Shannon Traphagen talks about Brain Cancer, Grief, and Rebuilding Life After Loss

Shannon Traphagen talks about Brain Cancer, Grief, and Rebuilding Life After Loss

In this episode, Holly Gainsboro speaks with Shannon Traphagen, host of The Game On Glio podcast [https://thegameongliopodcast.com/], about her journey through grief after losing her husband Mike to glioblastoma in 2020 at the age of 44. Shannon shares the story of Mike’s sudden diagnosis, their 20-year marriage, and the heartbreak of interrupted plans for parenthood. She discusses how creating her podcast became a way to honor Mike’s memory and support others in the brain cancer community, eventually growing into her media company, Write Life Media. Together, Holly and Shannon also explore widowhood, dating after loss, and finding “courageous joy” while continuing to live with grief.   This episode is in honor of Brain Tumor Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness, supporting patients and families, and advancing research for brain tumors. Donations to help fund research for brain tumors can be made through the Glioblastoma Research Organization at https://www.gbmresearch.org/donate [https://www.gbmresearch.org/donate].   Shannon Traphagen is a renowned medical media storyteller, author, and award-winning podcast host. With multiple degrees and certification in Storytelling in Modern Media from Yale University, Shannon launched her business Write Life Media after losing her husband Mike to brain cancer in 2020. Shannon travels the globe, and speaks at conferences in her expert capacity in medical storytelling with an emphasis on oncology care and widowhood. With more than 50K followers on social media, she uses her voice to help others who are navigating hard times in life. She volunteers as a cancer patient advocate. And to date has produced more than 60 episodes of Game On Glio Podcast. Shannon is also a 4.5 star author with two more books being published soon. You can learn more about Shannon at WriteLifeMediaLLC.com [https://WriteLifeMediaLLC.com], on Instagram at Game On Glio Podcast or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/gameonglio [https://www.facebook.com/gameonglio].   Holly Gainsboro, founder of Golden Heart Grief Support & Education, is a certified grief support specialist/coach and certified grief educator. Following the death of her late husband, Steven, Holly felt pulled to be present for others experiencing their own losses—not just pertaining to death, but any event that may result in a grief response. She guides those who have suffered losses by helping them navigate their way through grief, transitioning them to a place of joy and hope. Holly also facilitates grief support groups, and grief education workshops. You can learn more on her website: https://www.goldenheartgrief.com [https://www.goldenheartgrief.com]   Produced by Cindy Ballaro with On Track Marketing – cindyballaro@yahoo.com

Gabby Jimenez on Hospice, Families, and End-of-Life Care

In this episode, Holly Gainsboro speaks with Gabby Jimenez, founder of The Hospice Heart, about end-of-life care and the role of hospice. Gabby shares her journey from commercial real estate to hospice nursing and offers insight from witnessing thousands of final moments. Together, they address common misconceptions about hospice, discuss what to expect at the bedside, and explore the emotional and spiritual aspects of dying. Gabby also emphasizes theimportance of presence, energy, and giving loved ones permission at the end of life, while sharing meaningful ways families can find closure and connection.   Gabrielle Jimenez “Gabby” is a hospice and palliative care nurse, an end-of-life doula, a death and dying educator, a public speaker, and a published author. Her work is rooted in a deep commitment to improving the way people are cared for both at the end oflife and in the tender seasons of grief that follow. She is known for her steady presence at the bedside and her belief that this sacred work must always be met with kindness, honesty, and compassion.  Website: www.thehospiceheart.net [http://www.thehospiceheart.net]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehospiceheart.net [https://www.facebook.com/thehospiceheart.net]     Holly Gainsboro, founder of Golden Heart Grief Support & Education, is a certified grief support specialist/coach andcertified grief educator. Following the death of her latehusband, Steven, Holly felt pulled to be present for others experiencing their own losses—not just pertaining to death, but any event that may result in a grief response. She guides those who have suffered losses by helping them navigate their way through grief, transitioning them to a place of joy and hope. Holly also facilitates grief support groups, and grief education workshops. You can learn more on her website: https://www.goldenheartgrief.com [https://www.goldenheartgrief.com]   Produced by Cindy Ballaro with On Track Marketing – cindyballaro@yahoo.com

Creating Meaning After Loss: The Story Behind "Music for a Cure"

In this episode, Holly Gainsboro speaks with Sal Schito, founder of "Music for a Cure," about his journey after losing his wife, Karen, to glioblastoma in 2024. Sal shares how his grief led him to create a powerful fundraising event that will bring community, music, and purpose together to support the Glioblastoma Research Organization. He discusses the inspiration behind the upcoming concert in Knoxville on May 9th and his goal of making a meaningful impact through this initiative. Together, Holly and Sal also reflect on caregiving,grief, and the complex emotions, including guilt and love, that can arise at the end of life. With this episode, we are also participating in Podcasthon - UNITING PODCASTS WORLDWIDE FOR CHARITY! The first non-profit event to bring together the podcasting community. The charity we are raising awareness for is the GlioblastomaResearch Organization (GBMRO), founded by our guest from Season 3, Ep. 8 Amber Barbach. 100% of the proceeds from "Music for a Cure" will go to GBMRO.   Salvatore “Sal” Schito is the founder of "Music for a Cure," a charity concert created in memory of his late wife, Karen Harte Schito, who passed away from Glioblastoma brain cancer. Inspired by Karen’s love for community and compassion for others, Sal and his three sons, AJ (23), Sal (22), and Gabe (17), are bringing people together through music to raise awareness and funds for research. The inaugural event will take place May 9, 2026, at the Cotton Eyed Joe in Knoxville, Tennessee, benefiting the Glioblastoma Research Organization. Through this mission, Sal hopes to honor Karen’s legacy and help move closer to ending this devastating disease.   To learn more about "Music for a Cure" visit: Web: https://fundraise.gbmresearch.org/event/music-for-a-cure/e732281 [https://fundraise.gbmresearch.org/event/music-for-a-cure/e732281] Tickets: https://www.cottoneyedjoe.com/shows/ [https://www.cottoneyedjoe.com/shows/]E-mail: ⁠salschito@gmail.com⁠ [salschito@gmail.com] Holly Gainsboro, founder of Golden Heart Grief Support & Education, is a certified grief support specialist/coach and certified grief educator. Following the death of her latehusband, Steven, Holly felt pulled to be present for others experiencing their own losses—not just pertaining to death, but any event that may result in a grief response. She guides those who have suffered losses by helping them navigate their way through grief, transitioning them to a place of joy and hope. Holly also facilitates grief support groups, and grief education workshops. You can learn more on her website: https://www.goldenheartgrief.com [https://www.goldenheartgrief.com]   Podcasthon https://www.instagram.com/podcasthon_en [https://www.instagram.com/podcasthon_en] https://www.linkedin.com/company/podcasthon/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/podcasthon/] Produced by Cindy Ballaro with On Track Marketing – cindyballaro@yahoo.com

Charlene Lam on Curating Grief and Meaning

In this episode, Holly Gainsboro speaks with Charlene Lam, grief coach and author of Curating Grief, about the deeply personal process of managing belongings after a loved one’s death. Drawing from her experience curating her mother’s possessions, Charlene shares a thoughtful framework to help others navigate grief through physical items. Together, they discuss the emotional weight of letting go, the importance of safe support during loss, and the role of meaning-making in healing.  Charlene Lam is a grief coach, speaker, and the author of Curating Grief: A Creative Guide to Choosing What to Keep After a Loved One Dies. She believes we are ALL curators after a major loss, and developed the Curating Grief® framework to help people process grief in a creative, accessible way. Her TEDx talk, “What Grief and Soy Sauce Taught Me About Life After Loss,” [https://youtu.be/diwFCVThEGc?si=_rjllnRkQnjRHwbB] has been viewed more than 20,000 times. A proud Chinese-American New Yorker like her mom, she now lives in Lisbon, Portugal, and works with clients worldwide. You can find her here: www.charlenelam.com [https://www.charlenelam.com/] IG @curating_grief [https://3d184b96.streak-link.com/CxvN7ffzM_0y3Ts78w1WYfxf/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fcurating_grief%2F] Monthly Gathering [https://3d184b96.streak-link.com/CxvN7ffBQY0-99ULMgv4fUj5/https%3A%2F%2Fluma.com%2Fuser%2Fthegriefgallery] | Curating Grief Book [https://3d184b96.streak-link.com/CxvN7ffn57IfwcpnlAonUeCy/https%3A%2F%2Fcuratinggrief.com%2Fbook]   Holly Gainsboro, founder of Golden Heart Grief Support & Education, is a certified grief support specialist/coach andcertified grief educator. Following the death of her late husband, Steven, Holly felt pulled to be present for others experiencing their own losses—not just pertaining to death, but any event that may result in a grief response. She guides those who have suffered losses by helping them navigate their way through grief, transitioning them to a place of joy and hope. Holly also facilitates grief support groups, and grief education workshops. You can learn more on her website: https://www.goldenheartgrief.com [https://www.goldenheartgrief.com]   Produced by Cindy Ballaro with On Track Marketing – cindyballaro@yahoo.com

Rebecca Feinglos on Grief, Loss, and Compassionate Support

Holly welcomes guest Rebecca Feinglos, a certified grief support specialist and founder of Grieve Leave. Rebecca shares how losing both of her parents, including her mother’s battle with glioblastoma and her father’s sudden COVID related death, shaped her understanding of grief. Together, they discuss how those experiences led Rebecca to create Grieve Leave, a movement advocating for more compassionate grief support in workplaces and healthcare, and why honest conversations and empathy matter so much when navigating loss.   Rebecca Feinglos is a certified grief support specialist, founder of Grieve Leave, and host of the podcast Grief’d Up. After losing both parents at a young age and going through a long, painful divorce, she took a year-long “grief sabbatical” that sparked a global community helping people make space for loss with honesty, humor, and practical support. Today, Grieve Leave reaches millions through education, storytelling, and workplace training. Rebecca’s work has been featured in TIME, LA Times, Fortune, Slate, and more. You can reach out to her at rebecca@grieveleave.com [rebecca@grieveleave.com]. Follow along on Instagram at: @grieveleave [http://instagram.com/grieveleave] and @rfeinglos [http://instagram.com/rfeinglos]   Holly Gainsboro, founder of Golden Heart Grief Support& Education, is a certified grief support specialist/coach andcertified grief educator. Following the death of her latehusband, Steven, Holly felt pulled to be present for others experiencing their own losses—not just pertaining to death, but any event that may result in a grief response. She guides those who have suffered losses by helping them navigate their way through grief, transitioning them to a place of joy and hope. Holly also facilitates grief support groups, and grief education workshops. You can learn more on her website: https://www.goldenheartgrief.com [https://www.goldenheartgrief.com]   Produced by Cindy Ballaro with On Track Marketing – cindyballaro@yahoo.com