In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with Jack Ciapciak, a TV writer and storyteller who has captured hearts online through his honest reflections on grief and love after losing his fiancé, also named Jack.
Jack opens up about their beautiful love story, the Hudson River Park bench that became both a place of proposal and remembrance, and how he continues to live fully — not in spite of grief, but alongside it.
We explore what it means to honor someone’s legacy, how love continues to evolve after loss, and the quiet power of rituals that keep memory alive. Jack’s perspective reminds us that grief doesn’t end — it transforms, deepening our capacity to love, to create, and to keep showing up for life.
Jack’s story of love, loss, and the memorial bench that holds so much meaning.
How his late fiancé’s words — “Find out who you are, try not to be afraid of it” — continue to guide him.
The importance of creating rituals and physical spaces that honor loved ones.
How grief and authenticity intertwine — and how to keep living fully in their memory.
The role of storytelling and creativity in processing loss.
What it means to build legacy, both for those we’ve lost and for ourselves.
Follow Jack @JackCiapchiak