Podcasts about ok that you

In this heartfelt interview, Rebecca introduces us to the practice of KonMari for sorting through belongings at such a difficult time in our lives. The method is particularly beneficial for highly sensitive people as it gently encourages mindfully letting go while regulating our nervous system with what is manageable and with what resonates with our emotional readiness. The method has a focus on the positive psychology of surrounding ourselves with what brings us joy and inspires gratitude. In this video, Rebecca will walk us through the main teachings of the practice so that we can start sorting belongings with kindness and compassion, rewiring our negativity bias and the need to live by external conditioning. Working with KonMarie principles has also assisted Rebecca and her family in their own consumption habits which is another added bonus to managing things in this way. Guest - Rebecca Jo Rushdy, Founder of Spark Joy & Flow Rebecca Jo Rushdy guides fellow HSPs & Empaths to declutter their hearts, minds and homes into sanctuaries that spark joy and flow. She was the first platinum KonMari Consultant in Malaysia, and in Edinburgh where she is currently based with her husband and two daughters. You can learn more about Rebecca and her work by visiting www.sparkjoyandflow.com Resources Rebecca's Resources: Website - https://sparkjoyandflow.com/ Guided Checklist & Worksheets - https://sparkjoyandflow.ck.page/8dc7f... Additional Resources Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief by David Kessler - https://grief.com/sixth-stage-of-grief/ Growing Around Grief by Lois Tonkin - https://www.sueryder.org/grief-suppor... It's OK That You're Not OK by Megan Devine - https://refugeingrief.com/books/its-o... Andrea Weber is the Business Group and Events Co-ordinator for the Sensitive Empowerment Community and founder of Expansive Happiness at https://expansivehappiness.com/. Andrea provides encouragement and practical strategies for environmental sensitivity management through her self-paced program, articles and posts, helping people navigate the day to day challenges of emf, chemical and mold sensitivity. A love of writing and editing has led to the provision of these additional services for highly sensitive people. Julie Bjelland, LMFT - Host of the HSP and Neurodivergent podcast, a Licensed Psychotherapist, author, and founder of Sensitive Empowerment, specializing in high sensitivity and adult-diagnosed autism in women. I love developing tools that balance our sensitive nervous system, reduce challenges, and help us reach our fullest potential so we may excel in our unique talents. I've created a global hub of extensive support, including online courses, the Sensitive Empowerment Community—a nurturing sanctuary—a globally top-ranked podcast, articles, free webinars, and more. My passion is helping create a world where differences are embraced as strengths and celebrated. LGBTQIA+ Affirming. Learn more at https://www.juliebjelland.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/julie-bjelland/support

Often we look at communities which look broken and dysfunctional and we take them on as a problem to be solved. But long term change requires presence, love, and hope. In this conversation, Amy Williams, a hope dealer in Chicago talks about her experience living in a neighborhood with gang violence, visiting kids in jail, and doing youth ministry work for years. There is hope in the community and many of the solutions come from within that same community. We talk about the importance of listening to understand others, developing compassion, and finding identity and hope in God. So join us as we learn to see others like Jesus does – with dignity, worth, and compassion. Youth ministry veteran Amy Williams ministers to teens involved in gangs and those lost in the criminal justice system with a key strategy of life-on-life mentoring. As a certified gang intervention specialist, she heard God's call to move into a Latino gang neighborhood in Chicago's Humboldt Park community to be a "Hope Dealer" doing street outreach and walking life with young people on her block. Amy is project coordinator at New Life Centers, bringing in restorative justice programming to youth at juvenile prisons.Amy has been a youth pastor, a reentry coordinator, and a youth mentor and advocate. She is a graduate of both University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and National Louis University. She resides in Chicago and loves salsa dancing and is a true beach baby.Amy's Book:Worth SeeingAmy's Recommendations:It's OK That You're Not OKTattoos on the HeartJoin Our Patreon for Early Access and More: PatreonConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Threads at www.facebook.com/shiftingculturepodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/shiftingculturepodcast/https://twitter.com/shiftingcultur2https://www.threads.net/@shiftingculturepodcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@shiftingculturepodcastConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link belowSend us a Text Message.Support the Show.

Can you hide in plain sight? From trans beauty pageants in the Philippines, to the catwalks of New York City fashion week, to the Ted Talk mainstage – Filipina-American model Geena Rocero has lived an astounding life. This week on It's OK that You're Not OK, the author of Horse Barbie: A Memoir shares what it costs to suppress your true self in order to find safety and success, and why joy is powerful medicine.  Geena Rocero is a trans advocate, speaker, and author of the new book, Horse Barbie.   In this episode we cover:  Why do we have to talk about gender all the time anyway? How can parents support trans children?  The history of trans beauty pageants in the Philippines Why joy - and a sense of humor - are real survival tools   We're re-releasing some of our favorite episodes from the first 3 seasons. This episode was originally recorded in 2023.   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here. Related Episodes: Coming Home to Yourself with Alex Elle If I Survived, You Can Too! Author Emi Nietfeld on the Hollowness of the Transformation Narrative Over and Over Again: Illustrator Aubrey Hirsch on the Power of Storytelling About our guest: Geena Rocero is a Filipina-American model, public speaker, author, and trans rights advocate. Ms. Rocero made history as the first trans woman ambassador for Miss Universe Nepal, and the first trans Asian Playboy Playmate of the Year. Her TED Talk, “Why I Must Come Out,” has been viewed over 3.7 million times. She's an advisory board member of SeeHer, a global coalition working to increase representation and accurate portrayal of all women and girls in marketing, media, and entertainment.  She's spoken at the White House and United Nations, and has been featured on CNN, MSNBC, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Vanity Fair, and Variety. Her book Horse Barbie: A Memoir was named one of the Best Memoirs of 2023 by Elle Magazine. Find her @geenarocero on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional Resources: Watch Geena's TED Talk “Why I Must Come Out”   Read Geena's book - Horse Barbie: A Memoir    Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed Books and resources may contain affiliate links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do we navigate grief and process it? Most significantly, how do we handle emotional triggers when they seem to reinvigorate past grief? Podcast Host CJMiller sits down with Reverand Lora Brandis, a Unitarian Universalist Minister with experience as a congregational minister, hospital chaplain, and spiritual director. Lora shares her personal experience navigating grief after the loss of her daughter, stepdaughter, ex-husband, and college friend in the space of only two years. It's essential to talk about our grief and death. We are afraid of the sadness we see in others. When Lora tells her story, she recognizes that it does stop the conversation. There's something about acknowledging death; it gives us space to understand that we are all dying. It's going to be sad, and people will miss us. Denial of death runs through religion and our society.  Lora continues to serve as an on-call hospital chaplain, providing spiritual support for those in hospital emergency rooms as a witness to their experience. She shares a recent experience that triggered her memory of the loss of her ex-husband, including a situation with an emergency vehicle, the ride to the hospital, and the final realization that nothing could be done to save the patient.  She introduces the term "metabolize grief." Lora lost her daughter only months before COVID-19, and she found herself isolated in grief. She shares how something would trigger her, and she would stop midstride and sob. It's essential to give your whole self time to process the loss. Lora lists several practices to walk through her sadness, including journaling, meditation, prayer, reading, painting, and gardening. Her spiritual practice includes journaling, and she consciously decided to write down every detail from the day of her daughter's death. A way to save it but not keep it active in her mind.  However, she cautions against getting stuck in your story. It's crucial to monitor ourselves if we feel caught in grief and retelling our story repeatedly. Sometimes, we don't have as much choice as we think when our emotions are triggered; we have to surrender to them. She suggests finding your squad of several close friends to walk you through the process with good boundaries. Lora reminds us that we are meaning-making creatures. We make meaning from our experiences. The question to ask about a trigger is, "How am I making meaning now in this moment?" We can change the meaning of triggers if we let them, and we can change how we make meaning of our lives.  The conversation references Megan Devine's "It's OK That You're Not OK" and Eckhart Tolles's "The Power of Now." She also recommended www.refugeingrief.com. For more information on Lora's spiritual coaching or to book her as a speaker, visit www.lorabrandis.com. For more information on CJMiller's book, speaking, and spiritual art retreats, visit www.spiritualartisttoday.com.  

Have you ever put on a face mask, expecting it to solve all your mental health problems?  That seems…unrealistic, but it's what self-care marketing tells us: get your self-care right, and all your difficulties will evaporate. This week on It's OK, Dr. Pooja Lakshmin, author of Real Self-Care, breaks down what “self-care” actually means when we're living in a complex, capitalistic world. It's an exploration of grief, burnout, and exhaustion, and what it takes to care for yourself inside systems that repeatedly ignore their part in your suffering.    In this episode we cover:  Why self-care doesn't work How hope is different than optimism Does looking for your own answers mean you have to do things alone? Accepting help as a bid for connection How Dr. Lakshmin's definition of boundaries can help you practice real self-care   We're re-releasing some of our favorite episodes from the first 3 seasons. This episode was originally recorded in 2023.   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here.   Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok @refugeingrief   Related episodes: Rage Becomes Her (and by “her” I mean US) with Soraya Chemaly   Living with Chronic Illness: A Conversation for Everyone with a Body with Sarah Ramey. About our guest: Dr. Pooja Lakshmin MD is a psychiatrist, a clinical assistant professor at George Washington University School of Medicine, and the founder and CEO of Gemma, the women's mental health community centering impact and equity. She has spent thousands of hours taking care of women struggling with burnout, despair, depression, and anxiety in her clinical practice. Her debut non-fiction book, Real Self-Care: A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness (Crystals, Cleanses, and Bubble Baths Not Included), is available in e-book, hardcover, and audiobook narrated by Pooja.   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional Resources: Read “Hope is Not a Thing to Have – It's a Skill to Practice” at Oprah Daily   Read “How Society Has Turned Its Back on Mothers” at The New York Times   Read “Saying ‘No' Is Self-Care for Parents” at The New York Times   Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed Books and resources may contain affiliate links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're in a massive climate crisis, but it's hard to think about it, isn't it?  It's a great temptation to shut our eyes to climate change. It's overwhelming. This week on the show, climate activist and author Bill McKibben on facing the reality of the climate crisis, understanding what needs to change, and what you can do - not just to change the course of humanity and the planet, but to feel more hopeful and connected as this all unfolds.    In this episode we cover:    Is halting climate change really dependent on personal recycling and whether we use plastic straws?  Is it okay to have intense emotional responses to wildfires, floods, and the inaction of those “in charge”?  How the boomer generation is using their experience and wealth to revisit the activism of their youth (and supporting younger activists at the same time) How talking about our fears and our ecological grief gives us common ground to fight for our future - and our present.  We're re-releasing some of our favorite episodes from the first 3 seasons. This episode was originally recorded in 2023.   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here. For more on activism in the face of impossible odds listen to these related episodes:  Women, Life, Freedom: Grief and Power In Iran, with Nazanin Nour Wonder in an Age of Violence with Valarie Kaur & See No Stranger About our guest: Bill McKibben is an American environmentalist, author, and journalist who has written extensively on the impact of global warming. His books include The End of Nature, about climate change, and Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?, about the state of the environmental challenges facing humanity.  Bill is a contributing writer to The New Yorker (read his latest piece here), and founder of Third Act, which organizes people over the age of sixty for progressive change.   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief Additional Resources: Terry Tempest Williams' book Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place, and her recent NYT article on Utah's great Salt Lake (gift link, no subscription needed)   Explore Joanna Macy's work on the intersection of grief and activism at her website, or her books, including Coming Back to Life: The Updated Guide to the Work That Reconnects, World as Lover, World as Self, and Widening Circles: A Memoir   Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed Books and resources may contain affiliate links.   Follow our show on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok @refugeingrief For more information, including clinical training and consulting and to share your thoughts, visit us at refugeingrief.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can grief be an opportunity for growth and self-understanding? The answer, of course, is yes: but it's a bit more complex than that. This week, author, philanthropist, activist Rachel Cargle on survival optimism, the resilience narrative, and why questioning the stories you tell yourself - with curiosity and kindness - is a powerful path of healing.    In this episode we cover:    How was grief modeled for you growing up, and how does that affect later grief? Can your memory of childhood grief be… entirely wrong? (or at least, inaccurate) Can you do grief wrong? The difference between curiosity and judgment Is it ok to feel relieved when a sick person dies?  Rachel's new book, A Renaissance of Our Own   We're re-releasing some of our favorite episodes from the first 3 seasons. This episode was originally recorded in 2023.   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here. Related episodes: Gabor Mate on why we celebrate trauma, aka: resilience  Illustrator Aubrey Hirsch on the power of storytelling as an act of healing About our guest: Rachel Cargle is a writer, entrepreneur and philanthropic innovator. Her new memoir, A Renaissance of Our Own, centers the reimagining of womanhood, solidarity and self. In 2018 she founded The Loveland Foundation, Inc., a non-profit offering free therapy to Black women and girls.    She's also the founder of Elizabeth's Bookshop & Writing Centre, a literacy space designed to amplify, celebrate and honor the work of writers who are often excluded from traditional cultural, social and academic canons. For more on her many endeavors, visit rachelcargle.com.   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional Resources: Read Rachel's new book - A Renaissance of Our Own   The Great Unlearn – a self-paced, donation-based learning community   The Great Unlearn for Young Learners – an online learning space for young folks launching in 2022   Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be FixedSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What would a meaningful life look like for you? According to Death Doula Alua Arthur, conversations about death can be the most enriching conversations we have.    It's not about accepting death, or avoiding grief - it's about building a relationship with yourself and others that doesn't hold anything back. Why should you listen? Yeah, because you're mortal and one day you'll die, but more importantly: because one day, hopefully in the far off future, you'll look back at this life you've lived. Conversations about death can make that life so much better.    Alua's new book is Briefly Perfectly Human: Making an Authentic Life by Getting Real about the End. For more info visit aluaarthur.com   In this episode we cover:    What's a Death Doula?  Does being honest about death give you access to joy? Should you tell someone that they're dying, or does that remove hope?  Why living each day like it's your last is unrealistic (and what to do instead)  The linking of death and grief: Death and grief are married, but grief definitely dates around.    We're re-releasing some of our favorite episodes from the first 3 seasons. This episode was originally recorded in 2023.   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here. Related episodes: Trauma Surgeon Dr. Red Hoffman on the surprisingly broad umbrella of palliative care   The co-founders of the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care on supporting burnout & stress among healthcare professionals & caregivers About our guest: Alua Arthur is a Death Doula, recovering attorney, and the founder of Going with Grace, a Death Doula training and end-of-life planning organization that exists to support people as they answer the question, “What must I do to be at peace with myself so that I may live presently and die gracefully?” She's been featured in the LA Times, Vogue, Refinery29, The Doctors, and alongside Chris Hemsworth on the docuseries, Limitless. Find her at aluaarthur.com and on Instagram at @going_with_grace    About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional Resources: Read Alua's new book - Briefly Perfectly Human   Going with Grace   Megan mentions this book -  Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia   Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be FixedSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What should you do if someone wants to be friends, but you're not into it? Boundaries are part of all human relationships, but they are TRICKY.    Welcome to part two of our show about boundaries - how to make them, how to keep them, and sometimes, how to breach them - with special guest Dr. Alexandra Solomon, host of Reimagining Love. In this episode we cover:   Starting over in a new place with new friends  Why we so often confuse boundaries with being mean or rude The power of social observation to gather data (Megan's go-to move!)  Scripts for saying “no thank you” to a potential friendship when that feels both mean and necessary   We're re-releasing some of our favorite episodes from the first 3 seasons. This episode was originally recorded in 2022.   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here.   About our guest: Dr Alexandra Solomon is one of the most trusted voices in the world of relationships. She's a licensed clinical psychologist at The Family Institute at Northwestern University  and the author of two bestselling books: Loving Bravely and Taking Sexy Back.    You might know her from her popular instagram channel @dr.alexandra.solomon, or from her podcast, Reimagining Love. Find her at dralexandrasolomon.com    About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional Resources: Want to train with Dr. Solomon? Check out her current training courses at dralexandrasolomon.com   Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed Books and resources may contain affiliate links.   Follow our show on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok @refugeingrief and @itsokpod on TikTok. For more information, including clinical training and consulting and to share your thoughts, visit us at refugeingrief.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you do when someone cuts you out of their life? How do you back away slowly from someone you really don't want to be around? Boundaries are part of all human relationships, but they are TRICKY.    This week on It's OK, part one of our show about boundaries - how to make them, how to keep them, and sometimes, how to breach them - with special guest Dr. Alexandra Solomon, host of Reimagining Love. In this episode we cover:   Why relational self-awareness is the key to all good relationships Can step-parents and adult step-kids get along after a loss in the family?  How to negotiate the relationship you want when the other people maybe don't want you around The difference between “letting go of outcome” and setting yourself up for success   We're re-releasing some of our favorite episodes from the first 3 seasons. This episode was originally recorded in 2022.   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here.   About our guest: Dr Alexandra Solomon is one of the most trusted voices in the world of relationships. She's a licensed clinical psychologist at The Family Institute at Northwestern University  and the author of two bestselling books: Loving Bravely and Taking Sexy Back.    You might know her from her popular instagram channel @dr.alexandra.solomon, or from her podcast, Reimagining Love. Find her at dralexandrasolomon.com   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional Resources: Want to train with Dr. Solomon? Check out her current training courses at dralexandrasolomon.com   Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed Books and resources may contain affiliate links.   Follow our show on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok @refugeingrief and @itsokpod on TikTok. For more information, including clinical training and consulting and to share your thoughts, visit us at refugeingrief.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Anderson said, “Grief is just love with no place to go.” Today we hear from three experts on grief in their chosen fields and discuss how it applies to the witchcraft community. Lulu- @thesalemplantwitch on TT. Runs a therapeutic group for witches in berevement. Mortellus @acrowandthedead on Insta. Author of 'Do I Have to Wear Black? Rituals, Customs and Funerary Etiquette for Modern Pagans' and 'The Bones Fall In a Spiral: a Necromantic Primer.' Courtney Weber @courtneyaweber on Insta. One of the hosts of That Witch Life podcast; author of the forthcoming 'Sacred Tears: A Witch's Guide to Grief.' Out June 2024. Books mentioned in this episode include: It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand by Megan Devine and Mark Nepo Advice for Future Corpses (and Those Who Love Them): A Practical Perspective on Death and Dying by Sallie Tisdale The Worm at the Core: On the Role of Death in Life by Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg, et al. There Is No Good Card for This: What To Say and Do When Life Is Scary, Awful, and Unfair to People You Love by Kelsey Crowe and Emily McDowell For children dealing with grief: Death Is Stupid (Ordinary Terrible Things) by Anastasia Higginbotham --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blackthorngrove/support

If you've lived through horrific trauma or abuse, is it really fair of us to say that the ways you've learned to cope are “bad,” or to use clinical speak, “maladaptive”?  This week on It's OK, Stephanie Foo, author of What My Bones Know, joins me to talk about complex PTSD and the ways we pathologize human responses to trauma. You'll also hear how claiming your own messy, complex coping mechanisms can help you build a community that sees you and loves you.  If you're haunted by any type of trauma, or know someone who is, this conversation is a great introduction to complex PTSD, and the work of survivorship.    In this episode we cover:    Why pretending to be a high-performing badass is maybe not in your best interest How storytelling can make you feel less freakish and alone The real problem with most books on trauma and C-PTSD   We're re-releasing some of our favorite episodes from the first 3 seasons. This episode was originally recorded in 2022.   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here.   About our guest: Stephanie Foo is a C-PTSD survivor, writer, and radio producer, most recently for This American Life. Her work has aired on Snap Judgment, Reply All, 99% Invisible, and Radiolab. A noted speaker and instructor, she has taught at Columbia University and has spoken at venues from Sundance Film Festival to the Missouri Department of Mental Health. She lives in New York City with her husband.   Find her at stephaniefoo.me and on Instagram @foofoofoo   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional Resources: Read Stephanie's book, What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma   Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed Books and resources may contain affiliate links. Follow our show on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok @refugeingrief and @itsokpod on TikTok. For more information, including clinical training and consulting and to share your thoughts, visit us at refugeingrief.com Listen to previous episodes of It's OK that You're Not OK!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's no denying the grief that permeates everyday life. It's in the news, in our communities, and in our personal lives. The thing is - we never really talk about how much this grief connects us.  This episode is STUNNING. It has gifts for everyone - whether you're grieving a personal loss or you're an activist of any kind. It was recorded in the summer of 2023, so you will not hear us mention P*lestine - you can bet if we'd recorded it now, that grief, and that need for belonging, would be present. If you ARE an activist or organizer, you need to hear what Malkia has to say about our narrative strategies, and what it really takes to make change happen. If we learn to lean into that grief together, we might really create the beautiful world we all long for. Malkia Devich-Cyril knows grief from the inside out. They grew up knowing their mom would die of her illness. They grew up immersed in the grief that is endemic to being Black in America. And they cared for their wife, comedian Alana Devich-Cyril, through her death in 2018.   In this episode we cover:    The difference between sorrow and grief How “feelings aren't facts” relates to grief Is it normal to feel like you failed to keep someone alive?  Why do narrative strategists (aka: activists) need to understand grief?  Are book bans a form of grief? (spoiler: yes, but maybe not for the reasons you think) Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here. Related episodes:  Rage Becomes Her (and by “her” I mean US) with Soraya Chemaly Collective Grief and Communal Joy: with Baratunde Thurston Wonder in an Age of Violence: Valarie Kaur & See No Stranger About our guest: Malkia Devich-Cyril is an activist, writer and public speaker on issues of digital rights, narrative power, Black liberation and collective grief. They are also the founding and former Executive Director of MediaJustice. Their writing has appeared in publications like Politico, Motherboard, Essence Magazine, The Atlantic, and three documentary films including the Oscar nominated 13th. Find them at @radical_loss Instagram.   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional resources: Read “The Antidote to Authoritarianism” from The Atlantic   Read Grief Belongs in Social Movements: We Embrace it?  Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed   Books and resources may contain affiliate links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PROLONGED GRIEF DISORDER! It's everywhere - social media, The New York Times, The Washington Post… it's the hot new medical condition everyone's talking about. But why is everyone so mad about it?  This week on the show, an overview of this hotly contested “new” human disorder, and what it means for the average person, for healthcare providers, and honestly - for the whole world. This is one medical diagnosis that affects everyone.    In this episode we cover:    Why anyone should care what the APA thinks about grief The actual diagnostic criteria for prolonged grief disorder (translated from psych-jargon into the way real people speak) Access to care + funding for research: two of the main reasons people think this diagnosis could be helpful (and why it isn't)  The real world impact of the DSM: doubling down on shame and misunderstanding One surprise reason this diagnosis *could* be seen as a good thing   We're re-releasing some of our favorite episodes from the first 3 seasons. This episode was originally recorded in 2022   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here.   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional resources: For an interview with both Megan and the author of the NYT article, Ellen Barry, on WGBH TV Boston, click here.    To read Megan's more detailed response to the NYT article, check out the original Twitter thread, and the extended thread.    Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed Books and resources may contain affiliate links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam Sanders is a well known and well loved radio and podcast host. He went a little extra-viral for a recent episode of his show, Vibe Check,  in which he and his co-hosts openly discussed grief. Maybe you heard that episode: Life Has Been Lifing Lately.  This week on It's OK That You're Not OK, Sam joins us to talk about being open with his grief, and the ongoing relationships we have even after death.    In this episode we cover:    What happens if you give grief a voice?  The double-edged sword of church communities Why understanding context helps you treat yourself more kindly How men speaking honestly about grief helps everyone Throwing out the rule book on grief   We're re-releasing some of our favorite episodes from the first 3 seasons. This episode was originally recorded in 2023.   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here.   Related episodes:  A Renaissance of our Own: Rachel Cargle    Coming Home to Yourself with Alex Elle   About our guest: Sam Sanders is the host of Into It, the flagship culture podcast from Vulture, and the co-host of Vibe Check on Stitcher. He covered electoral politics for NPR, and was one of the original co-hosts of The NPR Politics Podcast. Sam also created and hosted the NPR news & culture podcast, It's Been a Minute. Find him on social @samsanders   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional resources: Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed Follow our show on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok @refugeingrief and @itsokpod on TikTok   Books and resources may contain affiliate links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Libby shares her personal experience with stillbirth and the profound grief and healing journey that followed. She opens up about finding spiritual awakening even in tragedy and how tuning into her inner wisdom during pregnancy brought her peace. Libby discusses the loneliness of child loss and her mission to normalize conversations around this taboo topic. Through writing and community building, she hopes to support other parents coping with this difficult experience. Disclaimer: The information shared on The Village is personal to each guest and should not be taken as or substituted for professional medical advice in any manner. Resources ⁠She Was Born: Words on Loss and Liberation by Libby June Weintraub⁠ ⁠It's OK That You're Not OK, Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand by Megan Devine ⁠⁠ ⁠Beyond Grief, Navigating the Journey of Pregnancy and baby loss by Pippa Vosper ⁠ ⁠Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe by Laura Lynne Jackson ⁠⁠ ⁠Still by Emma Hansen⁠ ⁠Still Standing Magazine⁠ ⁠Spiritual Psychology: University of Santa Monica⁠ Grief Support: Refuge in Grief: Megan Devine⁠ TEARS Foundation: TEARS is the leading organization for child loss worldwide⁠⁠ Somatic Sensual Movement Therapy: Wild Body Therapy ⁠Connect With Our Host⁠ ⁠Connect With BUMPSUIT⁠ ⁠Join The Village⁠ This Episode is brought to you by⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BUMPSUIT⁠

Ever wonder what doctors say about their patients when they think no one can hear?  Dr. Rana Awdish doesn't have to wonder - as a patient, she overheard a lot of distressing things. Her experience led her to change how medical providers speak about - and to - their patients, spreading compassion through communication (which we know is a mission dear to my heart). Listen in to hear Dr. Awdish's take on the pressure on healthcare workers, too.  Content note: mention of life-threatening illness, pregnancy loss, medical industry   In this episode we cover:    The “two educations” of Dr. Awdish - med school and a life threatening illness Why miscommunication is such a dangerous medical practice Being present is only the first step - validation is where the real healing begins Why compassionate communication helps doctors - maybe even more than it helps patients  The very cool CLEAR program - using trained actors to help doctors & medical providers learn how to connect with patients going through some of the hardest times of their lives We're re-releasing some of our favorite episodes from the first 3 seasons. This episode was originally recorded in 2022.   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here.   About our guest: Dr. Rana Awdish is a critical care physician operating on the front lines during COVID-19 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI. Her own serious illness in 2008 has informed her belief in the power of compassion, sacred listening, and community. As medical director of the Care Experience for the Henry Ford Healthcare System, she is training staff to practice empathy in critical care. Find her at ranaawdishmd.com   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional resources: Read Dr. Awdish's book - In Shock: My journey from death to recovery and the redemptive power of hope Read  “Restoration in the Aftermath” and ”The Shape of the Shore” from Dr. Awdish Creative Writing as a Medical Instrument - paper by Jay Baruch, cited by Dr. Awdish Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed   Books and resources may contain affiliate links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is a tender exploration of how journaling can be a powerful tool in processing grief. Jenny guides you through practical ways to use journaling to express emotions, capture memories, and feel connected to lost loved ones. She offers poignant journal prompts to help navigate the complex emotions of grief and provides actionable steps to start your own grief journaling journey. Whether you're struggling with loss or know someone who is, this episode offers a compassionate perspective on how to find solace through the written word. Don't miss these insights on turning journaling into a healing practice.  Subscribe to Journal with Jenny for more episodes like this, leave a five-star review if you find comfort in our conversations, and please, share this episode with friends who might be walking this path of grief alongside you.   Curated List of Inspirational Books and Podcasts on Grief Journaling Admittedly, I haven't listened to or read all of these, but I wanted to start a list and share it with all of you. If you have more ideas I should add to this, please let me know!  Inspirational Books on Grief Journaling and Coping with Loss The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion An intensely personal narrative of grief, exploring the year following the death of the author's husband. Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations for Working Through Grief by Martha Whitmore Hickman Offers daily meditations that provide comfort and wisdom for those navigating through the stages of grief. It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand by Megan Devine This book challenges common narratives about grief and offers a compassionate approach to healing. Bearing the Unbearable: Love, Loss, and the Heartbreaking Path of Grief by Joanne Cacciatore Focusing on the transformative power of grief, this book guides readers through the journey of mourning and healing. Grief Day By Day: Simple Practices and Daily Guidance for Living with Loss by Jan Warner A practical guide offering daily reflections and exercises to help navigate the rough waters of grief. Grief Works: Stories of Life, Death, and Surviving by Julia Samuel The author shares stories from her grief counseling practice, offering insights into how people can find their path through sorrow. Journaling Through: Unleashing the Power of the Pen in Grief Recovery by Sandy Peckinpah This book specifically focuses on how journaling can aid in the grieving process, with prompts and exercises. Podcasts on Grief, Loss, and Healing Terrible, Thanks for Asking hosted by Nora McInerny A podcast that talks honestly about pain, awkwardness, and humanness of loss and grief. Griefcast hosted by Cariad Lloyd Comedians share their experiences with grief, offering a mix of humor and poignancy. What's Your Grief Podcast hosted by Eleanor Haley and Litsa Williams Provides a candid look at grief, with discussions about the realities and complexities of grieving. Coming Back: Conversations on Life After Loss hosted by Shelby Forsythia This podcast explores the journey of coming back from grief and offers tips and stories to help listeners. The Mindfulness & Grief Podcast hosted by Heather Stang Focuses on using mindfulness practices to cope with grief and find moments of peace and healing. Good Grief hosted by Sam Lamott Explores personal stories of grief and loss, shedding light on the universal experience of grieving. Let's connect! Come journal with me!  Website: https://www.jennifertroester.com Instagram: @jennifertroesterwrites https://www.instagram.com/jennifertroesterwrites/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/jennifertroesterwrites/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jennifertroesterwrites Pinterst: https://www.pinterest.com/jtroesterwrites/ X: https://twitter.com/JournalHealGrow

It's no secret that healthcare professionals and caregivers of all kinds are stretched beyond their limits. We can't look to healthcare systems themselves to give us the care and attention we need, so where CAN we go for support (and answers)?  Don't miss this week's episode with guests Koshin Paley Ellison and Chodo Robert Campbell of the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care.  In this episode we cover:   Why it's important to look beyond the identified patient to the invisible web of caregivers The realities of caregiver burnout and stress The one practice you can do even - and especially - when you have no time to care for yourself Do you stay or do you go? Making decisions for yourself inside this healthcare system catastrophe   We're re-releasing some of our favorite episodes from the first 3 seasons. This episode was originally recorded in 2022.   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here.   About our guests: Sensei Chodo Robert Campbell is co-founder of the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care. His passion lies in bereavement counseling and advocating for change in the way our healthcare institutions work with the dying. Find Chodo and the NYZC @newyorkzencenter on IG, and online at zencare.org   Sensei Koshin Paley Ellison is an author, Zen teacher, Jungian psychotherapist, and Certified Chaplaincy Educator. He is the author of Wholehearted: Slow Down, Help Out, Wake Up and the co-editor of Awake at the Bedside: Contemplative Teachings on Palliative and End of Life Care. Find him on IG @koshinpaleyellison   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional resources: If you work in healthcare, I very strongly recommend you check out New York Zen Center's  Contemplative Medicine Fellowship.     To hear one of my favorite passages of all time, read by Chodo Robert Campbell, check out the first video at this link.   All of the Zen Center's offerings, from books to support groups to ongoing educational opportunities can be found at zencare.org.    Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed   Books and resources may contain affiliate links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world can feel like such a lonely place sometimes. You ever feel like there's not enough love and support to go around? Like, there's a severe shortage of compassion in the world, both for you and well, everyone? Me too, friends.  To get us into this topic, this week on It's OK, we cover grief comparisons, like whether divorce and death should be compared, or if the death of anyone should be compared to the loss of a pet. Of course the short answer is no: grief comparisons are never useful. For the long answer though - listen to the show.  This episode is basically my TED talk, if I had one, on how we create that support-filled world we all want (and deserve). It's my personal favorite episode of season one, brought to you again for this Valentine's day.    In this episode we cover: Why comparing divorce to death, or pet loss to child loss, is a Very. Bad. Idea. (usually) Is it ok to be sad about a musician or actor's death, even if you never met them?  How to treat compassion like an abundant resource AND have good boundaries all at the same  The path to the love-filled, support-rich world we all want (it's not easy, but it's worth it)  Terminology update: in this episode I use the term gender-fluid, but the term gender-expansive is more accurate.   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here.   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Notable quote:  “It sounds pretty woo but compassion really is an expandable resource. Practicing inclusion and validation means people feel heard, and heard people hear people, which means the whole culture starts to change from one of vindictive “how dare you feel that way!” to at worst, a neutral, impartial kindness, and at best - well, being generous like this creates a world built and sustained by love.” - Megan Devine   Resources:  Love in action! Check out this exceptionally non-extensive list of people to learn from as we grow the love-filled world we all want:  Rachel Cargle, Alok Menon, Alice Wong, Free Mom Hugs, Farmer Veteran Coalition, Natalie Weaver, & Resting Waters   Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed   Books and resources may contain affiliate links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tembi Locke lived an amazing love story: she met a handsome chef during a study abroad year in Italy when she was just 20 years old. They moved to LA to pursue Tembi's acting career, and built a life around their love of food, family, and each other. And then leiomyosarcoma arrived.  Is it still a Hollywood love story if it doesn't have a happy ending?   In this episode we cover:    Who's the real couple behind the hit Netflix series, From Scratch?  Why Tembi made sure From Scratch was an honest guide to profound loss How the sleeper hit show Eureka taught Tembi that it's ok to let people help How Tembi Locke learned about the grief in Never Have I Ever only after the show came out   We're re-releasing some of our favorite episodes from the first 3 seasons. This episode was originally recorded in 2023.   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here.   