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I don't think I've had a conversation on this podcast that captures the sheer whiplash of compounded loss quite like this one. My guest today is Emilie Eiden—flight attendant, grief and trauma-informed coach, and the heart behind the Instagram community Emily in Transit—and her story is one of those that reminds you grief doesn't wait its turn.

Emilie spent most of her twenties caring for her father as he lived with multiple sclerosis and cancer, watching him lose mobility year after year until he passed away when she was 26. Just when you think that's the whole story, she takes us into her thirties: a marriage that ended in divorce after eight years, and then—four months later—the unexpected death of her ex-husband.

In this episode, we cover:

✨ What anticipatory grief actually feels like when you're watching a parent decline for over a decade
✨ Why losing "the house" that held every holiday and celebration can feel like its own separate grief
✨ The complicated, often invalidated grief of divorce
✨ What it's like to grieve an ex-spouse after divorce
✨ How walking, therapy, journaling, and travel became Emilie's tools for processing compounded grief
✨ The difference between triggers and glimmers
✨ How a string of "failures" (six failed nursing board exams) led Emilie to the career and life she has now
✨ Why alone time and community aren't opposites, and how both showed up in her healing
✨ Emilie's grief and trauma-informed coaching certification and what's next for her

If you're navigating a loss that doesn't fit neatly into one category—a divorce, a death, or both at once—I hope this conversation reminds you that you're allowed to hold it all, and that there is life waiting for you on the other side.

Connect with Emilie:

• https://www.instagram.com/emilieintransit/

Learn more about Letters of Light 💌✨ https://lossesbecomegains.com/letters

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Letters of Light 💌✨ https://lossesbecomegains.com/letters

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📖 Life Beyond Grief Substack: https://taraaccardo.substack.com/

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• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lossesbecomegains/
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• Work with me one-on-one: https://lossesbecomegains.com/work-with-tara
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By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that the entire contents are the property of Tara Accardo, or used by Tara Accardo with permission. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purpo...

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Can grief actually make you more magnetic? I know that might sound like a strange question—maybe even a little "woo woo"—but stick with me on this one.

This episode was sparked by an afternoon walk with my daughter, an episode of Sahara Rose's Higher Self podcast, and my word of the year: magnetic. As I listened to her talk about what makes a person magnetic—present, authentic, unbothered by the small stuff—I couldn't stop thinking about how much of that we, as grievers, already have access to. Not despite our loss, but because of it.

In this conversation, I'm walking you through how to alchemize your grief into magnetism, using six perspective shifts I've learned in the six years since losing both of my parents.

✨ How losing people teaches us to stop half-listening
✨ Why our sharpened noticingis a form of magnetism, not just leftover hypervigilance
✨ How dropping the performance of "I'm fine" gives other people permission to be honest too
✨ Why our forced familiarity with discomfort becomes a superpower others can lean on
✨ How grief teaches us to stop over-explaining our boundaries
✨ Why we become truth-tellers about what actually matters
✨ How holding joy and grief at the same time makes us more compelling, not more complicated
✨ Why our own brokenness becomes the thing that lets us meet other people's pain without flinching
✨ How releasing the need to be understood by everyone becomes its own kind of ease
✨ Why what we've survived becomes the bedrock of quiet, bone-deep self-trust

Episode with J.S. Park: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/223-11-years-at-a-trauma-center-a-hospital/id1688812587?i=1000772192456

Episode with Darnell Lamont Walker: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/139-facing-death-honoring-legacy-living-fully-with/id1688812587?i=1000720195925

Learn more about Letters of Light 💌✨ https://lossesbecomegains.com/letters

Support the show

Letters of Light 💌✨ https://lossesbecomegains.com/letters

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📖 Life Beyond Grief Substack: https://taraaccardo.substack.com/

Connect with me:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lossesbecomegains/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifewithgriefpodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/losses.become.gains
• Website: https://lossesbecomegains.com/
• Work with me one-on-one: https://lossesbecomegains.com/work-with-tara
• Shop the LBG Daily Journal: https://lossesbecomegains.com/journal
  
  

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that the entire contents are the property of Tara Accardo, or used by Tara Accardo with permission. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purpo...

