In this episode, Don and Greg explore what it means to engage in self-reflection and attempt to define what progress truly looks like throughout one’s grief journey. They share how vulnerability and authenticity are absolutely essential in determining the path forward, fostering growth, and recognizing when it is necessary to ask for help.

Grief is not a linear path; it often zigzags in unexpected directions. At times, it may feel like two steps forward and one step back. However, when evaluating yourself in the mirror, do not simply focus on the person staring back at you today compared to yesterday. Instead, take a journey back in time to recognize how far you have already come, while also considering how much further you hope to grow and heal along the way.

In this episode, Greg and Don discuss what it means to make choices throughout the grief journey. Some choices may lead toward healing and long-term growth, while others can prove unsustainable over time. While they avoid taking a one-size-fits-all approach to grief, they explore several foundational principles that can help guide healthier decisions along the way. They also discuss how choosing to pause, avoid, or remain stuck in grief is, in itself, a choice. Although life is filled with decisions, the grief journey often confronts us with some of the heaviest and most difficult choices we will ever face. 

In this episode, Robyn Houston-Bean shares the growth she has experienced throughout her grief journey following the loss of her son, Nick, who passed away from an overdose on May 23, 2015. Robyn is the founder of The Sun Will Rise in Massachusetts, an organization dedicated to creating and facilitating safe spaces for peer support groups for individuals experiencing various types of loss.

Robyn reflects on how, prior to Nick’s passing, she had never truly experienced grief. Encouraged by her sister, she took the first step off the couch and attended a peer support group—an experience that would become foundational in her healing. As she puts it, “I didn’t need fixing; I needed someone to listen.”

To learn more about Robyn and the impactful work she is doing, visit www.thesunwillrise.org
.

In this episode, Franklin Cook shares the story of losing his father to suicide in November 1978, following a lifetime struggle with daily alcohol use. He reflects on his own journey with substance use, including years spent in and out of rehab, and the limited attention given to grief as part of the recovery process.

Recognizing this gap, Franklin went on to found SADOD (Support After Death by Overdose), an organization dedicated to supporting those navigating loss and recovery. You can learn more about this work at www.recoveryandgrief-ma.org
.

In this episode, Larry Carlat joins us to share his story and discuss his book, A Space in the Heart: A Survival Guide for Grieving Parents. Larry opens up about the loss of his son, Robbie, who died by suicide on February 6, 2019—over seven years ago. Robbie faced struggles with alcoholism, bipolar disorder, and complex emotions surrounding his adoption.

Through his journey, Larry offers a powerful perspective: “Life is about choice. We can choose to be happy and have joy. There is always hope—we just have to look for it, embrace it, and never let go.”

Larry also shares that while he has been a guest on more than 50 podcasts, Don and I are the only two fathers he knows who host a podcast dedicated specifically to grief.

In this episode, Greg and Don explore what it truly means to “put the work in” on a grief journey. They acknowledge that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach—grief is deeply personal, and the path forward looks different for everyone. Still, they highlight several practices that many have found helpful in fostering growth: staying connected to one’s emotions, engaging with others who have experienced similar loss or trauma, and prioritizing self-care through exercise, healthy eating, and meditation or prayer.

They also reflect on the meaningful ways people choose to honor and remember their loved ones—whether through visiting a gravesite or urn, creating foundations or scholarship funds, advocating for legislative change, mentoring others, or finding other personal expressions of remembrance.

In this episode, we are joined by Rebecca Mullaney, a licensed psychotherapist from North Carolina. Rebecca shares her deeply personal grief journey following the loss of her husband, Captain Ian Morrison, who died by suicide on March 21, 2012. At the time, Rebecca was just 24, and Ian was 26.

She opens up about the early days of her loss—pouring her love and energy into her dog, Daisy, and committing to daily counseling and group therapy throughout the first year. Rebecca speaks candidly about the depth of her depression and the intentional work it took to begin climbing out of that dark place—work she continues to this day, 14 years later.

Rebecca also shares how life has grown around her grief. She is now remarried to Brennan, and together they have a three-year-old son, Harrison Samuel.

She leaves us with a powerful reminder: the importance of setting “loose goals” in grief—allowing space for flexibility, while taking small, steady steps forward. Rebecca encourages listeners to discover what truly helps them on their own path and to honor that journey in their own way.

In this episode, Ben Harris joins us to share his complex and compounding journey through grief. He reflects on the loss of his father, Phil, to a heart attack on 11/10/01; his younger brother Christopher, who died from a drug overdose on 11/17/05; and his brother Michael, who died by suicide on 02/06/12 after struggling with mental health challenges following his service as a Marine in Afghanistan.

Ben speaks candidly about the habits and coping mechanisms we develop in grief—some that sustain us, and others that ultimately do not. He reminds us that while grief requires us to feel it in order to heal, it is not meant to be endless suffering. Through intentional practices like gratitude and serving others, we can begin to find purpose and healing along the way.

To learn more about Ben and his work, visit www.siblingstrong.online

In this episode, Don and Greg discuss the concept of capacity and the impact that taking on too many obligations can have on our lives in a negative way. They emphasize the importance of maintaining a reserve in order to serve, recognizing that we cannot effectively care for others if we are running on empty ourselves. The conversation also explores the role of mental hygiene and self-care as essential practices for staying whole, healthy, and capable of supporting the people in our lives.

In this episode, Chaplain Colonel William R. Spencer, Director of Staff and Chief, Space Religious Affairs, Headquarters United States Air Force, Office of the Chief of Chaplains, stationed at the Pentagon, reflects on his 27 years of service as a military chaplain. He emphasizes the vital role of community and self-care for both those who are grieving and those tasked with delivering traumatic news. “Spence” also speaks about the importance of protecting religious freedom within the military ranks and maintaining the strict confidentiality that comes with conversations with service members. Throughout the discussion, he shares the deeply personal nature of his calling and the profound seriousness with which he approaches his role. 

In this episode, Marna Brickman, LCSW-C, shares her experience and insight as a seasoned grief therapist. As the founder of Guiding Therapy in Annapolis, Maryland, Marna walks us through the layered nature of grief and how it impacts every part of our lives.

She explains that grief is:

• Cumulative – it builds over time, often carrying losses from the past into the present.
• Concurrent – multiple losses can occur at once, compounding the emotional weight.
• Comprehensive – it touches every dimension of our lives: physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual.
• Emotional – grief is not linear or logical; it is deeply felt and uniquely experienced by each individual.

Marna brings compassion, clarity, and professional wisdom to this conversation, helping us better understand the complexity of loss and the importance of support along the way.

To learn more about her practice, visit www.guidingtherapy.com
.

On today’s episode, Claire Hunter joins us from France to explore the growing role of artificial intelligence in the world of grief and bereavement support. Claire shares insight into how AI is currently being used—from chat-based grief companions to the emerging development of digital avatars that simulate conversations with loved ones who have passed.

We discuss the deep ethical and emotional questions surrounding this technology. For some, AI has provided comfort, connection, and a sense of continued presence. For others, the idea feels unsettling or even intrusive. The controversy highlights a broader tension between innovation and tradition in grief work.

Claire emphasizes that while AI tools show promise, much research is still needed to understand the long-term psychological impact and to determine what constitutes healthy integration of AI in grief therapy. As with any tool, discernment, boundaries, and human-centered care remain essential.

This is a thoughtful and timely conversation about technology, memory, love, and the evolving landscape of support for those walking the grief journey.

In this episode, Don shares about the resources he provides as a grief coach through Imagine Family Recovery (www.imaginefamilyrecovery.net
). Greg also highlights his website, Your Dad Forever (www.yourdadforever.com
), where he offers encouragement and tools for those navigating life after loss.

Together, they point listeners toward trusted grief resource websites and emphasize a powerful truth: no one is meant to walk the grief journey alone. Healing is not found in isolation but in connection. Groups, community, shared stories, and mutual support create space for hope, understanding, and growth.

If you are grieving, consider taking a step toward community. There is strength in gathering, comfort in shared experience, and healing in knowing you are not alone.

Dr. Frank Campbell shares in this episode the vital role peer support plays in the grief journey.  Through powerful stories of walking alongside men in their pain, he highlights the importance of authenticity, vulnerability, and connection.  Dr. Campbell reminds us that healing doesn't happen in isolation--growth often begins when we allow ourselves to be seen, heard, and supported by others who truly understand.  

In this episode, Greg and Don explore grief in its many forms. Grief is not limited to the death of a loved one; it can arise from a wide range of life experiences such as divorce, the loss of a job, anticipatory grief related to illness, infertility, retirement, or even the loss of faith. Through honest conversation, they highlight how these losses—seen and unseen—can deeply impact our emotional and mental well-being, and why acknowledging them is an important part of the healing journey. 

In this episode, Brett Hartman shares with Don and Greg about the loss of his daughter, Eva, who passed away in 2018 at the age of five. Now nearly eight years into his grief journey, Brett continues to grow, learn, and reflect on the impact of loss in his life. He emphasizes the vital role of community and meaningful connection, especially in maintaining a healthy and positive mindset when it comes to mental health. 

Podcast guest Joanne Gowdy shares how she has experienced growth throughout her grief journey after losing her husband, Rick, of 35 years to suicide on February 1, 2020. Although Rick was not there to walk their daughter down the aisle or to see the birth of his grandchild, Joanne carries his presence with her wherever she goes. She has found deep solace and purpose in working with children, helping to shape their futures through meaningful interaction and the healthy expression of emotions. 

Chris Reed shares the story of losing his son, CJ, in an automobile accident in August 2022, followed by the passing of his mother in 2023. He reflects on the power of growth that comes through mentorship and how replicating what has been modeled for him enables him to support and uplift others. 

In this episode, Nancy Joselson shares the story of her husband, Hank, and the circumstances surrounding his tragic death by drowning, shaped by struggles with feelings of failure and substance abuse. 

Melissa Farmer shares the story of losing her son, Avery, at just 17 years old in a tragic automobile accident. Through her grief journey, Melissa reflects on the profound pain of that loss while also highlighting the personal growth, resilience, and deeper perspective that have emerged as she has learned to navigate life after unimaginable heartbreak. 

Kim Burditt Bartlett shares about her loss as a sibling after her brother John died from suicide.  In addition, she shares about the loss of both of her parents, and the work that she is doing with the Black Box Project and soldier suicide prevention.

Greg Jacobs shared reflections about his son, David, prior to his passing.

Listen to Don Lipstein share about his son Josh before his passing.

Greg and Don explore how "Triggers" stir and activate our emotions, some bringing positivity, while others can be deeply painful.  Join us as we talk about how meaningful growth can emerge when we face these emotions with honesty and compassion.

Greg and Don continue to explore some ways to navigate grief around the Holidays in this part 2 podcast,

Greg and Don explore some ways to navigate grief around the Holidays.

Greg Jacobs and Don Lipstein share why they decided to start a podcast on grief.