Embracing Grief & Hope with Cheryl Slover-Linett

Embracing Grief & Hope with Cheryl Slover-Linett

In this episode, Andrea and Rebecca are joined by poet Cheryl Slover-Linett for a deeply moving conversation about grief, trauma, motherhood, land, and the healing power of poetry. Cheryl shares how her life experiences shaped her work, including the long arc of writing The Seduction of the Daughter in 15 Pieces and the emotional care required to tell a traumatic story without overwhelming herself or the reader. IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: * The strange emotional tension of Colorado spring: beauty, heat, fire risk, and unease * Cheryl’s grief origin story and the moments that shaped her early life * How trauma, memory, and grief show up in poetic form * Writing about sexual violence with care, specificity, and boundaries * The role of nature in holding difficult creative work * Mother wounds, protection, and the grief of not being fully protected * Land, colonization, ancestry, and the grief embedded in place * Hope, recovery, and what it means to keep living with unresolved pain * The embodied power of poetry and why form matters FEATURED GUEST Cheryl Slover-Linett Poet based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her work has appeared in multiple literary journals, and she also leads wilderness retreats through Lead Feather, the nature-based nonprofit she founded in 2008. POEMS FEATURED IN THE EPISODE * Glastonbury Guzzle * Mistletoe Connect with Cheryl: * Get her book of poetry: https://dulcetshop.myshopify.com/products/the-seduction-of-the-daughter-in-fifteen-pieces-cheryl-slover-linett-copy [https://dulcetshop.myshopify.com/products/the-seduction-of-the-daughter-in-fifteen-pieces-cheryl-slover-linett-copy]  * Lead Feather Wilderness Retreat [https://leadfeather.org/]

Terrible Losses Met With Extraordinary Resilience with Rebecca Faye Smith Galli

In this conversation, Andrea and Rebecca talk with Becky Galli who shares how a life of unexpected losses shaped her perspective and how writing became a way to process, reflect, and stay connected to what matters most. KEY MOMENTS * Becky opens up about the recent hospitalization and what it felt like to recover afterward. * She shares the origin of her grief story: the sudden death of her 17-year-old brother. * The conversation explores how each family member grieved differently and how they stayed connected. * Becky reflects on raising children with special needs, divorce, and paralysis. * She explains how writing columns, books, and daily reflections helped her navigate life. * The episode closes with a discussion about when people feel least alone in grief. KEYWORDS grief, loss, healing, resilience, journaling, uncertainty, family, support, special needs, paralysis, storytelling, recovery, honesty, emotions, love, connection ABOUT BECKY GALLI Becky Galli is an author and columnist who writes about love, loss, and healing. She is the author of Rethinking Possible and Morning Fuel, and writes the weekly column Thoughtful Thursdays. Find her online at https://rebeccafayesmithgalli.com/ [https://rebeccafayesmithgalli.com/] On Instagram @chairwriter [https://www.instagram.com/chairwriter/]

Releasing the Shame of Abuse: with Sarah Hanson

Andrea and Rebecca welcome poet Sarah Hanson to explore her journey through an abusive relationship, leaving, and truth telling as a tool to reduce shame. They discuss the power of storytelling, the nuances of relationships, and finding respite in the places that nurture our souls. Discover how her poetry offers a space for healing, understanding, and embracing imperfection. TOPICS * The role of honesty, storytelling, and emotional truth in healing * Understanding grief’s origins and its impact on identity and relationships * The significance of nature, water, and stillness as sources of respite KEYWORDS grief, poetry, healing, honesty, self-compassion, trauma, relationships, mental health, storytelling, vulnerability RESOURCES Conjuring the Hurricane | Sarah Hanson Book | Memoir-in-Verse [https://www.sarahhansonwrites.com/conjuring-the-hurricane] CONNECT with Sarah Hanson: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/sarahhansonwrites/] | Website [https://www.sarahhansonwrites.com]

HeirLight: Merging Legacy and Connection with Jermaine Ee

In this episode, Jermaine Ee shares how grief, legacy, and intentional living intersect through his work with HeirLight—a tool designed to make estate planning and leaving an emotional legacy accessible. Tune in for inspiring stories about the invisible inheritance of values and the importance of living in a way that honors our loved ones and ourselves. Key Topics: * The profound impact of grief and how it shapes our understanding of legacy * The origins of HeirLight and its mission to make estate planning more accessible * Personal stories of loss, including Jermaine’s experience with his mother’s passing * How shared family traditions and conversations deepen our connections * Rethinking independence and community in aging and life planning * The transformative power of storytelling for healing and legacy-building * Lessons learned from cultural perspectives on love, obligation, and materialism * Practical approaches to designing a life centered around connection rather than possessions Connect with Jermaine Ee: * HeirLight [https://heirlight.com/en] - Jermaine’s innovative estate planning tool * www.eejermaine.com [http://Www.eejermaine.com]  * Instagram: @eejermaine  * www.linkedin.com/in/eejermaine [http://www.linkedin.com/in/eejermaine] 50% off HeirLight: https://heirlight.com/en/podcast [https://heirlight.com/en/podcast]

Death Cleaning: Decluttering as an Act of Love with Morgan Holliday

In this episode, Andrea and Rebecca sit down with Morgan Holliday, founder of Morganize It, to discuss how grief and the process of death cleaning shape the way we approach living, letting go, and honoring loved ones. Morgan shares insights from her personal journey, professional expertise, and her mission to help others find calm and clarity amid grief and transition. Main Topics: * The impact of grief on identity and daily life * The concept and practice of Swedish death cleaning * How decluttering can facilitate grief, memory, and legacy * Practical steps for managing possessions and emotional attachments * Fostering a meaningful relationship with memories, stories, and objects * Cultural differences in approaches to belongings and inheritance * The importance of storytelling and intentionality in letting go Links: http://morganizeit.net [http://morganizeit.net] On Instagram @morganizeitmoving