Available in print, ebook, or on audible.
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Grief Comfort and Grief Criticism on Social Media
02/15/2024
Grief Comfort and Grief Criticism on Social Media
In this episode, we dive into the world of grief in the digital era. Specifically we talk about what it really means to express sorrow online and the frustrating misconceptions that grief posts are just for attention. Some people turn to social media for support during tough times and genuine empathy means looking past the many assumptions about what's behind these posts. Sign up for our free February Visit for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss. Join the WYG Hub (it's our griever member community - think of it as our Patreon, but a zillion times better). It opens for new members four times per year (next on March 1, 2024) and you can join the waitlist - If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. You can also at any time to help us keep the lights on. Get Lessons to Write On: A Guided Grief Journaling Intensive Also, if you like the podcast we're pretty sure you'll love our book! Available in print, ebook, or on audible.
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Befriending Grief
02/08/2024
Befriending Grief
In this episode, Litsa and Mary chat about what it means to 'befriend grief'. This includes plenty of thoughts about how modern western culture shapes our beliefs about death and grief, with a healthy dose of how we try to counteractive some of the pressures to pathologize grief. In this episode, Mary mentions the follow books that have had a big impact on her grief lens: Visit for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss. Join the WYG Hub (it's our griever member community - think of it as our Patreon, but a zillion times better). It opens for new members four times per year (next on March 1, 2024) and you can join the waitlist - If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. You can also at any time to help us keep the lights on. Get Lessons to Write On: A Guided Grief Journaling Intensive Also, if you like the podcast we're pretty sure you'll love our book! Available in print, ebook, or on audible.
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Relief in Grief
01/31/2024
Relief in Grief
In this episode respond to a question about feeling relief after a death. But first, we talk about the recent Vox article and the wild wild west of how AI is changing the way people mourn. Visit for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss. You can read more about . Join the WYG Hub (it's our griever member community - think of it as our Patreon, but a zillion times better). It opens for new members four times per year (next on March 1, 2024) and you can join the waitlist - If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. You can also at any time to help us keep the lights on. Get Lessons to Write On: A Guided Grief Journaling Intensive Also, if you like the podcast we're pretty sure you'll love our book! Available in print, ebook, or on audible.
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The Grief of Anticipated-Sudden Deaths
01/26/2024
The Grief of Anticipated-Sudden Deaths
In this episode we talk about a on the website that Litsa wrote about a concept she's termed "paradoxical grief". It's the often-confusing experience of grieving a loss that is both anticipated but also sudden and shocking. We talk about this experience that is both incredibly common and yet also rarely talked about in grief, in part because it can feel difficult to explain. You can check out the article here: Visit for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss. You can read more about . You can read more about Join the WYG Hub (it's our griever member community - think of it as our Patreon, but a zillion times better). It opens for new members four times per year (next on March 1, 2024) and you can join the waitlist - If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. You can also at any time to help us keep the lights on. Get Lessons to Write On: A Guided Grief Journaling Intensive Also, if you like the podcast we're pretty sure you'll love our book! Available in print, ebook, or on audible.
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From Grief Literacy to Grief Humility
01/18/2024
From Grief Literacy to Grief Humility
We kick off this episode with our review of the new Dan Levy Netflix film "Good Grief". If you haven't watched it and don't want any spoilers, jump into the episode closer to minute 27. In the rest of the episode we address a common question that comes up for grievers: with so much information out there about grief, why aren't people more grief-literate? Which of course begs the question, what is grief literacy? Should that be what we strive for? We're not so sure. The documentary Litsa mentioned about finding out secrets after a death is called Stories We Tell. You can find the trailer here: Visit for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss. If you liked this episode, these are some articles you might appreciate: Join the WYG Hub (it's our griever member community - think of it as our Patreon, but a zillion times better). It opens for new members four times per year (next on March 1, 2024) and you can join the waitlist - If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. You can also at any time to help us keep the lights on. Get Lessons to Write On: A Guided Grief Journaling Intensive Also, if you like the podcast we're pretty sure you'll love our book! Availaable in print, ebook, or on audible.
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Moving Forward Challenges (in the New Year and Beyond)
01/09/2024
Moving Forward Challenges (in the New Year and Beyond)
Come to the free Grieving in the New Year Webinar with Litsa this Sunday - sign up -- This week we're talking about all the surprising challenges of facing the new year in grief. Everything from the passage of time to a Hub member question about what it means to 'live your best life' without fear of forgetting. The book Litsa mentioned in the episode is (though she hasn't read it, so don't think of this as an endorsement. It's just a book she wants to read!) Visit for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss. If you liked this episode, this is a good place to start. Join the WYG Hub (it's our griever member community - think of it as our Patreon, but a zillion times better). Opens for new members four times per year (next on March 1, 202) but you can join the waitlist now - If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. You can also at any time to help us keep the lights on. Get Lessons to Write On: A Guided Grief Journaling Intensive Also, if you like the podcast we're pretty sure you'll love our book! Availaable in print, ebook, or on audible.
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The Griefy-est Time of the Year
12/20/2023
The Griefy-est Time of the Year
We're back with an episode about - you guessed it - grief at the holidays! Sure, we've talked about this basically every year here on the podcast. Yes, we have approximately a zillion articles about it on the website. AND we still have more to say on the topic! Because there is simply so much that the holidays bring up when it comes to loss. Other holiday grief support: For a lot more practical and creative support, watch our free webinar on coping with grief at the holidays here. Find tons of articles about coping with grief at the holidays here. If you're looking for a last minute gift for someone grieving in your life, Bookshop.org (where you can support your local independent bookstore!) Barnes & Noble Amazon Books A Million Indiebound Hudson Booksellers Powell's Come hang out and get some grief support! Learn more and join the waitlist for our Griever Hub here. If you're a grief professional, join our grief professionals learning and networking community here.
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Grief Meets Existential Dread
05/31/2023
Grief Meets Existential Dread
In this episode we're going deep, talking about a very common but rarely discussed issue in grief: existential dread. Loss can make us face big questions about life and purpose. It makes us face our own mortality. This week we talk about what it's like to gaze long into the abyss. We reflect on our own discomfort with death (and our comfort with that discomfort). We don't have ads or a patreon. What helps us most is if you join the WYG hub for grief learning and connection. Open for summer cohort through May 31, 2023 and will then reopen in the autumn. It is only $8.33/month if you join annually and it is a big part of what keeps the podcast going - You can also any time to help us keep the lights on. If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. Also, if you like the podcast we're pretty sure you'll like the book! And you can get it in print ebook or audible.
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Mother's Day & Father's Day Grief
05/09/2023
Mother's Day & Father's Day Grief
May is here and that means the looming grief triggers of Mother's Day and Father's Day are upon us. In this episode we cover all the basics - why it's hard, who is impacted (spoiler alert: it isn't just bereaved parents and bereaved children), and some suggestions for coping. We have tons of Mother's Day and Father's Day articles and support over on What's Your Grief. Start with some of Other mentions from the episode: We don't have ads or a patreon. What helps us most is if you join the WYG member community for grief education, connection, accountability, a grief book club & more. It is only $8.33/month if you join annually and it is a big part of what keeps the podcast going - If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. Also, if you like the podcast we're pretty sure you'll like the book! And you can get it in print ebook or audible.
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When Grief Meets Anxiety
04/12/2023
When Grief Meets Anxiety
Anxiety is one of those grief experiences that is incredibly common and yet often catches people off guard. If you experienced difficult levels of anxiety before a loss, it can feel worse than ever as you navigate grief. And even if you never struggled with managing anxiety before, your loss can bring it up. In this episode we talk about the relationship between grief and anxiety, some common reasons for it, and offer some suggestions on how to manage it. Here are the two of the anxiety workbooks we mentioned: We don't have ads or a patreon. What helps us most is if you join the WYG member community for grief education, connection, accountability, a grief book club & more. It is only $8.33/month if you join annually and it is a big part of what keeps the podcast going - If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. Also, if you like the podcast we're pretty sure you'll like the book! And you can get it in print ebook or audible.
