Grief & Happiness

If you’ve struggled to let go of guilt after loss, episode 360 is for you. Dr. Dravon James—pharmacist, life coach, and author of Forgiveness: The Path to Happiness—joins Emily to explore how unforgiveness, especially toward ourselves, can prolong pain. Through personal stories and tools like unsent letters and journaling, she shares how self-forgiveness leads to real healing and peace.In This Episode, You Will Learn:(3:20) Forgiveness starts with self-awareness(4:42) The power of self-forgiveness in grief(9:29) Blame delays healing(17:37) Writing as a tool for release(22:40) From unforgiveness to empowerment(26:17) Turning pain into purpose(29:23) Gratitude and forgiveness go hand in handIn today's episode,  I'm joined by Dr. Dravon James, a transformational speaker, author, life coach, and founder of the Everyday Peace movement. With over 30 years of experience as a pharmacist, Dr. James combines her healthcare background with a passion for personal growth, helping others navigate life through mindfulness, empowerment, and forgiveness. She’s the author of Forgiveness: The Path to Happiness, a practical guide to emotional freedom, and has also appeared as an actress on HBO’s The Wire. Her unique blend of professional expertise and personal resilience allows her to connect deeply with audiences, inspiring them to find peace and purpose right where they are.Throughout this episode, Dr. James offers powerful insight into forgiveness—especially in the context of grief. She highlights self-awareness as the first step toward healing and encourages listeners to acknowledge their emotions without judgment. Forgiveness, she explains, is not about excusing wrongs but reclaiming inner peace. Sharing her own journey with self-forgiveness, she illustrates how writing—particularly through personal journaling—can be a transformative tool. Her wisdom reframes forgiveness not as weakness, but as a path to freedom and emotional strength.Connect with Dr. Dravon James:WebsiteInstagramLinkedInFacebookBook: Dr. Dravon James - Forgiveness: The Path to HappinessLet's Connect: WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief

You can grieve and be happy at the same time. This episode tells you how.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.

If you’ve ever questioned loving again after loss—or felt judged for moving on—episode 358 is for you. Author Tony Stewart shares how he navigated grief after his wife Lynn’s death and the guilt that followed when he began a new relationship, even with her blessing. Through honest reflection, Tony shows how love and loss can coexist—and how healing doesn’t mean forgetting.In This Episode, You Will Learn:(0:57) A shocking diagnosis that changed everything(2:30) Living with terminal illness—and with intention(4:50) Hospice and the beauty in goodbye(6:30) Grief begins—and it’s not what he expected(8:40) Finding love again—and the guilt that came with it(10:40) Grief and love can coexist(12:50) The power of talking about the person you lost(20:30) Music, memory, and sudden waves of grief(27:30) Turning journaling into a lifeline (and a book)In today's episode,  I'm joined by Tony Stewart—author, retired educator, and heartfelt storyteller—who shares his powerful journey through love, loss, and renewal. After his wife Lynn was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, Tony began chronicling their experience on CaringBridge, a practice that became the foundation for his memoir Carrying the Tiger: Living with Cancer, Dying with Grace, Finding Joy While Grieving. Through his writing and lived experience, Tony offers a moving reflection on caregiving, grief, and the unexpected path to love again, reminding us that even in sorrow, there can be beauty.Throughout this episode, Tony brings candid insight and emotional depth as he reflects on Lynn’s diagnosis, the tender challenges of caregiving, and the complexities of mourning while forming a new relationship. He shares how journaling helped him navigate his grief and how community support shaped his healing. With honesty and grace, Tony explores guilt, memory, and resilience, offering comfort and perspective to anyone facing loss.Connect with Tony Stewart:WebsiteInstagramLinkedInFacebookSubstackBook: Tony Stewart - Carrying the TigerLet's Connect:WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief

Think of when someone brought light into your life just when you needed it most.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 here See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If you’ve ever questioned your strength after a loss or wondered how to find light in grief, episode 356 is for you. Grief coach and author Sam Miller shares how losing his father—and living with cerebral palsy—led him to ask: Do I have what it takes? Through honest stories and personal insight, Sam shows how journaling, legacy, and perspective can turn grief into purpose. This uplifting episode is for anyone ready to find hope in the healing process.In This Episode, You Will Learn:(0:55) Born with a challenge, living with purpose(3:00) Grief as catalyst: Losing his father(5:00) Writing through the pain(7:30) Legacy like a bank account(10:00) Embracing disability, rejecting shame(13:00) The healing power of helping others(14:30) Happiness and grief can coexist(18:00) Friendships that fade—and ones that return(22:00) Finding answers in the dark(27:00) Remembering who you areToday, I'm joined by Sam Miller—also known as Coach Sam or Sam I Am—an author, speaker, and coach committed to supporting individuals and families affected by disability and grief. Born with cerebral palsy, Sam has turned adversity into purpose, especially in empowering youth to move from limitation to possibility. With a background in sports journalism, he brings a storyteller’s insight to his books I'm Possible: Life Lessons on Thriving with a Disability and I'm Possible: Journey—Finding Treasure in the Midst of Grief. Through coaching, workshops, and speaking, Sam helps others navigate challenge with strength and intention.Throughout this episode, Sam shares how his lived experience—and the loss of his father—inspired his second book, which grew from raw, real-time journaling. He reflects on how grief invites us to be present, feel fully, and still remain open to joy. With honesty and heart, Sam explores how storytelling, focus, and honoring legacy can help transform pain into purpose—for himself and others walking similar paths.Connect with Sam Miller:WebsiteLinkedInFacebookYouTubeGet Sam’s books!Let's Connect:WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief

How do you experience grief in your body? If you are carrying a heavly load of grief, know that weight lightens over time. What can you do now to take the best care of yourself while grieving? 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.

If you’ve ever struggled to find the right words—or any words at all—when someone you care about is grieving, episode 354 is for you. Grief activist Lisa Keefauver and artist Rachel Kroh reveal how their hand-printed card collection is changing the way we support each other in loss, offering messages that are honest, beautiful, and deeply human. They share personal stories of heartbreak, cultural myths that make grief even harder, and why showing up with presence—not platitudes—can transform relationships. If you want to be a better grief supporter (or feel less alone in your own sorrow), don’t miss this conversation.In This Episode, You Will Learn:(01:01) Why we’re grief-illiterate(03:32) Art as a response to loss(08:55) A podcast, a book, and a serendipitous collaboration(10:39) Making cards by hand, with heart(13:35) The power of presence over platitudes(15:01) Beauty as a tool for healing(22:44) Designing for all types of grief(27:02) Permission to feel it all(38:39) Redefining support through contrast and colorIn today's episode, I'm joined by Lisa Keefauver and Rachel Kroh. Lisa Keefauver, MSW, is a grief educator, author, and host of the Grief is a Sneaky Bitch podcast, with over two decades of experience as a clinical social worker. After the death of her young husband, Lisa founded Reimagining Grief to improve grief literacy and help people show up with compassion rather than clichés. Rachel Kroh is a visual artist and founder of Heartell Press, a letterpress card company known for its hand-carved designs that bring care and sincerity to life’s most difficult moments. When Rachel couldn’t find a card that expressed what she needed during her mother’s terminal illness, she began creating her own. Together, Lisa and Rachel co-created Reimagining Grief, a line of empathy cards that blend healing words with hand-printed artwork—designed to support people in grief with beauty, presence, and deep emotional honesty.Throughout this episode, grief educator Lisa Keefauver and artist Rachel Kroh share the story behind Reimagining Grief, their hand-printed empathy card collection designed to help people show up with care during times of loss. Lisa reflects on her personal and professional experience with grief and the harm caused by silence or cliché responses. Rachel describes how her mother’s cancer inspired her to create sincere, emotionally honest cards. Together, they discuss the healing power of beauty, presence, and permission to feel deeply. By combining Lisa’s compassionate words with Rachel’s handmade designs, they offer a meaningful, lasting way to support grievers beyond traditional expressions of sympathy.Connect with Lisa Keefauver:WebsiteInstagramFacebookLinkedInYouTubeApple PodcastConnect with Rachel Kroh:WebsiteInstagram

Are you running away from your life? Toward your life? Or somewhere in between?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.

If you’ve ever carried guilt after a devastating loss or wondered if joy is possible again, episode 352 is for you. Psychotherapist P. Shavaun Scott shares how she survived her husband’s revenge suicide—and slowly found her way back to laughter, trust, and purpose. Through honest storytelling and clinical wisdom, she reveals how narrative therapy, safe relationships, and even dark humor can support healing. This powerful episode offers hope for anyone navigating grief.In This Episode, You Will Learn:(1:34) The power of narrative therapy(2:49) Writing as a tool for grief(4:32) How community shapes our healing(6:06) Shifting the story after suicide (10:12) Learning to trust again (14:28) What healing really looks like(19:41) Creating a gentle life(27:42) The turning point: Laughter in the pool In today's episode,  I'm joined by P. Shavaun Scott, a licensed psychotherapist, author, and speaker with over 30 years of experience supporting those healing from trauma and loss. Specializing in narrative therapy, she’s worked with both victims and perpetrators of violence. Her books—including The Minds of Mass Killers and her memoir Nightbird—blend clinical insight with personal experience. Based in Oregon, Shavaun also lectures on mental health and personal transformation, helping others reframe pain and rediscover meaning through writing, therapy, and connection.Throughout this episode, Shavaun offers both professional insight and personal reflection on grief and healing. She shares how writing Nightbird helped her move from guilt after her husband’s suicide to clarity and self-compassion. She emphasizes the value of narrative therapy, strong support systems, and creative self-care practices. Whether through therapy, time in nature, or finding joy in small moments, her story reminds us that transformation is possible—even after deep loss.Connect with P. Shavaun Scott:WebsiteInstagramFacebookYouTubeXBlueskyLet's Connect:WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief