A conversation about life, loss, grief, and grief dreams with one of the leading academic researchers on the topic, Dr. Joshua Black. Visit www.griefdreams.ca for more information on grief dreams.
Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
Marney Thompson is the Director of Bereavement Services at Victoria Hospice and an executive member of the Canadian Grief Alliance. She is the recent recipient of the King Charles Coronation Medal in recognition of her contribution to the field of bereavement care. She is an experienced conference presenter, clinical co-lead of the BC Psychosocial ECHO project, and a counsellor in private practice. In addition to these roles, she is also co-author of the award-winning book, “Transitions in Dying and Bereavement,” and a number of peer-reviewed articles related to psychosocial palliative care, medical assistance in death, and prolonged grief. In 2012, she was part of the international “Train the Trainers” pilot project with the Center for Prolonged Grief at Columbia University and has continued to work and study in this area of grief.
In this episode, we discuss her journey into the field of bereavement care, the Canadian Grief Alliance’s “Next Steps Action Plan”, their new website aboutgrief.ca, AI and grief, and grief dreams in her practice.
You can find more about Grief Dreams here:
Website – www.griefdreams.ca
Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams
Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group
Looking for ways to support the podcast?
You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways:
1) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen to) and give a review. This improves its online visibility.
2) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. I appreciate any support that helps raise awareness of the topic.
3) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support)
Sunday Dec 07, 2025
Sunday Dec 07, 2025
Michael Mackenzie has worked in Developmental Services, supporting people with intellectual disabilities, for more than 35 years. His areas of focus have included person-directed employment navigation, fundraising, staff training, advocacy and rights, decision making in health care, palliative and Hospice family support, and legacy work through storytelling. Michael is also a volunteer at Bereaved Families of Ontario (Toronto), where he facilitates peer grief groups for people with intellectual disabilities and another series for direct support workers who have experienced loss of those they have supported. He is joined today with Luke Lapas, who has co-facilitated the grief group with people who have intellectual disabilities.
In this episode, we discuss their grief, developing and running a grief program for people with intellectual disabilities, support staff grief, and the grief dreams they have had (grandparents, friend, and clients).
You can find more about Grief Dreams here:
Website – www.griefdreams.ca
Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams
Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group
Looking for ways to support the podcast?
You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways:
1) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen) and give a review. This improves its online visibility.
2) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. I appreciate any support that contributes to raising awareness on the topic.
3) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support)
Sunday Sep 21, 2025
Sunday Sep 21, 2025
As the Operations Manager at ARCH Hospice, Julie Premo is responsible for Operations, Human Resources, Fundraising, Training, and Continuing Education. She is a passionate Healing Arts Practitioner, Reiki Teacher and Yoga Instructor owning a local business (Infinite Healing Arts). She also practices Dental Hygiene part-time and owns an independent Dental Hygiene Practice.
In this episode, we discuss working at a hospice, a precognitive dream of her mom’s death date, her mom‘s end-of-life journey at the hospice and choosing MAiD, her mom’s code word challenge, a grief dream of her mom, and grief in the workplace.
You can find more about Grief Dreams here:
Website – www.griefdreams.ca
Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams
Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group
Looking for ways to support the podcast?
You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways:
1) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen) and give a review. This improves its online visibility.
2) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. I appreciate any support that contributes to raising awareness on the topic.
3) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support)
https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast
Sunday Jun 29, 2025
Sunday Jun 29, 2025
Felicia Cardinal manages an Indigenous clothing store in Chilliwack, British Columbia called Section 35. She is originally from Saddle Lake Cree Nation. Saddle Lake Cree Nation is a Plains Cree, First Nations community, located in the "Beaver Hills" region of central Alberta, Canada. Felicia was born in Edmonton, Alberta and raised in and around there. She moved to Chilliwack in 2009 with her grandmother, who has since moved back to Alberta. Felicia likes to spend her free time at home with her 2 cats or connecting with close friends.
In this episode, we talk about her love of dreams, the death of her parents and friend, changes in how she has dealt with grief over the years, Indigenous culture, her journey with her grandmother’s dementia, dreams of her grandmother, and grief dreams of her mother, auntie, and friend.
You can find more about Grief Dreams here:
Website – www.griefdreams.ca
Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams
Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group
Looking for ways to support the podcast?
You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways:
1) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen) and give a review. This improves its online visibility.
2) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. I appreciate any support that contributes to raising awareness on the topic.
3) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support)
https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast
4) Buy me a Coffee (one-time financial support)
Friday May 30, 2025
Friday May 30, 2025
Earla Legault advocates for adult sibling grief peer support and using creativity to process grief. She co-wrote and illustrated the book Living With Sibling Grief: Imagining a Way Forward with her sibling grief buddy Monica Murphy. Earla is the 2024 recipient of The Compassionate Friends Karen Snepp Outstanding Sibling Award, given to those making significant contributions to fostering and furthering the philosophy of sibling programs. She currently co-hosts the monthly online Canada Sibling Sharing Circle, a peer grief support group for adult siblings. You can find more about Earla on Instagram @sibling.grief.buds or here
In this episode, we talk about her grief after the death of her sister, the importance of support for adult siblings, her new book, grief dreams she had of her sister and dad, and her niece’s grief dream.
