Inspiring Interviews with Louisa Jewell: John Jeff Hutter "Good Grief"
On this episode of Inspiring Interviews, Louisa Jewell sits down with John Jeff Hutter, author of Gutsy Grief, for an honest conversation about what loss asks of us, and what it can show us in return. A decade on from his father's death, John Jeff reflects on grief as something non-linear and "squiggly," better understood through a series of what he calls portals than through stages or timelines.
John Jeff and Louisa explore the difference between "everything happens for a reason" and what he describes as a gratitude "upgrade," the shared responsibility inside conflict, the messy "year of excuses" that can follow a loss, and the quiet relief of letting go of the idea that healing has a finish line. Along the way, there is practical wisdom for anyone trying to support a grieving friend, starting with why "don't say sorry" may serve them better than you would expect.
About John Jeff Hutter John Jeff Hutter writes and speaks about how life's hardest moments invite us into greater honesty with ourselves and the lives we're authoring. His work explores how storytelling, language, and curiosity shape identity, especially in the aftermath of change, loss, and trauma. He holds master's degrees in Human Dimensions of Organizations from the University of Texas at Austin and in Happiness Studies from the Happiness Studies Academy. Originally from Cumberland, Maryland, he now lives in Austin, Texas, with his partner, George.
https://johnjeffhutter.com/ [https://johnjeffhutter.com/]
About Gutsy Grief Gutsy Grief is a book about grief beyond death: the loss of identity after burnout, the end of a relationship you thought would last, the unravelling of a career you built your sense of self around, or the future you expected but will never live.
After John Jeff Hutter's father died by suicide, he discovered decades of journals and letters his father had written over more than thirty years. Reading them created an ongoing conversation across time that reshaped how John Jeff understood grief, meaning, and what it means to be human. Those writings form the narrative backbone of Gutsy Grief, grounding the book in lived experience rather than advice or theory.
Blending memoir with research-informed insight from happiness studies and organizational behaviour, Gutsy Grief is for readers who feel out of sync with conventional grief narratives, who are tired of being told to "move on,” and who sense there is meaning here but do not want it spoon-fed or packaged in toxic positivity.
