Grief & Happiness

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? Ot 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

Do you live in the moment? Are you doing what you love to do?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 felt isolated in your grief or unsure how to move forward after a major loss, episode 350 is for you. Jen Newberg, widow and founder of It’s Lifey, shares how she transformed her pain into purpose by creating retreats and support spaces for others navigating life after loss. Learn how connection, storytelling, and even unexpected tools like writing can become powerful pathways to healing—and why community is essential when rebuilding your life.In This Episode, You Will Learn:(2:40) Why Jen founded It's Lifey and how a retreat in Costa Rica inspired her mission(5:35) Building a grief retreat from scratch—and why she’s focused on in-person connection(9:10) How grief support circles offer more than comfort: they create deep bonds(11:40) The unexpected healing power of writing—even for people who don't see themselves as writers(15:00) How grief creates a ripple effect—and how to show up as a “grief ally”(18:45) The trauma of sudden loss abroad and navigating bureaucracy after her husband’s death(21:40) Why storytelling helps shrink grief—and how your narrative evolves over time(24:30) Finding purpose through pain: why Jen views her work as a tribute to her late husband(28:50) What “grief growing smaller” really means, and why the firsts are the hardestIn today's episode,  I'm joined by Jen Newberg, a Boston-based entrepreneur and community-builder who turned the sudden loss of her husband into a mission to support others through grief. Drawing from her own healing journey and background in nonprofit leadership—including her role at Boys & Girls Clubs of America—Jen founded It’s Lifey, a retreat and support organization for people navigating major life transitions, especially young widows.Throughout this episode, Jen shares how creating It’s Lifey helped her rediscover purpose and connection, and why in-person community is central to healing. She reflects on the unexpected power of writing and storytelling—even as someone who never considered herself a writer—and how simple support, like a weekly text, can mean everything. Her insights remind us that while loss is inevitable, it doesn’t have to be faced alone—and that even in deep grief, purpose and joy can be found.Connect with Jen Newberg:WebsiteInstagramLinkedInLet's Connect:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramTwitterPinterestThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief

What kindness can you share with others? Make a plan, and do it today!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 wondered what it would feel like to stay present at a loved one's death, or how to keep them close after they've passed, episode 348 is for you. Nancy MacMillan, psychotherapist, spiritual care provider, and author of The Call to the Far Shore, joins Emily for a tender and profound conversation about how reclaiming traditional practices around dying can bring peace, healing, and lifelong connection. Together, they explore how small rituals, presence, and storytelling can open a doorway to a more soulful grief experience.In This Episode, You Will Learn:(1:10) Why Nancy wrote The Call to the Far Shore despite not planning to write a book(2:30) What we've lost by distancing ourselves from death in modern society(5:10) Nancy's spiritual experience at her father's bedside(7:30) How she kept connection with her father alive through weekly "coffee chats"(9:40) Why death is not an emergency, and how staying present can shift your grief(11:00) The powerful ritual of tending to her mother's body for three days(14:20) How personal and ancestral rituals can ease the fear of death(17:00) The value of writing letters to loved ones who have passed(20:30) Simple ways to invite a felt sense of presence from someone who has died(25:00) How signs and synchronicities can affirm that love continues(29:10) The importance of including ancestors in our family stories and gatheringsIn today's episode, Emily is joined by Nancy MacMillan, a Canadian psychotherapist, spiritual care provider, and the author of "The Call to the Far Shore: Carrying Our Loved Ones Through Dying, Death, and Beyond." Drawing from decades of professional and personal experience, Nancy invites listeners to reimagine death as something sacred, present, and transformative. Her approach blends emotional insight with spiritual awareness, offering a path to connection and healing.Nancy shares stories of witnessing her father's final breath, caring for her mother's body at home, and finding ways to stay close to loved ones who have passed. She and Emily explore how gentle rituals, creative expression, and quiet presence can help us navigate grief while staying connected to the people we miss most. At its heart, this episode reminds us that love continues, and we can learn to feel its presence in new ways.Connect with Nancy MacMillan:WebsiteBook: The Call to the Far Shore: Carrying Our Loved Ones through Dying, Death, and BeyondJoin Nancy's NewsletterConnect with Emily Thiroux Threatt:WebsiteFacebookPinterestThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief

What can you do to live your best life?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 wondered how to find yourself again after years of caregiving, silence, or loss, episode 346 of Grief and Happiness is for you. Brenda Coffee, author, blogger, and survivor, joins Emily for a deeply personal conversation about grief, trauma, and the long path back to yourself. Through stories of profound heartbreak and quiet resilience, Brenda shares how she went from being the strong one for everyone else to finally listening to her own voice.In This Episode, You Will Learn:(1:22) Brenda's first experience with profound grief: losing her father(4:00) Living with and caring for a mother with mental illness(5:30) Why trauma made Brenda grow up fast—and stay quiet for decades(8:10) Her first marriage, emotional abuse, and the moment she said, "No more"(12:30) Meeting her second husband and building a new life(14:50) The first experience of anticipatory grief during her husband's illness(17:40) Losing her second husband suddenly on Christmas Day(20:10) The complexity of grief: relief, heartbreak, and isolation(25:40) Why Brenda finally started writing—and what it healed(28:10) The silent cost of being "the strong one"(31:00) How writing and blogging became a path back to herself(33:10) A friend's phone call that helped her shift her perspective(36:50) What survivors really need—and the courage to be vulnerable(39:30) The importance of not comparing trauma or grief(42:10) How happiness can coexist with sorrowIn today's episode, I’m joined by Brenda Coffee, author of Maya Blue: A Memoir of Survival. Brenda is a former caregiver, writer, and speaker whose life has been shaped by loss, emotional abuse, and deep resilience. Her memoir offers a raw and honest look at surviving two marriages filled with illness, addiction, and tragedy. For decades, she put others first, but eventually, she found the strength to reclaim her own identity. Now, she uses her voice to support others in grief and guide them toward new beginnings.Throughout this episode, Brenda opens up about losing her father as a child, navigating her mother’s mental illness, and surviving an emotionally abusive first marriage. She shares how caregiving for a husband with cancer became both a burden and a purpose, and how losing her second husband suddenly on Christmas Day unraveled everything she had rebuilt.Connect with Brenda Coffee:WebsiteInstagramLinkedInFacebookMaya Blue: A Memoir of SurvivalRead Brenda’s blog - 1010 ParkPlaceConnect with Emily Thiroux Threatt:WebsiteLinkedInFacebookThe Grief and Happiness Alliance