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I sit down with poet, therapist, and author Sara Rian to talk about the day her world changed. Sara's mom, Susan, died by suicide in July 2018 when Sara was just 28, and this conversation goes straight into the parts of grief after suicide loss that so many of us are afraid to say out loud.

We talk about what it's really like in those first immobilizing weeks. The police calls, the organ donation decision, planning a funeral while still in shock, and more.

Sara opens up about the anger she felt, not at her mom, but at a world that felt unsafe, and the guilt that lingered long after. She also shares how her mother's earlier suicide attempts throughout her childhood shaped an anxious attachment and a belief that her mom simply "couldn't" die.

This episode is also a love letter to healing tools that actually work. Sara talks about what saved her life: therapy, suicide-loss support groups, community, and writing "Insta poetry" starting just days after her mom died. She's since written seven books. We also get into how becoming a mom herself unlocked a whole new layer of grief she wasn't expecting.

✨ Why the early days after a suicide loss can feel physically immobilizing
✨ Navigating police involvement, organ donation calls, and funeral planning in real time
✨ Why Sara's anger was directed at the world, not her mother
✨ How childhood exposure to suicide attempts shapes anxious attachment
✨ The lifesaving role of therapy, support groups, and community after suicide loss
✨ How writing poetry within days of loss became a form of survival
✨ Becoming a mother without her own mom, and the grief that surfaced

If you've lost someone to suicide, or you love someone who has, this episode will help you feel less alone in it.

Connect with Sara:
🔗 https://www.sararianbooks.com/
🔗 https://www.instagram.com/sara_rian_books/

Learn more about Letters of Light 💌✨ https://lossesbecomegains.com/letters

Support the show

Letters of Light 💌✨ https://lossesbecomegains.com/letters

Support the podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/lifewithgriefpodcast

📖 Life Beyond Grief Substack: https://taraaccardo.substack.com/

Connect with me:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lossesbecomegains/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifewithgriefpodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/losses.become.gains
• Website: https://lossesbecomegains.com/
• Work with me one-on-one: https://lossesbecomegains.com/work-with-tara
• Shop the LBG Daily Journal: https://lossesbecomegains.com/journal
  
  

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that the entire contents are the property of Tara Accardo, or used by Tara Accardo with permission. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purpo...

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This week's episode is a little different! Instead of my usual conversation, I'm leaving you with something to hold onto while I'm away.

I'm off exploring Sicily with my husband and daughter, and it got me thinking about how loaded it can feel to want new experiences after loss—especially places or plans you once imagined sharing with the person you lost. So instead of a regular episode, I recorded a quick guided meditation on giving yourself permission to explore again.

This meditation speaks to:
✨ Why wanting new things after loss doesn't mean you're leaving your person behind
✨ A grounding practice to help you notice—without judgment—what you're actually curious about
✨ Why "I'm allowed to want this" might be the hardest and most healing sentence you say all week
✨ A gentle reminder that this might not be where you are yet, and that's okay too
✨ One small, low-stakes way to start exploring your own curiosity this week

If you've been feeling that quiet pull toward more—toward trying something new, going somewhere, wanting things again—this meditation is for you.

Support the show

Letters of Light 💌✨ https://lossesbecomegains.com/letters

Support the podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/lifewithgriefpodcast

📖 Life Beyond Grief Substack: https://taraaccardo.substack.com/

Connect with me:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lossesbecomegains/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifewithgriefpodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/losses.become.gains
• Website: https://lossesbecomegains.com/
• Work with me one-on-one: https://lossesbecomegains.com/work-with-tara
• Shop the LBG Daily Journal: https://lossesbecomegains.com/journal
  
  

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that the entire contents are the property of Tara Accardo, or used by Tara Accardo with permission. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purpo...

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I don't think I've ever had a conversation on this podcast quite like this one. Today I'm sitting down with Dr. Gillian O'Shea Brown, a psychotherapist, trauma specialist, and author who has found the most fascinating way to make trauma and grief work accessible: through Greek mythology.

