Casey Mulligan Walsh is a gorgeous writer and her book now has two major awards to prove it!    I'm so excited to bring you all this conversation with my sweet, sweet friend, who found herself pondering what kind of legacy she'd leave the world of grief and loss- and ended up writing this gorgeous memoir! It is SUCH a gif to all of who are struggling in the wake of untenable, devastating pain. Casey has endured being orphaned as a young girl, going through a tumultuous divorce, and the death of her son at age 20. This book, for lack of more splendid adjectives, is beautiful, bold and courageous.    It is absolutely a roadmap for all of us who struggle with what on earth we are meant to do when it feels like, at every turn, we are greeted with catastrophe.    I hope you all are able to take something amazing away from this conversation. Casey is also a featured author at this year's Grieftastic Book Fair, so please be sure to grab your copy and have her sign when you meet her! Tickets still available at grieftastic.com .    Thank you, as always, for listening, rating and reviewing!    More about Casey Mulligan Walsh:https://caseymulliganwalsh.com/ https://www.instagram.com/caseymulliganwalsh/       

Alison Larkin is such a gift. She is an English-American, having been born here in the states and then adopted by British parents who raised her across the pond.  These days, she is a comedian, novelist, actress, and audiobook narrator. Her novel, "The English American," sprang from her autobiographical one-woman comedy show about an adopted English woman who finds her birth parents in the United States.  The grief of being adopted and searching for your birth parents might be enough, you say-but no. Alison also lost her soulmate, Bhima, five days after they decide to get married.  Alison's story is as layered and devastating as it sounds; she had no choice but to make it into something funny, right? Enter her one-woman show and subsequent book, "Grief...A Comedy." The woman truly is griefy gold.  She proves as much when Alison serenades my producer and I at the end of the episode with a song she wrote herself. She hits every sad nerve, and yet inspires such hope and wonder after loss.  We LOVE Alison Larkin- and we're certain you will, too!   More about Alison: https://alisonlarkin.com/alison-larkin-bio/ https://www.instagram.com/alisonlarkinpresents/     

Kristina Amelong's brother, Jay, knew from an extremely young age that he was going to die. Not only that, but he predicted how it would happen, and that he would not live to be an adult. Kristina's gripping and gorgeous memoir, "What My Brother Knew," tells the heartbreaking story of a tragedy rooted in an understanding that reaches far beyond anything that she or I are capable of fully grasping; thus the pinnacle of our conversation today.    I have always said that I struggle with my own spirituality, and my understanding of things that feel juuuussssttt out of our reach. With Kristina, it feels safe and comforting to discuss this topic; like there is someone on my team in this headspace. I hope, in listening to our chat today, that you feel the same. She is a warm and curious presence, and I'm SO intrigued by her journey!   These days, Kristina is a writer, photographer, and hollistic healer. According to her own website, "More than anything, I am drawn to stories that ask questions about who we are and why we are here. My spiritual studies have awakened in me a confidence in my connection with All-That-Is. I feel called to lead others to face the uncertainty of our collective future with hope. We can evolve together!"   Thank you, as always, for listening. Please rate and review us where possible, and feel free to reach out meghanriordanjarvis.com and leave suggestions or comments!   Learn more about Kristina:https://www.kristinaamelong.com/IG: https://www.instagram.com/optimalhealthnetwork/     

I think you all are used to me saying this by now, but I found Timothy Frie online- and stalked him into talking to me. He is fascinating, as is his work, and I think once you listen to this episode you’ll agree. Timothy Frie is a neuronutrition educator, nutritional psychology researcher, writer, and president of the National Academy of Neuronutrition. He helps neurodivergent people who have experienced early-life trauma understand the story behind their relationship with food. This is such a crucial topic, and Tim does a beautiful job of illuminating how the elements of grief and mental health relate to -and impact- how we fortify ourselves. I loved this conversation, and our hope is that you will, too. Stay tuned, because Tim and I have more collaborations in the works!   More about Timothy Frie: @timothyfrie https://www.timfrie.com/

Hospice Nurse Julie (AKA Julie McFadden) is one of my favorite recurring guests. She is an RN/BSN nurse with a passion for education- she believes that people should know about the dying process BEFORE they're actually going through it with a loved one or themselves. We have a beautiful, funny, and candid conversation about how death and dying are reflected in the media and film, as well as what to actually expect when you're at your loved one's bedside.    Julie will also be a featured author at Grieftastic on November 21, 2025, showcasing her second book, The Nothing to Fear Journal (a companion to her first book, Nothing to Fear). We are SO excited- we know you'll LOVE Hospice Nurse Julie as much as we do!   Thank you for listening- please rate, review, and share the podcast if you like what you hear.    More about Julie:https://www.hospicenursejulie.com/IG: @hospicenursejulie

As Meghan always says, "Art may not solve all your problems, but it CAN save your life." There's definitely a few champions of this philosophy in the world, of course- certainly artists themselves.    Today, however, we are lucky enough to be hosting the remarkable John Palfrey, President of the MacArthur Foundation. The MacArthur Foundation is famous for many things, namely their eponymous grant of $800,000, awarded to fellows of extraordinary talent so that they may support their work long-term.   John Palfrey is an educator, scholar, and law professor. His areas of focus include emerging media, Internet freedom, online transparency and accountability, and child safety. In short, he's a defender of miracles, and we're so lucky to hear from him on this episode about how important it is to not lose sight of our original point: ART SAVES LIVES.    Thank you for tuning in, this week and always. If you like what you hear, please rate and review us where possible and tell a friend!   More about John:https://www.macfound.org/ https://www.instagram.com/johnpalfrey/   

Sara Rian writes poems whenever a thought strikes her while washing the dishes, or folding laundry. However, her words, her profound understanding of the human spirit and what it is to grieve, will make you feel as though she wrote each poem for YOU. She's in your head, your heart- you'll feel her work in your bones. This might sound like hyperbole, but it's true, I promise. She has a superpower.   Sara sits down with me to discuss her mother's lifelong struggles with suicidality, and how the end of her life has since shaped everything Sara does. She is also a skilled therapist, and her clinical understanding somehow makes her art that much more...visceral.    From her own website: "As a mental health professional, suicide loss survivor, and grieving human, Sara shares her work with others to let them know that they are not alone in their love or grief. While grief and loss are complex topics, she utilizes a minimalist poetry style to capture these heavy experiences in a direct, digestible way. These poems are a balm for both new grievers and those farther along in the journey." Amen to that! I hope you'll enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Sara is a true light and we are SO excited to see her in-person at Grieftastic this November 21, 2025, as one of our featured authors.    Thanks for listening!   More about Sara: https://www.sararianbooks.com/about IG: @sara_rian_books

As their own website states, Ryan and his wife Calie Bowles started the Good Grief HQ community because they know what it's like to go through grief. They've lost parents, friends, pets, and had a miscarriage. They understand the deep ache that grief causes - the sleepless nights, confusion, and endless "what ifs".   Ryan is a dear friend and colleague in this space and I love his perspective on faith and healing. At this moment in time particularly, this conversation felt so necessary. We discuss his steadfast Christianity, my own checkered past with religion and trauma, and how sometimes trusting what you can't see allows you to FEEL on a level you may not have realized you needed. And that can look different for everyone.  I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I loved having this dialogue with my friend. I always leave our chats feeling lighter, and considering my grief differently. Never a bad thing!    More about Ryan:https://goodgriefhq.com/homepage IG: @ryanlbowles

Daria Burke is, according to her own website, an "Author, speaker and possibility pusher. An accomplished business leader and investor-turned-author, Daria is a multiplier of ideas and people, helping them expand to their highest potential, in business and in life." Indeed, Daria is a teacher. She taught herself how to push through the incredible pain of living with grief, poverty, and an addicted parent in 1980s Detroit. In her book, Of My Own Making, she teaches the reader that (above everything else) belief in oneself can unlock the rest of the world we deserve to have access to. Your mind will try to limit you if you let it; your heart and spirit can do miraculous things if you lean into your personal fortitude.  We hope you'll enjoy this magnificent kickoff to the latest season of Grief is My Side Hustle! We're so honored to call Daria a friend of the show, as well as a featured author at this year's Grieftastic Book Fair in November.    Thank you for listening!   To learn more about Daria: https://www.dariaburke.com/about  https://www.instagram.com/dariaburke/ 

Hello, fellow grievers! This week I have a special BONUS episode for you, while we work HARD to continue to bring you quality content for our new season coming this fall.    My sweet friend Jennifer Pastiloff joins us just before the release of her new book, "Proof of Life" (available NOW at your favorite bookseller!). According to her own website, "Jen Pastiloff travels the world with her unique workshop “On Being Human,” a hybrid of yoga related movement, writing, sharing out loud, letting the snot fly, and the occasional dance party. Jen has been featured on Good Morning America, New York Magazine, Health Magazine, CBS News and more for her unique style of teaching, which she has taught to thousands of women in sold-out workshops all over the world. Jen leads annual retreats to Italy and France and she is the guest speaker at Canyon Ranch and Miraval Resorts a few times each year. Jen also offers scholarships for her retreats to a woman who has lost a child. She is currently running one which she mentions at the end of our conversation. If you order 10 copies of her new book from your favorite bookstore (yes, even Amazon!) you'll be helping to fund a ticket for a woman in need who has lost a child.    THANK YOU for listening, and for donating if you can. If nothing else, we hope you just sit back and enjoy the pure sunshine that is Jen Pastiloff!   Learn more about Jen: Website:https://jenniferpastiloff.com/proofoflife Inatgram: https://www.instagram.com/jenpastiloff/ 

It's the season finale already- and I know how to leave a lasting impression! John Onwuchekwa, (a.k.a. "John O.") is a preacher, a writer, a husband, father, and brother. According to his own website, "Everything in John Onwuchekwa’s life hinges on the power of words, both spoken and written...in one way or another everything John does intersects with the beauty and power of words—both how he has been shaped by them and how he uses them to shape the world around him."    I couldn't agree more. John is a gifted orator and dear friend, and I could engage with him endlessly. This week, please listen in as we discuss the loss of his brother, grief education and fluency, the role spirituality plays in grief (and our lives) and much more!    John is the author of multiple books, including "We Go On: Finding Purpose in All of Life’s Sorrows and Joys." I hope you'll enjoy this time with John as much as I did- he's definitely someone you need to hear from!   Thank you so much for your support of "Grief is My Side Hustle" this season, and always. Please rate and review us wherever you get your shows. We'll back in the fall with more griefy goodness.   Find out more about John: Visit: johno.coInstagram: @jawn_o      

Dr. Jessica Zucker, author of "Normalize It: Upending the Silence, Stigma, and Shame That Shape Women's Lives" is my guest this week...and man, is she someone who tells the truth. About everything.    Jessica is a L.A.-based psychologist who specializes in reproductive and maternal mental health. She has written extensively about how the landscape of her marriage changed in the face of profound loss, as well as eventual parenthood. Jessica is incredibly powerful in how she relates the experience of a devastating miscarriage (suffered while she was home alone). She is also a fierce advocate for women's well-being and safety, especially during pregnancy.    I don't have accurate words to describe how eloquent and sincerely incredible Dr. Jessica Zucker is. I implore you to listen to this episode with an open mind and heart. She is absolutely someone who's journey you will want to follow along with.    Please check out more about Jessica's work at drjessicazucker.com and buy "Normalize It" at your favorite bookseller!    Thank you for being with us this week, and always!

My guest this week is the incomparable Nichole Sachs. Nichole was diagnosed with a degenrative spinal condition at age 19. Doctors warned her that her entire life would affected; her comfort, growth, ability to have biological children. The news was devastating, of course. According to her own website, "It brought me to the doorstep of Dr. John Sarno, then an attending physician at The Rusk Center for Rehabilitation/NYU Langone Medical Center. Armed with his teachings on the brain science behind MindBody medicine and an eagerness to regulate my nervous system, I became chronic pain free and gave birth to my three beautiful children without complication. I went from a patient to a colleague, lecturing with him at NYU and supporting his patients in my private psychotherapy practice."Nichole is also the author of "Mind Your Body: A Revolutionary Program to Release Chronic Pain and Anxiety," available now at all major retailers!Tune in to our conversation to learn more about how Nichole's determination to find a different way to heal- and end her suffering- lead her to help countless others. You don't want to miss this one- thanks for listening!   Learn more about Nichole:https://www.yourbreakawake.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolesachslcsw/  Book: https://www.yourbreakawake.com/book 

If you've been following me for a while, you know how much I love hospice nurses. This season I am so grateful to sit down with "Hospice Nurse Penny," AKA Penny Smith.  Nurse Penny entered the world of grief with the death of her dad, who passed about five years into her career. She is a nationally certified hospice and palliative care nurse, and has a large social media presence due to her incredible insights and candor. Penny is also the author of "Influencing Death: Reframing Dying for Better Living."  When her own mother went through hospice care, she knew she also wanted to be of service. At the age of 40, Penny started nursing school and never looked back.  The education she shares, coupled with her honest opinions, make Nurse Penny a unique presence, and an incredible guest! I'm so excited to share this conversation with you all- I KNOW you'll take away so much from her expertise.   THANK YOU for listening, this week and always!   Learn more about Hospice Nurse Penny: https://www.hospicenursepenny.com/about Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hospicenursepenny/ Book: Influencing Death

My guest this week is the incredibly soulful and inspiring Myra Sack.  Myra’s life changed when her first daughter, Havi Lev Goldstein, was diagnosed with Tay-Sachs, a terminal neurodegenerative disorder, on December 17, 2019. Havi passed away on January 20, 2021. In 2021, Myra and her husband Matt began supporting Courageous Parents Network, a Boston-based nonprofit organization and educational platform that “Orients, empowers, and accompanies families and providers caring for children with serious illnesses.” Myra is also trained as a Certified Compassionate Bereavement Care facilitator and began writing a memoir to share the story of Havi’s illness, her passing- and the aftermath. Myra’s writing focuses on the beauty and pain that can be found in loss and the power of community to sustain and uplift those who are suffering. Her first article on her experience, “A Mother’s Letter on the Passing of Her Young Daughter,” was published on upworthy.com in January 2022, and quickly reached over 2.7 million viewers. Her memoir, "Fifty-Seven Fridays," just won a 2025 Nautilus Book Award! Myra speaks in such a straightforward, passionate, and insightful way about grief as a whole, as well as her very specific personal experience. She shares how movement has helped her stay in the present as much as possible, and how she and her family work to move forward, while still carrying Havi's memory close to their hearts. Thank you for joining us this week for this very tender conversation.    Learn more about Myra: Website: https://www.myrasack.com/ Book: Fifty-Seven FridaysInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/myrasack/   

My guest this week is the INCREDIBLY witty writer and griever, Jason Roeder. Jason is a former senior editor and senior writer at The Onion as well as a contributor to The New Yorker and McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. His books have landed on best-of humor lists twice and have been praised by the likes of Judd Apatow and Jack Handey.  This week, we are discussing his most recent book, which kept me hysterically laughing for days after I finished it. I really enjoy when someone can take elements of grief and work in some comic relief; Jason does it beautifully. Griefstrike! The Ultimate Guide To Mourning is a reflection on Jason as someone "who lived through this terrible experience and emerged intact enough to write a bunch of jokes about it." My kind of guy, for sure.  Humor and grief may not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you're into it, stick around. I believe we can all learn a lot from Jason's perspective.    Learn more about Jason:https://www.jasonroeder.net/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-roeder-9b36764/    He's not on Instagram so don't be fooled like I was! THAT Jason Roeder is a retired drummer, who will politely let you know you've tagged the wrong person. ;)

I'm so honored to host the remarkable Rachel Cargle this week, of all weeks. With Mother's Day approaching- you are absolutely going to want to hear what she has to say.  As a young girl, Rachel felt isolated in her grief experience after losing her father. Two years ago, in one calendar year, she lost her mother, grandmother, and older sister; catapulting her right back into the tsunami of untenable feelings.  Currently, Rachel is a writer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Her work (and upcoming book with Penguin Random House) centers the reimagining of womanhood, solidarity and self and how we are in relationship with ourselves and one another. In 2018 she founded The Loveland Foundation, Inc., a non-profit offering free therapy to Black women and girls. I hope you love this conversation as much as I do, and that you'll continue to follow Rachel's journey and learn from her (especially if you are on a grief journey of your own). Thank you for listening, this week and always.    More on Rachel: Visit: https://rachelcargle.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachel.cargle/  

One of my biggest tenets is that "Grief is the energy created in the body on account of loss."  In this episode, I am so lucky to be sitting with the extraordinary Jaycee Gossett, one of the founding leaders of "The Class." Jaycee talks in an incredibly eloquent manner about this exercise movement, and how it is an effective companion to our grief experience. I've also had the pleasure of meeting Jaycee at The Nantucket Project, another wonderful gathering of inspiring individuals.  In this episode we discuss how to turn grief from a noun into a verb and effectively move it through our bodies, not only through "The Class," but through other modalities as well. I hope you learn as much as I have from Jaycee in this conversation; she is so insightful and truly magical.  Thank you for listening, and keep going- you're doing amazing!Learn more about Jaycee here:Visit: https://www.jayceegossett.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayceegossett/?hl=en 

This week, I am so thrilled to sit down with the lovely Jessica Turner! You may know Jessica from her incredible platform, The Mom Creative, or one of her many, many media appearances. Jessica is not just A content creator; she is one of THE content creators and a "tastemaker for busy moms looking for hacks to live life with more intention and less stress." Her energy and capability are unparalleled, truly. I first met Jessica at an Onsite retreat, where we were both wearing the same sweater (which let me know it was a good choice). We connected immediately, and I have to say, her recent book, I Thought It Would Be Better Than This, is raw, vulnerable, and an exquisitely honest look into what it is to grieve not just a marriage, but a LIFE that you built with someone. A life you'd thought you'd have forever. In 2020, Jessica's then-husband came out as gay, transforming her world overnight. Though they are now friends and committed co-parents, it's taken quite a lot of work, research, and fortitude to get to where the family stands today.  Jessica's journey is beautiful and remarkable; but that's not to take away from the harrowing details of her family's transitional period. Listen in as we discuss her grief experience- and if it has, indeed, become better!   To Learn More About Jessica:Visit: www.jessicanturner.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/jessicanturner/ Book: I Thought it Would Be Better Than ThisYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/themomcreative 

Welcome back to Grief is My Side Hustle! In this episode, veteran journalist, writer and advocate Tamsen Fadal and host Meghan Riordan Jarvis explore how grief and menopause are intertwined. They discuss their personal experiences, cultural perspectives, and the importance of education around women's health. Tamsen shares how her own menopause journey unfolded, the challenges she faced, and how it related to grief and loss, particularly in the context of aging and societalexpectations. Their discussion emphasizes the need for open conversations in order to reduce stigma and provide support for women going through thesechanges. Meghan and Tamsen explore how hormonal changes can inform (and, conversely, BE informed by) grief and loss, and the significance of a strong support system. This conversation really highlights how necessary it is to empower women with the education and tools they need to navigate milestone transitions comfortably and with confidence.   To learn more about Tamsen: Website: https://www.tamsenfadal.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamsenfadal/  Book: How to MenopauseYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TamsenFadalTV