Jason’s Story: On Choosing to Go Through Grief, Not Around It

Jason’s Story: On Choosing to Go Through Grief, Not Around It

In this episode of Good Grief, Skylar sits down with Jason, who takes us back to his late twenties, when he lost his mom, Connie, after her four-year battle with breast cancer. Jason opens up about the almost eight years he spent avoiding his grief entirely — pushing it down, numbing it, refusing to face it. He shares what finally changed: getting sober, walking into therapy, and choosing to do the hard work of grieving head-on. Now, Jason is on the other side of that journey — able to feel connected to his mom again, open to the signs she sends him, and genuinely at peace. This conversation is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to begin healing. Jason also shares a clip from the song, “I Go Through” by O.A.R [https://open.spotify.com/track/6ONb917y8Dah2OSXA95XJT?si=925450762880432f]., and how it inspired him to stop avoiding grief and instead face it head-on.  Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe! Follow Good Grief: Life After Loss on Instagram @goodgrief.pod [https://www.instagram.com/goodgrief.pod/] If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal at skylar@livelikesam.org [skylar@livelikesam.org]   Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram @bethechangemedianetwork [https://www.instagram.com/bethechangemedianetwork/] The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own an

Grief Got Lost in My Google Calendar

Sam would have turned 27 on June 12th. Instead of spending the day grieving her brother, Skylar spent it buried in work, preparing for a company-wide presentation, answering messages, and racing through a packed schedule. Before she knew it, the day was over, and she never had the chance to truly grieve. In this episode, Skylar opens up about the guilt of feeling disconnected from grief, the pressure to honor important dates a certain way, and what happens when life gets so busy that grief gets pushed aside. Because sometimes, grief doesn't disappear, it just gets lost in the calendar.  Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe! Follow Good Grief: Life After Loss on Instagram @goodgrief.pod [https://www.instagram.com/goodgrief.pod/] If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal at skylar@livelikesam.org [skylar@livelikesam.org]   Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram @bethechangemedianetwork [https://www.instagram.com/bethechangemedianetwork/] The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

Who Takes Care of the Griever?

Grief doesn't just affect your heart—it affects your brain, your body, your routines, and your mental health. In this episode, Skylar talks about something we don't discuss nearly enough: the mental health of grievers. From "grief brain" and brain fog to the dark thoughts that can sometimes creep in after loss, we'll explore how grief impacts us far beyond sadness. Whether your loss was recent or years ago, this episode is a reminder that taking care of yourself isn't forgetting the person you lost—it's part of learning how to carry them with you. Mental Health Resources: • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 • Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 • Find a therapist: psychologytoday.com/us/therapists [http://psychologytoday.com/us/therapists]  Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe! Follow Good Grief: Life After Loss on Instagram @goodgrief.pod [https://www.instagram.com/goodgrief.pod/] If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal at skylar@livelikesam.org [skylar@livelikesam.org]   Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram @bethechangemedianetwork [https://www.instagram.com/bethechangemedianetwork/] The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

One Year In: What I've Learned from Hosting a Grief Podcast

One year ago, Skylar hit publish on the very first episode of Good Grief: Life After Loss — and today, one year and 41 episodes later, she's reflecting on everything this podcast has taught her. From the loneliness she felt as a 14-year-old grieving her brother Sam, to the weeks she was too exhausted to talk about grief and questioned whether she was even qualified to be here, to the unexpected gift of finding community through her listeners — this episode is an honest look at what a year of hosting a grief podcast has really been like. If you've ever felt alone in your grief, this one's for you. Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe! Follow Good Grief: Life After Loss on Instagram @goodgrief.pod [https://www.instagram.com/goodgrief.pod/] If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal at skylar@livelikesam.org [skylar@livelikesam.org]   Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram @bethechangemedianetwork [https://www.instagram.com/bethechangemedianetwork/] The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

For Anyone Struggling This Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day can be beautiful, but for a lot of people, it’s also incredibly complicated. In this episode, Skylar talks about the uncomfortable reality of grief on days that the world expects you to celebrate. From losing a mother or child, to infertility, strained relationships, or simply feeling the absence of someone who should still be here, this episode explores the many ways grief can quietly show up on Mother’s Day.