When family secrets, sudden wealth, and loss collide, the truth about inheritance and the myths surrounding it hit closer to home than most people realize.   Justin Weidenfeld talks with Paul Deloughery, the founder of Sudden Wealth Protection, whose story challenges what we think we know about money, grief, and family. After meeting his biological father for the first time just weeks before his death, Paul inherited a fortune, and with it, a flood of emotions he never expected. What happens when money arrives before you’ve had time to heal? Can estate plans really prevent conflict, or do unspoken feelings find their way to the surface no matter how many documents are signed?   Through his experience, Paul shows that inheritance can reveal more about identity and relationships than about wealth itself. He also reminds us that meaning comes from connection and clarity, not numbers on a statement. This conversation invites listeners to rethink what legacy truly means and why emotional preparation might be the most valuable inheritance of all.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction to Grief and Money 02:25 Paul’s Journey of Discovery 05:11 Navigating Family Secrets and Inheritance 16:54 The Impact of Loss on Relationships 22:49 Financial Decisions After Loss 26:04 Navigating Grief and Sudden Wealth 33:11 The Emotional Impact of Inheritance 39:31 Legacy vs. Money: Finding Meaning 45:07 Understanding Estate Taxes 48:29 Building a Legacy Through Communication   Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: Connect with Justin on LinkedIn Follow The Currency of Grief on LinkedIn  Follow The Currency of Grief on Instagram  Follow The Currency of Grief on TikTok  Subscribe to The Currency of Grief on YouTube Visit Justin’s website bio Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

When grief and money collide, inheritance can stir up more than financial questions. It can surface old emotions, family patterns, and the deeper stories we carry about what wealth means.   Justin Weidenfeld sits down with Wendy Wright, a financial therapist and wealth transfer communication specialist, to talk about why so many people experience inheritance as a burden and what it takes to shift that experience into something meaningful. What happens when we slow down long enough to understand our personal money story? How does clearer family communication change the way wealth is passed on?   Wendy shares how every wealth transfer tells two stories: the one written in numbers and the one written in values, beliefs, and love. Through open, intentional conversations, she shows how families can replace secrecy and stress with honesty and connection. This episode invites you to rethink inheritance as an act of emotional clarity, one that can strengthen relationships, honor legacy, and create genuine peace of mind.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Money And Loss: Why Grief Shapes Financial Choices 02:20 Meet Wendy Wright: Financial Therapy And Wealth Transfer 07:36 How Grief Drives Money Decisions And Behavior 15:18 Why Pausing Major Decisions After Loss Matters 22:15 Expected vs Unexpected Inheritance And Family Communication 24:39 Who Owns This Money And What Story Should It Tell 32:45 The Hidden Burden Of Inheriting A House 38:06 How Families Talk About Money With Intention And Money Story 57:52 Estate Plan vs Inheritance Plan: Key Differences 01:04:07 Practical Advice For New Inheritors After A Parent’s Death   Connect with Wendy Wright: Visit Wendy’s website Follow Wendy on Instagram  Connect with Wendy on LinkedIn   Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: Connect with Justin on LinkedIn Follow The Currency of Grief on LinkedIn  Follow The Currency of Grief on Instagram  Follow The Currency of Grief on TikTok  Subscribe to The Currency of Grief on YouTube Visit Justin’s website bio Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

When Sarah Kagan became a mother while losing her own, she stepped into a season defined by both beginnings and endings. Joining Justin Weidenfeld in this episode, she shares the small moments that still echo—crocheting beside her mom until treatment made it impossible, finishing a baby blanket alone, and moving between hospice updates and work calls. Which matters more in the end, the big milestones or the ordinary time we barely notice while we have it?   Back at work, her grief was met with silence. Five days off, then business as usual. She wonders how different it could feel if HR handled logistics for the bereaved, or if re-entry mirrored onboarding with gradual steps back into responsibility. What if managers offered camera-off norms, lighter schedules, or real human check-ins? Sarah argues that grief doesn’t disappear when leave ends, it just shifts into the workplace.   That realization pushed her to create Keriah Grief Coaching, named after a ritual that means both tearing and opening. She now works with women who feel unrecognizable after loss, helping them stop circling around grief and take the next step into a life reshaped by it. Legacy shows up in handmade keepsakes for her kids and donations to pancreatic cancer research, but also in the reminder she offers clients and companies alike: grief isn’t a weakness to cover up—it’s a fact of being alive. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction to The Currency of Grief Podcast 02:13 Sarah Kagan’s Path Into Grief Coaching 05:24 Caregiving for a Parent With Pancreatic Cancer 13:39 Anticipatory Grief During Pregnancy 23:41 Grieving While Pregnant 35:33 The Turning Point: Quitting a Job After Loss 41:23 How HR Can Support Bereaved Employees 50:10 Immediate Steps After Death: Funeral Planning and Shiva 58:26 The Firsts Without Mom 01:05:54 Keriah Grief Coaching: Mission and Services   Links Connect with Sarah Kagan: Visit Keriah Grief Coaching Sarah Kagan’s LinkedIn Sarah Kagan’s Instagram   Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: Connect with Justin on LinkedIn Follow The Currency of Grief on LinkedIn  Follow The Currency of Grief on Instagram  Follow The Currency of Grief on TikTok  Subscribe to The Currency of Grief on YouTube Website Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

At 24 years old, Olivia Lane lost her mom and was immediately faced with grief and inheritance in equal measure. What set her experience apart was her mother’s detailed planning—an Excel spreadsheet for her memorial service, clearly titled accounts, even a deed transfer designed to make things easier. Those choices lifted some of the logistical burden, but they couldn’t lessen the weight of living minute by minute through the loss.   In this episode, Olivia joins Justin Weidenfeld to share how her mom’s foresight shaped the way she handled beneficiary IRAs, a surprise pension, and a family home—and how it changed her own relationship with money. She speaks candidly about the guilt, responsibility, and unexpected stability that come with inheriting at a young age, and why she now pushes her family to put plans in writing before it’s too late.   Her story raises questions for all of us: What does inheritance mean beyond money? How can careful, detailed planning protect loved ones in the hardest moments? And how do we keep living minute by minute while carrying someone else’s legacy forward?   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Losing a Parent at 24: Olivia’s Story 05:03 Hospice Care and Final Days with Her Mom 17:02 Coping Mechanisms and Processing Grief 31:00 Estate Planning and Memorial Service Details 34:40 Inheritance Planning: Beneficiary Accounts Explained 41:12 The Surprise Pension and What It Means for Young Adults 45:25 Renting the Family Home and Small-Town Agreements 50:04 How Grief Reshaped Olivia’s Relationship with Money   Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: Connect with Justin on LinkedIn Follow The Currency of Grief on LinkedIn  Follow The Currency of Grief on Instagram  Follow The Currency of Grief on TikTok  Subscribe to The Currency of Grief on YouTube Website Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Margaret Gewirtzman opens up about what it was like to carry the weight of her father’s estate after his death, stepping into the role of executor with little preparation and even less support.    Joining Justin Weidenfeld in this episode, she describes how legal battles, family conflict, and unanswered questions turned what should have been a legacy into a burden that stretched across a decade of her life. At the same time, she was raising her own children and navigating her grief, which pushed her to find resilience she didn’t know she had. Her story raises questions that many of us avoid: How do we prepare our families for the realities of death and money? What happens when silence and denial leave the next generation to untangle the mess? And how can we shift the idea of legacy from simply passing down assets to creating real clarity and care for those left behind? Justin and Margaret’s conversation offers an invitation to think differently about planning, grief, and the impact we leave on those we love.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Confronting Death and Money 02:44 Probate Reality Check: A Cautionary Tale 06:49 Named Executor Without a Playbook 20:44 Isolation in Grief: Holding Space vs Orders 31:57 First 72 Hours After a Parent’s Death: What To Do 52:34 The Hidden Costs of Death and Why You Need a Lawyer 01:00:10 Planning for Legacy: Trusts, Life Insurance, and Protecting Your Kids   Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: Connect with Justin on LinkedIn Follow The Currency of Grief on LinkedIn  Follow The Currency of Grief on Instagram  Follow The Currency of Grief on TikTok  Subscribe to The Currency of Grief on YouTube Website Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

What does it feel like to lose a parent when you’re 12 years old? How does a grieving teen begin to understand guardianship, money, and the weight of adult responsibilities before high school even starts?   Justin Weidenfeld is joined by his younger brother Jake Weidenfeld to talk about growing up in the shadow of loss and what he’s learned since. Jake shares the reality of being a grieving teen, trying to fit in at school, shutting down emotions, and later discovering that coping can take many different shapes. He also opens up about volunteering at Experience Camps and creating Grief Lift, a nonprofit built to give students the peer-to-peer support he once needed but didn’t have.   Their conversation doesn’t stop at emotions. Jake explains what it was like to have his inheritance tied up in a court-ordered guardianship and what he’s learning now as he pays his own way through college. His story raises bigger questions too: How do we prepare young people for financial independence? What role should family, community, and open conversations play in that process?   This episode reflects on how grief can change the pace of growing up and the responsibilities that come with it. Jake’s perspective is a reminder that even in loss there can be growth, connection, and purpose. He shows how young people can take experiences that feel overwhelming and slowly shape them into something that strengthens not only themselves but also the people around them.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction to The Currency of Grief 03:59 Jake’s Perspective as a Grieving Teen 07:18 The Day Jake Learned His Dad Died 11:47 Coping With Grief in Middle School 20:01 Creating Grief Lift for Students 27:34 Finding Support Beyond Therapy 32:39 Coping Strategies and WWDD Golf Tournament 48:34 Navigating Guardianship After Loss 55:12 Learning About Money at 18 01:09:31 The College Application Process While Grieving 01:22:45 Taking Responsibility for College Tuition 01:28:45 Experience Camps and the Power of Community 01:34:15 Jake’s Words of Wisdom for Grieving Kids   Connect with Jake Weidenfeld: Connect with Jake on LinkedIn Follow Jake on Instagram Follow WWDD on Instagram Crafting the Perfect Pitch: The Art of Storytelling in Social Entrepreneurship Grief Lift   Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: Connect with Justin on LinkedIn Follow The Currency of Grief on LinkedIn  Follow The Currency of Grief on Instagram  Follow The Currency of Grief on TikTok  Subscribe to The Currency of Grief on YouTube Website Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

When CJ Infantino lost his wife, the experience reshaped every part of his life and set him on a path to create Unvoiced, a movement that makes space for grief and for the people who carry it. Joining Justin Weidenfeld in this episode, CJ looks back on his years at Facebook, when his wife’s cancer diagnosis revealed a major gap in medical leave policy. That moment pushed him to share his story directly with Sheryl Sandberg, which led to a new policy that still supports employees today.   Years later, as a widower navigating her death, he found himself facing vague bereavement rules, unpaid time away from work, and the physical fallout of grief – months of illness, sleepless nights, and the weight of wondering how to keep moving forward. What would it look like if more companies had clear, written policies, thoughtful return-to-work plans, and leaders who understood the human side of loss?   CJ has built Unvoiced to answer that question. Through Project Grief (his Substack), speaking engagements, his upcoming book “Torn Pages from a Broken Heart,” and even merchandise, he is turning personal pain into collective change. He opens up about the role medication played in his own recovery and why messages from the community often arrive in the moments he feels ready to quit. CJ and Justin’s conversation invites you to think about grief in a way that goes beyond the personal, into the culture we create at work and the way we choose to show up for one another.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction To The Currency Of Grief Podcast 02:20 CJ Infantino’s Journey Through Loss And Resilience 04:23 Facing A Terminal Cancer Diagnosis At Age 30 14:53 Life After Loss: Identity Crisis And Self-Discovery 20:25 Helping Children Navigate Grief And Healing 33:23 Changing Corporate Grief Policies At Facebook 42:45 Financial Challenges Of Cancer And Bereavement 59:12 Leaving A High-Paying Tech Career To Pursue A Calling 01:14:28 Building Unvoiced To Support Grievers And Workplaces 01:29:40 Post-Traumatic Growth And Life After Loss   Connect with CJ Infantino: Website CJ’s Book: “Torn Pages from a Broken Heart” Substack Merch Instagram   Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: Website Justin’s LinkedIn Follow The Currency of Grief on LinkedIn  Follow The Currency of Grief on Instagram  TikTok  Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Josh Aronoff lost his father and found himself staring down a mountain of financial unknowns - outdated estate documents, scattered accounts, and the crushing pressure to make sense of it all while grieving.   Justin Weidenfeld sits down with Josh to talk about how stepping into fix-it mode became both a coping mechanism and a catalyst for change. As the oldest child and a naturally practical thinker, Josh took the lead in handling his father’s affairs, only to discover how little guidance exists when you’re dealing with loss, logistics, and legal complexities all at once.    Despite his background in law and finance, Josh quickly realized that navigating death brings a particular kind of stress and anxiety, not from financial decision-making, but from the overwhelming number of unknowns and lack of clarity in the process. This lived experience became the foundation for Herbie, a platform Josh co-founded to simplify estate planning and remove the emotional and practical burden from grieving families. Named after his dad, Herbie helps people avoid the chaos Josh faced by making organization, communication, and planning as straightforward as possible.    Josh and Justin’s conversation explores what it means to support others in their grief, how legacy lives in both memories and paperwork, and why having a plan in place is an act of love.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Why Death and Money Are Hard to Talk About 03:22 Josh’s Grief Story: Losing His Father and Facing the Unknown 09:38 Becoming the Emotional and Logistical Rock for the Family 23:20 When Finances Collide with Grief: The Wake-Up Moment 26:19 The Hidden Complexity of Organizing an Estate 30:01 Probate, Unknown Unknowns, and What No One Teaches You 47:26 Naming Beneficiaries vs. Relying on Legal Documents 57:20 Creating Herbie: A Platform Built From Personal Loss 1:07:23 Why Sharing Your Estate Plan Matters 1:14:02 Grief Mantra: One Bite at a Time   Links Connect with Josh Aronoff: Website: herbieplan.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-aronoff-3035a727/   Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-currency-of-grief-podcast/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecurrencyofgrief_podcast  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurrencyofgrief  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCurrencyofGrief  Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of childhood abuse, trauma, and loss. Please listen with care.   Grief isn’t always a single event. It can be a relentless series of losses that force you to rebuild your life from the ground up. That’s exactly what happened to Chris Dale. After losing both parents, a child, and the version of his childhood he believed was true, Chris found himself grappling with not just heartbreak, but the overwhelming logistics of caregiving, finances, and trauma recovery.    In this episode, Chris joins Justin Weidenfeld to talk about the quiet chaos of being denied Medicaid three times, paying for care out of pocket, and navigating deeply personal revelations, all while trying to hold a family together. Chris shares how counseling and EMDR therapy helped him process long-buried pain, and why financial planning has to account for more than just numbers when clients are grieving or traumatized. Now a certified financial planner and founder of Life After Grief Financial Planning, Chris brings lived experience into every client interaction, bridging the gap between mental health and money in a way most advisors never touch.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introducing Chris Dale and the Mission of the Podcast   04:10 Losing Both Parents and Becoming the Caregiver   08:00 The Death of a Child and Putting Grief on Hold   11:30 Repressed Childhood Abuse and the Impact of Trauma   20:00 Healing Through EMDR and the Journey to Emotional Recovery   30:00 Teaching Boys It's Okay to Be Emotional and to Self-Regulate   34:50 Supporting Parents Financially and the Fallout of the 2008 Crash   40:30 Good Financial Practices: Budgeting, Emergency Fund, Paying Yourself First   46:00 Making Financial Decisions in Grief: The Importance of Space and Timing   1:01:00 Legacy, Honoring His Parents, and Teaching His Kids About Money   1:06:00 Final Reflection: “There Is Life After Grief”   Links Connect with Chris Dale: Website: https://lifeaftergrieffp.com/  Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-talk-with-life-after-grief-chris/id1593025052, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-dale-life-after-grief-fp/   Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-currency-of-grief-podcast/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecurrencyofgrief_podcast  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurrencyofgrief  Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Most people aren’t prepared for how complicated elder care, power of attorney, and inheritance can get until they’re deep in it trying to make the right call with very little guidance.   Justin Weidenfeld talks with financial planner Elliott Appel, who shares what it was really like to care for his father through a long illness and all the decisions that came with it. What do you do when a parent refuses help? How do you handle bills that are piling up in a shoebox? And what happens when money shows up in your account and you’d rather it hadn’t?    Elliott walks through the tough moments and the steps that made a difference, from choosing the right power of attorney to working with elder care consultants. He also opens up about the strange, often unspoken feelings that can surface around inheritance. This is a conversation for anyone facing the slow, emotional work of supporting aging parents or planning for the kind of future that no one wants to talk about but everyone eventually faces.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction: When Grief Meets Money 02:56 Elliott’s Personal Grief Journey 08:49 Financial Planning During and After Loss 14:50 How Elder Care Consultants Can Help 17:50 Autonomy, Caregiving, and Letting Go 23:40 Durable Power of Attorney: What You Need to Know 40:44 The Emotional Weight of Inheritance 54:01 Inheritance Guilt and How to Move Forward   Links Connect with Elliott Appel: Book: https://a.co/d/cPud2x1 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elliottmappel Blog: https://kindnessfp.com/blog/ Newsletter: https://kindnessfp.com/newsletter   Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-currency-of-grief-podcast/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecurrencyofgrief_podcast  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurrencyofgrief  Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Most people plan for retirement… Amy D’Amico had to plan for her husband’s death, her own cancer diagnosis, and what came next.   When Ron was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Amy became a full-time caregiver, a reluctant household CFO, and eventually, a widow. Then came her own breast cancer diagnosis. How do you hold it all together when everything feels like it’s falling apart? And how will you navigate when you’re suddenly responsible for every financial decision, every legal document, every next step?   In this episode, Amy joins Justin to share what it was like to sit beside her husband through treatments while quietly learning how to manage their finances, pay the bills, and prepare for what was coming. She opens up about the reality of widowhood, how scammers targeted her weeks after the funeral, how she handled a surprising shortfall in Ron’s life insurance, and why she made the decision to plan her own funeral in advance.   There’s grief here, of course, but also structure, self-reliance, and a quiet sense of strength. If you’d like to find out what real financial preparation looks like in the face of cancer, loss, and everything that follows, Amy’s story offers a powerful and honest glimpse.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Grief, Money, and the Story Behind the Podcast 02:59 Widowhood and Dual Cancer Diagnoses 21:25 How to Build a Support System During Illness 37:30 Financial Planning Before and After Loss 56:16 First Financial Steps After a Spouse’s Death 01:02:52 Medical Bills, Insurance, and the True Cost of Care 01:12:40 Scams That Target the Recently Widowed 01:17:49 Reclaiming Your Life and Reframing Retirement   Links Canon-McMillan Horizon Foundation: http://www.cmhorizonfoundation.org/   Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-currency-of-grief-podcast/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecurrencyofgrief_podcast  Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of suicide and may be difficult for some listeners.   Grief doesn’t follow a schedule, and when it crashes into family dynamics, legal paperwork, and financial loose ends, it can leave you reeling.   Justin Weidenfeld sits down with Mary McDirmid, who shares what it was like to lose her brother to suicide and suddenly become the one in charge of sorting it all out. From managing estate logistics to telling her young children the news, Mary speaks honestly about the weight of responsibility, the sting of unfinished conversations, and the moments when everyday tasks, like buying eggs, felt impossible.   How do you keep functioning when you’re barely holding it together? Who do you turn to when you’re expected to be the strong one? Mary offers a clear answer: you build a support system that actually works. For her, that meant leaning on her counselor, showing up for sessions with her trainer, and giving herself permission to take care of her own emotional health. She also shares the three questions she believes every adult child should ask their parents while there’s still time to plan.   Justin and Mary’s conversation is a reminder that self-care isn’t optional when you’re grieving, and that having honest conversations now can spare your loved ones a lot of heartache later.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction to Grief and Money 01:02 Mary’s Grief Journey 03:46 Coping with Suicide and Sudden Loss 07:10 Talking to Kids About Death 12:49 Everyday Life After Loss 24:10 The Burden of Responsibility 29:12 Managing an Estate Without a Plan 35:12 Legal Complications of Unmarried Partnerships 42:30 What Not to Say to Someone Grieving 45:18 Building a Support System 52:53 The Fragility of Life 56:58 Redefining Self-Care 01:00:58 Financial Planning Through Grief 01:04:58 Conversations About Legacy and Wishes   Links Connect with Mary McDirmid: Instagram: workingmommingitforward All Needs Planning - https://allneedsplanning.com/ https://courageousparentsnetwork.org/   Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecurrencyofgrief_podcast  Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Grief doesn’t require firsthand experience to be met with compassion and clinical care, and Rachel Farrell proves it.   Rachel is a pediatric genetic counselor who works with families facing the sudden death of a child or parent due to inherited cardiovascular diseases. Her role sits at the intersection of healthcare and heartbreak, offering genetic testing that may explain what happened, while providing the kind of emotional support that grieving families often don’t know they need until they have it.   What does it look like to guide a family through genetic testing after tragedy? How do you deliver answers that bring both clarity and more questions? And what happens when there is no clear answer at all?   Rachel shares how her work goes far beyond lab results. She talks about the quiet moments with parents, the clinical decisions that carry emotional weight, and the importance of listening more than speaking. She also reflects on what she’s learned from families, about love, about legacy, and about the small moments that matter most.   This conversation is a moving reminder of what healthcare can be when emotional presence is treated as essential, and why family guidance matters just as much as medical expertise when everything else has fallen apart.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Rachel Farrell 04:04 Grief and Genetic Counseling 06:01 What Genetic Testing Can Reveal 12:57 Cost and Access in Genetic Healthcare 16:42 Rachel’s Personal Relationship with Grief 33:58 What Chaplaincy Taught Her About Dying 39:06 Why Small Moments Matter 42:14 How to Support the Bereaved   Links SADS: https://sads.org/get-involved/awareness/sudden-death-response-plan/   Connect with Rachel Farrell: https://www.ucsfhealth.org/providers/rachel-farrell   Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecurrencyofgrief_podcast  Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Becoming a widow at 44 forced Michelle Swanson to confront everything she had been avoiding… grief, money, motherhood, and mortality, with no plan and no pause.   Just seven months after marrying her husband Bill, Michelle was faced with the unimaginable: a sudden decline from colon cancer, a life-changing loss, and the emotional and financial chaos that followed. As she joins host Justin Weidenfeld, Michelle reflects on the caregiving decisions she made alone, the late-night Google searches, the resentment she carried, and the strength she didn’t realize she had.   What happens when you never talk about end-of-life wishes? What if no one ever taught you how to manage money, but now you’re responsible for everything? Michelle opens up about the structure Bill brought into their lives, the silence around his illness, and the hard lessons she learned about credit, independence, and starting over. She shares how grief rewired her relationship with money, how caregiving left her emotionally exhausted, and why she’s committed to helping others get comfortable with the uncomfortable.   From raising college-aged sons through the fog of loss to advocating for colorectal cancer awareness and teaching kids at Experience Camps, Michelle’s story is a reminder that love leaves a legacy, and so does planning ahead.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 01:45 Meet Michelle Swanson 03:06 Becoming a Widow at 44 07:09 Bill’s Colon Cancer Diagnosis 09:05 Losing a Spouse and the Aftermath 13:42 Who Bill Was Before the Diagnosis 18:07 Why Colonoscopies Matter 21:07 Delayed Health Decisions and Regrets 26:07 Caregiving and Emotional Strain 30:10 Support Systems and Survival Mode 33:00 Healing, Therapy, and Self-Discovery 38:40 How Money Was Talked About Growing Up 42:09 Financial Stability and Structure with Bill 45:25 Grieving the Loss of Routine 48:25 Life Insurance and Financial Planning After Death   Links Colon Cancer Coalition: https://coloncancercoalition.org/   Connect with Michelle Swanson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-swanson-b2476347/   Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/ Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Grief cracked Ethan Blauner wide open, and instead of running from the pain, he built a life around feeling every part of it.   When his father died just days before they were set to open a gym together, Ethan found himself grieving while launching a business, managing chaos, and facing decades of generational trauma. As he joins Justin Weidenfeld on this episode, Ethan reflects on the intensity of that time and what it taught him about vulnerability, identity, and the cost of silence.   What happens when you grow up with a parent who never learned to process their own pain? And how do you begin to break a cycle that’s been running for generations? Ethan shares the reality of losing his dad in the middle of a mental health crisis, the impact of being raised by the child of Holocaust survivors, and why he believes emotional expression is a form of strength. He talks about the gym they built, the grief it holds, and the unexpected clarity that came from choosing to feel instead of numb.   From building community through fitness to founding the Dead Dad Run Club, Ethan’s story is a powerful look at how grief can reshape your life and what’s possible when you decide to meet it head-on.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Grief and Purpose Collide 06:15 Ethan’s Father’s Mental Health Crisis and Trip to Israel 13:01 Searching for His Father and Facing the Unknown 17:10 Identifying the Body and Finding Closure 24:54 Growing Up with Chaos: The Emotional Legacy of His Father 27:02 Generational Trauma and the Decision to Break the Cycle 30:00 Numbness, Vulnerability, and Choosing to Feel 34:40 Launching a Gym While Grieving 39:27 Redefining Strength: Emotional Awareness as Power 48:08 Comedy, Crying, and Creative Release as Therapy 52:58 Facing the Financial and Legal Aftermath 01:01:20 Dead Dad Run Club and Building Community Through Fitness 01:06:50 Gratitude, Grief, and Growth   Links Connect with Ethan Blauner: Instagram: @deaddadrunclub Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/ Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Most people have no idea how overwhelming things get after a loved one dies. Bill Solominsky didn’t either until he lost his dad and found himself managing grief, paperwork, and unanswered questions all at once.   When his father was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, Bill flew home with a blank spreadsheet and a gut instinct that he needed to start asking questions. What accounts existed? Which bills were on autopay? Would his mom be financially okay? That one conversation gave him a head start but not a full picture.   In this episode, Bill joins Justin Weidenfeld to talk through the mix of grief and financial responsibility. They cover how active listening helped Bill navigate hard conversations, the tax implications that caught them off guard, and the financial mistakes that happen when families are left to figure things out under stress. What details fall through the cracks when you’re emotionally maxed out? How can you prepare without feeling morbid or intrusive? And what does it actually take to help someone through the money side of loss?   This episode offers perspective for anyone who wants to have these conversations while they still can and avoid being blindsided later.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction to Bill Solominsky 08:02 Navigating Grief After a Parent’s Diagnosis 10:03 Key Financial Conversations Before Loss 24:20 Coping Through Helping Others 29:41 What Happens Immediately After a Death 41:17 Financial and Legal Mistakes During Grief 52:07 Tax Implications and Lessons Learned   Links Connect with Bill Solominsky: LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/billsolominsky/ Website: https://www.reluctantexecutor.com/   Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/ Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

What happens when life doesn’t go according to plan? How do you keep hope alive when faced with unimaginable challenges?   In this episode, Justin Weidenfeld welcomes Kevin and Jeff Romer, a father and son who openly share their family’s journey after receiving Mathew’s devastating Tay-Sachs disease diagnosis. Kevin recalls the overwhelming early days—the emotional and financial pressures, the uncertainty about the future—and sheds light on the crucial role genetic testing plays in family planning.   Jeff reflects on what it meant growing up as Mathew’s brother, revealing the complex mix of isolation, guilt, and determination that shaped his childhood. Together, Kevin and Jeff explain how founding the Mathew Forbes Romer Foundation became a meaningful response to their grief and a way to help other families facing similar situations.   Their story highlights the power of preparation and awareness: Why is genetic testing essential for every family, regardless of background? How can community support transform your experience of grief?   Join this meaningful discussion to find out how the Romers turned tragedy into lasting impact, inspiring compassion, understanding, and hope along the way.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction  06:08 Discovering Tay-Sachs Disease 10:12 Balancing Care and Family Life 13:00 Jeff’s Perspective: Growing Up with Mathew 17:04 Life After Mathew’s Passing 19:06 Kevin Reflects on Mathew’s Life 25:08 Support Systems and Community 30:01 The Role of Employers in Supporting Grieving Employees 34:04 The Importance of Bereavement Services 35:00 Kevin’s Grief Process After Mathew's Death 38:20 Jeff’s Grief Journey and Coping Mechanisms 41:03 Financial Challenges and Medical Expenses 51:32 Honoring Mathew’s Legacy: The Foundation   Links Connect with Kevin Romer & Jeff Romer: https://mfrfoundation.org/   https://www.instagram.com/brainwave.chess/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-romer/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-romer/   Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/ Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecurrencyofgrief_podcast  Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Grief doesn’t follow a timeline, and when it collides with financial and legal logistics, the weight of it can feel impossible to carry alone.   Justin Weidenfeld sits down with Sarah Grifferty, the founder of LooseEnds and a partner at BUILD Coalition, to talk about the intersection of loss, money, and the unseen burdens that come with both. After losing her father at 19 and her mother at 23, Sarah found herself not only grieving but also navigating the overwhelming task of settling an estate. How do you handle endless paperwork, hold times, and financial decisions while carrying the emotional weight of loss? And why does support often vanish just when grief feels the heaviest?   Sarah shares how she made sense of the chaos, why she believes grief isn’t something to “move on” from, and what she’s doing to make this process easier for others. She introduces the idea of a “grief team” and explains how having the right people around can make a difficult road more manageable. She also challenges the way society treats grief, urging more open conversations about death, legacy, and financial planning before the need becomes urgent.   This episode reminds us that grief and financial matters are deeply intertwined, and that navigating both with openness and support can make all the difference.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction  03:12 Personal Grief Experiences: Losing Parents 05:46 Integrating Grief into Life and Work 07:03 The Practical Challenges of Managing an Estate 09:54 The Importance of Grieving and the Distractions 16:47 The Grief Cliff: Support Fades Over Time 18:59 The Role of Friends and Community in Grief 21:19 The Importance of Togetherness in Grief 25:51 Lessons on Living Through Dying 27:29 Building a Grief Support Team 31:49 Transitioning to Adulthood Without Parents 35:12 The Value of Sharing Grief Stories 38:10 Discussing Money and Logistics in Childhood 42:43 The Role of Executor and Co-Executor 52:48 The Taboo Topics: Death, Money, Religion, and Taxes   Links Connect with Sarah Grifferty: https://www.looseends.co/ https://www.instagram.com/looseendsinc/ https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahatlooseends https://www.linkedin.com/company/looseendsinc/ https://www.thebuildcoalition.org/ https://instagram.com/buildcoalition   Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/ Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld Instagram: @thecurrencyofgrief_podcast Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Grief and money rarely get talked about in the same breath, but when they do, the conversations are often messy, emotional, and long overdue.   In this first episode of The Currency of Grief, host Justin Weidenfeld sits down with Rob Royall, a clinical researcher and philanthropist who lost both parents to cancer before he turned 30. Rob shares what it was like to navigate the hardest chapter of his life—watching his parents battle illness, managing their estate, and figuring out how to move forward while carrying their legacy with him. What happens when the money meant for retirement becomes an inheritance instead? How do you balance financial security with truly living?   Rob opens up about his parents’ mindset around money, their modest approach to saving, and how their passing changed the way he thinks about building a life. He talks through the logistics he had to handle as an only child—clearing out their home, settling finances, and handling legal red tape. His experience proves why proactive planning matters and why waiting to have those hard conversations can leave unanswered questions that linger for a lifetime.   But this isn’t just a story of loss. It’s about taking grief and turning it into something meaningful. Rob founded a nonprofit golf tournament to raise money for cancer research, blending his love for the game with a mission to help others. His journey is proof that honoring a legacy isn’t about grand gestures but about showing up, doing the work, and making sure the people we love are remembered in ways that truly matter.   The Currency of Grief is a reminder to have the conversations that feel uncomfortable, make the plans we don’t want to think about, and find ways to carry love and legacy forward even in the hardest moments.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction  05:10 Personal Story: Rob’s Parents’ Cancer Diagnosis 08:12 Rob’s Family Life and Marriage Proposal 14:04 Impact of Father’s Cancer Diagnosis 21:31 Rob’s Relationship with His Mother 24:12 Coping with Loss and Finding Support 27:02 Founding Birdies and Brews Charity 29:08 Emotional Processing and Finding Joy 32:40 Transition to Financial and Logistical Responsibilities 41:01 Experience with Estate Attorney 46:23 Financial Planning for Rob’s Family 48:02 Impact of Parents’ Financial Philosophy 51:07 Balancing Work, Family, and Financial Planning 55:27 Celebrating Small Victories   Links Connect with Rob Royall: https://www.birdiesandbrewscharity.com/    Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/ Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld Instagram: @thecurrencyofgrief_podcast Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Losing a loved one is heartbreaking. But how can you cope when you’re also the one left to handle everything they left behind?   At 21, Justin Weidenfeld’s world turned upside down when his father died suddenly from a heart attack. Overnight, he went from college student to personal representative of his father’s estate without a roadmap, without a will, and without time to grieve before stepping into the chaos of legal and financial logistics. In this episode, Justin sits down with his close friend Jeff Romer to unpack what that experience taught him about loss, responsibility, and the unexpected burden of navigating money and legacy in the wake of grief.   What do you do when accounts are frozen, medical insurance vanishes, and no one has the answers? How do you balance overwhelming emotions with the urgent need to take action? Justin shares the painful realities he faced, the support that got him through, and the lessons he wishes every family would talk about before it’s too late.   This conversation is raw, real, and deeply important. Whether you’ve experienced loss or want to prepare for the inevitable, Justin’s story will leave you thinking differently about what it means to plan for the future, and why those tough conversations matter more than we realize.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction  08:10 Justin’s Childhood and Family Background 10:01 Support System in Sports 13:21 Relationship with Parents 15:06 Generosity and Community 17:31 High School and Parental Divorce 22:22 College Life and Achievements 26:09 Receiving the News of Dad’s Passing 29:26 Immediate Aftermath and Emotions 32:56 Support and Advice from Others 34:57 Funeral and Eulogy 39:13 Realization of New Normal 43:11 Role of Personal Representative 48:23 Financial and Legal Challenges 51:05 Navigating Health Insurance 53:41 Mindset Shift: Why is This Happening for Me?   Links https://e.givesmart.com/s/:sNmMHNeJJS4/e/DxD/   https://experiencecamps.org/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAiaC-BhBEEiwAjY99qA91moAqmiDxo9-i-ZYWqpy_QIKUwnS19GhhglDRdnlc8LBb3V8TnxoCHScQAvD_BwE   Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/ Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld Instagram: @thecurrencyofgrief_podcast   Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm