Grief Is My Side Hustle

Ep. 177: Jill Yesko Will Not Allow Her Grief- Or Her Mother's Truth- To Be Erased

This week, I am honored to have journalist, documentarian and seasoned NPR contributor Jill Yesko joining the show. Jill shares her personal journey of losing her mother to COVID and the complexities of navigating grief during a time of social isolation. We discuss the impact of family dynamics on grief, as well as the process of creating a documentary film ("Erased") about Jill's mother's past, and the importance of memory and legacy in the healing process. In 1967, Jill's sleek and fashionable mother, Sally, suddenly disappeared from their New Jersey home. She eventually returned, only a shell of her former self; and Jill was never given an explanation as to what had taken her away from the family all that time. After Sally died from Covid at an assisted living facility in 2020, Jill did some research. She discovered her mother hadn't just disappeared; she'd been admitted to High Point Hospital, a private psychiatric facility in Port Chester, New York.  You'll have to tune in to this compelling conversation to learn more about this incredible journey that Jill has taken- I KNOW you're going to be glad you did.    Thank you, as always, for listening. Please rate and review where and when you can- lots of love!   More about Jill: https://www.erasedfilmdocumentary.com/ [https://www.erasedfilmdocumentary.com/]  https://www.instagram.com/sayyesjill/ [https://www.instagram.com/sayyesjill/]

Ep. 176: Dorothy Roberts on the Mixed Marriage Project

Dorothy Roberts and I really earned this conversation today, folks. After navigating some technical difficulty in the beginning, we were able to dive into a really powerful and beautiful conversation surrounding her book, "The Mixed Marriage Project."  Her beautiful memoir explores the themes of grief, loss, and the complexities of identity through the lens of her parents' interracial marriage. We'll touch on the cultural context surrounding interracial relationships, which given our current climate, feels more poignant than ever. Dorothy highlights the importance of family history, the lessons learned from parents, and how she's implemented continuing bonds through her work. Ultimately, our time today is a shining example of the significance of storytelling in understanding (and processing) loss. Thank you SO much for listening; if you like what we're doing on the show, please rate and review wherever possible, and tell your friends!  More about Dorothy: https://www.instagram.com/dorothyeroberts/ [https://www.instagram.com/dorothyeroberts/]  https://www.npr.org/2026/02/10/nx-s1-5704334/dorothy-roberts-the-mixed-marriage-project [https://www.npr.org/2026/02/10/nx-s1-5704334/dorothy-roberts-the-mixed-marriage-project] Buy her book HERE! [https://www.betterworldbooks.com/product/detail/the-mixed-marriage-project-a-memoir-of-love-race-and-family-9781668068380?shipto=US&curcode=USD&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping-New-USA&utm_content=186849722375&utm_term=&creative=777596326024&device=c&placement=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23072334438&gbraid=0AAAAADMQnG9LZMId5FYYMtswDtKW7_McX&gclid=CjwKCAiAkbbMBhB2EiwANbxtbd-kWNysWF9h_KODXSjRLaE-1jSNYz7yr8rzmZrNINGb5wFcb893LhoC7-0QAvD_BwE]

Ep. 175: Dr. Alexandra Sowa Brings a New Perspective to Weight Management and Grief

I am so, so grateful to welcome the extraordinary Dr. Alexandra Sowa to our space this week. You may be wondering, "Meghan, what the heck does a doctor who works closely with GLP1s have to do with grief?" Turns out, quite a lot. Anyone who has experienced a significant weight loss or gain and has found themselves grieving the change in their form will probably want to share this conversation far and wide. In this episode, Dr. Sowa discusses the biological factors influencing weight gain- debunking the myth that effort alone determines weight management. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the role of environment and mental health in sustainable weight loss strategies. We talk all things GLP-1, of course, and Dr. Sowa brings valuable advice to folks who have been considering that step, or have taken that step- and now find their feelings are all over the place.  I really enjoyed how this conversation braided a lot of topics together that folks might not always find related...but really, when you think about, grief is pretty far-reaching. I hope you all found this episode as valuable and special as I did. If so, PLEASE don't hesitate to leave us a rating and a review wherever possible.  More about Dr. Sowa: https://alexandrasowamd.com/ [https://alexandrasowamd.com/]  The Ozempic Revolution [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ozempic-revolution-alexandra-sowa/1146344816;jsessionid=261959E008812A805D33F31AA78411C3.prodny_store01-atgap10?ean=9780063417007] https://www.instagram.com/alexandrasowamd/ [https://www.instagram.com/alexandrasowamd/]

Ep. 174: Elena Brower on How to Let Go- and "Hold Nothing"

Elena Brower is a bestselling author, artist, podcast host, teacher, mentor and chaplaincy student. Her debut book, Art of Attention, was published in 2012, and her bestselling journals Practice You and Being You, along with her courses, classes, and talks, explore stages of studentship, practice, life, and listening. In this conversation, Meghan and Elena discuss Elena's latest book, Hold Nothing, and have a beautiful conversation about learning to receive, be vulnerable, and "love ourselves with rigor."  https://elenabrower.com/about/ [https://elenabrower.com/about/] https://www.instagram.com/elenabrower/ [https://www.instagram.com/elenabrower/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenabrower/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenabrower/]

Ep. 173: Ronald Simpson-Bey on the Wrongful Conviction that Changed Everything

Ronald Simpson-Bey would call his grief a proponent of his survival. While he was incarcerated (for a crime he didn’t commit) during the early 2000s, his young adult son was fatally shot. Ronald’s conviction was finally overturned in 2012, and he would return to mainstream society as a grieving father who had lost such a formative piece of his life. These days (after becoming a paralegal while imprisoned) Ronald is a staunch advocate for individuals fighting wrongful conviction, and acts as a pillar of strength and wisdom in his community and beyond. Ronald is currently working as the Executive Vice President for JustLeadershipUSA (JLUSA). He is also a 2015 Leading with Conviction (LwC) Fellow with JLUSA. Thank you SO much for coming back to another season of Grief is My Side Hustle! Please be sure to leave a five-star rating and review wherever possible. We truly appreciate you! For more about Ronald: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4kwP3U0d5w [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4kwP3U0d5w] https://www.instagram.com/ronaldsimpsonbey/ [https://www.instagram.com/ronaldsimpsonbey/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/simpsonbey1/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/simpsonbey1/]