Good Grief: Life After Loss

Ron Jackenthal: Turning Loss Into Legacy

1 h 1 min · 26. mar. 2026
episode Ron Jackenthal: Turning Loss Into Legacy cover

Description

In this deeply personal episode, Skylar sits down with her dad, Ron Jackenthal, for an honest conversation about grief, purpose, and what it means to rebuild a life after unimaginable loss. After the sudden death of his son Sam, Ron’s world was completely reshaped. Once focused on a successful career in sales, he made the life-altering decision to step away and dedicate himself fully to creating the Live Like Sam Foundation—an organization committed to honoring Sam’s life and supporting others navigating grief. In this episode, Ron reflects on who he was before the loss, how grief changed him as a father and as a person, and the moment he realized he needed to do something with his pain. Together, he and Skylar explore how loss transformed their relationship, the complexities of parenting after tragedy, and the balance of carrying both deep grief and deep love. This conversation offers a powerful perspective for anyone navigating loss—especially parents—and for those searching for meaning, purpose, and connection in the aftermath of heartbreak. Contact & Resources: Livelikesam.org [http://livelikesam.org/] Email: ron@livelikesam.org [ron@livelikesam.org]  Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe! Follow Good Grief: Life After Loss on Instagram @goodgrief.pod [https://www.instagram.com/goodgrief.pod/] If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal at skylar@livelikesam.org [skylar@livelikesam.org]   Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram @bethechangemedianetwork [https://www.instagram.com/bethechangemedianetwork/] The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

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43 episodes

episode Grief Got Lost in My Google Calendar artwork

Grief Got Lost in My Google Calendar

Sam would have turned 27 on June 12th. Instead of spending the day grieving her brother, Skylar spent it buried in work, preparing for a company-wide presentation, answering messages, and racing through a packed schedule. Before she knew it, the day was over, and she never had the chance to truly grieve. In this episode, Skylar opens up about the guilt of feeling disconnected from grief, the pressure to honor important dates a certain way, and what happens when life gets so busy that grief gets pushed aside. Because sometimes, grief doesn't disappear, it just gets lost in the calendar.  Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe! Follow Good Grief: Life After Loss on Instagram @goodgrief.pod [https://www.instagram.com/goodgrief.pod/] If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal at skylar@livelikesam.org [skylar@livelikesam.org]   Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram @bethechangemedianetwork [https://www.instagram.com/bethechangemedianetwork/] The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

Yesterday14 min
episode Who Takes Care of the Griever? artwork

Who Takes Care of the Griever?

Grief doesn't just affect your heart—it affects your brain, your body, your routines, and your mental health. In this episode, Skylar talks about something we don't discuss nearly enough: the mental health of grievers. From "grief brain" and brain fog to the dark thoughts that can sometimes creep in after loss, we'll explore how grief impacts us far beyond sadness. Whether your loss was recent or years ago, this episode is a reminder that taking care of yourself isn't forgetting the person you lost—it's part of learning how to carry them with you. Mental Health Resources: • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 • Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 • Find a therapist: psychologytoday.com/us/therapists [http://psychologytoday.com/us/therapists]  Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe! Follow Good Grief: Life After Loss on Instagram @goodgrief.pod [https://www.instagram.com/goodgrief.pod/] If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal at skylar@livelikesam.org [skylar@livelikesam.org]   Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram @bethechangemedianetwork [https://www.instagram.com/bethechangemedianetwork/] The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

4. juni 202613 min
episode One Year In: What I've Learned from Hosting a Grief Podcast artwork

One Year In: What I've Learned from Hosting a Grief Podcast

One year ago, Skylar hit publish on the very first episode of Good Grief: Life After Loss — and today, one year and 41 episodes later, she's reflecting on everything this podcast has taught her. From the loneliness she felt as a 14-year-old grieving her brother Sam, to the weeks she was too exhausted to talk about grief and questioned whether she was even qualified to be here, to the unexpected gift of finding community through her listeners — this episode is an honest look at what a year of hosting a grief podcast has really been like. If you've ever felt alone in your grief, this one's for you. Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe! Follow Good Grief: Life After Loss on Instagram @goodgrief.pod [https://www.instagram.com/goodgrief.pod/] If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal at skylar@livelikesam.org [skylar@livelikesam.org]   Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram @bethechangemedianetwork [https://www.instagram.com/bethechangemedianetwork/] The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

21. maj 202613 min
episode When Grief Meets School artwork

When Grief Meets School

When grief meets school, the impact goes far beyond sadness. This week, Skylar shares what returning to 9th grade after losing her brother Sam really looked like; feeling too far behind to recover, dropping classes, hiding in the library, losing motivation, and struggling to care about grades when her world had completely changed. She also reflects on how grief affected her confidence, future opportunities, and relationship with learning for years to come. This episode is for anyone who has ever tried to succeed in school while carrying the weight of grief. Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe! Follow Good Grief: Life After Loss on Instagram @goodgrief.pod [https://www.instagram.com/goodgrief.pod/] If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal at skylar@livelikesam.org [skylar@livelikesam.org]   Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram @bethechangemedianetwork [https://www.instagram.com/bethechangemedianetwork/] The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

23. apr. 202618 min