Grief & Happiness

When grief left them speechless, award-winning authors Julia Park Tracey and Christine Walker turned to fiction—not just to cope, but to give their sons a voice that would live on forever.In today's episode, I'm joined by Julia Park Tracey and Christine Walker—two accomplished creatives who have transformed personal grief into meaningful art. Julia is an award-winning author, journalist, and publisher at Sibylline Press. Her historical novels The Bereaved and Silence are inspired by ancestral stories and deeply shaped by the loss of her stepson. Christine is a visual artist, designer, and writer whose novel Tap Dancing at the Bluebird, drawn from her grandmother’s Depression-era diaries, was reimagined through the lens of losing her son, Quinn. Both women use their work to explore themes of loss, healing, and transformation.Throughout this episode, Julia and Christine share how their sons’ deaths profoundly influenced their creative processes. Julia describes how grief deepened the emotional truth of her characters and led her to speak openly about loss, both in life and on the page. Christine talks about infusing her novel’s character with Quinn’s essence—his “quinescence”—to give him a lasting literary presence, and how painting helped her process pain when words failed. Together, they reflect on the healing power of storytelling and the ways creativity can offer connection, comfort, and a sense of continuity through grief.Tune in to episode 328 as Julia Park Tracey and Christine Walker share how channeling their grief into writing and art helped them honor their sons, process profound loss, and discover a lasting sense of connection, creativity, and healing.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Julia’s story: Writing through historical grief and personal loss (1:14)Christine’s journey: From garden journals to literary healing (6:12)Giving their sons a literary afterlife (9:40)How grief alters language and social norms (14:17)To tell or not to tell: Sharing a child’s death publicly (17:24)Redefining happiness: Can we ever feel joy again? (23:39)Writing fiction as a healing tool for grievers (28:22)When grief silences you: Finding voice through action (31:45)Connect with Julia Park Tracey:WebsiteInstagramLinkedInFacebookTikTokGet Julia’s books!Connect with Christine Walker:WebsiteInstagramXFacebookGet Christine’s books!Let's Connect:Website

Let's Connect:You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking hereYou can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking hereRequest your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide hereSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

He looked fine—until he wasn’t. Just eleven weeks after sharing his struggles, Charlie was gone. In this powerful episode, Betsy Thibaut Stephenson reveals how depression lied to her son and why telling the hard truth is key to healing.In today's episode, I'm joined by Betsy Thibaut Stephenson, a writer, communications professional, and mother based in Alexandria, Virginia. After the unexpected death of her 21-year-old son, Charlie, by suicide, Betsy began writing as a way to process her grief, eventually shaping her reflections into the poignant and powerful book Blackbird. With decades of experience helping others find their voice, she now uses her own to break the silence around suicide, mental health, and the complexities of loss. Her work is grounded in compassion, clarity, and the belief that honesty is essential to healing—offering hope to anyone navigating the aftermath of profound sorrow.Throughout this episode, Betsy brought those same qualities—honesty, courage, and clarity—to the forefront as she reflected on her family’s decision to be fully transparent about Charlie’s death. She shared how that openness not only helped their loved ones support them more effectively, but also created space for deeper community understanding. We explored the deceptive nature of depression, the emotional and physical toll of grief, and how writing became a lifeline in her healing journey. Betsy also discussed the structure and purpose behind Blackbird—a collection of short, digestible entries designed to meet grieving readers where they are. Her reflections serve as a powerful reminder that telling our stories, even when painful, can become a vital source of strength and connection.Tune in to episode 326 as Betsy Thibaut Stephenson shares how embracing openness, writing through sorrow, and honoring her son Charlie’s life helped her navigate the depths of grief and find a path toward healing and connection.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Choosing radical openness after suicide (01:33)Making sense of an incomprehensible loss (06:31)“The brain lies to you” - Understanding depression (9:11)Letting go of guilt while living with it (12:51)Why and how she wrote Blackbird (15:20)Coping with loss and moving forward (17:48)Grief and the fog of memory (21:01)The book she needed but couldn't find (23:00)The hard things need to be said (31:30)Connect with Betsy Thibaut Stephenson:WebsiteInstagramLinkedInFacebookGet Betsy’s book!Let's Connect:WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief

Notice when you start being negative and change your thoughts and words to something positive.Let's Connect:You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking hereYou can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking hereRequest your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide hereSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Why even well-meaning words can deepen someone's pain—and what to say instead when silence feels safer than saying the wrong thing.In today's episode, I'm joined by Sally McQuillen, a psychotherapist in private practice specializing in addiction, trauma, and grief. Based on the North Shore of Chicago, she brings a deeply personal lens to her work shaped by the loss of her 21-year-old son, Christopher. Her debut memoir, Reaching for Beautiful, chronicles that journey—a story of healing, resilience, and the enduring bond between mother and child. A former English and dance major, Sally now channels her lifelong love of writing into storytelling that offers comfort and connection to others navigating profound loss.Throughout this episode, Sally reflects on the emotional landscape that shaped Reaching for Beautiful, sharing how private journaling gradually evolved into a powerful memoir. She speaks candidly about her grief, the different ways she and her husband supported each other, and the spiritual signs that continue to remind her of her son’s presence. With compassion and clarity, Sally offers insights into how even small gestures of acknowledgment can make a profound difference for someone in mourning. Her perspective invites us to approach grief not with fear, but with openness, gentleness, and the understanding that love never truly disappears.Tune in to episode 324 s Sally McQuillen shares how writing through heartbreak, embracing spiritual connection, and honoring her son’s memory helped transform unimaginable loss into a journey of healing and love.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Sally’s journey through grief (1:02)Writing through grief: From pain to memoir (2:15)Letters to the departed and spiritual dialogues (6:14)Grieving as a couple—side by side, not the same (7:51)When grief becomes isolating (12:25)What to say (and not say) to the grieving (14:20)Finding joy in memories and shared stories (17:00)Recognizing signs from loved ones and choosing to heal (23:20)Rising above grief (28:43)Connect with Sally McQuillen:WebsiteInstagramLinkedInFacebookGet Sally’s book!Let's Connect:WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestThe Grief and Happiness Alliance

Write positive memories and dreams into your journal so you can always refer to them whenever you would like.Let's Connect:You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking hereYou can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking hereRequest your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide hereSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.