Grief is the New Normal Podcast with Dr. Heather Taylor

Grief is the New Normal Podcast: S3E16 Healing Hearts: Liz Quinn's Journey Through Grief

Grief Integration, Parenting After Loss, and the Healing Power of Story with Liz Quinn Grief doesn't disappear. It changes shape, and over time, it becomes part of who you are. In this episode, Dr. Heather Taylor sits down with Liz Quinn, host of the Healing Hearts Podcast, for an honest and deeply human conversation about what it means to carry loss across years, across identities, and across generations. Liz has navigated three profound losses: her daughter Alivia in 2008, her father in 2018, and her mother in 2020. What began as a search for community in a space with few resources became a mission to create one. The Healing Hearts Podcast exists because Liz knows what it feels like to be searching and find nothing that fits. In this conversation, Liz and Dr. Taylor explore what grief integration actually looks like in practice, not as a finish line but as a living, evolving relationship with the people we love and have lost. What you'll hear in this episode: How grief shifts over 17 years and what "lighter" actually means when you're a loss parent The beautiful and complicated work of parenting after loss, including open conversations with children, the Alivia angel tree, and why her daughter carried an eight-pound teddy bear everywhere at eighteen months Why identity loss after losing a parent hits differently, and how Liz's mother's death became the pivot point for a 100-pound wellness journey, a master's degree in library science, and a full career shift into grief advocacy The role of ritual in grief, and why some years call for a botanical garden and some years call for letting the kids camp in the backyard while you stay inside What Liz would tell herself in those early days after losing Alivia, and why "keep moving forward" means something entirely different when you understand that they come with you Liz's new pregnancy and infant loss book, written by loss moms for loss moms, designed to land in hospital memory boxes so families have what they need before they even know to look for it Resources and links mentioned: Healing Hearts Podcast: Instagram at healing_hearts_podcast Phoenix Bears (weighted bears for bereaved families) Touch of Teddy (loss teddy bear ornaments, free in October for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month) October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month Chapter Markers: 00:00 Intro 00:25 Meet Liz Quinn 00:40 Healing Hearts Origin Story 02:30 What Grief Feels Like After 17 Years 06:13 Parenting After Loss 12:31 Rituals, Symbols, and Honoring Alivia 13:51 The Alivia Teddy Bear 17:23 Losing Both Parents 21:46 Identity Shifts and Life After Loss 25:07 Grief Training and Education Study 26:00 About the Healing Hearts Podcast 29:44 Seasonal Grief and Anniversary Rituals 34:30 What She Would Tell Her Early Self 37:06 Key Takeaways 38:08 Connect with Liz and Upcoming Projects 39:53 Outro -------------------- Liz Quinn is the host of the Healing Hearts Podcast, an author, and a grief advocate. After losing her firstborn daughter, Alivia, and both of her parents, Liz began sharing stories of love, loss, and hope to remind others they are not alone in their grief --------------------- Grief is not a problem to solve. It is a human experience to move through, and most of us were never taught how. Grief is the New Normal is hosted by Dr. Heather Taylor, licensed psychologist and grief specialist with over a decade of experience in grief, trauma, and reproductive psychology. This show exists to change the conversation around loss by expanding what grief looks like, who it belongs to, and what it actually means to integrate it into your life. Whether you're grieving a death, a diagnosis, a relationship, an identity shift, or the world as you knew it, your grief is real, it deserves space, and you are not behind. And if you're a clinician, coach, or helper carrying your own grief while holding space for others, this show was built for you too. Dr. Taylor brings research-informed frameworks, honest clinical perspective, and the STAY framework, a grief-informed approach to living with loss that goes far beyond the five stages. Expect nuance, depth, and conversations that take grief seriously. No toxic positivity. No fixing. Just honest conversation, real validation, and a community built around grief literacy, disenfranchised grief, anticipatory grief, collective grief, and the full spectrum of human loss. grief support podcast · disenfranchised grief · anticipatory grief · grief after loss · grief for clinicians · grief-informed care · grief literacy · coping with grief · grief and identity · mental health and grief · reproductive grief · pet loss grief · collective trauma and grief ·  grief integration · STAY framework New episodes dropping regularly Connect with Dr. Heather Taylor: Website: griefisthenewnormal.com Instagram: @grief_is_the_new_normal Substack: How We STAY with Grief https://drheathertaylor.substack.com/ [https://drheathertaylor.substack.com/] Newsletter: Bridging the Grief Gap on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-taylor-psyd-licensed-psychologist/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-taylor-psyd-licensed-psychologist/] Journal: Authentically Unapologetic, available on Amazon https://a.co/d/0dM0DloC [https://a.co/d/0dM0DloC] Contact: hello@griefisthenewnormal.com [hello@griefisthenewnormal.com] This episode is sponsored by Oasys EHR. Try Oasys free for your first month. Use code HEATHER-2865 at oasysehr.com. Music by The Dadicorns. Copyright 2026.

Grief is the New Normal Podcast: S3E15 Why Does My Body Feel Like This? Grief Starts Here

Physical Grief Reactions: When Loss Lives in the Body Grief isn't just emotional. It lives in your chest, your gut, your sleep, and your nervous system. In this episode, Dr. Heather Taylor kicks off a six-part series on the six categories of grief reactions by exploring one of the most overlooked: the physical symptoms of grief. If you've been exhausted for no clear reason, dealing with unexplained aches, chest tightness, or stomach issues since a loss, this episode is for you. Your body isn't broken. It's grieving. In this episode you'll learn: * Why grief is a whole-body experience, not just an emotional one * The most common physical symptoms of grief and why they're completely normal * How your nervous system responds to loss (polyvagal theory explained simply) * Why grief shows up in the body in certain cultural and family contexts * Why children often express grief through physical complaints and behavior changes * What "griefiversaries" are and why your body braces before you consciously remember * Practical ways to support your body through physical grief, including grounding rituals, nervous system regulation tools, and daily body check-ins Physical grief symptoms discussed: Fatigue, chest tightness, heart palpitations, takotsubo cardiomyopathy (broken heart syndrome), appetite changes, GI disruption, headaches, muscle tension, sleep disruption, panic-like sensations, unexplained aches, and dissociation. Resources and concepts mentioned: * Polyvagal theory (Stephen Porges) * "Name it to tame it" (Daniel Siegel) * The Dougy Center's 10 Core Principles of Grief-Informed Practice This is Part 1 of 6 in the Grief Reactions Series: Part 1: Physical | Part 2: Emotional | Part 3: Cognitive | Part 4: Behavioral | Part 5: Spiritual and Existential | Part 6: Social Episode Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Series Introduction 01:58 Why Grief Hits the Body First 03:09 Cultural Context and Children's Body Signals 04:15 Common Physical Symptoms of Grief 07:21 Griefiversaries and Why the Body Braces 10:15 Your Nervous System in Grief Mode 12:02 Practical Body Care Tools 14:59 Guided Body Check-In 16:06 Key Takeaways and Next Episode Grief is not a problem to solve. It is a human experience to move through, and most of us were never taught how. Grief is the New Normal is hosted by Dr. Heather Taylor, licensed psychologist and grief specialist with over a decade of experience in grief, trauma, and reproductive psychology. This show exists to change the conversation around loss by expanding what grief looks like, who it belongs to, and what it actually means to integrate it into your life. Whether you're grieving a death, a diagnosis, a relationship, an identity shift, or the world as you knew it, your grief is real, it deserves space, and you are not behind. And if you're a clinician, coach, or helper carrying your own grief while holding space for others, this show was built for you too. Dr. Taylor brings research-informed frameworks, honest clinical perspective, and the STAY framework, a grief-informed approach to living with loss that goes far beyond the five stages. Expect nuance, depth, and conversations that take grief seriously. No toxic positivity. No fixing. Just honest conversation, real validation, and a community built around grief literacy, disenfranchised grief, anticipatory grief, collective grief, and the full spectrum of human loss. grief support podcast · disenfranchised grief · anticipatory grief · grief after loss · grief for clinicians · grief-informed care · grief literacy · coping with grief · grief and identity · mental health and grief · reproductive grief · pet loss grief · collective trauma and grief ·  grief integration · STAY framework New episodes dropping regularly Connect with Dr. Heather Taylor: Website: griefisthenewnormal.com Instagram: @grief_is_the_new_normal Substack: How We STAY with Grief https://drheathertaylor.substack.com/ [https://drheathertaylor.substack.com/] Newsletter: Bridging the Grief Gap on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-taylor-psyd-licensed-psychologist/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-taylor-psyd-licensed-psychologist/] Journal: Authentically Unapologetic, available on Amazon https://a.co/d/0dM0DloC [https://a.co/d/0dM0DloC] Contact: hello@griefisthenewnormal.com [hello@griefisthenewnormal.com] This episode is sponsored by Oasys EHR. Try Oasys free for your first month. Use code HEATHER-2865 at oasysehr.com. Music by The Dadicorns. Copyright 2026.

Grief is the New Normal Podcast: S3E14 The Hidden Cost of Grief at Work: A Conversation with Judi Johnson

What happens when grief walks into the office and no one knows what to do with it? In this episode of Grief is the New Normal, Dr. Heather Taylor sits down with Judi Johnson, grief coach and workplace grief educator from New Zealand, to talk about one of the most underaddressed intersections in professional life: grief in the workplace. From construction sites to corporate boardrooms, grief doesn't clock out when we do, and the cost of ignoring it is higher than most organizations realize. Judi brings both professional expertise and lived experience to this conversation, including her own journey through childlessness not by choice, the compression of multiple grief events, and working in high-risk environments without the support or language to name what she was carrying. In this episode, Judi and Dr. Taylor cover: - Grief literacy in the workplace and why most organizations are starting from zero - How grief symptoms mimic mental health conditions and why that distinction matters for job performance and safety - Spatial awareness, decision making, delayed reactions, and the real cognitive impact of grief on the job - Why childless not by choice grief is one of the most invisible and disenfranchised losses in professional settings - The compounding effect of grief for marginalized groups including expats, LGBTQIA+ employees, and those navigating infertility - How people pleasing and masking keep grieving employees stuck in silence - Practical, low-barrier steps leaders and HR teams can take today to build grief-informed workplaces - Why bereavement leave policies often fail grieving employees before the grief has even begun - Buddy systems, honest one-on-ones, and the small shifts that create cultures of compassionate support About Judi Johnson: Judi is a certified coach and ICF-accredited grief practitioner based in Auckland, New Zealand. She works privately with clients who are childless not by choice (CNBC), helping them navigate grief and build a fulfilling, joyful life. In addition to 1-1 coaching, she delivers grief education to workplaces, particularly in high-risk industries such as construction, highlighting how grief impacts cognitive function, safety, and productivity. Her mission is to work with businesses to create compassionate, grief informed workplace cultures. https://linktr.ee/embraceyourfuture.judi [https://linktr.ee/embraceyourfuture.judi] Two handouts- coping mechanisms and breaking free from people pleasing https://www.embraceyourfuture.net/copingmechanisms [https://www.embraceyourfuture.net/copingmechanisms] https://www.embraceyourfuture.net/breakingfree [https://www.embraceyourfuture.net/breakingfree] Keywords this episode speaks to: grief in the workplace, workplace grief support, childless not by choice grief, disenfranchised grief, grief-informed workplaces, employee wellbeing, bereavement leave, grief and job performance, HR grief training, grief and safety, grief coach, anticipatory grief, grief literacy, childless grief, infertility grief, marginalized grief, compassionate workplace culture, grief and mental health Resources mentioned: The Grieving Brain by Mary-Frances O'Connor Embrace Your Future: embraceyourfuture.net World Childless Week ------------------------------ Grief is not a problem to solve. It is a human experience to move through, and most of us were never taught how. Grief is the New Normal is hosted by Dr. Heather Taylor, licensed psychologist and grief specialist with over a decade of experience in grief, trauma, and reproductive psychology. This show exists to change the conversation around loss by expanding what grief looks like, who it belongs to, and what it actually means to integrate it into your life. Whether you're grieving a death, a diagnosis, a relationship, an identity shift, or the world as you knew it, your grief is real, it deserves space, and you are not behind. And if you're a clinician, coach, or helper carrying your own grief while holding space for others, this show was built for you too. Dr. Taylor brings research-informed frameworks, honest clinical perspective, and the STAY framework, a grief-informed approach to living with loss that goes far beyond the five stages. Expect nuance, depth, and conversations that take grief seriously. No toxic positivity. No fixing. Just honest conversation, real validation, and a community built around grief literacy, disenfranchised grief, anticipatory grief, collective grief, and the full spectrum of human loss. grief support podcast · disenfranchised grief · anticipatory grief · grief after loss · grief for clinicians · grief-informed care · grief literacy · coping with grief · grief and identity · mental health and grief · reproductive grief · pet loss grief · collective trauma and grief · moral injury · grief integration · STAY framework New episodes dropping regularly Subscribe to the Bridging the Grief Gap newsletter on LinkedIn for deeper dives, resources, and grief-literate tools LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heather-taylor-psyd-licensed-psychologist [http://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-taylor-psyd-licensed-psychologist] Grab the Authentically Unapologetic Grief Journal → https://a.co/d/4hbLtbX [https://a.co/d/4hbLtbX] www.thedrheathertaylor.com [http://www.griefisthenewnormal.com] · hello@griefisthenewnormal.com [hello@griefisthenewnormal.com] https://linktr.ee/griefisthenewnormal [https://linktr.ee/griefisthenewnormal] Follow @grief_is_the_new_normal on Instagram for grief education, mental health content, and yes, a little sass and dark humor too. ------------------------------------- Opening and closing music by The Dadicorns Copyright 2026 Grief is the New Normal: A Podcast with Dr. Heather Taylor. All Rights Reserved. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy.

Grief is the New Normal Podcast S3E13: Changing the Narrative: Grief in Clinical Work (Part 4)

What does it look like to build a sustainable, grief-informed clinical practice, not after grief ends, but while you are still living with it? In this mini-series finale of Grief is the New Normal, Dr. Heather Taylor closes her four-part miniseries for clinicians, coaches, and helpers by tackling one of the most overlooked realities in the helping professions: grief does not end. It changes. And for clinicians who are grieving, that shift can reshape your professional identity, your clinical work, and the way you show up for the people you serve. Drawing on her own experience of losing her brother nearly 17 years ago and completing her PsyD dissertation while actively grieving, Dr. Taylor challenges the narrative that you must wait for grief to resolve before you can thrive. You don't owe anyone a performance of healing. In this episode, Dr. Taylor covers: * Grief integration vs. acceptance, and why the distinction matters clinically * The waves metaphor and how grief seasons shape your capacity over time * Sustainable practice strategies for the long haul, including realistic scheduling, clinical variety, and preventing burnout * Why clinician wellbeing is an ethical issue, not a personal luxury * How grief can redefine professionalism rather than undermine it * Reflection questions to help you examine how grief has reshaped your work and release "good enough" narratives that no longer serve you Whether you are a therapist, counselor, coach, or helper who is personally navigating loss while supporting others, this episode meets you where you are. Keywords this episode speaks to: grief-informed practice, clinician grief, therapist burnout, sustainable therapy practice, grief integration, disenfranchised grief, grief and professional identity, grief for helpers, grief-informed care, secondary grief, anticipatory grief, clinician wellbeing, ethics and self-care, grief literacy Timestamps: 00:00 Thriving While Grieving 00:27 Welcome and Series Finale 01:42 Grief Changes the Clinician 02:52 My Brother and Becoming Grief Informed 04:16 Integration Over Acceptance 04:56 Sustainable Practice for the Long Haul 05:43 Waves and Seasonal Cadence 07:28 Scheduling Variety and Burnout Reset 09:29 Ethics Include Your Wellbeing 10:29 Redefining Professionalism Through Grief 11:04 Closing Takeaways and Reflections 13:22 Outro and Resources ----------------------- Grief is not a problem to solve. It is a human experience to move through, and most of us were never taught how. Grief is the New Normal is hosted by Dr. Heather Taylor, licensed psychologist and grief specialist with over a decade of experience in grief, trauma, and reproductive psychology. This show exists to change the conversation around loss by expanding what grief looks like, who it belongs to, and what it actually means to integrate it into your life. Whether you're grieving a death, a diagnosis, a relationship, an identity shift, or the world as you knew it, your grief is real, it deserves space, and you are not behind. And if you're a clinician, coach, or helper carrying your own grief while holding space for others, this show was built for you too. Dr. Taylor brings research-informed frameworks, honest clinical perspective, and the STAY framework, a grief-informed approach to living with loss that goes far beyond the five stages. Expect nuance, depth, and conversations that take grief seriously. No toxic positivity. No fixing. Just honest conversation, real validation, and a community built around grief literacy, disenfranchised grief, anticipatory grief, collective grief, and the full spectrum of human loss. grief support podcast · disenfranchised grief · anticipatory grief · grief after loss · grief for clinicians · grief-informed care · grief literacy · coping with grief · grief and identity · mental health and grief · reproductive grief · pet loss grief · collective trauma and grief · moral injury · grief integration · STAY framework New episodes dropping regularly Subscribe to the Bridging the Grief Gap newsletter on LinkedIn for deeper dives, resources, and grief-literate tools LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heather-taylor-psyd-licensed-psychologist [http://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-taylor-psyd-licensed-psychologist] Grab the Authentically Unapologetic Grief Journal → https://a.co/d/4hbLtbX [https://a.co/d/4hbLtbX] www.thedrheathertaylor.com [http://www.griefisthenewnormal.com] · hello@griefisthenewnormal.com [hello@griefisthenewnormal.com] https://linktr.ee/griefisthenewnormal [https://linktr.ee/griefisthenewnormal] Follow @grief_is_the_new_normal on Instagram for grief education, mental health content, and yes, a little sass and dark humor too. ------------------------------------- Opening and closing music by The Dadicorns Copyright 2026 Grief is the New Normal: A Podcast with Dr. Heather Taylor. All Rights Reserved. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy.

Grief is the New Normal Podcast: S3E12 Life Interrupted: The Impact of Sibling Grief with Dr. Parul Dua Makkar

On Grief is the New Normal, host Dr. Heather Taylor interviews Long Island dentist and grief coach Dr. Parul Dua Makkar about sibling grief after her younger brother, Dr. Manu Dua, died from canver of the tongue in 2021 during COVID restrictions, leaving her to say goodbye by video call. They discuss how sibling loss can feel invisible and uniquely alters identity, future plans, and family dynamics, especially as Parul later lost her father suddenly. Parul shares Manu’s posthumously published book, Life Interrupted, and her tribute platform “Dua Good Job,” focused on doing good, oral cancer education, and grief support. They explore how grief shifts empathy in healthcare, the importance of boundaries and support, and why grieving people value others saying the sibling’s name and sharing memories. 00:00 Say Their Name 00:25 Podcast Welcome 00:48 Meet Dr Parul 01:18 Losing Manu in COVID 03:16 His Cancer Lessons 05:09 Life Interrupted 07:32 Why Sibling Grief Hurts 11:55 Talk About Our Siblings 13:17 Keeping Memories for Kids 14:27 Second Loss Losing Dad 18:22 Finding Peace After Loss 18:49 Grief Held in the Body 20:03 Micro Griefs in Dentistry 22:01 Empathy Gaps in Care 25:08 Choosing Meaning After Trauma 26:56 Do a Good Job Legacy 29:39 Identity and Boundaries 33:48 Advice for Sibling Grievers 35:35 Where to Connect 36:13 Closing and Resources ------------------------------------ Dr. Parul Dua Makkar is a general dentist, speaker, author, and grief coach for healthcare providers. After losing her only sibling, Dr. Manu Dua, to oral cancer, she turned her personal loss into a powerful mission. Through her initiative Dua Good Job, she educates healthcare professionals on early oral cancer detection, treatment navigation, and the emotional toll of caregiving and loss. Dr. Makkar is also dedicated to supporting clinicians facing burnout, grief, and moral injury, offering compassionate tools and coaching to help them heal while continuing to serve. Based in Long Island, NY, she blends clinical expertise with heartfelt advocacy to create space for wellness, awareness, and purpose in healthcare. Guide to Oral Cancer Free eBook: https://www.duagoodjob.com/freeoralcancerguide [https://www.duagoodjob.com/freeoralcancerguide] Books https://www.duagoodjob.com/offers/3oeb648R [https://www.duagoodjob.com/offers/3oeb648R] Book a support call. https://www.duagoodjob.com/schedulecall [https://www.duagoodjob.com/schedulecall] ---------------------- Grief is not a problem to solve. It is a human experience to move through, and most of us were never taught how. Grief is the New Normal is hosted by Dr. Heather Taylor, licensed psychologist and grief specialist with over a decade of experience in grief, trauma, and reproductive psychology. This show exists to change the conversation around loss by expanding what grief looks like, who it belongs to, and what it actually means to integrate it into your life. Whether you're grieving a death, a diagnosis, a relationship, an identity shift, or the world as you knew it, your grief is real, it deserves space, and you are not behind. And if you're a clinician, coach, or helper carrying your own grief while holding space for others, this show was built for you too. Dr. Taylor brings research-informed frameworks, honest clinical perspective, and the STAY framework, a grief-informed approach to living with loss that goes far beyond the five stages. Expect nuance, depth, and conversations that take grief seriously. No toxic positivity. No fixing. Just honest conversation, real validation, and a community built around grief literacy, disenfranchised grief, anticipatory grief, collective grief, and the full spectrum of human loss. grief support podcast · disenfranchised grief · anticipatory grief · grief after loss · grief for clinicians · grief-informed care · grief literacy · coping with grief · grief and identity · mental health and grief · reproductive grief · pet loss grief · collective trauma and grief · moral injury · grief integration · STAY framework New episodes dropping regularly Subscribe to the Bridging the Grief Gap newsletter on LinkedIn for deeper dives, resources, and grief-literate tools LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heather-taylor-psyd-licensed-psychologist [http://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-taylor-psyd-licensed-psychologist] Grab the Authentically Unapologetic Grief Journal → https://a.co/d/4hbLtbX [https://a.co/d/4hbLtbX] www.griefisthenewnormal.com [http://www.griefisthenewnormal.com] · hello@griefisthenewnormal.com Follow @grief_is_the_new_normal on Instagram for grief education, mental health content, and yes, a little sass and dark humor too.   ------------------------------------- Opening and closing music by The Dadicorns Copyright 2026 Grief is the New Normal: A Podcast with Dr. Heather Taylor. All Rights Reserved. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy.