The Living Loss: Navigating Life Transitions & Invisible Grief

24 | Living with Hidden Grief: Season 1 Finale – Naming the Unseen Losses

What a journey it has been! In this Season 1 finale, we take a look back at the past 24 episodes of The Living Loss Podcast. As licensed mental health counselors, we dive deep into the quiet, complex griefs that don’t come with a funeral because you truly cannot heal what you don’t acknowledge. From behind-the-scenes blunders (like trying not to look like Casper under the studio lights) to the profound honor of holding space for 13 incredible guests, we reflect on the powerful themes that defined this season: identity loss, disenfranchised grief, sibling dynamics, and ambiguous loss. We also share our personal "Living Loss Lessons" from this season, talking about how our own friendship has evolved and how we are learning to show up more intentionally for those we love. INSIDE THIS EPISODE: * The Power of the Pivot: How a season we thought would be mostly solo episodes turned into a beautiful tapestry of guest stories. * Redefining Grief: Shifting the focus from the obvious loss of a person to the hidden, unacknowledged losses—like hair loss (alopecia), eating disorder recovery, and family estrangement. * Creating Meaning from Pain: Reflecting on how our guests turned their darkest seasons into missions, books, foundations, and advocacy work. * Our Personal Lessons: Cassandra and Daiana share their raw reflections on falling short in the past, learning to just "show up," and embracing imperfection. * Looking Ahead to Season 2: A sneak peek into upcoming topics, including an exploration of loneliness and how it impacts us differently. We want to hear from you! What is a quiet, unrecognized loss in your world that you want to see explored in Season 2? Reach out to us, no books or accolades required. Just your human experience. Instagram: @thelivinglosspodcast  Email: hello@livinglosspodcast.com [hello@livinglosspodcast.com] If you’re interested in a consultation for individual therapy with Daiana Bernard, please reach out via email or visit the practice website below. Email: healing@meaningfultherapyfl.com [healing@meaningfultherapyfl.com] Website: https://meaningfultherapyfl.comMeaningfulTherapyFL.com [http://MeaningfulTherapyFL.com] Location: Riverview, FL, In-Person, and Telehealth serving clients throughout Florida. If you’re interested in a consultation with Cassandra Harris-Towner please reach out via email or visit the practice website below. Email: Cassandra@firststridezcounseling.com [Cassandra@firststridezcounseling.com] Website: https://firststridezcounseling.comfirststridezcounseling.com [http://firststridezcounseling.com] Location: Ocala, FL, In-Person, and Telehealth serving clients throughout Florida. Disclaimer: While we are Licensed Mental Health Counselors, listening to this podcast or reaching out for a consultation does not replace professional therapy or establish a therapist-client relationship. This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call or text 988 or head to your nearest emergency room.

23 | Living with Hidden Grief: What to Say and Not to Say to Someone Grieving

In this episode licensed mental health counselors Daiana Bernard and Cassandra Harris-Towner sit down with certified grief educator, best-selling author, and international speaker Heidi Dunstan. Following the sudden loss of her husband in 2018, Heidi discovered firsthand how ill-equipped society is to handle deep pain. In this deeply moving and practical conversation, Heidi shares the unintentionally painful phrases she encountered, how comparison and judgment act as "grief’s kryptonite," and why true support is about witnessing pain rather than trying to fix it. Whether you are navigating your own changing identity through a non-death loss or looking for the right way to show up for a friend in the trenches, this episode provides a masterclass in leaning into grief with grace. Connect with Heidi:   www.heididunstan.ca [http://www.heididunstan.ca] Instagram @leanintogrief www.facebook.com/leanintogrief [http://www.facebook.com/leanintogrief] https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-dunstan/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-dunstan/] CONNECT WITH US: Join the Community: We’re building a space where every loss is seen. Have a 'Living Loss Lesson' or a topic you’d like us to explore? Email us your story. If you have an experience you’d like us to share on the air, let us know, we are always happy to share your stories anonymously to keep this a safe space for our community.  Instagram: @thelivinglosspodcast  Email: hello@livinglosspodcast.com [hello@livinglosspodcast.com] Support the Show: If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review. It helps us reach others who need to hear that their grief is valid. I f you’re interested in a consultation for individual therapy with Daiana Bernard, please reach out via email or visit the practice website below. Email: healing@meaningfultherapyfl.com [healing@meaningfultherapyfl.com] Website: https://meaningfultherapyfl.comMeaningfulTherapyFL.com [http://MeaningfulTherapyFL.com] Location: Riverview, FL, In-Person, and Telehealth serving clients throughout Florida. If you’re interested in a consultation with Cassandra Harris-Towner please reach out via email or visit the practice website below. Email: Cassandra@firststridezcounseling.com [Cassandra@firststridezcounseling.com] Website: https://firststridezcounseling.comfirststridezcounseling.com [http://firststridezcounseling.com] Location: Ocala, FL, In-Person, and Telehealth serving clients throughout Florida. Disclaimer: While we are Licensed Mental Health Counselors, listening to this podcast or reaching out for a consultation does not replace professional therapy or establish a therapist-client relationship. This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call or text 988 or head to your nearest emergency room.

22 | Living with the Hidden Grief of Hearing Loss with Vanessa Branch

In this episode, Daiana and Cassandra dive deep into a form of disenfranchised grief that is rarely spoken about: the invisible emotional toll and identity crisis tied to hearing loss. From the daily exhaustion of listening fatigue to the isolation of feeling left out, we explore why this quiet loss cuts so deep and how we can begin to validate the pain it causes. We are joined by the incredible Vanessa Branch, founder of the National Hard of Hearing Forum and an Advanced Bionics Mentor. Vanessa vulnerably shares her journey with sensorineural hearing loss since age seven, her transition to a cochlear implant, and how she moved from a painful cycle of trying to "fit in" to fully embracing her identity and building a thriving community of advocacy. Connect with Vanessa:  Website: https://nhohforum.wixsite.com/nationalhohforum [https://nhohforum.wixsite.com/nationalhohforum] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n.h.o.h_forum?igsh=cDI0OTNiYTdvcWxw [https://www.instagram.com/n.h.o.h_forum?igsh=cDI0OTNiYTdvcWxw] LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nhohf-5a4269330 [http://www.linkedin.com/in/nhohf-5a4269330] BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/nationalhohforum.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/nationalhohforum.bsky.social] FREE E-BOOK: Listening & Concentration Fatigue: https://pensight.com/x/nhohf/digital-item-54d9d365-ca6d-49b0-a138-531d9e9b117d [https://pensight.com/x/nhohf/digital-item-54d9d365-ca6d-49b0-a138-531d9e9b117d] CONNECT WITH US: Join the Community: We’re building a space where every loss is seen. Have a 'Living Loss Lesson' or a topic you’d like us to explore? Email us your story. If you have an experience you’d like us to share on the air, let us know, we are always happy to share your stories anonymously to keep this a safe space for our community.  Instagram: @thelivinglosspodcast  Email: hello@livinglosspodcast.com [hello@livinglosspodcast.com] Support the Show: If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, follow, share and leave a review. It helps us reach others who need to hear that their grief is valid. If you’re interested in a consultation for individual therapy with Daiana Bernard, please reach out via email or visit the practice website below. Email: healing@meaningfultherapyfl.com [healing@meaningfultherapyfl.com] Website: https://meaningfultherapyfl.comMeaningfulTherapyFL.com [http://MeaningfulTherapyFL.com] Location: Riverview, FL, In-Person, and Telehealth serving clients throughout Florida. If you’re interested in a consultation with Cassandra Harris-Towner please reach out via email or visit the practice website below. Email: Cassandra@firststridezcounseling.com [Cassandra@firststridezcounseling.com] Website: https://firststridezcounseling.comfirststridezcounseling.com [http://firststridezcounseling.com] serving clients throughout Florida. Disclaimer: This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call or text 988 or head to your nearest emergency room.

