In this moving episode of What Makes You Tick?, Tatiana and Tom invite us into a conversation that is both tender and brave. Over the course of their dialogue, they weave together reflections on loss, the process of healing, and how we find meaning in the cracks of life.

From the beginning, Tatiana opens up about the rawness of grief, how it can feel like being both here and not here, and how the world insists on moving forward even when your heart doesn’t.

Tom listens with a generosity that creates space for vulnerability. He shares stories of his own challenges, the moments when he felt lost, and the practices he turned to when he needed to hold himself together.

Together, they explore themes of connection: how love continues beyond absence, how small rituals anchor us, and how the people around us can become lifelines, even when we’re fumbling. They talk about the importance of presence — of being able to say, “I don’t know,” “I’m hurting,” or “I’m scared” and how those admissions can become bridges rather than barriers.

By the close, there’s a gentle shift: not a “cure” for suffering, but a sense of companionship in it. You, the listener, are invited into that space, to sit with your own wounds, to sense that you are seen, and to carry forward with a little more softness for yourself.

What to expect in this episode:

Honest vulnerability about grief, absence, and memory

Personal stories that feel like letters to the heart

Gentle encouragement to be kind to yourself in your toughest moments

And a reminder: healing is rarely a straight path but you don’t have to walk it alone