TW: mention of suicide and infant loss
Grief touches us all, but no two losses are ever the same. In this episode I sit down with Karen Tarnopol Schultz; grief survivor, speaker, and founder of Heirloom Consulting. Karen’s story is one of deep personal loss: the death of her father at age ten, the suicide of a close friend in her teens, and the stillbirth of her daughter. Each experience shaped the way she understands grief and the ways it shows up differently in our lives.
Today, Karen brings both her lived experience and her professional expertise to the conversation. Through her company, Heirloom Consulting, she helps families with estate administration after a loss and guides people in proactive legacy planning so their loved ones aren’t left with a scavenger hunt of paperwork during an already difficult time.
You can find Karen here: www.heirloomconsultants.com and here; https://karentarnopolschultz.wordpress.com/2017/07/28/syndee-big-loss/
Also mentioned in the episode: https://www.roadid.com/
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Caregiving can be one of the loneliest jobs in the world, even when you’re constantly around others. If you’ve ever felt invisible, cut off from friends, or like nobody really “gets it”, this episode is for you.
What is The paradox of caregiver isolation and why are loved ones drifting away?
Whether you’re caring for a partner, parent, child, or friend, know this: you are not as alone as you feel.
Mentioned in the episode:
https://www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/blog/quick-amp-healthy-meals-for-busy-caregivers
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Grief and menopause. What happens when these two massive life transitions collide? In this episode I dive into the under-discussed intersection of menopause and mourning.
Why do hormonal shifts intensify grief symptoms like brain fog, anxiety, and insomnia? and why the cultural silence around women’s midlife transitions!! Lets talk about Practical ways to support yourself (and others) through this double-whammy of emotional and physical change.
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In this episode, I sat down with Faith Clarke to talk about what should be obvious but often gets lost in the hustle: treating people, especially those who are grieving, as human beings first. We dive into why the corporate world often struggles with grief, how leaders can create compassionate workplaces, and why productivity doesn’t have to come at the expense of empathy. Faith shares practical strategies for managers, coworkers, and organizations who want to better support their teams during times of loss, stress, and transition. If you’ve ever wondered how to balance being professional with being human, this conversation will give you hope (and some real-world tools) for building a workplace where compassion and success can coexist.
You can find Faith here: faithclarke.comhttps://feministfounders.substack.com/ The event mentioned is here:https://feministfounders.co/event/
Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula
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TW: mentions of miscarriage
In this deeply touching episode I say down with Emily Hill of Everyday Epiphany to explore the quiet corners of grief we so often avoid; miscarriage, death work, and the stigma that still surrounds both. As a social worker, chaplain and writer, Emily brings such an amazing perspective on what it means to hold space for dying patients and grieving families all while while carrying her own personal loss. And How faith and chaplaincy shape (and sometimes complicate) our grief journeys
You can find Emily here: https://www.everydayepiphany.net/
Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula
You can find me here:
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TW: some light swearing
It started with losing his partner to AIDS in the 90s. And turned into a long road of losses that spanned a lifetime.
Bill is a writer from Boston now living in LA. He has a feature film, 'Paradise A Town of Sinners & Saints' streaming on YoutubeMovies & GoogleTV. He also has a book series on Amazon, 'Uncle Bill's Animal Tales - Life Lessons for Adults' is the first in a series of five.Bill is 28 years clean and sober and volunteers with G4G, Gays 4 Good. He is active in his spiritual community being a member of the Agape International Spiritual Center.He has also written for National Lampoon Magazine, a kids show on PBS, and ran sketch comedy shows out of NY, Boston, and LA. He will soon be working with seniors in the LA area helping them to write their memoirs.
You can find Bill here:www.paradisebluegrassmusical.comhttps://www.facebook.com/bill.robertson.3720
Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula
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A.D. (Angie) Vancise is an award-winning author whose writing explores grief, trauma, and truth. Her semi-autobiography, Cry of an Osprey was inspired by the loss of her brother, father, and mother, while her latest novel, Hidden in the Shadows-winner of the American Fiction Award in Horror- was written from a place of deep grief for the children who never had a voice, shinning light on the hidden realities of trafficking and generational abuse. She lives in Hockley Valley with her partner, three dogs, four cats, and three step kids who mostly forgave her for skipping dinner to write one more chapter. Through her stories, A.D. (Angie) hopes to help others heal and speak the truths too often buried in silence.
You can find Angie here: https://advancise.net/
Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula
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Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday
Sharon Laflamme is the Facilitator and founder of Creating Serenity Now, LLC. She took her life’s passions of human behavior, health, nutrition, yoga, meditation and incorporated them into creating an internal space for healing. No stranger to loss and grief herself, she works with people to help resolve the lasting effects of childhood trauma on the body.
You can find Sharon here: https://www.creatingserenitynow.com/
Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula
You can find me here:
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Cortland Mullins started Grief Club after her mother died and she realized how deep grief can go. It’s a dynamic program in Columbus Ohio with all manner of programs for people facing grief. Her story is deep and powerful, touching on addiction, forgiveness and, of course, grief.
You can find Cortland and The Grief Club here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cortland-mullins-60659b217/
https://www.instagram.com/wearethegriefclub
https://www.eventbrite.com/o/the-grief-club-104414191611
Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula
You can find me here: https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoula
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I had an amazing conversation with the founder and director of griefcycles.org, Sean Muzzy. After losing his son Sean had a choice. He could let the grief consume him or use it to help others. He chose the latter. Men tend to get the short of of the stick when it comes to grief, but Sean refuses to let men suffer alone.
You can find Sean at https://linktr.ee/griefcycles
Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula
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What if you looked perfectly fine but had your brain rewired seven times? Jeff Pearson has.
I had a lovely conversation with Jeff Person of Invisible Condition, a TV show for people living with non visible chronic conditions. We talked all things chronic, podcasting, non profits and everything in between.
You can find Jeff here:
https://e360tv.com/networks/play_series/invisible-condtion
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-pearson-b57a564/
Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula
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How TV, Movies, and Books Shape Our Views on Grief and Grieving
In this episode I dive into the way pop culture influences our understanding of grief. From TV shows and movies to bestselling novels, pop culture often hands us a grief script that’s dramatic, tidy, and wildly unrealistic. (Spoiler: Grief doesn't resolve neatly in 90 minutes with soft violins.)
I break down common media tropes and contrast them with the messy, awkward, and beautiful truth of real-life grieving.
If you’ve cried through a movie funeral or rolled your eyes at another “grief makeover montage,” you’re not alone.
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Welcome back to Season 6! I’m getting back to my roots this season.
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We’re wrapping up season 5! In this episode of Good Grief with Nikki the Death Doula, we unpack the messy, beautiful, and often misunderstood truth about healing. Spoiler alert: it’s not about “getting over it” or tying your pain up in a neat little bow.
I’ll dive into the myths we’re fed about healing, and what it actually looks like in real life.
We talk about the pressure to be "okay," and the quiet victories that count as progress. This one’s for anyone who’s been told to "stay strong" when they really needed space to fall apart.
Whether you're grieving a death, a diagnosis, or a life that didn’t go to plan, this conversation is your permission slip to heal in your own time, in your own way.
Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula
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Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday
Grief isn’t always about death. I met Mike of the Coffin Talk podcast a couple months back and I knew immediately I had to have him on my show. Mike and I talk all about non-death loss and all the emotions it can bring.
Please follow Mike here:
https://mikeyopp.substack.com/
And check out his podcast, it’s amazing! https://mikeyopp.substack.com/podcast
Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula
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Edy and I delved into one of the only subject morestigmatized than grief or death. Sex. But it’s not what you think, there are somany layers to us as humans and our grief.
(TW mentions of SA)
Edy Nathan, MA, LCSW, CST, is a licensedpsychotherapist, certified sex therapist, and grief expert who guides peoplethrough the terrain most avoid—grief, trauma, and sexuality.
Edy is the author of It’s Grief: The Dance ofSelf-Discovery through Trauma and Loss, and is currently writing her secondbook, Dare to Live: The Sexual Grief Effect — Reveal the Shadow Wounds fromLoathing to Liberation to Love.
You can find Edy here: https://edynathan.com/
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Music: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday
Let’s face it, talking about death can feel like trying to bring up a tarantula at a dinner party. Most of us would rather not. But the truth is, avoiding these conversations doesn’t make death go away. It just leaves everyone guessing when it matters most.
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I had a wonderful conversation with the man behind Buriedinwork.com, Adam Zuckerman all about end of life planning and why it’s so important! Please check out www.buriedinwork.com
Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula
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Vanessa Abraham was a speech therapist who lost her voice — literally.
A rare neurological disease — a form of Guillain-Barré Syndrome — left her completely paralyzed and unable to speak. What followed wasn’t just a physical recovery, but an emotional and spiritual reckoning with identity, isolation, and medical trauma that no one prepares you for.
Today, Vanessa is a neuromuscular practitioner, helping others heal after their own health crises — but survival was only the beginning of her story.
She written a memoir, Speechless: https://a.co/d/b4YGrQC
you can find Vanessa here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-abraham-10a1661a3
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speechless_slp/
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/p/Speechless-SLP-61569361746127/
Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula
You can find me here:
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Get merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday