Speaking of Grief

In this, my final Speaking of Grief podcast on Bold Brave Talk, I share some personal stories and insights on how I learned to forgive myself and others after losing my husband to suicide in 2015.

Claudia Coenen is a certified grief counselor and thanatologist (The study of death, dying, grief, and loss). She presents workshops and lectures on creative ways to process grief. Claudia is the author of Shattered by Grief-Picking Up the Pieces to Become Whole Again and she is currently nurturing a new book; an anthology on creative intervention for grief through a seasonal lens.

Karen talks with author, healer, and public speaker, Denise DeSimone about her book. From Stage IV to Center Stage tells of her inspirational, miraculous journey from being diagnosed with stage four throat and neck cancer with possibly only several months to live, to being asked by her beloved Boston Red Sox to sing the National Anthem at renowned Fenway Park.

Gifted Psychic Medium and published author, Walter Zajac, returns for a second time to Speaking of Grief. Today's show will focus on Walter's ability to connect with those who have crossed over, and how engaging a truly gifted Medium to connect with a deceased loved one, can be a wonderful healing modality for those of us who are left behind to grieve their loss. In addition, as a Certified Reiki Master, Walter will share with us how important energy alignment is for the health and wellbeing of our body, mind, and spirit. He will also talk to us about Neuro Linguistic Programming as a healing tool, and if we have time, as a Certified Tarot Card Reader, we can discover how tarot readings may be used to facilitate healing.

Christine Baumgartner, also a widow, has been a successful dating and relationship coach for over 13 years, part of which was coaching for best-selling author of Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus, John Gray. Her Transform Your Dating Life system has helped hundreds of people, including those who have lost a spouse or partner, find love again. Christine also cohosts her own podcast, Let's Talk Dating, with author of 50 Ways to Love Your Lover, Barry Shelby.

The inevitable loss of our youth and the natural decline of our physical bodies is for many of a certain age, cause of great distress and grief. Mindfulness teacher and Empowerment Coach, Cynde Denson, will discuss her own experience of how her grandmother and mom approached their Golden Years and inevitable transition; embittered, resentful, angry, in denial, and envious of those they saw as having a happier existence—and how she and we can do it differently; how we can become an elder vs. elderly and embrace aging with an attitude of gratitude, mindfulness, surrender, acceptance, and as an opportunity for deeper inner awareness and expansiveness of mind and spirit—and lastly, giving ourselves permission to fully grieve every inevitable loss along the way.

Today's guest is Pamela Malloy. After barely surviving a sexual assault as a child, Pam has since made it her “soul” purpose to not only find a lifelong path to heal herself, but also others who have been abused, either sexually, physically, and/or emotionally. She holds a Masters degree in Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. As an intuitive healer, Pam's approach to treatment is holistic and focused on Body/Mind/Spirit. She is also the author of Tales of Tara-The Awakening, the first book of a trilogy that depicts her awakening to the truth of what occurred as well as to the awakening of her own spirituality.

Karen's guest for the second time, is former author and podcast host of Widow Walking Forward, Lisa Joy Walters. Lisa is also a gifted clairaudient Spiritual Medium who helps connect folks to their loved one's on the other side of the veil. On today's show, Lisa will share with us all that she has been guided to learn from those on the other side, including her very talkative, deceased husband, Doug. I hope you will enjoy this "lively," and "spirited" discussion!

Today, Karen speaks with Spiritual Medium and Podcast Host of Widow Walking Forward, Lisa Joy Walters. Lisa will talk about the loss of her beloved husband in 2015, and the healing work she has done and continues to do via her podcast and her gift of connecting people to their loved ones who have crossed over.

Melanie Wilson is one of hundreds of people throughout the U.S. who hosts a “virtual table” with a forward-thinking organization. The Dinner Party which we will be discussing on today's show is a platform/support group by which 20, 30, and 40 somethings can gather together over a meal, whether virtually or in-person to talk about and help each other through a shared experience of grief and loss such as the loss of a parent, sibling, child, partner, spouse, friend…any and all types of loss due to any cause such as illness, accident, addiction, murder, suicide, or acts of God. Through what the Dinner Party calls Affinity Spaces, tables can be and are built by and for people who share a particular loss, experience, or identity

Walter Zajac has over 18 years' experience as a psychic medium. He is also a Neuro Linguistic Programming or NLP coach, Love coach, Certified Professional Tarot Card Reader, and Reiki Master or energy healer. As a certified psychic medium and having received psychic information and interacted with the world of spirits all his life, Walter has helped countless people—like me, connect with a loved one who has crossed over. Walter is also the author of They Came Beyond Déjà Vu—A Novel Based on a True Story which we will be discussing on today's show.

Today's guest, author and writing instructor extraordinaire, Nancy Slonim Aronie, will talk about her latest book, Memoir as Medicine which has been endorsed by well-known figures such as Carly Simon, Tony Shalhoub, Wally Lamb, Jack Kornfield, and Pulitzer Prize winner, Geraldine Brooks. Nancy has been a commentator on NPR's All Things Considered and teaches writing at Harvard University. She is also the founder of the renowned Chilmark Writing Workshop.

Best-selling author and grief consultant, Rachel Kodanaz, returns for a second time. Today, Rachel will be discussing her latest book. Finding Peace, One Piece at a Time provides compassionate, thoughtful ideas as to how to release the material items of our deceased loved ones, while "keeping the pieces that tell their story."

Karen speaks with life transition and grief coach, Megan Young, about the loss of her beloved sister, Courtney, and her Life After Loss Workbook.

Karen talks with Buddhist and best-selling author, Dr. Sameet Kumar about his book, Grieving Mindfully. Dr. Kumar will also discuss his work with cancer patients, caregivers, and families and the Buddhist tenets of healing through radical acceptance, present moment reminder, impermanence, accepting and embracing change, and the spiral staircase nature of our grief.

Karen discusses the concept of Living Funerals with returning guest--Death Doula and Metaphysical Healer, Schakara Arrazola-Tiscareno; founder of Love N Withstand.

Karen speaks with author and grief healer, Rachel Kodanaz about her book, Living With Loss, One Day at a Time.

On today's show, Karen will be discussing Letting Go, Surrendering, and Allowing and the relevance of each as we grieve and heal from loss.

Today's guest on Speaking of Grief is professional writer and relationship coach, Ashley Pariseau. Ashley will share how the life and loss of her beloved cat, Wolfie, transformed her life, and why the grief around losing a pet is so deep and complex.

Today's guest on Speaking of Grief, is Shakara Arrazola-Tiscareno. Shakara will share information about her sacred work both as a Death Doula and a facilitator with the non-profit organization, Death Café.

Today, on her first show, (of Speaking of Grief) Karen will be sharing her personal story of loss and discuss Embracing and Honoring Our Grief.