21 | Living with the Hidden Grief of Always Waiting for the Perfect Chapter

This episode explores the complex nature of quiet, unacknowledged griefs and the trap of waiting for a perfect future self to find happiness. Cassandra and Daiana share personal insights and practical strategies for living in the present, releasing unrealistic expectations, and embracing self-compassion. Key Topics: * The illusion of future happiness and the trap of waiting for the 'perfect' time * The impact of comparing ourselves to future and past selves * Strategies for releasing expectations and practicing self-compassion * The importance of living in the present moment and embracing imperfection * Understanding grief as layered and often unacknowledged Book mentioned in the episode: Going into Pieces Without Falling Apart, By Mark Epstein https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/46790/going-to-pieces-without-falling-apart-by-mark-epstein-author-of-thoughts-without-a-thinker/ [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/46790/going-to-pieces-without-falling-apart-by-mark-epstein-author-of-thoughts-without-a-thinker/] CONNECT WITH US: Join the Community: We’re building a space where every loss is seen. Have a 'Living Loss Lesson' or a topic you’d like us to explore? Email us your story. If you have an experience you’d like us to share on the air, let us know, we are always happy to share your stories anonymously to keep this a safe space for our community.  Instagram: @thelivinglosspodcast  Email: hello@livinglosspodcast.com [hello@livinglosspodcast.com] Support the Show: If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, follow, share and leave a review. It helps us reach others who need to hear that their grief is valid. If you’re interested in a consultation for individual therapy with Daiana Bernard, please reach out via email or visit the practice website below. Email: healing@meaningfultherapyfl.com [healing@meaningfultherapyfl.com] Website: https://meaningfultherapyfl.comMeaningfulTherapyFL.com [http://MeaningfulTherapyFL.com] Location: Riverview, FL, In-Person, and Telehealth serving clients throughout Florida. If you’re interested in a consultation with Cassandra Harris-Towner please reach out via email or visit the practice website below. Email: Cassandra@firststridezcounseling.com [Cassandra@firststridezcounseling.com] Website: https://firststridezcounseling.comfirststridezcounseling.com [http://firststridezcounseling.com] Location: Ocala, FL, In-Person, and Telehealth serving clients throughout Florida. Disclaimer: While we are Licensed Mental Health Counselors, listening to this podcast or reaching out for a consultation does not replace professional therapy or establish a therapist-client relationship. This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call or text 988 or head to your nearest emergency room.

20 | Living with the Hidden Grief of Mid-Life Relationship Trauma w/ Melissa Issa

Please Note: This episode contains discussions of domestic violence, relationship trauma, and complex grief. Our conversation is meant for educational and empowering purposes, but we understand these topics can be heavy. Please protect your peace and prioritize your well-being as you listen. In this episode of The Living Loss Podcast, host Daiana Bernard sits down with advocate Melissa Issa to expose the hidden grief of navigating relationship trauma and domestic violence in mid-life. Rebuilding your life after an abusive or toxic relationship looks different in your 30s, 40s, or 50s. Together, they unpack the unique, quiet shame of starting over later in life and the heavy feeling that you "should have known better." Melissa shares her powerful story of hitting rock bottom, shedding her survival self, and proving that circumstances don't check your age before they change. Whether you are healing from intimate partner violence or reclaiming an identity you thought was lost, this episode offers a raw, trauma-informed roadmap to resilience, self-love, and empowerment in your next chapter. CONNECT WITH US: Melissa Issa: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissaissatampa [https://www.tiktok.com/@melissaissatampa]  Break The Silence Against Domestic Violence - https://breakthesilencedv.org/ [https://breakthesilencedv.org/] Join the Community: We’re building a space where every loss is seen. Have a 'Living Loss Lesson' or a topic you’d like us to explore? Email us your story. If you have an experience you’d like us to share on the air, let us know, we are always happy to share your stories anonymously to keep this a safe space for our community. Instagram: @thelivinglosspodcast  Email: hello@livinglosspodcast.com [hello@livinglosspodcast.com] Support the Show: If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, follow, share and leave a review. It helps us reach others who need to hear that their grief is valid. If you’re interested in a consultation for individual therapy with Daiana Bernard, please reach out via email or visit the practice website below. Email: healing@meaningfultherapyfl.com [healing@meaningfultherapyfl.com] Website: https://meaningfultherapyfl.comMeaningfulTherapyFL.com [http://MeaningfulTherapyFL.com] Location: Riverview, FL, In-Person, and Telehealth serving clients throughout Florida. If you’re interested in a consultation with Cassandra Harris-Towner please reach out via email or visit the practice website below. Email: Cassandra@firststridezcounseling.com [Cassandra@firststridezcounseling.com] Website: https://firststridezcounseling.comfirststridezcounseling.com [http://firststridezcounseling.com] Location: Ocala, FL, In-Person, and Telehealth serving clients throughout Florida. Disclaimer: While we are Licensed Mental Health Counselors, listening to this podcast or reaching out for a consultation does not replace professional therapy or establish a therapist-client relationship. This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call or text 988 or head to your nearest emergency room.