Ep. 184 The Power of Ritual with Tracee Stanley

Ep. 184 The Power of Ritual with Tracee Stanley

Grief Is My Side Hustle — Tracee Stanley on Ritual, Rest, and What We Do With What We've Lost My guest this week is Tracee Stanley — author of Radiant Rest and The Luminous Self, and someone who has spent over twenty years teaching yoga nidra, meditation, and ancestor reverence. Her new book, Living Ritual, comes out this August, and it gave us so much to dig into. We talk about why our culture is so allergic to grief — how we've turned it into something to hide instead of something to honor — and what changes when we stop avoiding it. Tracee walks me through the role ritual plays in all of this: not as a rulebook, but as a way to slow down and give our grief an actual place to land. We get into small personal practices, the kind of offerings you might build for someone you've lost, and why grieving in community changes the whole experience. I also asked her to break down her Grief Mentor Method — connection, ritual, and community — and how those three pieces work together. This one left me thinking differently about what it means to tend to my own grief instead of just surviving it. I think you'll feel the same. Thank you for listening! Please rate, review, and share if this one landed for you — it helps more grieving people find the show. More about Tracee Stanley: Website: https://www.traceestanley.com [https://www.traceestanley.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracee_stanley [https://www.instagram.com/tracee_stanley] Her new book, Living Ritual: Infuse Each Day with Purpose and Spirit, is out this August. More about Grief Is My Side Hustle / Grieftastic: Website: https://www.meghanriordanjarvis.com [https://www.meghanriordanjarvis.com/] Grieftastic: https://www.grieftastic.com [https://www.grieftastic.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meghan.riordan.jarvis [https://www.instagram.com/meghan.riordan.jarvis] Book, Can Anyone Tell Me?: available wherever books are sold

Ep. 183 Mental Strength in Grief with Amy Morin, LICSW

Grief Is My Side Hustle — with Amy Morin, LCSW Amy Morin knows more about mental strength than almost anyone on the planet — and she'll tell you the hard-won secret behind it: it started with loss. Amy is a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and international bestselling author of six books, including 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do, which has sold over a million copies and been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx Talk, "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," has racked up over 24 million views, and she's the award-winning host of the Mentally Stronger with Therapist Amy Morin podcast. Her work has landed on Good Morning America, Today, Oprah, Tamron Hall, and the BBC. But before the TED stage and the bestseller lists, Amy was a young woman burying people she loved — grief showed up early and often in her life, and instead of running from it, she built a career studying how humans survive the unsurvivable. In this episode, we talk about what grief actually taught her about strength (hint: it's not what you think), and why "getting over it" was never the goal. Connect with Amy: * Website: amymorinlcsw.com [https://amymorinlcsw.com/] * Instagram: @amymorinauthor [https://www.instagram.com/amymorinauthor/] * X/Twitter: @AmyMorinLCSW [https://x.com/amymorinlcsw] * Facebook: @AmyMorinAuthor [https://www.facebook.com/AmyMorinAuthor/] * Podcast inquiries: Podcast@AmyMorinLCSW.com [Podcast@AmyMorinLCSW.com] * Media/interview requests: Amy@AmyMorinLCSW.com [Amy@AmyMorinLCSW.com] A note on the "personal history dealing with tragedy" line — the sources I found reference this in general terms (multiple outlets mention it) but don't specify what the losses were. If you know the specifics from booking her or from her own words, I can make that section sharper and more accurate rather than leaving it vague. Can you add something about her most recent book?     Searched the web Searched the web   Here's the updated description with her latest book worked in: Grief Is My Side Hustle — with Amy Morin, LCSW Amy Morin knows more about mental strength than almost anyone on the planet — and she'll tell you the hard-won secret behind it: it started with loss. Amy is a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and international bestselling author of six books, including 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do, which has sold over a million copies and been translated into more than 45 languages. Her newest book, The Mental Strength Playbook, hands you 50 science-backed "plays" for handling the moments that test you most at work — the anxiety spiral mid-negotiation, the coworker who wrecks your focus, the setback that knocks you sideways. Her TEDx Talk, "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," has racked up over 24 million views, and she's the award-winning host of the Mentally Stronger with Therapist Amy Morin podcast. Her work has landed on Good Morning America, Today, Oprah, Tamron Hall, and the BBC. But before the TED stage and the bestseller lists, Amy was a young woman burying people she loved — grief showed up early and often in her life, and instead of running from it, she built a career studying how humans survive the unsurvivable. In this episode, we talk about what grief actually taught her about strength (hint: it's not what you think), why "getting over it" was never the goal, and how the same tools she teaches for workplace resilience apply to the hardest losses of all. Connect with Amy: * Website: amymorinlcsw.com [https://amymorinlcsw.com/] * Instagram: @amymorinauthor [https://www.instagram.com/amymorinauthor/] * X/Twitter: @AmyMorinLCSW [https://x.com/amymorinlcsw] * Facebook: @AmyMorinAuthor [https://www.facebook.com/AmyMorinAuthor/] * Podcast inquiries: Podcast@AmyMorinLCSW.com [Podcast@AmyMorinLCSW.com] * Media/interview requests: Amy@AmyMorinLCSW.com [Amy@AmyMorinLCSW.com]

Ep. 182: The Power of Breaking Plates with Artist Rob Strati

Join me this week as I FINALLY get to sit down with one of my favorite artists, (and fellow griever) Rob Strati. Together, we explore how art can serve as a powerful healing tool for grief and loss. We also discuss the emotional depth behind his extraordinary plate series and how brokenness can reveal new stories of hope and resilience. In this episode: * Rob discusses the story behind his plate series inspired by loss and repair. * The contrasting philosophies of Kintsugi versus Rob's approach to brokenness. * How art can transcend traditional therapy and tap into restorative energy. * The impact of social media on sharing grief and art's universal language. * Rob’s process of selecting and transforming plates into art pieces. * The surprising emotional feedback from viewers and collectors. * The significance of cultural motifs and historical patterns in Rob’s work. * Navigating grief after recent loss—the process of acceptance and transformation. * Practical ways art supports emotional resilience in times of trauma. Resources & Links: * Rob Strati Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/robstrati/] * https://porcelainprojects.com/ [https://porcelainprojects.com/]  Note: To see Rob’s art in person, visit his upcoming exhibitions in Greenwich and Columbus, or browse his online portfolio for exclusive pieces and commissions. I cannot thank you enough for listening to this latest season of Grief is My Side Hustle. Please consider a five-star rating and review where possible; it truly helps the show reach more grievers!

Ep. 181: Marty Ross-Dolen Illuminates a Legacy of Grief in "Always There, Always Gone."

Marty Ross-Dolen is truly magnificent, and I am so grateful to have had an hour of her time this week. Not only does she hold degrees from Wellesley College and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, she is a gorgeous, incredibly insightful author. Marty's writing delves into grief, memory, and the ripple effects of generational trauma. We discuss her maternal grandparents' legacy as the founders of the groundbreaking magazine, "Highlights for Children," and her memoir Always There, Always Gone, in which she weaves a lyrical, hybrid narrative reflecting on the devastating 1960 plane crash that claimed their lives. Her story explores how that loss deeply influenced her mother’s life—and, subsequently, her own. There is something for everyone, at every stage of grief, in this conversation. For more information on Marty, and to get your copy of "Always There, Always Gone," check out: https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Marty-Ross-Dolen/234962242 [https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Marty-Ross-Dolen/234962242] and find her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martyrossdolen/ [https://www.instagram.com/martyrossdolen/] Thank you so much for listening! We would be so grateful if you would leave us a five-star rate and review wherever possible. Your support means the world.

Ep. 180: Darnell Lamont Walker, Emmy-Nominated Death Doula, on the "Art of a Peaceful End"

In the latest episode of "Grief Is My Side Hustle," I'm joined by author and death doula Darnell Lamont Walker to explore the intricacies of grief, loss, and the importance of open conversations about death. Our heartfelt discussion delves into personal experiences and cultural perspectives, shedding light on how we can better navigate the often-taboo subject of mortality. Darnell's journey into the world of grief began in his childhood, surrounded by the loving presence of his grandmother. This foundation of compassion laid the groundwork for his own understanding of grief, where discussions about death were not shunned but embraced. You are GOING to want to listen to every word Darnell speaks- he's incredibly eloquent, charming, knowledgeable and soothing. I'm so grateful to have gotten this hour of his time!    More about Darnell: https://www.instagram.com/hello.darnell/ [https://www.instagram.com/hello.darnell/] https://darnellwalker.com/never-can-say-goodbye/ [https://darnellwalker.com/never-can-say-goodbye/]