Grief & Happiness

You can heal your broken heart by practicing good self-care!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 stuck in the same story of loss, episode 380 will move you. Author Michael Reed shares how, for nine years after losing his wife and daughters in the Gatlinburg wildfire, every morning felt like opening a newspaper with the same tragic headline. In this raw, hopeful conversation, he reveals how he finally rewrote that headline—turning pain into purpose through The Million Stages of Grief and showing that while we never move on, we can move forward.In This Episode, You Will Learn: (00:59) The wildfire that changed Michael Reed’s life forever(02:45) Why he rejected the “five stages of grief” and wrote The Million Stages of Grief(04:43) How shared pain can connect rather than divide us(06:07) Naming “the darkness” and learning to step out of it(07:30) The difference between moving on and moving forward(09:14) Living with the same headline of loss every day for nine years(10:40) Finding signs of love in butterflies, ladybugs, and owls(13:37) Turning grief into purpose and keeping loved ones’ memories alive(16:27) Facing anger, survivor’s guilt, and learning to take one baby step at a time(22:44) Grounding, creativity, and nature as pathways to healing(26:26) Why vulnerability is the key to helping others healMichael Reed is an author, speaker, and grief advocate from East Tennessee whose life was forever changed by the 2016 Gatlinburg wildfire that claimed his wife and two daughters. Transforming unimaginable loss into purpose, he now helps others navigate grief with honesty and compassion. Through his book The Million Stages of Grief and his platform, he challenges the idea of five linear stages of grief, showing instead that healing is a complex, deeply personal journey. Currently pursuing a degree in Behavioral Science, Reed uses his story to remind others that while we never move on from grief, we can always move forward with love.In this episode, Reed brings raw authenticity and hope to the conversation, sharing how he learned to live beyond the darkness of his loss. He describes grief as both chaotic and connective—a shared human experience that, when voiced, helps others heal too. From naming his sadness to finding comfort in small signs from his late family, he illustrates that our loved ones never truly leave us. Through grounding, creativity, and compassion, Reed shows listeners how to transform pain into purpose, connection, and even gratitude.Connect with Michael Reed:WebsiteInstagramTikTokBook: Michael Reed - The Million Stages of GriefLet's Connect: WebsiteLinkedInInstagramThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief

Now it the time to say whatever your need to say to your loved ones. Don’t wait!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 think end-of-life planning is dark or depressing, episode 380 will change your mind. Author and celebration coach Sherry Richert Belul shows how preparing for death can actually bring peace, clarity, and deeper joy to life. Through her book The Love List of a Lifetime, she turns planning into an act of gratitude—capturing memories and meaning before it’s too late. Her message: facing death is one of the most life-affirming things you can do.In This Episode, You Will Learn: (01:03) Grief and celebration as two sides of one coin(02:45) Turning end-of-life planning into a love story(04:32) Why facing death is a gift to yourself(08:05) The real reason it’s never too soon to plan(11:06) Preserving family stories before they vanish(14:12) Finding joy in letting go of “stuff”(16:35) The clarity that comes from writing it down(22:06) Sorting memories with the people you love(26:27) Keeping spirits alive through storytelling(28:01) How planning for death makes life richerIn today’s episode, I’m joined by Sherry Richert Belul — author, creative coach, and founder of Simply Celebrate, a movement that helps people bring gratitude and joy into everyday life, even amid grief and loss. Through her Love List practice and her new book, The Love List of a Lifetime, Sherry invites others to turn life’s hardest moments into opportunities for love and reflection. Known for her warmth, humor, and honesty, she shows that celebration and sorrow are intertwined—and that choosing joy is a daily act of courage.In this conversation, Sherry shares her compassionate, life-affirming approach to end-of-life planning. She reframes preparation for death as an expression of love—both for ourselves and those we leave behind. Drawing on her own experiences with depression and loss, she reminds listeners that planning ahead reduces chaos and allows more space for genuine grieving. Beyond the legal details, Sherry encourages people to record stories, memories, and “love lists” so that what remains is meaning, not confusion. Her talk with Emily transforms a topic often avoided into a heartfelt reminder that reflecting on death can deepen how we live.Connect with Sherry Richert Belul:WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTikTokYouTubeGet Sherry’s books!Let's Connect: WebsiteLinkedInFacebookThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief

What are some miracles you experience every day?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 been told to “get over it,” episode 378 will change how you see healing. Author and former lawyer Michelle Lerner shares how grief doesn’t end—it transforms—and how the body carries what words can’t. After a life-altering illness led her to write Ring, she explores complicated grief, isolation, and how true recovery begins not by moving on, but by learning to live with what remains.In This Episode, You Will Learn: (00:59) From courtroom to creative healing(02:07) How Ring turned pain into purpose(02:37) A parent’s journey through complicated grief(04:50) When illness and isolation reshape grief(08:13) The cold landscape of loss(10:17) The silence no one talks about(11:30) How grief lives inside the body(14:31) Why “getting over it” is a myth(16:06) Rebuilding life with purpose(18:02) What Jewish mourning gets right(22:57) Could “grief doulas” change how we heal?In today’s episode, I’m joined by Michelle Lerner, a writer and former public interest lawyer from New Jersey. After developing a severe case of neurological Lyme disease that ended her legal career, Michelle turned to writing as a way to navigate illness and loss. Her debut novel, Ring, explores complicated grief, isolation, and the power of human connection. She’s also the author of a poetry chapbook and has a memoir forthcoming—each reflecting her deep interest in how the body, mind, and compassion intertwine in healing.Drawing from her own experiences with illness and profound grief, Michelle shares how writing became both her refuge and mirror. Through the story of a parent mourning their adult child, she examines the loneliness and meaning-seeking that accompany loss. She challenges the cultural expectation to “move on,” instead framing grief as something to live with, not overcome. Michelle also explores how grief lodges in the body and how somatic awareness and community can aid recovery. Inspired by her Jewish mourning traditions and modern therapeutic ideas, she even imagines “grief doulas” to guide others through sorrow—a concept as empathetic as it is transformative.Connect with Michelle Lerner:WebsiteFacebookInstagramBook: Ring: A NovelLet's Connect: WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief

What memories can you focus on to bring you the inspiration and comfort you are seeking?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 grief could become a force for healing, episode 376 is for you. Author Jonathan Foster shares how the devastating loss of his daughter led him to co-found a nonprofit in Haiti and to write his powerful book Indigo: The Color of Grief. From building schools in remote villages to using writing to “tame the wildness” of loss, Jonathan shows how sorrow can transform into service, meaning, and even hope.In This Episode, You Will Learn: (01:02) Jonathan’s background as a pastor, writer, and nonprofit leader(01:52) How the loss of his daughter inspired a nonprofit in Haiti(03:55) Why helping others makes you a “wounded healer”(05:47) Writing as a way to “tame the wildness” of grief(07:57) Creating white space for readers to process their own loss(09:40) The power of limits in art and writing—like haiku(11:45) Jonathan’s advice on writing as a tool for grieving(13:23) Rebuilding the language of love after loss(15:20) Why grief fuels creativity and eliminates writer’s block(17:02) Jonathan’s encouragement: rest, keep going, and don’t give up todayIn today’s episode, I’m joined by Jonathan J. Foster, an author, speaker, and former pastor whose work explores the intersections of grief, love, and theology. After the loss of his daughter in 2015, Jonathan co-founded a nonprofit in Haiti that provides education and healthcare to underserved communities. His latest book, Indigo: The Color of Grief, distills nearly a decade of reflection into a poignant meditation on loss and resilience. Through his writing, speaking, and nonprofit leadership, Jonathan helps others find language and meaning in the midst of sorrow.Throughout this episode, Jonathan shows how his personal grief reshapes his life’s direction. What begins as his daughter’s plan to work in Haiti grows into a nonprofit that now offers schools and healthcare in some of the most remote parts of the country, transforming tragedy into tangible hope for others. He reflects on the role of writing in metabolizing grief, describing it as a way to “tame the wildness” of loss and create white space for meaning-making. He emphasizes how language itself must sometimes be rebuilt after loss—rehabilitating old words and inventing new ones to hold the weight of sorrow and love. Jonathan’s perspective as a “wounded healer” highlights the paradox of grief: even in brokenness, there is profound potential to serve, connect, and help others heal.Connect with Jonathan J. Foster:WebsitePodcastInstagramSubstackMediumGet Jonathan’s booksLet's Connect: WebsiteInstagramTwitterThe Grief and Happiness Alliance

Here is the key to activating your feel good hormones!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.