Share

cover art for The Key to Living with Loss? It’s All About Balance with Mary Hoang

Good Mourning

The Key to Living with Loss? It’s All About Balance with Mary Hoang

Season 3
•

Today’s fascinating conversation on finding balance in grief is with Mary Hoang, Founder and Head Psychologist at The Indigo Project, an online psychology practice that thinks creatively about mental health. 


She is also the author of Darkness is Golden, a book that explores the painful parts of our lives that we tend to gloss over, like grief and trauma.


Mary shares so many profound nuggets of wisdom throughout this conversation. A key message from this episode is how important it is to take a break from grief and not let your loss define you. She shares why it’s key to find balance, which isn’t always easy, but something we need to do when processing loss.


Mary shares her perspective on how to cope with numbing distractions that might be holding up our healing. We discuss the two-factor model of grief that many of us can identify with, which is either distracting ourselves from grief or leaning into grief too much. We also explore why a loss might bring up other unmet grief and the psychology around why we don’t easily allow ourselves to feel joy when we are grieving. 


We had a big “A-HA” moment around this, so make sure you tune in all the way through, there are some wonderful insights in this conversation.


Follow us on Instagram: @goodmourningpodcast


Join our private Facebook support group called Good Mourning Grief Community here.


www.goodmourning.com.au


If you are concerned about your health, please contact a medical professional. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, phone Lifeline on 13 11 14, or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. In emergencies, call 000.


More episodes

View all episodes

  • 112. The 3 Attachment Styles and How They Impact Your Relationships with Julie Menanno

     49:56
    Loss impacts relationships—some grow stronger, some strain, and some fracture entirely. So, how can we cultivate relationships that feel secure and safe as we navigate life’s challenges?Our guest today helps us explore just that. Julie Menanno is the author of Secure Love and a Family Therapist, which specialises in emotionally focused therapy for couples. She shares how we can create healthier relationships, how different attachment styles behave and react to others, how to break codependency cycles, and how to work towards a secure relationship.A big thanks to this season’s sponsor Picaluna Beautiful Funerals.Connect with Julie at: thesecurerelationship.com.Connect with usJoin our grief support membership waitlist here.Buy our book Good Mourning: Honest Conversations About Grief and Loss, here: linktr.ee/goodmourningpodcastFollow us on Instagram at @goodmourningpodcast

  • 111. Sal's Tough Life Decision to be Childfree

     41:01
    In today's episode, we're sharing untold parts of Sal's story and how losing her mum came at a time when she was making a pivotal life choice of whether or not to have children. Sal shares her journey of grappling with the decision. From early doubts to a pivotal miscarriage that made her question her desires and societal expectations, the loneliness she felt and how she coped without having her mum to talk to. Despite fears of judgement and feeling like an outlier, Sal's decision has been grounded in a deep sense of self-awareness. We hope this conversation will resonate with anyone else who has been grappling with one of life's most significant decisions.A big thanks to this season’s sponsor Picaluna Beautiful Funerals.Connect with usJoin our grief support membership waitlist here.Buy our book Good Mourning: Honest Conversations About Grief and Loss, here: linktr.ee/goodmourningpodcastFollow us on Instagram at @goodmourningpodcast

  • BONUS: Unpacking Mother Loss with Zoe Marshall

     01:09:37
    For this bonus Mother’s Day episode, Zoe Marshall, host of The Deep podcast, joins us to talk about the long-lasting impacts of mother loss. Zoe gets vulnerable about losing her mum, Jan, when she was 20. From coping with toxic family dynamics to raising children without your mum, this conversation explores the heartache – and hope – of life without your mum.Connect with Zoe on Instagram at @zoebmarshall.A big thanks to this season’s sponsor Picaluna Beautiful FuneralsConnect with usJoin our grief support membership waitlist here.Buy our book Good Mourning: Honest Conversations About Grief and Loss, here: linktr.ee/goodmourningpodcast

  • 110. How to Find Hope After Loss with Rosie Batty

     58:42
    After tragedy, how do we find hope? We explore That question with today's incredible guest, Rosie Batty. Rosie is a Domestic Violence Campaigner and Author of two books, including her latest, Hope. In 2014, Rosie's son, Luke, was murdered in front of her by his father. Ten years later, Rosie wrote a memoir about what it takes to get through the worst of times and – although she once felt she had lost all hope – how she is finding it again.Buy Rosie’s new book, Hope, here.White Ribbon Australia - Domestic and Family Violence HotlineThe Benevolent Society Domestic and Family Violence Support services1800RESPECT Confidential information, counselling and support serviceA big thanks to this season’s sponsor Picaluna Beautiful FuneralsConnect with usJoin our grief support membership waitlist here.Buy our book Good Mourning: Honest Conversations About Grief and Loss, here: linktr.ee/goodmourningpodcastFollow us on Instagram at @goodmourningpodcast

  • 109. Coping When Relationships and Friendships End

     48:41
    In this highly requested episode, we dive into all the different emotions and challenges people face when relationships end with romantic partners, close friends, or family members. Through candid conversations we share practical coping strategies and community experiences, offering a beacon of hope for those grappling with the aftermath of relationship loss. A big thanks to this season’s sponsor Picaluna Beautiful FuneralsJoin our grief support membership waitlist here.Buy our book Good Mourning: Honest Conversations About Grief and Loss, here: linktr.ee/goodmourningpodcastCheck out our affirmation cards for grief and loss at www.goodmourning.com.auFollow us on Instagram at @goodmourningpodcast

  • 108. The Power of Grief Dreams with Dr Joshua Black

     48:27
    If you've ever wanted to know more about your grief dreams and what they are, today's guest will fascinate you. Dr. Joshua Black is a grief researcher, host of the Grief Dreams Podcast and the leading academic expert in grief dreams whose work focuses on dreams and continuing bonds after loss, including prenatal and pet loss. We explore what grief dreams can mean, what they teach us, the most common types, the difference between grief dreams and visitation dreams, and more.Connect with Joshua at www.griefdreams.ca.A big thanks to this season’s sponsor Picaluna Beautiful FuneralsConnect with usJoin our grief support membership waitlist here.Buy our book Good Mourning: Honest Conversations About Grief and Loss, here: linktr.ee/goodmourningpodcastCheck out our affirmation cards for grief and loss at www.goodmourning.com.auFollow us on Instagram at @goodmourningpodcast

  • 107. How to Cope with Grief at Work

     53:14
    Returning to work after a loss can be one of the most challenging experiences. Given that we spend a third of our lives at work, it’s essential to know how to cope with grief at work. In this episode, we share the experiences and advice from our community about grieving and working and how to support yourself and others. Whether you’re coping with loss or supporting someone who is, this episode is a must-listen.A big thanks to this season’s sponsor Picaluna Beautiful FuneralsConnect with usJoin our grief support membership waitlist here.Check out our shop or buy a signed copy of our book Good Mourning: Honest Conversations About Grief and Loss here: goodmourning.com.au/shop/Follow us on Instagram at @goodmourningpodcast

  • 106. Grief, Sleep and Understanding Your Chronotype with Olivia Arezzolo

    45:24
    In today's BONUS episode, Olivia Arezzolo, Australia's leading sleep expert, joins us. We pick Olivia's brains about why grief impacts our sleep, common sleep misconceptions, identifying your chronotype and how that can be a game-changer, and sleep hygiene's do's and don'ts. Olivia dissects sleep science into easily digestible advice. Whether you're grieving or not, we can all learn a lot from this conversation.Connect with Olivia at oliviaarezzolo.com.au.Connect with usJoin our grief support membership waitlist here.Buy our book Good Mourning: Honest Conversations About Grief and Loss, here: linktr.ee/goodmourningpodcastFollow us on Instagram at @goodmourningpodcast

  • 105. The Neuroscience of the Grieving Brain with Dr Mary-Frances O’Connor

     51:26
    Have you ever wondered how grief impacts your brain? Today, we are joined by the renowned grief neuroscientist and psychologist Dr Mary-Frances O'Connor, author of The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss.Mary Frances is the authority on the neurology of grief, and in this conversation, she shares her scientific research and practical knowledge about how our brains respond to loss. It's a fascinating must-listen for anyone coping with grief or supporting someone who is.Connect with usJoin our grief support membership waitlist here.Check out our shop or buy a signed copy of our book Good Mourning: Honest Conversations About Grief and Loss here: goodmourning.com.au/shop/Follow us on Instagram at @goodmourningpodcast