My Mourning Routine

Matt Jacobson, born and raised in Temecula, CA, created LifeBooks to help families capture and cherish the stories of their loved ones. After taking over his family's mattress store, he was inspired by the loss of his father to ensure that his family—and others—would always have a way to preserve memories for generations. His goal with LifeBooks is to make storytelling easy, meaningful, and collaborative, so that every loved one's legacy lives on. Tune in to hear how Matt found purpose after grief, became a more empathetic, grounded individual, created a therapeutic process of remembrance, and came to understand that every day is a blessing. You can connect with Matt and learn more about LifeBooks at https://lifebooks.io/ and via Instagram @lifebooks.io LifeBooks is such a beautiful, collaborative way to honor your loved ones!  Use code LAUREN50 for $50 off your order, as a Project Lead.   ------- You can connect with Lauren on Instagram via @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com How delicious would it be for your soul to share the parts of loss that greater society doesn't acknowledge?  What if you had a safe space to gather with others, to lighten the load of your grief, and let your heart be heard? ... Now you do!   Join Lauren for a special, supportive monthly check-in.  One hour, over Zoom, from the comfort of home, in sweatpants.  Newsletter subscribers receive a special session discount code to use for 22% off Monthly Grief Circles-- forever, so sign up first here! If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond!

Adam Zuckerman is the Founder of Buried in Work, a leading eCommerce platform specializing in estate planning/organization, end-of-life tasks, and estate transitions.  With a deeply personal motivation stemming from his experience managing his father's estate, Adam is dedicated to simplifying these complex processes for individuals and families nationwide.  As an Eisenhower Fellow, attorney, and MBA, Adam brings a wealth of expertise to his role, combining legal knowledge with entrepreneurial vision to drive innovation in the field of estate planning.  Adam's mission is to empower individuals of all ages to navigate the intricacies of estate planning with confidence and ease. Through Buried in Work, he seeks to revolutionize the way people approach end-of-life preparations, ensuring that everyone has access to the resources they need to secure their legacy and protect their loved ones. In this episode, Adam shares a bit of his story, why financial organization is crucial at any age, some top tips for how to simplify estate planning and end-of-life tasks, and the importance of starting NOW. You can connect with Adam and learn more about Buried In Work and the incredible resources available to support you at www.buriedinwork.com and via Instagram @buriedinwork ------- You can connect with Lauren on Instagram via @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com How delicious would it be for your soul to share the parts of loss that greater society doesn't acknowledge?  What if you had a safe space to gather with others, to lighten the load of your grief, and let your heart be heard? ... Now you do!   Join Lauren for a special, supportive monthly check-in.  One hour, over Zoom, from the comfort of home, in sweatpants.  Newsletter subscribers receive a special session discount code to use for 22% off Monthly Grief Circles-- forever, so sign up first here! If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond!

There's power in acknowledging the impermanence and fleeting nature of the fruits of life-- savoring simple moments and people, while sweet and ripe.  This episode is a gentle call-to-action to appreciate and take delight in the bounty before you! [HAPPY 75th BIRTHDAY, MARY ELLEN!  You will be forever celebrated!] ------- You can connect with Lauren on Instagram via @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com How delicious would it be for your soul to share the parts of loss that greater society doesn't acknowledge?  What if you had a safe space to gather with others, to lighten the load of your grief, and let your heart be heard? ... Now you do!   Join Lauren for a special, supportive monthly check-in.  One hour, over Zoom, from the comfort of home, in sweatpants.  Newsletter subscribers receive a special session discount code to use for 22% off Monthly Grief Circles-- forever, so sign up first here! If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond!          

In this episode, Jessica Fein shares: the incredible ways that her experiences with grief have woven themselves into her DNA; how being "whole" means letting others see where you are broken; how her late daughter, Dalia, showed her how to live; and how, in the darkness, there's always light to be found. Jessica is the author of Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes and host of the “I Don't Know How You Do It” podcast, which features people whose lives seem unimaginable and who triumph over seemingly impossible challenges.  Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Newsweek, Psychology Today, The Boston Globe, HuffPost, Scary Mommy, Zibby Mag, Kveller, and more.  Jessica is a relentless warrior in the memory of her dynamic daughter whom she lost to rare disease in 2022.  Her work encompasses hope and humor, grit and grace-- the tools that make up her personal survival kit.  Jessica serves on the Board of Directors of MitoAction.  She's the mother of three, whom she and her husband adopted from Guatemala.  They live outside of Boston with their quasi-service dog, who trained himself. You can connect with Jessica via her website: www.jessicafeinstories.com; through Instagram @feinjessica Facebook @jessica.fein.92 and read her blog posts on  Psychology Today. ----- You can connect with Lauren on Instagram via @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com How delicious would it be for your soul to share the parts of loss that greater society doesn't acknowledge?  What if you had a safe space to gather with others, to lighten the load of your grief, and let your heart be heard? ... Now you do!   Join Lauren for a special, supportive monthly check-in.  One hour, over Zoom, from the comfort of home, in sweatpants.  Newsletter subscribers receive a special session discount code to use for 22% off Monthly Grief Circles-- forever, so sign up first here! If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond!    

It can be difficult to find courage to talk about endometriosis and the effects of the disease on fertility.  In this episode, Julie shares: her personal story of how circumstances beyond her control have shown her what her life's path is meant to be and how she has embraced walking it; dealing with the loss of something she may never have; the importance of finding the right people to support you; and how turning to creativity and making beauty in hardship was the catalyst for her business, Anam Cara Clay Goods. Julie Freeman-Mullins is a Tennessee girl at heart, having lived most of her life in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee.  She has been blessed to journey through life with her husband and best friend, Josh.  They have been married since 2012 and have 2 fur babies: Saydi, a yellow lab/pyrenees mix, and Pearl, their sweet cat baby.  Julie has had a varied career, mostly in nonprofit work with a concentration in hospitality where she worked as a professional chef for over 15 years.  Moving to central Virginia in 2018 was a big change for her, but also a change that has brought new and amazing opportunities into her life.  Most days you can find Julie working as the Volunteer Recruitment and Communications Coordinator with Innisfree Village, an amazing community of folks that has been like a second home for her. And in her spare time, she is also the proud owner of a small business, Anam Cara Clay Goods, where she creates handmade polymer clay jewelry.  Her distinct jewelry design gives her the opportunity to share her passion for art while also creating beautiful things for the world to enjoy.  It is also a means by which she can give back in meaningful ways, most specifically with raising awareness about the effects of endometriosis and how we can make a positive impact for the millions of women worldwide being affected by this disease.  Anam Cara Clay Goods is about more than just the products Julie creates, but the intentional ways she can encourage and empower women to explore their own creativity, to feel good about themselves in their hearts, minds, and bodies, and to believe that-- just like a pair of earrings, we are all better together. You can connect with Julie and find her colorful work on Instagram via @anamcaraclaygoods and through her website: www.anamcaraclaygoods.com Sign up for Juile's Soul Friend Newsletter Learn more about The Endometriosis Society of America Learn more about Innisfree Village ----- You can connect with Lauren on Instagram via @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com How delicious would it be for your soul to share the parts of loss that greater society doesn't acknowledge?  What if you had a safe space to gather with others, to lighten the load of your grief, and let your heart be heard? ... Now you do!   Join Lauren for a special, supportive monthly check-in.  One hour, over Zoom, from the comfort of home, in sweatpants.  Newsletter subscribers receive a special session discount code to use for 22% off Monthly Grief Circles-- forever, so sign up first here! If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond!

Talk about the little wins in life-- Lauren's been gentler on herself and you should be, too (gentle on yourself, that is)!  This is a quick episode to encourage you to loosen your grip on --and maybe re-evaluate-- life's commitments, especially if you really just need a bit of rest, snacks of course, and replenishment.  What can you do to honor yourself and what's happening in your life right now?  It's okay to put the brakes on for a minute.  Or a month.  Or change course.   How delicious would it be for your soul to share the parts of loss that greater society doesn't acknowledge?  What if you had a safe space to gather with others, to lighten the load of your grief, and let your heart be heard? ... Now you do!   Join Lauren for a special, supportive monthly check-in.  One hour, over Zoom, from the comfort of home, in sweatpants.  Newsletter subscribers receive a special session discount code to use for 22% off Monthly Grief Circles-- forever, so sign up first here! You can connect with Lauren on Instagram via @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

It's Mother's Day and that brings up a whole fat bag of feelings for many.  Regardless of the quality of connection you possess with your mother, Lauren distills this "holiday" into an opportunity to draw attention to the radiant marvel that you are!  Buckle up for a cosmic comparison! Newsletter subscribers receive a special session discount code to use for 22% off Monthly Grief Circles-- forever, so sign up first here! You can connect with Lauren on Instagram via @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

Death is an inevitable part of life.  How do we continue to live, after loss?  This is an open-air recording from the forest, where Lauren offers insight on how to move through the many "firsts" after a loved one dies: first birthdays, anniversarys, holidays, activities without them... Prepare for these sneaky days, fortify yourself with that which best serves you in the moment, and know that you don't have to do it alone.   Newsletter subscribers receive a special session discount code to use for 22% off Monthly Grief Circles-- forever, so sign up first here! You can connect with Lauren on Instagram via @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

What have you done for you lately?  (Cue Janet Jackson and some super thick shoulder-pads...) Ah, the idea of even a brief pause from your busy day-to-day.  What does that mean to you, and for you-- and why is it important?  This short episode is a chance for you to think about how you choose to recharge, and the many creative ways that you can make that happen. You can connect with Lauren on Instagram via @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541 Sign up for Lauren's newsletter here.

We made it through-- and to-- another beautiful season!  Let's celebrate!  Vernal Equinox has come again in the Northern Hemisphere and ushers us into all things spring!  In this episode, Lauren offers you a few questions and reflections to make the most of this fertile season!  You can connect with Lauren on Instagram via @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541 Sign up for Lauren's newsletter here.

When's the last time you asked for help?  This short episode touches on our interconnectedness and the importance that we all play in each other's lives, as well as a time-sensitive request:  Lauren's casting a net to help build a care support team for her friend undergoing a bone marrow transplant.  If you or anyone you know is available for a unique caregiving opportunity near Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for mid-April through mid-June 2024, whether it be a nurse, retiree, or someone simply with a big heart and a flexible schedule, please contact Lauren directly at lauren@laurensamay.com Any leads are greatly appreciated. You can connect with Lauren on Instagram via @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541 Sign up for Lauren's newsletter here.

Spring is nigh, daffodils are popping, and it's time to let life flow!  Lauren shares how learning to recognize and accept all parts of your being is imperative for stepping through the threshold into the next season of your blooming. You can connect with Lauren on Instagram via @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541 Sign up for Lauren's newsletter here.

In this episode, Artist + Intuitive Medium Allison Pharmakis shares how she has come to find beauty and deeper connections in loss; how grief has shifted the ways she interacts with humans, at large; what led her to fully embrace and offer mediumship; and how Spirit is ever-present and ready to be of service, if we know how to invite it in. Pharmakis has possessed the unique gift of connecting with the deceased since her childhood.  She is a facilitator of healing between the living and the dead, and uses automatism (spirit guided writing and drawing) to help channel and connect the past and the present.  Although this was an intuitive ability bestowed upon her, she fine tuned her role as vehicle and vessel.  As a teenager, Pharmakis realized that utilizing the medium of automatic drawing helped her to see her visions more clearly.  She uses the medium of automatism to connect with spirits, as well as the Tarot. Her Visual Mediumship Sessions and Multi-Deck Intuitive Tarot Readings are hands-on and intimate, yet create a safe environment for beginners, and the more experienced, alike.  During each Visual Mediumship Session - which is tailored and personalized to her client - Pharmakis creates an original piece of artwork.  She not only aims to heal and inspire, but to supply her clients with the tools to integrate the experience and to strengthen themselves from within. Allison is part of a large team of Psychics, Mediums and Federal Agents (Find Me Group) who assist law enforcement task forces by helping to locate missing people internationally. You can connect with Allison on Instagram via @mediumforthemessage @apharmakis or through www.mediumforthemessage.com   You can connect with Lauren on Instagram via @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541 Sign up for Lauren's newsletter here.

