Grief & Happiness

Feeling more fulfilled in life than ever before might seem impossible after profound loss. Explore how journaling, recognizing signs from loved ones, and embracing the transformative power of grief can lead to unexpected joy and purpose.In this episode, I'm joined by a fellow podcast host, Kathy Gleason, who started her podcast As I Live and Grieve in November 2020. She openly shares her journey of navigating grief, reflecting on the profound losses of her father, mother, husband, and infant son, each of which shaped her perspective and deepened her understanding of the grieving process. Throughout this episode, Kathy recounts how her podcast, As I Live and Grieve, came to life, born out of a desire to reach a wider audience and help people openly discuss and process grief. This endeavor, inspired by her own unaddressed loss and supported by her family, has been running for four years, providing solace and insight to listeners. Kathy emphasizes the importance of acknowledging grief and seeking support, whether through bereavement groups, professional counseling, or personal practices like journaling. She shares how writing can serve as a powerful tool for emotional healing, helping individuals articulate their thoughts and create a lasting legacy of memories.Looking ahead, Kathy highlights her upcoming book, The Chrysalis Effect, which uses the metaphor of a caterpillar’s transformation into a butterfly to illustrate the profound changes grief brings to our lives. Through her heartfelt storytelling, Kathy inspires hope, demonstrating that happiness and fulfillment are attainable even after significant loss. Tune in and listen to episode 290 to hear Kathy Gleason’s heartfelt journey through loss and healing, and discover how embracing grief, sharing memories, and finding signs of love can lead to profound transformation and renewed joy.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Kathy’s podcasting background (4:12)Personal losses and lessons from grief (6:09)The healing journey and recognizing signs from loved ones (12:46)Journaling as a tool for grief and healing (20:51)Grief as transformation: The Chrysalis Effect (22:57)The intersection of grief and happiness (25:36)Feeling better than ever after loss (30:45)Closing thoughts and Kathy’s future projects (32:34)Connect with Kathy Gleason:LinkedInYouTubeThe As I Live and Grieve podcastLet's Connect:WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestThe Grief and Happiness Alliance

What intention can you create to help you through the holidays? What will you do to take good care of yourself?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.

Explore how the art of poetry transforms pain into resilience and helps navigate life’s toughest moments.In today's episode, I'm joined by the renowned voice actor, author, and poetry therapy facilitator Bill Ratner. Bill brings a deeply personal and insightful perspective to the episode, sharing the profound impact of early losses on his emotional and creative development. He reveals intimate stories from his life, delving into themes of grief, healing, and personal growth. Throughout this episode, Bill reflects on his mother’s remarkable approach to discussing her terminal illness with him as a child, the role of therapy in his life, and the complex dynamics of his family after tragedy. Bill’s stories are rich with introspection, exploring how grief influenced his relationships, career, and eventual passion for writing.Highlighting his work as a poetry therapy facilitator, Bill explains how writing provides a safe outlet for emotional expression, both for himself and for those he teaches. He discusses the process behind his poetry and the intention behind his new book, which blends dark humor and grief into a reflective narrative. His contributions offer a message of hope, emphasizing the value of creativity and connection in navigating loss.In This Episode, You Will Learn:A life shaped by loss (0:59)The power of early emotional support (6:14)A second mom and her struggles (15:31)Adolescence, anger, and diverging paths (20:44) The healing power of poetry therapy (29:15)The creation of Lamenting While Doing Laps in the Lake (31:10)A journey from estrangement to connection (34:11)Closing Reflections: Embracing Creativity for Healing (37:30)Connect with Bill Ratner:WebsiteInstagramLinkedInFacebookXGet Bill’s books!Let's Connect:WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief

What have you always wanted to learn about?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.

Could setting boundaries and saying 'yes' to yourself be the key to transforming grief? In this episode, I'm joined by transformational coach Vickie Menendez, who shares her deeply personal journey through profound loss and the powerful ways she has learned to heal. Drawing from her 35 years in self-care and trauma healing, Vickie discusses the importance of tuning into the body’s physical responses to grief and using intentional self-care practices to support emotional healing.Throughout this episode, Vickie speaks about the personal transformation that occurs when one commits to raising their vibration to connect with lost loved ones. She shares insights from her Mind, Body, Soul, and Sacred Spaces approach, which emphasizes the ripple effect of healing and nurturing on ourselves and our environment. Through setting boundaries and embracing self-care, Vickie illustrates how grief can be transformed into a path of growth and connection, offering listeners wisdom on how to find peace and even joy after loss.Tune in and listen to episode 286 of Grief and Happiness with Vickie Menendez to explore how listening to the body’s signals and setting boundaries can transform grief into healing and reconnection with loved ones.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Vickie finding her mission through loss (0:54)Writing her upcoming book as a healing process (3:06)The healing power of mandala art (7:06)Listening to the body’s grief signals (11:32)Breaking generational patterns of self-neglect (14:43)A visualization journey for grief (23:36)Connect with Vickie Menendez:WebsiteMother of All Memoirs websiteLinkedInYouTubeLet's Connect:WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief

Episode 285 Rhythm RemindersThe constant rhythms of your lives remind us of the preciousness of 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.

Have you ever felt grief physically? This episode reveals why and how somatic practices can help you cope.In today's episode, I'm joined by Grief Psychotherapist and Nonprofit Founder Amy Pickett-Williams. Amy shares her personal and professional journey as a grief psychotherapist and her motivation behind founding the LIGHT Movement. Drawing from her experience working with diverse types of loss, she explains how her father's unexpected death and her own near-fatal accident prompted her to embrace her father’s legacy of advocacy. Throughout this episode, Amy speaks passionately about the power of somatic tools for grief healing, including the significance of polyvagal theory and the window of tolerance, which guide people in managing grief through body-based techniques. She describes practical methods like breathwork, movement, and sensory practices to stimulate the vagus nerve and aid in emotional regulation. Amy’s nonprofit aims to provide safe spaces for people to connect, grow through grief, and find purpose, emphasizing community and cross-cultural support through workshops, retreats, and an annual solstice event.Tune in and listen to episode 284 of Grief and Happiness, to hear Amy Pickett-Williams’ inspiring journey of resilience and discover transformative ways to navigate grief and find healing through body-based practices.In This Episode, You Will Learn:The loss of Amy’s father and its impact (1:12)A life-changing accident and a cancer diagnosis (4:59)Founding the LIGHT Movement: Mission and goals (11:20)Somatic healing and the science behind it (15:25)Practical somatic techniques for grief (17:32)Closing thoughts and how to get involved (23:45)Connect with Amy Pickett-Williams:WebsiteLinkedInFacebookThe LIGHT MovementLet's Connect:WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief

Do you find yourself complaining about your grief? Discover how you can fix this situation!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.

Behind every war hero lies an untold story of pain and resilience—join Becky Ellis as she breaks decades of silence in her unforgettable memoir.In this episode, I'm joined by the author Becky Ellis who talks about her memoir, Little Avalanches. A daughter of a highly decorated combat veteran, Becky refers to herself as a “veteran of the war fought at home.” Her work highlights the often-overlooked impact of war trauma on veterans’ families, capturing the silent struggles and resilience required to navigate life alongside a loved one carrying deep, unspoken scars. Throughout this episode, Becky describes her book Little Avalanches as a deeply personal account of living with a war-scarred father who carried a lifetime of unspoken trauma. She shares her journey of breaking through his silence to reveal his harrowing experiences and how, at the end of his life, open conversations helped them both heal. Her father, who never spoke about his past, finally relayed memories with fresh intensity and pain, showing the persistent psychological scars of war. Becky also provides practical advice on having empathetic conversations with veterans, emphasizing a personal approach and understanding the complexities of their experiences. Her unique perspective and advocacy offer a voice to families touched by trauma and a bridge to understanding for those seeking to connect more deeply with the experiences of veterans.Tune in and listen to episode 282 of Grief and Happiness to explore the hidden impact of war trauma on families and discover how compassionate conversations can open pathways to healing and understanding.In This Episode, You Will Learn:The legacy of war trauma on families (1:58)Breaking through silence and the power of healing conversations (4:11)Understanding war and childhood trauma: A personal and emotional account (6:26)Connecting with veterans: Tips for a meaningful conversations (17:18)Encouragement to Confront Painful Histories and Cultivate Compassion (23:39)Connect with Becky Ellis:WebsiteInstagramGet Becky Ellis’ book!Let's Connect:WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief