Welcome back for another powerful and deeply personal episode of Wake the F*** Up podcast. Our host Alix Long sits down with Dana Frost, widow, caregiver, cancer survivor, and founder of the Forced Joy Project. Dana brings her full, unfiltered story to the table: from losing her husband Brad and father to cancer, to surviving her own diagnosis, and navigating what healing actually looks like when the trauma doesn’t stop coming.
Dana challenges the myth that once you’ve hit rock bottom, nothing worse can happen. Nearly a decade post-loss, her nervous system still hasn’t "settled"—and she’s honest about the messy, non-linear path to healing. We talk about using wine as a coping mechanism, awkward dating app attempts, and a transformative cold water swim that cracked open the door to somatic recovery.
She opens up about the burnout that came from creating grief-centered businesses without boundaries and how even purpose-driven work can become a beautiful distraction from our own pain. Dana also shares how it feels to love again, live fully, and wrestle with the guilt of joy in a world that expects widows to stay quiet in their grief.
We also dive into her Book of Stories Project, an incredible initiative collecting personal stories from 50+ people who knew Brad—an emotional lifeline for grieving families, especially kids. Plus, Dana shares details on her upcoming retreats in Galapagos, Morocco, and Michigan, while Alix promotes her Mexico retreat this November for those looking to heal in community.
If you’ve ever wondered what it means to rebuild after unthinkable loss—or how joy and grief can live in the same room—this one’s for you.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Connect with Dana on Instagram @forcedjoyproject & @memorialbooks
Book of stories website here - https://bookofstories.com/
Forced Joy Project website here - https://www.forcedjoyproject.com/
Follow Wake on Instagram: @thewakewellness
Follow Alix Long on Instagram: @alixlongwinded
Download the WAKE app on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store