This is a short episode to remind you to keep things in perspective.  Lauren's behind on recording this week, shares why, and how choosing a less reactive response to things that happen in life helps maintain one's peace-- because who doesn't need that?! You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541 Sign up for Lauren's newsletter here.

A special Valentine's Day message... with a twist!  Freshly emerging from a silent retreat, Lauren introduces a concept she resonated with that was shared by a fellow participant and ties it to a Hallmark Holiday.  It's a short episode that very well may change the entire course of your life!  No joke.  You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541 Sign up for Lauren's newsletter here.

In this tearful episode, Lauren reflects on recent highs and lows of life that she experienced in a matter of hours: from meaningful connections to news of a friend's death, and dancing her way through it all.  This vast spectrum of emotion is Life-- will you let it inspire you to lean into living, just a little (or substantially) more?   You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541 Sign up for Lauren's newsletter here.

Shawn Decker is a musician, author and internet pioneer and has commandeered a life driven by creativity and shaped by medical adversity.  Diagnosed with HIV at age 11, before the advent of the effective treatments, Shawn's parents were told that he had six months-to-two-years to live.  That was in 1987. At age 14, he skipped his exams to meet Depeche Mode through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  He was crowned Homecoming King at Waynesboro High School in Virginia in 1992, and credits his poor attendance record for the win. At age 20, Shawn opened up about living with HIV by posting one of the first online blogs in 1996. After moving from Waynesboro to Charlottesville, Virginia, Shawn fell in love with the local music scene and, most importantly, a fellow HIV educator, Gwenn.  Educating together as a sero-diverse couple- where one partner is HIV positive and the other is HIV negative- Shawn and Gwenn have shared their love story with millions of people.  And in some very unique ways.  From educational programming on the BBC, MTV, VH1 and even Hong Kong TV, to a Bed In in a Grand Central Station storefront on World AIDS Day.  Their candor, humor and openness inspired the inclusion of a sero-diverse couple's storyline on the scripted MTV series, Shuga which has educated teenagers and young adults around the world.  Shawn has been a contributing writer for Poz Magazine since 1997 and his humorous memoir, My Pet Virus: The True Story of a Rebel Without a Cure, was published by the Penguin Group in 2006.  From 1992 until 2022, he wrote and performed music as Synthetic Division, cutting his teeth in the basement of Tokyo Rose restaurant, an iconic Charlottesville music scene. His new band, Nouveau Vintage, makes their debut on March 9 at the Please Don't Tell Album Release party, sharing the stage with Charming Disaster and DJ Cadybug.  This Spirit Ball takes place at the Southern Cafe & Music Hall in downtown Charlottesville, VA. In this episode, Shawn talks about his life; the importance of breaking down the stigma and discrimination around HIV; his thoughts on death and living; how music has influenced and supported him through many ups and downs; the song that his mother used to contact him from beyond the grave; words of wisdom; and what lies ahead. You can connect with Shawn, his writings, and music at shawnandgwenn.com; raredisease.net ; poz.com and through Instagram @shawndecker & @nouveauvintagemusic You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541 Sign up for Lauren's newsletter here.

Marsha Gray Hill was born and raised in Kinston, North Carolina, before marrying her husband, Gregg, and becoming Mrs. Marsha Hill in 1976.  Her adventurous life of raising five children alongside her eldest son's burgeoning professional tennis career included lots of love and way too many drives down I-95 in a massive Southwind camper. Fifteen grandchildren later, Marsha is still a southern girl, splitting her time between Georgia and Florida.  Her family is her pride and joy, and while caring for her mother throughout the COVID pandemic, she experienced firsthand what it's like to advocate for a deteriorating parent. This experience inspired her to become a voice for compassion and human dignity, which led her to write her debut book, Grief and Grit(s): A Daughter's Journey of Love and Loss When the World Was Upside-Down, published by Forefront Books and distributed by Simon and Schuster-- hitting shelves far and wide on February 13, 2024! In this episode, Marsha shares her touching story of caring for her mother with Alzheimer's in the especially challenging time of early-Covid-19; how this experience led her to write a book, both to honor her mother and be a source of support for caretakers and grievers alike; and offers words of advice for anyone facing the responsibility of caring for a loved one who is no longer able to advocate for themselves.   You may connect with Marsha through her website:  https://marshagrayhill.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marshagrayhill/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marshagrayhill You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541 Sign up for Lauren's newsletter  here.

The world is war-ridden; scores of innocent people are dead and actively dying.  What can we do, when we feel powerless in the face of human suffering?  Mother Teresa said "Small things done with great love will change the world."  Here, Lauren invites you to three minutes of silence, to strengthen our collective heart-centered-consciousness and tap into the most loving stream of energy to send out to those whose lives have been completely devastated by the most unimaginable losses.  May our collective light fuse and grow brighter, for the sake of humanity.   Sign up for Lauren's newsletter  here. You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

"Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives." Last week, in Episode 57, Re-envisioning by Releasing: How to Make Space for the New, by Courageously Letting Go of the Old , Lauren spoke about how many people use the New Year as a time to re-envision what they would like to bring into their lives.  But there's an often over-overlooked step needed to welcome all that is waiting: Make space for the new!  This episode is about examining what you would like to make space FOR, while remembering that life is swiftly passing, like sands through an hourglass.  The world needs you doing the little things that light you up, so that you can light the way for others, and share and strengthen the love that is so desperately needed on this earth, far and wide.  What's one thing that you can do TODAY to awaken your spirit? Listen to the music of We Are Star Children here. To learn more about the significance of being a Star child, the gift of being in a band during Lauren's journey through grief, and how music has been a buoy to her spirits, Listen to My Mourning Routine Podcast, Episode 31: We Are Star Children here. Sign up for Lauren's newsletter  here. You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541  

This is one you'll want to save and come back to, anytime you find yourself on the bittersweet cusp of change! It's now 2024, and many use the New Year as a time to re-envision what they would like to bring into their lives.  But an over-overlooked step to take, to make that space for the new, is to recognize what cannot stay.  What are you leaving behind— to open the door for all that is waiting you?  May what comes to you and for you be even greater than you could have imagined!  Here's to facing our fears to clear the path forward— and for us to get out of our own ways. Happy New Year to you!  And Happy New Moment! Sign up for Lauren's newsletter here. You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541  

On December 25, 2023, Lauren drove 300 miles to see family, and her first stop was her mother's grave.  She shares reflections of her experience of the visit, as well as her understanding of what it means to be alive.  Never did Lauren realize that grief, especially through her mother's death, would shape her into a podcast host!  But here she is, 56 episodes in and fully embracing the commitment to podcasting-as-a-spiritual-practice, and a way to connect with you!  May you remember, and take delight in, that we are here, doing this human thing together-- present to support each other along the way! Sign up for Lauren's newsletter  here. You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

It's My Mourning Routine Podcast's first birthday!  In this celebratory episode: Lauren reflects on podcasting as a spiritual practice, her gratitude for YOU tuning in on this journey together, and a special collection of jokes from all of the guests that have graced the first year of MMR!  Enjoy! Sign up for Lauren's newsletter  here. You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

Celebrate how far you've come.  Celebrate those tiny wins that make your moments that make your life.  Take delight in how much you do-- that you often don't give yourself credit for!  May celebrating your tiny wins fuel your heart, as you continue the very special, often very hard work of being a human being on this wild earth, in this precious lifetime. Sign up for Lauren's newsletter  here. You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

The holidays are upon us and can have us feeling dazed and confused, especially if we are navigating the complex seas of grief.  We face so many kinds of losses that are hard enough to process when we AREN'T in the thick of social and familial obligations and traditions or feel pressure to take part in festivities.  Lauren shares 12 tips to help you through your grief and the inevitable holiday blues. Sign up for Lauren's newsletter  here. You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

Q: What do you have in common with trees?  A: The need to let go of that which no longer feeds you!  Try as you might to deny the signs, it is so important to take the cues from the rest of Nature-- Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere is setting the pace for slowing down, for letting go, for turning within.  Listen, as Lauren reminds you of the necessity of consciously shedding the weight of what's no longer in season, in preparation for the sweet stillness of Winter. Sign up for Lauren's newsletter  here. You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

With the holidays approaching-- and every day new with the possibility and opportunity to experience a vast spectrum of emotions through life's blissful and scary surprises, Lauren reminds us: of the incredible amount of information available to ingest at any given moment; that we are what we eat; and that we have the choice to feed our body, mind, and soul with that which depletes or fuels us. Sign up for Lauren's newsletter here. You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

Ah, the unexpected.  Lauren explores the notion of what it means to be cared for, and how we often don't experience that which we prefer.  Listen in to hear how spilt tea, Rumi, and reflections on life's surprises inspired this episode, with an invitation to: cry out in your weakess.  Remember that you are human, perfect as you are, and are being cared for, in ways that you likely hadn't imagined. You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

Daylight savings, shifting seasons, busy schedules, holidays approaching... This episode is especially for YOU, dear one!  In it, Lauren gives you the encouragement, and permission, to REST and honor the peace and quiet that this time of year seeks to instill in your heart.   What's something that you can do today— right now— to nurture your rest, whether in body, mind, or spirit?  You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

This is a quick episode to acknowledge the grief around making and keeping adult friendships and a simple proposed remedy to resuscitate connection, once common ages ago in the 1990s, before the dawn of AOL instant messaging: pick up the phone and call your people! You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

As a registered prenatal yoga teacher and birth doula, Kelly Cox has supported thousands of families through pregnancy, birth and parenthood.  In her yoga studio, families connected over the trials and tribulations of pre/postpartum bodies, sleep training, partner relationships and of course, infant feeding.  Taking note of her clients' emotional well being, Kelly realized that feeding newborns created a wave of stress, pressure and often led to postpartum depression.  She has held weekly free lactation support groups and regularly helps match local families with an excess supply of milk to families in need.  And as a breast cancer survivor, she gives particular attention to fellow survivors sourcing milk for their infants. Within this candid conversation, she shares: why "selfish" isn't a four-letter word and how finally allowing herself self-care supported her through many levels of grief and surviving cancer; the importance of community, connecting with others, and expressing how you feel about someone; and the incredible work she dedicates her days to, as a founder of the breast milk-sharing app: Share the Drop. You can connect with Kelly and the app through www.sharethedrop.com; Instagram @sharethedrop; FB @sharethedrop, TikTok @sharethedropapp You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

This is a short episode, but the gravity of its contents deserves space.  In a moment of humanity that is especially full of darkness, Lauren offers a favorite prayer for peace.   You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

Kate Adamson is a freelance interfaith minister, serving as a chaplain for the thresholds of birth and death, and everything in-between.  Her work as a wedding officiant, end-of-life-doula, and spiritual counselor centers on the transformative power of ritual, embodied presence, and collective experience.  She lives on a mountain in the Rockfish Valley of Virginia with 3 generations of family, a golden retriever, a gecko, and two cats. Kate has a particular passion for supporting families in reclaiming the act of caring for their loved ones' bodies after death.  This passion was ignited through an experience of profound loss, with the unexpected death of her stepson Ruis.  The family washed, tended, and buried his body themselves over the course of 3 days, with the help and support of a strong community.  She now serves as a Home Funeral Guide and Educator to support other families in this process. She speaks about: - her experience of tending to her stepson's body after his death - the expansion that came from her heart being broken open by grief and how, by accommodating the pain and the sadness, she became who she needed to be in order to love beyond the physical, so that her relationship can continue - what helped her move through intense grief - the transformative power of ritual and the opportunity to let grief be put into action, in an intuitive way, and - what a home funeral can look like and the options that are available to you after a loved one dies You can connect with Kate through her website: www.revkate.com  or through @tickledspirit on Facebook  You may find more information about natural home funerals at www.homefuneralalliance.org If you're in the Albemarle, Virginia area, you may register for the Sunday, November 5, 2023 event, Death Fest: Gather, Grieve, Grow, here You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

Megan Bloom is a mother, embarking on the harrowing pursuit of growing humans in the age of all sorts of things beyond her ability to grasp.  She is a behavioral researcher turned birth doula and is currently immersed in all matters end of life.  She loves fresh veggies from the farmer's market, beautiful places, cozy spaces, moon cycles, astrology, and tarot, hot takes on the human psyche, cold plunges, deep authentication, emergent realities, paradoxes, theories of everything, and a really good excel spreadsheet.  She is a former statistics pro and newly minted energy work practitioner, and she lives in Charlottesville, Virginia with her family. She shares: - how grief is integral to the whole of our life experience - what she's learned from being present to those at the end of life - how a near-death experience showed her a more essential verson of herself, and allowed her to access a realm of information and operations that she didn't have prior awareness of - and the many ways that she has supported herself along the way, coming up to edge where fear resides, over and over again You can connect with Megan on Facebook at meganbloomphd  You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541      

In a world where overextending ourselves is the norm, Lauren reminds you of the importance of tapping into the river of your vitality and how imperative it is to fill your own cup, first.  You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com   If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541  

In this episode, Lauren reflects on Summer, the evolutionary purpose of fruit, and invites you to contemplate with her: what has ripened in your life in the last three months and what seeds are you ready to disperse? You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

Marie Scott is the founder of Happy and Healthy After Widowhood, a best selling author, keynote speaker and functional medicine health coach. She is on a mission to help widows and widowers rediscover how to live well, laugh more, and perhaps even find love again. She shares: her story of widowhood; the 7 Steps to Healing After Loss, from her book: How I Found Meaning (And Humor) In Widowhood, Firehourses, & Organic Vegetables; the importance of self-care and boundaries; and how she healed herself and regained vitality with Food as Medicine. You can connect with Marie on Instagram @mariescottwellness, on Facebook @mariescottwellness or through www.mariescottwellness.com You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541  

Lordy, Lordy!  Look Who's Forty!   Lauren celebrates and reflects on both the 40th episode of My Mourning Routine Podcast, as well as her 40th birthday (which was in June)-- and shares two of the most precious "objects" that she cherishes in this lifetime. You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

Mary McDaniel Cail earned her PhD and two additional graduate degrees from the University of Virginia. Her op-eds, articles and essays have been published by the Los Angeles Times, the Miami Herald, the Chicago Tribune, Maria Shriver's Architects of Change series, and the University of Virginia alumni magazine, Virginia, among others.  Alzheimer's: A Crash Course for Friends and Relatives was chosen for inclusion in the 2015 Virginia Festival of the Book, and her work to create social opportunities for Alzheimer's patients and caregivers in her community was featured on the Charlottesville, VA Newsplex series, Stephanie's Heroes. In this episode, Mary bravely shares: her experiences of profound grief; how she made it through the unthinkable and how her pain has blossomed into her life's work; the importance of informed compassion (and what that means)-- and how to be an all-weather-friend to those you love. She is the author of Alzheimer's: A Crash Course for Friends and Relatives— and her forthcoming book, Dementia and the Church: Memory, Care, and Inclusion, is to be released by Fortress Press on September 19, 2023.

Party Time!  Excellent!  It's August 23, 2023 and Mary Ellen's birthday!  Join Lauren, as she celebrates the 74th anniversary of her mother's birth; reflects on what is now the 8th year doing so since her mother died; how their relationship continues-- and a special time-sensitive offer that expires 8/30/2023 11:59pm EST. You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541  

Charlotte James is a soulful, creative and multi-passionate human committed to her path of purpose and service.  In her private practice, HeartSprings, she offers “Somatic Integrative Arts”, a dynamic fusion of relational bodywork, life coaching, and expressive arts.  Her work is an innovative approach to living an embodied, creative and purposeful existence. Listen, as she shares how grief is a living, breathing, pulsating experience constantly changing and growing with her; how she's gone from: early in life, if asked if she could survive her biggest losses (that she has now faced), the answer would have been "Absolutely, not!  No way!"--to: finding gratitude and grace in her grief; and the importance of expressive arts along her journey.  You can connect with Charlotte at www.heartsprings.art  You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

So much can change in one second, in life-altering ways, for both good and grief.  This is a short, sharp episode in the spirit of Memento mori (Latin for 'remember that you [have to] die'), which is a powerful way to remember to: LIVE.     You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

Lauren has spent years of her life tending to the natural world.  She shares the reasons to prune plants-- for health, structure, beauty, and rejuvenation-- and how you can apply these same pruning principles to your life! You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

In this short episode, Lauren shares what kind of tears have been flowing for her, their importance and function, and encourages *you* to cry your eyes out, too!  Party like you're human (because you are).   You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

Lauren invites you to go back to Ep. 31: We Are Star Children, to hear her speak to the significance of this term, the importance of song during her journey through grief, and requests that you to submit your written stories of how music has supported you through trying times to lauren@laurensamay.com by August 31, 2023 to be featured on an upcoming episode!  AND reminds you that: when life seems to feel overwhelming, remember to take things step by step!   You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

Robert Alexander Wray is a poet, actor, playwright & all-around sparkly soul!  Listen closely here, within the delicate enclosure of this podcast episode, as he shares a beautiful distillation of what has come from his grief, cancer diagnosis, and the profoundly healing power of Art and a supportive community who held the light for him in his darkest moments.  You can connect with Robert on Twitter RobertAlexanderWray @RobertWray_ or through Facebook: Robert Wray and may find his poems, plays, and publications via Google search for: Robert Alexander Wray plays You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

We are indeed star children!  Lauren speaks to the significance of this term, the gift of being in a band during her journey through grief, and invites you to share how music has been a buoy to your spirits!  Submit your stories of how music has supported you through trying times to lauren@laurensamay.com by August 31, 2023 to be featured on an upcoming episode! You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

This short episode is a juicy invitation to release what is no longer serving you, in the current expression of your ever-evolving self! You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

This episode marks the 6-month anniversary of My Mourning Routine Podcast!  Lauren devotes her heart's attention to thanking YOU, the beautiful souls tuning in and sharing the word!  It's been six months, from Winter Solstice 2022 to Summer Solstice 2023-- and she's just getting started! You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

This is an invitation for you to return to your natural state of peace.  Rich with pregnant pauses for quiet awareness, Lauren reminds you of the importance of taking mindful, deep breaths as a powerful tool to have to calm yourself in any moment of distress!  You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541

In this short and sweet episode, Lauren reminds you to travel safely and mindfully, in praise of slowness! You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @lauren.samay and @mymourningroutinepodcast, on Facebook @lauren.samay.coaching or through www.laurensamay.com If you are tuning in and finding value in these episodes, please take a moment to rate and review My Mourning Routine on Apple Podcasts-- it means so much and helps make a bigger, connecting splash in the podcasting pond:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-mourning-routine/id1654068541