Turning Grief into Growth: The Journey of Transformation

Episode #28-Glen Lord

"Send us a Comment" [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2553114/fan_mail/new] In this episode, Glen Lord shares his personal grief journey following the loss of his son, Noah Thomas Emory Lord, on June 14, 1999, due to complications from a tonsillectomy. Glen also speaks about the heartbreaking loss of his sister to breast cancer in 2018 at the age of 39, as well as the ongoing challenges of having a son who has struggled with severe substance abuse for many years. Glen is the co-founder, co-director, and CEO of Peer Support Community Partners, and also serves as a director at SADOD (sadod.org). Since 2005, he has dedicated himself to serving others as a peer grief helper. Throughout this conversation, Glen shares openly and authentically about how grief has shaped, changed, and refined him over the 27 years since Noah’s passing. He discusses how identity evolves through loss, and how our wants, needs, and desires can shift over time. Join us for this meaningful conversation as we explore the importance of being proactive in your grief journey and the ongoing work of growth, healing, and self-discovery.

Episode #27-Man in the Mirror

"Send us a Comment" [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2553114/fan_mail/new] 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.

Episode #26-Choices

"Send us a Comment" [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2553114/fan_mail/new] 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.

Episode #25-Robyn Houston-Bean

"Send us a Comment" [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2553114/fan_mail/new] 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 [http://www.thesunwillrise.org] .

Episode #24-Franklin Cook

"Send us a Comment" [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2553114/fan_mail/new] 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 [http://www.recoveryandgrief-ma.org] .