Follow our show on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok @refugeingrief and @itsokpod on TikTok. Visit refugeingrief.com for resources & courses   Related episodes : Live Each Day Like It's Your First: with Alua Arthur Grief In Fiction, Grief In Life, with Best-Selling Author, Emily X.R. Pan   About our guest: Tembi Locke is a writer, executive producer, and an accomplished actor. Her best-selling book, From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home was the basis for the hit Netflix series, From Scratch. Find her @tembilocke   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional resources: Read Tembi Locke's book - From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home   Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed   Books and resources may contain affiliate links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did anyone teach you that understanding your grief is the key to being (or becoming) a healthy human being? Probably not.  In this expansive episode, Megan speaks with world-renowned author and physician Gabor Maté about the role of trauma and grief in our personal lives and in society at large. Dr. Gabor Maté on grief, this week on It's OK that You're Not OK.   In this episode we cover:    What is “personal agency” and why does losing personal agency create disease?  Why calling grief a disorder has social, relational and political ramifications How do elephants grieve? Is it really so different from humans?  Women as the emotional shock absorbers for the rest of the world Dr. Gabor Maté's conversation with Prince Harry (!)    We're re-releasing some of our favorite episodes from the first 3 seasons. This episode was originally recorded in 2023.   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here.   Follow our show on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok @refugeingrief and @itsokpod on TikTok. Visit refugeingrief.com for resources & courses   About our guest:  Dr. Gabor Maté is a renowned speaker and author, with expertise in trauma, stress, addiction, and child development. He's the NYT best-selling author of The Myth of Normal, Scattered Minds, the award-winning In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, and many other books.    Find him at drgabormate.com   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional resources: Watch the documentary The Wisdom of Trauma  exploring Gabor Maté's work to understand the connection between illness, addiction, trauma, and society.     Read Hold on to Your Kids by Gordon Neufeld & Gabor Maté Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.  Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed Books and resources may contain affiliate links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can you heal pain by focusing on joy?  Baratunde Thurston gave what's been called “the greatest TED talk of all time.” He's written about being Black in America, he's got a podcast about community involvement called How to Citizen, and he's got a PBS television show that explores the beauty and diversity of America.  There's a duality running through all of this work, and in Baratunde's personal life: mourning and celebration. From the early death of a parent, to men's emotional health, to violence against Black men and boys, to the healing power of play and community, this week's episode is a fascinating discussion of both grief and celebration - and why you don't get one without the other.    In this episode we cover:  Baratunde says he's “wired for optimism” - which makes identifying his own grief… complicated How you can lose a parent at a young age and not recognize the impact until you're an adult Why seeing other people be good parents can bring up grief Black joy and men's community (plus the hashtag #BlackMenFrolicking) Why is it hard to play as an adult - and find other adults to play with?  We're re-releasing some of our favorite episodes from the first 3 seasons. This episode was originally recorded in 2023.   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here.   About our guest: Baratunde Thurston is an Emmy-nominated, multi-platform storyteller and producer operating at the intersection of race, tech, democracy, and climate. He is the host of the PBS television series America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston, creator and host of How To Citizen with Baratunde, and a founding partner of the new media startup Puck. His comedic memoir, How To Be Black, is a New York Times best-seller. Baratunde serves on the boards of BUILD.org and the Brooklyn Public Library.    Find him at baratunde.com and follow him on social media @baratunde   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional resources: Read Baratunde's book - How to be Black  Baratunde's TED talk How to Deconstruct Racism, One Headline at a Time  ‘America is addicted to watching me die…' - Baratunde's Puck article "Thoughts & Tears For Tyre"  Baratunde mentioned Valarie Kaur - get her book, See No Stranger, and listen to her episode on It's OK that You're Not OK   Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed   Books and resources may contain affiliate links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever wanted to just SMASH things? Leanne Pedante and her husband Miles' relationship was built on bravery and communication - they worked so hard to reach the next step together, excited to explore the edges of possibility in love and in life. On his way back to see Leanne after several months away, Miles' car veered off the road, and he was killed. In the just under three years since, Leanne has continued to grow the virtual reality fitness community, Supernatural. As a late-comer to fitness, Leanne is no stranger to using movement as a way to process and express pain.  Today on It's OK, we discuss the ways grief has upended her life, and the ways that both movement and community have kept her alive - willing, at least most days, to lean into the full experience of life.    In this episode we cover:    Punk-style relationships: how Leanne & Miles created a marriage that suited them What one friend told Leanne, and how those words kept her tethered to the world Why grief-informed fitness should really be a thing The weird world of encouraging others to do things you're not comfortable doing yourself   We're re-releasing some of our favorite episodes from the first 3 seasons.   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here.   Follow our show on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok @refugeingrief and @itsokpod on TikTok. Visit refugeingrief.com for resources & courses About our guest: Leanne Pedante is a trainer and trauma + resiliency coach, whose work focuses on connecting people to their bodies and to their full potential. She works as both coach and the Head of Fitness for Supernatural, the VR fitness platform. Her own workouts let her celebrate her physical and mental strength and she wants to show others how to access the pride and power within joyful movement. Follow her on IG at @leannepedante About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief Additional resources: Sign up for Leanne's newsletter and check out the other community-building things she's created at her website leannepedante.com   Try Supernatural with a free trial (VR headset required) Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.  Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed Books and resources may contain affiliate links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

147- It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss When Faced With Addiction Supporting you through addiction's shadows with books, podcasts, courses, retreats and more. Feel empowered, regain happiness, and know you're not alone in our supportive community.

The holidays are over - you made it. By the looks of our inbox, the season wasn't easy. This week, a holiday debrief, including bad behavior from therapists, why religion is not the answer to grief, and some true facts about dating after loss.    In this episode we cover:   How to say “I can't work with you” without accidentally shaming your patients or clients Why “but your (dead relative) is all around you, just in a new form!” maybe isn't the most supportive thing to say Questions to ask yourself when faced with a surprise romantic breakup (and what that has to do with grief)  And as always - fun talk about boundaries.    We're re-releasing some of our favorite episodes from the first 3 seasons. This episode was originally recorded in 2022. Want to become a more grief-informed, human-centered therapist or provider? Registration is open now for Megan Devine's 6 month online Grief Care Professional Certificate Program. Details at this link.    Follow our show on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok @refugeingrief and @itsokpod on TikTok. Visit refugeingrief.com for resources & courses.   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional resources: Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here.   Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed   Books and resources may contain affiliate links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is acceptance overrated? What happens when you have to face a new year without your person in it (or without the health you used to have!)?  In this special two-part episode, we face the new year together - with special guest, historian, author, and queen of awkward conversations, Kate Bowler.    In part 2 of this episode we cover    How do you have hope for the year to come when right now maybe isn't so great?  Acceptance, moving forward, and ferocious self-advocacy The Math of Suffering: this year, last year, and measuring love Why social bonds matter, and what happens when no one sees you We're re-releasing some of our favorite episodes from the first 3 seasons. This episode was originally recorded in 2021.   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here. About our guest: Kate Bowler, PhD, is an associate professor of the history of Christianity in North America at Duke Divinity School. Author of the New York Times bestselling memoir, Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lies I've Loved). Her latest book, No Cure For Being Human (and Other Truths I Need to Hear), grapples with her diagnosis, her ambition, and her faith as she tries to come to terms with limitations in a culture that says anything is possible.    Find her at katebowler.com and follow her on social media @katecbowler   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional resources: Read Kate Bowler's memoir Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lies I've Loved)   Read Kate's latest book No Cure For Being Human (and Other Truths I Need to Hear)   Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed   Books and resources may contain affiliate links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we find ourselves in a dark place, what if we didn't "lighten things up"? Sean Illing talks with philosopher Mariana Alessandri, whose new book Night Vision offers a new way of understanding our dark moods and experiences like depression, pain, and grief. Alessandri describes the deep influence of what she calls the "light metaphor" — the belief that light is good and darkness is bad — and the destructive emotional cycles it has produced. They discuss the influence of Stoic philosophy, Aristotelian ethics, and contemporary self-help — and explore what new paradigms for emotional intelligence might entail. This episode was originally published on June 29th. Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), host, The Gray Area Guest: Mariana Alessandri (@mariana.alessandri), professor of philosophy, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; author References:  Night Vision: Seeing Ourselves through Dark Moods by Mariana Alessandri (Princeton; 2023) Plato's "allegory of the cave" from the Republic, VI (514a–520a) The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale (1952) The Encheiridion (or "Handbook") of Epictetus (c. 50 – c. 125 AD) The Dialogues and letters of Seneca (c. 4 BC – 65 AD) The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius (121 – 180 AD) The Tusculan Disputations of Cicero (106 – 43 BC) Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics It's OK That You're Not OK by Megan Devine (Sounds True; 2017) Our Lord Don Quixote by Miguel de Unamuno (1914; tr. 1968) Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza by Gloria Anzaldúa (Aunt Lute; 1987) Enjoyed this episode? Rate The Gray Area ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of The Gray Area. Subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Support The Gray Area by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts This episode was made by:  Producer: Erikk Geannikis Engineer: Patrick Boyd Editorial Director, Vox Talk: A.M. Hall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is acceptance overrated? What happens when you have to face a new year without your person in it (or without the health you used to have!)?  In this special two-part episode, we face the new year together - with special guest, historian, author, and queen of awkward conversations, Kate Bowler.    In this episode we cover:    How do you have hope for the year to come when right now maybe isn't so great?  Acceptance, moving forward, and ferocious self-advocacy The Math of Suffering: this year, last year, and measuring love Why social bonds matter, and what happens when no one sees you We're re-releasing some of our favorite episodes from the first 3 seasons. This episode was originally recorded in 2021.   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here. About our guest: Kate Bowler, PhD, is an associate professor of the history of Christianity in North America at Duke Divinity School. Author of the New York Times bestselling memoir, Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lies I've Loved). Her latest book, No Cure For Being Human (and Other Truths I Need to Hear), grapples with her diagnosis, her ambition, and her faith as she tries to come to terms with limitations in a culture that says anything is possible.    Find her at katebowler.com and follow her on social media @katecbowler   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional resources: Read Kate Bowler's memoir Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lies I've Loved)   Read Kate's latest book No Cure For Being Human (and Other Truths I Need to Hear)   Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed   Books and resources may contain affiliate links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My dad used to read ‘‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” every Christmas Eve when I was a kid, after dinner and before we opened our Christmas pjs.    So many of you are missing your dads, or grandparents, or the father of your kids. This year, I asked my dad to record the Christmas Eve classic for the show. I wanted you to have a stand-in grandpa, in case you were missing one of your own.    From my family to yours, may you have the best holiday season available to you.  (‘Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore was first published in 1823) Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here.   Follow our show on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok @refugeingrief and @itsokpod on TikTok. Visit refugeingrief.com for resources & courses   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional resources: Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed   Books and resources may contain affiliate links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The holiday season is sometimes joyful, sometimes stressful - and to be honest, it's usually a mix of both. Between external pressures and family dynamics, we figure everyone can use some tips on making it through the season.    In this episode we cover:   How to bring up your loved one's absence when no one else will Making a good enough holiday for your family when you're not in the holiday spirit Tips for navigating intrusive personal questions (like “when will you have kids?” or “don't you think it's time you moved on?”)  Why consensus is a terrible holiday goal, but collaboration might just be the best thing possible   We're re-releasing some of our favorite episodes from the first 3 seasons.   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here.   Follow our show on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok @refugeingrief and @itsokpod on TikTok. Visit refugeingrief.com for resources & courses   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional resources: Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed   Books and resources may contain affiliate links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if there's nothing to fix? What if you could just, you know, be yourself - whatever that looks like today?  When I told people that this week's guest was none other than adrienne maree brown - the excitement level was off the charts. adrienne maree brown is the author of Emergent Strategy and Pleasure Activism, among other works, and she's instrumental in opening conversations about bodies, power, grief, and change (personal and collective).  This week, it's all grief - and it's all love. There is nothing to fix, and there is plenty to change.    In this episode we cover:  How self-sabotaging behaviors become addictive The freedom of being yourself (and why that pisses other people off) How can you make this day worthy of your grief?  Why humor sometimes fits “the shape of grief” and sometimes it does not Feelings are your body's way of communicating needs   We're re-releasing some of our favorite episodes from the first 3 seasons. Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here.   Related episodes: Book bans, grief, and love: what do these have to do with social movements? Malkia Devich-Cyril Is There Any Good News on Climate Change? With Bill McKibben Coming Home to Yourself with Alex Elle   About our guest: adrienne maree brown is the author of wildly influential books including Emergent Strategy, We Will Not Cancel Us and Pleasure Activism, plus the novellas Grievers and Maroons. She is a social media meme queen, writer, podcaster, musician, and movement facilitator based in Durham, NC.    Find her at adriennemareebrown.net and on Instagram and Facebook.   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional resources: Boundaried in Love with Prentis Hemphill and adrienne maree brown “The Pleasure Dome” by adrienne maree brown, Bitch Media   Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed   Books and resources may contain affiliate links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Look, there are some things in life - a LOT of things in life - that just can't be fixed or made better, you have to figure out how you're going to live with them.   Sarah Ramey spent DECADES trying to find answers for why her body was falling apart. Her book, The Lady's Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness, describes the complex, convoluted path through conventional and alternative medicines, her frustrations with being deemed a liar and hypochondriac, and the overlapping issues of misogyny, ableism, and well meaning but unhelpful support.    If you've ever felt othered and invisible because of an illness or disability - this episode is for you. If you've ever loved someone with a chronic illness, or you're a medical provider in any capacity, this episode is 3000% for you.    And if you're grieving some other loss or hardship, you'll recognize so much of yourself in this conversation: that human desire to be seen, loved, and supported, exactly as you are.  In this episode we cover:     What it's really like having a chronic, invisible illness (and if you have one, you'll feel seen!) How truly messed up the medical system is: Sarah's years' long efforts to be believed by doctors, and at a minimum: not be overtly harmed while seeking care How does being in a female body shift your odds of being believed - for ANYTHING, but especially mysterious, chronic illnesses?  Sarah's music was featured in the hit show Wednesday, on Netflix. Can you be a successful musician and have a disability?  Why hope is a complex concept when your life is constrained by illness or disability (and why hope is still REALLY important)   We're re-releasing some of our favorite episodes from the first 3 seasons.   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here.   Follow our show on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok @refugeingrief and @itsokpod on TikTok. Visit refugeingrief.com for resources & courses About our guest: Sarah Ramey is a writer and musician (known as Wolf Larsen). Her work has been featured in The Paris Review, NPR, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Ms. Magazine, and the Netflix show, Wednesday. Her book, The Lady's Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness was a starred selection for Publisher's Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and Booklist. Learn more at sarahmarieramey.com and wolflarsenmusic.com. Sarah has been living with serious chronic pain and illness for seventeen years.    About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional resources: To join the next embodied writing course mentioned in the show, sign up at roottherapymaine.com   Read Sarah's memoir: The Lady's Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness    Listen to Sarah's solo album: Quiet at the Kitchen Door    Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed   Books and resources may contain affiliate links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our early childhood experiences of grief - and how our family systems dealt with loss - have a huge impact on our adult behaviors and relationships.    This week, author Allyson Dinneen (@notesfromyourtherapist) joins me to discuss generational grief stories, and your number one most asked question: how does a grieving therapist (or another healthcare provider) go back to work?    We're re-releasing some of our favorite episodes from the first 3 seasons.   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here.   About our guest: Allyson Dinneen is a marriage and family therapist, author, and the creator of the immensely popular Instagram account, Notes from Your Therapist - which is also the name of her recent book. Allyson's work has been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, and more. Find her on IG @notesfromyourtherapist and at allysondinneen.com.   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional resources: Allyson's book - Notes from Your Therapist   Megan and Allyson discuss a question from a previous episode that aired on January 3rd, 2022.   Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed   Books and resources may contain affiliate links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recently The Washington Post released graphic images, videos, and audio recordings from mass shootings, in a report called “Terror on Repeat.” Should news outlets attempt to push awareness through the use of graphic imagery? If so, do survivor families have the right to refuse to let photos of their friends or family members be released?    The answer, of course, is complicated. Complexity and nuance can be hard to find in the news and social media. Like so many things, the real answer comes down to sovereignty: the rights of the people directly involved to make choices about what actions are taken, and to what end.    In this special encore episode, Sandy Hook parent survivor Nelba Márquez-Greene and I discuss what cries of “release the photos!” means to survivors who have already had their private lives invaded, and their peoples' images co-opted for others' use.    That's just part of our conversation, and all of it is timely: we discuss what it's like to live such a public grief, and what it means to find joy - and hope - in an often violent world. Don't miss it.    In this episode we cover:  The importance of telling your own story in the ways you want to tell it (no matter who demands a soundbite)  Supporting each other: the difference between an “inside the house” friend and an “on the porch” friend.  Why no single form of advocacy for survivors is right for all survivors  Where your money goes when you donate funds in the wake of a tragedy What to do when the next act of gun violence happens   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here.   Follow our show on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok @refugeingrief and @itsokpod on TikTok. Visit refugeingrief.com for resources & courses.   About our guest:  Nelba Márquez-Greene is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in grief, loss, trauma and their impact on individuals and systems. What her official bio doesn't say is that her child was murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary. Find her at thisgrievinglife.com. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook @anagraceproject    About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional resources: There are many organizations fighting to end gun violence. Here are just a few:  Moms Demand Action, Change the Ref, and Brady United.    As Nelba suggested, if you want to support survivors of gun violence, find ways to support survivors in underserved communities, especially if their tragedy didn't make the national news.    Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed   Books and resources may contain affiliate links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if you were just about to get divorced, but your partner gets sick? Like really sick? Rebecca Woolf was just about to leave an unhappy marriage when her husband got sick and died. What followed was a crash course in performative grief, and the dismantling of one life in order to build the next.    This week on It's OK, we cover love, sex, marriage, divorce, grief, shame, assumptions (both internal and external), and personal agency - it's QUITE the conversation.    Sensitivity note: this episode contains the F word, and references sex.    In this episode we cover:  The conventions of marriage and grief that trap people in inauthentic versions of themselves How you can love someone AND be relieved they're dead Why everyone has an opinion about how soon is too soon to date, have sex, or otherwise live your life after someone dies Grieving the time you lost living someone else's life Building your own “house of hope,” according to your own desires   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here.   Follow our show on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok @refugeingrief and @itsokpod on TikTok. Visit refugeingrief.com for resources & courses   About our guest: Rebecca Woolf has worked as a writer since her teens - it's the way she understands both herself and the world. Her essays have appeared on Refinery29, HuffPost, Parenting, and more. She currently authors the bi-weekly column Sex & the Single Mom on romper.com. Her latest book is All of This: a Memoir of Death and Desire.   Find her on IG @rebeccawooolf (with three o's) and at rebeccawoolf.com   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional resources: Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed   Books and resources may contain affiliate links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everybody knows the stages of grief. Even if you didn't go to grad school, I bet you can rattle them off. Thing is - those stages don't help anyone: not the pros trying to support patients or clients, not the person trying to survive an impossible situation.    Tune in for the inside scoop on the stages of grief and what we should be doing instead, with a special shout-out to the tv shows getting grief right.     In this episode we cover: Where the stages of grief came from, and why their creator was Less Than Pleased with what happened next Whether an “innocent” mention of the stages of grief really matters in a movie or tv show (shout out to Netflix: HMU!)  What to do if your boss asks you to support your co-workers through a death in the company And much more, because I have a lot to say on these stages, apparently   We're re-releasing some of our favorite episodes from the first 3 seasons of It's OK that You're Not OK.   Looking for a creative exploration of grief? Check out the best selling Writing Your Grief course here.   Follow our show on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok @refugeingrief and @itsokpod on TikTok. Visit refugeingrief.com for resources & courses   About Megan:  Psychotherapist Megan Devine is one of today's leading experts on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. Get the best-selling book on grief in over a decade, It's Ok that You're Not OK, wherever you get books. Find Megan @refugeingrief   Additional resources: Want to talk with Megan directly? Join our patreon community for live monthly Q&A grief clinics: your questions, answered. Want to speak to her privately? Apply for a 1:1 grief consultation here.    Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed   Books and resources may contain affiliate links.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eve shares her personal poem illustrating the importance of presence in daily life. She highlights the power of mindfulness to break unhelpful patterns, cultivate mental resilience, and achieve a state of flow. Try the Headspace app free for 30 days here! You can find more wonderful content from Eve on her IG. Episode Notes: The following books and podcasts have been especially helpful to me. I also recommend seeking out a Grief Counsellor or Therapist if you feel like you need additional support. In LA Our House offers grief support groups. Books: You are not alone - Cariad Lloyd It's OK That You're Not OK - Megan Devine Loss - Donna Ashworth The Beauty of What Remains - Steve Leder Podcasts: Griefcast - Cariad Lloyd Terrible Thanks for Asking - Nora McInerny What's Your Grief Podcast All There Is - Anderson Cooper Headspace Courses and meditations: Grieving Sudden Loss Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Eve recalls an unsettling encounter during a walk, leading to a deep dive into anger's nature and impact. Sharing personal reflections and strategies, she offers ways to manage, understand, and respond to anger. Try the Headspace app free for 30 days here! You can find more wonderful content from Eve on her IG. Episode Notes: The following books and podcasts have been especially helpful to me. I also recommend seeking out a Grief Counsellor or Therapist if you feel like you need additional support. In LA Our House offers grief support groups. Books: You are not alone - Cariad Lloyd It's OK That You're Not OK - Megan Devine Loss - Donna Ashworth The Beauty of What Remains - Steve Leder Podcasts: Griefcast - Cariad Lloyd Terrible Thanks for Asking - Nora McInerny What's Your Grief Podcast All There Is - Anderson Cooper Headspace Courses and meditations: Grieving Sudden Loss Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Eve discusses the feelings that come with performance reviews, highlighting how being self-critical can overshadow personal achievements. She also shares how breathing exercises can help us tap into self-compassion. Try the Headspace app free for 30 days here! You can find more wonderful content from Eve on her IG. Episode Notes: The following books and podcasts have been especially helpful to me. I also recommend seeking out a Grief Counsellor or Therapist if you feel like you need additional support. In LA Our House offers grief support groups. Books: You are not alone - Cariad Lloyd It's OK That You're Not OK - Megan Devine Loss - Donna Ashworth The Beauty of What Remains - Steve Leder Podcasts: Griefcast - Cariad Lloyd Terrible Thanks for Asking - Nora McInerny What's Your Grief Podcast All There Is - Anderson Cooper Headspace Courses and meditations: Grieving Sudden Loss Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, Eve delves into various avenues that support mental health, including sleep, mindful movement, technology management, and therapy options. Try the Headspace app free for 30 days here! You can find more wonderful content from Eve on her IG. Episode Notes: The following books and podcasts have been especially helpful to me. I also recommend seeking out a Grief Counsellor or Therapist if you feel like you need additional support. In LA Our House offers grief support groups. Books: You are not alone - Cariad Lloyd It's OK That You're Not OK - Megan Devine Loss - Donna Ashworth The Beauty of What Remains - Steve Leder Podcasts: Griefcast - Cariad Lloyd Terrible Thanks for Asking - Nora McInerny What's Your Grief Podcast All There Is - Anderson Cooper Headspace Courses and meditations: Grieving Sudden Loss Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Eve discusses the rising concerns about mental health, influenced by personal grief and broader societal issues. She also talks about the disparity between physical and mental health perceptions, and underscores the individuality of mental wellness. Try the Headspace app free for 30 days here! You can find more wonderful content from Eve on her IG. Episode Notes: The following books and podcasts have been especially helpful to me. I also recommend seeking out a Grief Counsellor or Therapist if you feel like you need additional support. In LA Our House offers grief support groups. Books: You are not alone - Cariad Lloyd It's OK That You're Not OK - Megan Devine Loss - Donna Ashworth The Beauty of What Remains - Steve Leder Podcasts: Griefcast - Cariad Lloyd Terrible Thanks for Asking - Nora McInerny What's Your Grief Podcast All There Is - Anderson Cooper Headspace Courses and meditations: Grieving Sudden Loss Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Discover happiness through sorrow. Try the Headspace app free for 30 days here! You can find more wonderful content from Eve on her IG. Episode Notes: The following books and podcasts have been especially helpful to me. I also recommend seeking out a Grief Counsellor or Therapist if you feel like you need additional support. In LA Our House offers grief support groups. Books: You are not alone - Cariad Lloyd It's OK That You're Not OK - Megan Devine Loss - Donna Ashworth The Beauty of What Remains - Steve Leder Podcasts: Griefcast - Cariad Lloyd Terrible Thanks for Asking - Nora McInerny What's Your Grief Podcast All There Is - Anderson Cooper Headspace Courses and meditations: Grieving Sudden Loss Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In today's episode, Eve delves into the intricacies of discussing death, and how to sensitively broach the topic with others, especially those who are grieving. Try the Headspace app free for 30 days here! You can find more wonderful content from Eve on her IG. Episode Notes: The following books and podcasts have been especially helpful to me. I also recommend seeking out a Grief Counsellor or Therapist if you feel like you need additional support. In LA Our House offers grief support groups. Books: You are not alone - Cariad Lloyd It's OK That You're Not OK - Megan Devine Loss - Donna Ashworth The Beauty of What Remains - Steve Leder Podcasts: Griefcast - Cariad Lloyd Terrible Thanks for Asking - Nora McInerny What's Your Grief Podcast All There Is - Anderson Cooper Headspace Courses and meditations: Grieving Sudden Loss Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, Eve discusses the significance of confronting grief and loss. She reflects on life's impermanence, how our perceptions shape our experiences, and the profound teachings of mindfulness. Try the Headspace app free for 30 days here! You can find more wonderful content from Eve on her IG. Episode Notes: The following books and podcasts have been especially helpful to me. I also recommend seeking out a Grief Counsellor or Therapist if you feel like you need additional support. In LA Our House offers grief support groups. Books: You are not alone - Cariad Lloyd It's OK That You're Not OK - Megan Devine Loss - Donna Ashworth The Beauty of What Remains - Steve Leder Podcasts: Griefcast - Cariad Lloyd Terrible Thanks for Asking - Nora McInerny What's Your Grief Podcast All There Is - Anderson Cooper Headspace Courses and meditations: Grieving Sudden Loss Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Eve shares coping strategies for life-altering news, and why hope is key in navigating adversity. Try the Headspace app free for 30 days here! You can find more wonderful content from Eve on her IG. Episode Notes: The following books and podcasts have been especially helpful to me. I also recommend seeking out a Grief Counsellor or Therapist if you feel like you need additional support. In LA Our House offers grief support groups. Books: You are not alone - Cariad Lloyd It's OK That You're Not OK - Megan Devine Loss - Donna Ashworth The Beauty of What Remains - Steve Leder Podcasts: Griefcast - Cariad Lloyd Terrible Thanks for Asking - Nora McInerny What's Your Grief Podcast All There Is - Anderson Cooper Headspace Courses and meditations: Grieving Sudden Loss Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Eve returns to Radio Headspace to discuss navigating grief after her Mum's passing from cancer. Exploring personal experiences, coping strategies, and seeking support. Touching on hope, IVF, and life's unpredictable turns. Listen with care; potential triggers.  Try the Headspace app free for 30 days here! You can find more wonderful content from Eve on her IG. Episode Notes: The following books and podcasts have been especially helpful to me. I also recommend seeking out a Grief Counsellor or Therapist if you feel like you need additional support. In LA Our House offers grief support groups. Books: You are not alone - Cariad Lloyd It's OK That You're Not OK - Megan Devine Loss - Donna Ashworth The Beauty of What Remains - Steve Leder Podcasts: Griefcast - Cariad Lloyd Terrible Thanks for Asking - Nora McInerny What's Your Grief Podcast All There Is - Anderson Cooper Headspace Courses and meditations: Grieving Sudden Loss Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When we suffer a serious loss, we come face-to-face with the fragile nature of this world. Yet in today's culture, we often try to avoid or deny the deep emotions associated with losing the people and things we love. In this podcast, Tami Simon speaks with therapist and grief consultant Megan Devine about her uniquely helpful books with Sounds True, It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed.  Tune in for a much-needed conversation on the best ways to tend one another's pain during periods of loss, as Tami and Megan discuss: the cover-up narrative that "bad things help us grow"; the roots of today's grief phobia; pain vs suffering; grief without a story; the healing power of acknowledgment; tolerating feelings of helplessness; the impulse to fix things; the weaponization of acceptance; time and the notion of complicated grief; the dangers of pathologizing grief; the lost opportunity to reframe grief during the pandemic; naming the awkward instead of silencing yourself; offering concrete assistance rather than an open offer to help; three kinds of hope: transactional, functional, and inhabitable; speaking our truth and allowing others the same; and more. Note: This episode originally aired on Sounds True One, where these special episodes of Insights at the Edge are available to watch live on video and with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at join.soundstrue.com.

“Wonder is the root of love, the lack of wonder is the root of violence.”  Is there a way to create boundaries with someone who wishes to cause harm? Can you love them and hold them accountable? Do you have to fight for a just world for everyone? Valarie Kaur is no stranger to violence. As a Sikh, as a woman, as a person of color, violence has shaped both her activism and her deep sense of community care. Her Revolutionary Love Project is the blueprint for organizers, activists, and really - anyone in love with the world and what it could be.    This week, the activist, and best-selling author of See No Stranger joins me to talk about love, action, and the power of wonder in the face of impossible things.    We cover activism, wonder, horror, grief, acts of violence, acts of justice, parenting in an age of rampant school violence, healing family wounds, building true community - and why fighting for love and pleasure is always going to be more sustainable than fighting against hate.  “I spent the last 20 years organizing my life around hate and I want to spend the next 20 years organizing around love. The pain of the world is the pain of the world, regardless.” - Valarie Kaur   * One brief content note, Valarie's neighborhood had some construction going on, so there's more background noise in this episode than usual. Listen for the goodness, though - it's all around you.    In this episode we cover: How do you continue to work on behalf of EVERYONE for a more just and beautiful world, when some of those people cause great harm?  Getting outside of unbearable pain so you can survive Do you have to suffer in order to be of service? Being an activist for the long haul “Squad care” and what it means for activists and anyone alive in the world What do you want future generations to inherit from your time here?    Want grief support with Megan? Apply for 1:1 sessions here, or join the monthly Q&A here.  Related episodes: The Love-Filled World A Place Called Home: a conversation with child welfare advocate, David Ambroz Connection is the best medicine: with Dr. Rana Awdish Notable quotes:  “We're living in a time where we have to metabolize grief on a scale that no other generation before us has had to.” - Valarie Kaur   “Our solidarity is only as deep as our ability to love one another, and our ability to love one another is only as deep as our ability to weep with one another.” -  Valarie Kaur About our guest:  Valarie Kaur is a renowned civil rights leader, lawyer, award-winning filmmaker, educator, author of the #1 LA Times Bestseller SEE NO STRANGER, and founder of the Revolutionary Love Project. A daughter of Punjabi Sikh farmers in California, her work has ignited a national movement to reclaim love as a force for justice. See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love.  About Megan:  Psychotherapist and bestselling author Megan Devine is recognized as one of today's most insightful and original voices on grief, from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don't call grief. She helms a consulting practice in Los Angeles and serves as an organizational consultant for the healthcare and human resources industries.  The best-selling book on grief in over a decade, Megan's It's Ok that You're Not OK, is a global phenomenon that has been translated into more than 25 languages. Her celebrated animations and explainers have garnered over 75 million views and are used in training programs around the world.   Additional resources: Valarie Kaur's websiteThe Revolutionary Love Learning Hub   Want to talk with Megan directly? Two options: apply for one of her 1:1 sessions through the contact form at megandevine.co, or join our Patreon community for live monthly Q&A sessions. Either way, it's your questions, answered.   Check out Megan's best-selling books - It's OK That You're Not OK and How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed    Books and resources may contain affiliate links. Get in touch: Thanks for listening to this week's episode of It's OK that You're Not OK. Tune in, subscribe, leave a review, tag us on social with your thoughts, and share the show with everyone you know. Together, we can make things better, even when they can't be made right.    Follow the show on TikTok @itsokpod and use the hashtag #ItsOkPod on all social platforms   For grief support & education, follow us at @refugeingrief on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok, and follow Megan on LinkedIn For more information, including clinical training and consulting and to share your thoughts, visit us at megandevine.co  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we find ourselves in a dark place, what if we didn't "lighten things up"? Sean Illing talks with philosopher Mariana Alessandri, whose new book Night Vision offers a new way of understanding our dark moods and experiences like depression, pain, and grief. Alessandri describes the deep influence of what she calls the "light metaphor" — the belief that light is good and darkness is bad — and the destructive emotional cycles it has produced. They discuss the influence of Stoic philosophy, Aristotelian ethics, and contemporary self-help — and explore what new paradigms for emotional intelligence might entail. Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), host, The Gray Area Guest: Mariana Alessandri (@mariana.alessandri), professor of philosophy, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; author References:  Night Vision: Seeing Ourselves through Dark Moods by Mariana Alessandri (Princeton; 2023) Plato's "allegory of the cave" from the Republic, VI (514a–520a) The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale (1952) The Encheiridion (or "Handbook") of Epictetus (c. 50 – c. 125 AD) The Dialogues and letters of Seneca (c. 4 BC – 65 AD) The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius (121 – 180 AD) The Tusculan Disputations of Cicero (106 – 43 BC) Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics It's OK That You're Not OK by Megan Devine (Sounds True; 2017) Our Lord Don Quixote by Miguel de Unamuno (1914; tr. 1968) Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza by Gloria Anzaldúa (Aunt Lute; 1987) Enjoyed this episode? Rate The Gray Area ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of The Gray Area. Subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Support The Gray Area by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts This episode was made by:  Producer: Erikk Geannikis Engineer: Patrick Boyd Editorial Director, Vox Talk: A.M. Hall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices