Grief does not stay neatly contained in one corner of our lives. It follows us into work, relationships, decisions, identity, and the moments when everyone else assumes we are “back to normal.”

But what happens when normal no longer fits?

In Episode 14 of Jam Sessions with Tina Eliana, Tina sits down with Patricia Freudenberg for a candid conversation about grief, recovery, self-worth, everyday leadership, and what it means to live forward without leaving the people we love behind.

This conversation explores questions many people carry but do not always know how to ask:

What happens when grief follows you back to work?

How can a leader or coworker support someone after a loss without avoiding the subject or forcing a conversation?

Why can simply showing up matter more than we realize?

And what if the role you have called “just” something has been leadership all along?

Tina and Patty make room for grief’s complexity: the awkwardness surrounding loss, returning to responsibilities before the heart has caught up, and the quiet power of presence. They explore legacy without turning it into a polished slogan or a demand to “move on.” How can love move forward with us while life is still being written?

Patty’s story also challenges the language of “just.” She spent years calling herself “just a hairstylist,” even while creating a safe space for people during some of their hardest moments. What influence might we be minimizing because it came without a recognized leadership title?

Whether you are grieving, supporting someone after a death, welcoming an employee back from bereavement leave, leading a team through loss, or exploring how purpose and legacy can coexist with sorrow, this episode offers a compassionate place to begin.

ABOUT PATTY FREUDENBERG

Patricia Freudenberg, known as Patty from New York, is the founder and CEO of Miss-U-Gram, a free social media app created exclusively for memorializing loved ones. She is a certified grief recovery consultant, author, speaker, entrepreneur, and host of the Live Your Legacy podcast.

With more than 33 years of entrepreneurial experience and personal experience with loss, Patty brings practical insight and warmth to grief recovery, remembrance, self-worth, purpose, and legacy. She is also the author of Live Your Legacy: A New Spin on Mourning, a guided reflection book created to help readers engage with grief without becoming overwhelmed.

Explore Patty’s story, Miss-U-Gram, Live Your Legacy, her book, and ways to connect:

https://jamsessionswithtinaeliana.com/patty-freudenberg

CONTENT NOTE

This episode discusses death, grief, bereavement, and the loss of loved ones, including the loss of a child or spouse.

Patty is a certified grief recovery consultant, not a licensed medical or mental health professional. This episode offers perspective, insight, and encouragement. It is not medical advice, mental health treatment, or a substitute for qualified professional support.

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To access prior episodes, listen to the Jam Sessions Jukebox, and learn more about each guest, visit:

jamsessionswithtinaeliana.com

ABOUT TINA ELIANA

Tina Eliana is a Leadership and Learning Systems Expert, author, speaker, podcast host, and community builder who helps individuals recognize the leader within themselves and helps organizations build learning and development systems that strengthen leadership across teams.

A four-time WGU graduate and WGU Alumni Ambassador, Tina is also a patient advocate for Visual Snow Syndrome, using education, storytelling, and advocacy to increase awareness and understanding.

Across her work is a simple belief:

Leadership isn’t reserved for people with titles. It lives in the influence of our everyday choices.