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What Are You Doing Here?
03/12/2023
What Are You Doing Here?
This week we're reflecting on what's were doing here. Not in the existential sense (though we're certainly always angsting about that on some level). But in the sense that we're curious what you want to hear more of. We hope you'll give a listen and then answer these 3 (very simple) questions to help guide our future episodes. We don't have ads or a patreon. What helps us most is if you join the WYG member community for grief education, connection, accountability, a grief book club & more. It is only $8.33/month if you join annually and it is a big part of what keeps the podcast going - If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. Also, if you like the podcast we're pretty sure you'll like the book! And you can get it in print ebook or audible.
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Decades On, Grief Still Surprises Us
02/22/2023
Decades On, Grief Still Surprises Us
Though there have been significant losses in our lives in the decades since, each of us looks back to the deaths of a parent early in life as formative to our lives and specifically our work in grief. In this episode, we reflect on the ways those remote personal losses still surprise us - even now. We don't have ads or a patreon. What helps us most is if you join the WYG member community for grief education, connection, accountability, a grief book club & more. It is only $8.33/month if you join annually and it is a big part of what keeps the podcast going - If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. Also, if you like the podcast we're pretty sure you'll like the book! And you can get it in print or on audible, for those of youOur book is available anywhere you buy books:
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Ask Me Anything (about Grief)
01/31/2023
Ask Me Anything (about Grief)
Litsa's flying solo this week, answering questions about grief submitted on Instagram. Talking about supporting partners, siblings, navigating grief conversations with friends, plushies, and more! We don't have ads or a patreon. What helps us most is if you join the WYG member community for grief education, connection, accountability, a grief book club & more. It is only $8.33/month if you join annually and it is a big part of what keeps the podcast going - If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. Also, if you like the podcast we're pretty sure you'll like the book! And you can get it in print or on audible, for those of youOur book is available anywhere you buy books:
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New Year, Same Me
01/14/2023
New Year, Same Me
We're two days into 2023 and the theme for us has been . . . meh. That 'new year, new me' rhetoric gets old fast. In this episode we're talking about why moving into a new year can feel hard, especially for grievers. That means musing about what happiness is (and isn't), the appeal (and risks) of a 'fresh start', and living a 'because of' life instead of an 'in spite of' life. Read . Want to join our free webinar on coping with grief in the new year? Sign up About us: Eleanor Haley, MS and Litsa Williams, MA, LCSW-C are the co-founders of What's Your Grief, one of the largest online grief and bereavement support communities. Both are mental health professionals who have lived through significant death and non-death losses. Since late 2012 they have been growing WYG as a resource for grievers who are looking for something beyond the walls of traditional therapy and support groups. We don't have ads or a patreon. What helps us most is if you join the WYG member community for grief education, connection, accountability, a grief book club & more. It is only $12/month and it is a big part of what keeps the podcast going - If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. Also, if you like the podcast we're pretty sure you'll like the book! And you can get it in print or on audible, for those of youOur book is available anywhere you buy books: Social stuff:
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Winter of Our Disconnection
12/23/2022
Winter of Our Disconnection
Eleanor's been feeling pretty disconnected this holiday season. Though that might sound better than feeling terrible, it turns out that numbness and disconnection are their own version of unsettling. In this episode, we're tackling this common-but-difficult-to-describe experience in grief - feeling nothing and what to do about it. 2022 is winding down and we'd love your support to keep this podcast going in 2023. Please consider joining our What's Your Grief circle community - there are tons of great resources to help you in your grief. Your $12/month (or $100/year) is a huge part of keeping this podcast going. Join the Are you a grief or mental health professional? Join the Buy our book - (available in print, audible and kindle) Check out hundreds of articles on all things grief at
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Feeling Relief in Grief
12/12/2022
Feeling Relief in Grief
Relief is one of the more common grief emotions and yet it is one that people often feel ashamed to mention. So today we're talking about relief in grief - what it is, what it isn't, how to understand it, and personal experiences with it. About us: Eleanor Haley, MS and Litsa Williams, MA, LCSW-C are the co-founders of What's Your Grief, one of the largest online grief and bereavement support communities. Both are mental health professionals who have lived through significant death and non-death losses. Since late 2012 they have been growing WYG as a resource for grievers who are looking for something beyond the walls of traditional therapy and support groups. We don't have ads or a patreon. What helps us most is if you join the WYG member community for grief education, connection, accountability, a grief book club & more. It is only $10/month and it is a big part of what keeps the podcast going - Also, if you like the podcast we're pretty sure you'll like the book! And you can get it in print or on audible, for those of youOur book is available anywhere you buy books: Social stuff:
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Holiday Musings on Family & Impermanence
12/01/2022
Holiday Musings on Family & Impermanence
This week we were feeling the post-Thanksgiving emotional grief hangover. That means musings on family, holidays past and present, and the ways we grieve the things we assumed would always be part of our lives, but aren't. We don't have ads or a patreon. What helps us most is if you join the WYG member community for grief education, connection, accountability, a grief book club & more. It is only $10/month and it is a big part of what keeps the podcast going - Also, if you like the podcast we're pretty sure you'll like the book! And you can get it in print or on audible, for those of youOur book is available anywhere you buy books: Social stuff:
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Grieving the Past, Present, and Future
11/10/2022
Grieving the Past, Present, and Future
This week we talk about yet another unexpected aspect of grieving - realizing that we in many ways grieve the past, the present, and the future. This expands on a few things we talked about in the nonfinite grief episode, so make sure you catch that one too. We don't have ads or a patreon. What helps us most is if you join the WYG member community for grief education, connection, accountability, a grief book club & more. It is only $10/month and it is a big part of what keeps the podcast going - Also, if you like the podcast we're pretty sure you'll like the book! And you can get it in print or on audible, for those of youOur book is available anywhere you buy books: Social stuff:
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When Families Grieve Differently
11/01/2022
When Families Grieve Differently
This week we're answering a listener question about how to cope when the differences in family grief styles start to cause strain between family members. Join the WYG member community for grief education, connection, accountability, a grief book club & more. Plus, you can watch the live stream of us recording each week. $10/month and it is what keeps the podcast going - Our book is available anywhere you buy books: Social stuff:
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Nonfinite Grief (grieving the life you expected)
10/25/2022
Nonfinite Grief (grieving the life you expected)
In this episode we talk about the little-discussed, but incredibly common experience of nonfinite grief. This is an experience that can happen after a death, but also after countless nondeath losses. Join the WYG member community for grief education, connection, accountability, a grief book club & more. Plus, you can watch the live stream of us recording each week. $10/month and it is what keeps the podcast going - Our book is available anywhere you buy books: Social stuff:
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When Grief Feels Ugly, Mean & Messy
10/17/2022
When Grief Feels Ugly, Mean & Messy
This week we're discussing when and why grief can leave you with a mountain of ugly, mean, and messy feelings. Join the WYG member community for grief education, connection, accountability, a grief book club & more. Plus, you can watch the live stream of us recording each week. $10/month and it is what keeps the podcast going - Our book is available anywhere you buy books: Social stuff:
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What's Your (Grief) Question
10/11/2022
What's Your (Grief) Question
You've sent us your grief questions; we've done our best to share some answers. Or at least talk through some thoughts. How do you handle it when people make assumptions about your grief that are all wrong? How do you strengthen continued bonds? (And some rambling on sleep to boot). Join the WYG member community, where we have tons of grief education, support, connection, a book club. Plus, you can watch the live stream of us recording each week. $10/month and it is what keeps the podcast going - Our book is available anywhere you buy books: As always, follow us on social
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