Gillian grew up in Ireland where emotions were something to be feared, not felt (hello, banshee folklore). That background shaped her belief that "the opposite of depression is expression", and it's part of why she wrote Psyche's Awakening: A Guide to Emotional and Somatic Healing Through the Wisdom of Greek Myth, using figures like Narcissus, Sisyphus, Medea, and Chiron as allegories for the healing principles she's used with trauma survivors for over 15 years.

In this episode, we talk about:
✨ How Gillian bridges complex trauma and Greek mythology
✨ Why "the opposite of depression is expression," and what happens when we suppress our emotions instead of processing them
✨ What trauma actually is: when the past intrudes on the present
✨ A simple, real explanation of EMDR
✨ How the body holds onto memories we don't consciously remember and how to start noticing the clues
✨ Ego state work
✨ Complex PTSD vs. PTSD, and why relational trauma is often the death by a thousand cuts
✨ Repetition compulsion, and why we're wired to keep reliving familiar pain
✨ The archetypal emotional map journaling exercise Gillian uses to help people spot patterns across their relationships
✨ Why rediscovering playfulness and creativity might be one of the final steps of true healing
✨ An inside look at Gillian's book, Psyche's Awakening, and the archetypes she uses to map the healing journey

If you've ever wondered why you keep attracting the same dynamics, why certain sensations show up in your body when you're triggered, or how to start doing this healing work even if therapy isn't accessible to you right now, this episode is going to open a lot of doors.

Connect with Gillian:

• https://www.drgillianosheabrown.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/dr.gillianosheabrown

Learn more about Letters of Light 💌✨ https://lossesbecomegains.com/letters

Support the show

Letters of Light 💌✨ https://lossesbecomegains.com/letters

Support the podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/lifewithgriefpodcast

📖 Life Beyond Grief Substack: https://taraaccardo.substack.com/

Connect with me:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lossesbecomegains/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifewithgriefpodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/losses.become.gains
• Website: https://lossesbecomegains.com/
• Work with me one-on-one: https://lossesbecomegains.com/work-with-tara
• Shop the LBG Daily Journal: https://lossesbecomegains.com/journal
  
  

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that the entire contents are the property of Tara Accardo, or used by Tara Accardo with permission. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purpo...

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In today's episode of Mourning Sips and Soul Shifts, I'm talking about something I don't think gets named enough in grief: the shame spiral. That heavy feeling of watching everyone around you move forward—working, laughing, planning vacations—while you're still carrying the weight of your loss. If you've ever asked yourself "why am I not further along by now?", this episode is for you.

We dig into:
✨ Why grief comes with a hidden layer of shame, and why that shame is not a sign anything is wrong with you
✨ How productivity culture and unrealistic bereavement policies fuel the pressure to "get back to normal"
✨ Why comparing your grief to someone else's highlight reel—online or in person—isn't a fair comparison
✨ How well-meaning comments like "you seem so strong" can unintentionally add to the shame
✨ Why grief doesn't follow the neat five-stage narrative we were taught, and how that mismatch creates guilt
✨ Mindset shifts to help release the shame spiral

Mentioned in this episode (listen wherever you get your podcasts!):
Episode 86 | Navigating Social Media & Our Mental Health as We're Grieving: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/086-navigating-social-media-our-mental-health-as-were/id1688812587?i=1000680126476

Episode 148 | The 5 Stages of Grief: Myths vs. Reality (and What Grief Really Looks Like): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-5-stages-of-grief-myths-vs-reality-and-what/id1688812587?i=1000724369638

Learn more about Letters of Light 💌✨ https://lossesbecomegains.com/letters

Support the show

Letters of Light 💌✨ https://lossesbecomegains.com/letters

Support the podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/lifewithgriefpodcast

📖 Life Beyond Grief Substack: https://taraaccardo.substack.com/

Connect with me:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lossesbecomegains/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifewithgriefpodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/losses.become.gains
• Website: https://lossesbecomegains.com/
• Work with me one-on-one: https://lossesbecomegains.com/work-with-tara
• Shop the LBG Daily Journal: https://lossesbecomegains.com/journal
  
  

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that the entire contents are the property of Tara Accardo, or used by Tara Accardo with permission. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purpo...

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Losing a parent changes you, but losing a parent as a man when you've been taught your whole life to keep it together? That's a different kind of grief. In this episode, I sit down with Roger Nairn, co-host of the Dead Dads Podcast, to talk about his father's death from cancer, his choice to pursue Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) in Canada, and what it's really like to grieve as a son when you weren't given the tools to feel your feelings.

Roger opens up about the guilt he felt when he didn't cry the way he expected to, how his counselor helped him understand that his grief had been "front-loaded" during his dad's illness, and why dark humor—including one unforgettable story about the funeral home—became his pressure-release valve.

✨ Why Roger felt "flat" and neutral when his dad died, and what his counselor taught him about anticipatory grief
✨ The MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying) process in Canada and what it's like to know the exact day and time
✨ The funeral home story that became the spark for the Dead Dads Podcast
✨ How toxic masculinity shapes the way men experience and express grief
✨ Why so many men have never had a real conversation with a friend about death
✨ The power of journaling as a grief ritual
✨ How to find the right grief counselor (and why it's okay to "break up" with one that isn't a fit)
✨ Navigating parenthood after losing a parent
✨ The complicated feelings around using AI to "bring back" a deceased loved one's photo or voice
✨ Why laughing about death and grief doesn't mean you've moved on

Learn more about Roger and his work at https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/

Learn more about Letters of Light 💌✨ https://lossesbecomegains.com/letters

Support the show

Letters of Light 💌✨ https://lossesbecomegains.com/letters

Support the podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/lifewithgriefpodcast

📖 Life Beyond Grief Substack: https://taraaccardo.substack.com/

Connect with me:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lossesbecomegains/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifewithgriefpodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/losses.become.gains
• Website: https://lossesbecomegains.com/
• Work with me one-on-one: https://lossesbecomegains.com/work-with-tara
• Shop the LBG Daily Journal: https://lossesbecomegains.com/journal
  
  

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that the entire contents are the property of Tara Accardo, or used by Tara Accardo with permission. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purpo...

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I first connected with Korie Leigh at GriefTastic and I knew I had to get her on the podcast, because we don't talk nearly enough about what it actually looks like to build grief-informed spaces, especially in the workplace.

Korie's background is truly incredible. She started as a child life specialist in pediatric hospitals before going on to get her master's in thanatology and her PhD in transpersonal psychology. In this conversation, she opens up about how she learned to manage vicarious trauma and burnout through reflective practices, supervision, rituals, and understanding her own stress capacity—lessons that apply just as much to grievers as they do to the helpers supporting them.

This episode is packed with practical guidance, too. How to actually show up for someone who's grieving (hint: stop asking "let me know if you need anything" and just help), why saying the deceased's name matters more than you think, and why you don't need to expect a response every time you reach out.

What we covered:
✨ How Korie's path from pediatric child life specialist to thanatologist shaped her understanding of grief
✨ Managing vicarious trauma and burnout as a grief professional (and what that teaches the rest of us)
✨ Why compartmentalizing helps in a crisis, and hurts when it becomes permanent
✨ Cultivating nervous system safety and regulation after loss
✨ The archaic bereavement policies most workplaces still operate under
✨ The inequities around pregnancy loss that don't get talked about enough
✨ How grief-informed leadership starts with understanding grief's cognitive and physical impact
✨ What actually helps a griever
✨ Korie's book, "When Everything Changes: Parenting Through Loss and Grief", as a practical resource for families

Connect with Korie:

• https://www.korieleighphd.com/
• https://www.korieleighphd.com/books
• https://www.instagram.com/drkorieleigh

Learn more about Letters of Light 💌✨ https://lossesbecomegains.com/letters

Support the show

Letters of Light 💌✨ https://lossesbecomegains.com/letters

Support the podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/lifewithgriefpodcast

📖 Life Beyond Grief Substack: https://taraaccardo.substack.com/

Connect with me:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lossesbecomegains/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifewithgriefpodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/losses.become.gains
• Website: https://lossesbecomegains.com/
• Work with me one-on-one: https://lossesbecomegains.com/work-with-tara
• Shop the LBG Daily Journal: https://lossesbecomegains.com/journal
  
  

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that the entire contents are the property of Tara Accardo, or used by Tara Accardo with permission. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purpo...