You can find more about Grief Dreams here:
Website – www.griefdreams.ca
Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams
Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group
Looking for ways to support the podcast?
You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways:
1) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen) and give a review. This improves its online visibility.
2) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. I appreciate any support that contributes to raising awareness on the topic.
3) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support)
https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast
4) Buy me a Coffee (one-time financial support)
Sunday Apr 27, 2025
Sunday Apr 27, 2025
Lindsey Whissel Fenton is an Emmy award-winning filmmaker, international speaker, and grief educator. In her current role as a senior producer and director at PBS/NPR affiliate WPSU, Lindsey focuses on projects related to grief, trauma, and mental health. She is the creator of Speaking Grief and its sister-initiative, Learning Grief, and serves on the board of directors for the National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG). Lindsey is the founder of Empathic Media, a company that works with clients from non-profit organizations to provide thoughtful and compelling content creation services. She’s also the creator, producer, and host of The Apologies Podcast. You can find more about Lindsey on Instagram @lindseywhisselfenton or at https://lindseywhisselfenton.com/
In this update episode we talk about her new losses since being on the show over 4 years ago (episode 168), including the death of her dog. We discussed her relationship with her dog, her grief, and her grief dreams. We also chatted about the Learning Grief website.
You can find more about Grief Dreams here:
Website – www.griefdreams.ca
Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams
Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group
Looking for ways to support the podcast?
You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways:
1) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen) and give a review. This improves its online visibility.
2) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. I appreciate any support that contributes to raising awareness on the topic.
3) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support)
https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast
4) Buy me a Coffee (one-time financial support)
Wednesday Jan 01, 2025
Wednesday Jan 01, 2025
In this episode, I recap some of the dream conversations I had with guests in 2024.
You can find more about Grief Dreams here:
Website – www.griefdreams.ca
Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams
Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group
Looking for ways to support the podcast?
You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways:
1) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen to) and give a review. This improves our online visibility.
2) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. I appreciate any support that contributes to raising awareness on the topic.
3) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support)
https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast
Saturday Dec 07, 2024
Saturday Dec 07, 2024
Alison Garwood-Jones is an award-winning magazine writer and a former editor at Elle Canada. She now heads up Pen Jar Productions, an art shop and publishing imprint. She also teaches writing and digital strategy at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies, where she won the 2021 Excellence in Teaching Award. Alison’s new picture book, titled “I MISS MY MOMMY: 150 Portraits of Orphaned Adults”. You can find more about Alison at https://alisongarwoodjones.com/.
In this episode, I talk with Alison about the death of her parents, her grief journey, her new picture book, and grief dreams of her parents.
You can find more about Grief Dreams here:
Website – www.griefdreams.ca
Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams
Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group
Looking for ways to support the podcast?
You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways:
1) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen to) and give a review. This improves our online visibility.
2) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. I appreciate any support that contributes to raising awareness on the topic.
3) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support)
https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast
Monday Sep 30, 2024
Monday Sep 30, 2024
David Kessler is one of the world’s foremost experts on grief, loss, and navigating life’s changes. His advice has been featured by The New York Times, Unlocking Us with Brene Brown, TODAY Show, and GQ. He's written six bestselling books, including Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief. That book was a continuation of a book he co-authored with Dr. Elisabeth Kubler Ross called On Grief and Grieving which discussed her 5 stages for grief. His newest release which is out now is called Finding Meaning: Grief Workbook: Tools for Releasing Pain and Remembering with Love. He is the founder of www.grief.com and runs the Grief Educator Certification program. You can find his new grief workbook at Griefbook.com.
In this episode, I talk with David Kessler about my time in his Grief Educator Certification program, his new grief workbook, sitting with another’s grief, grieving the death of his son, the beautiful mysteries in life, and the grief dreams of his son.
You can find more about Grief Dreams here:
Our website – www.griefdreams.ca
Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams
Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group
Looking for ways to support the podcast?
You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways:
1) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support)
https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast
2) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen) and give a review. This improves our online visibility.
3) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. We appreciate any support that contributes to raising awareness on the topic.
Saturday Aug 31, 2024
Saturday Aug 31, 2024
Nina Rodriguez is the founder and host of the Grief and Light Podcast, created after the unexpected loss of her only sibling, Yosef, as an authentic exploration of grief and life after loss. Beyond the podcast, Nina extends her heart-centered support through monthly circles, personalized mentorship, speaking engagements, active presence on social media, and forthcoming in-person retreats. She has also completed the Grief Care Professional Certificate Program. You can find more about Nina at https://www.griefandlight.com/
In this episode, I talk with Nina Rodriguez about the death of her brother from toxic drug poisoning, her journey in looking for answers and living without her only sibling, starting her podcast, and having 201 dreams of her brother.
You can find more about Grief Dreams here:
Our website – www.griefdreams.ca
Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams
Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group
Looking for ways to support the podcast?
You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways:
1) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support)
https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast
2) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen) and give a review. This improves our online visibility.
3) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. We appreciate any support that contributes to raising awareness on the topic.
Monday Jul 01, 2024
Monday Jul 01, 2024
Litsa Williams, MA, LCSW-C is the co-founder of the online grief organization What’s Your Grief. She’s a grief therapist with over 15 years of experience working with sudden, traumatic, and disenfranchised losses as well as ambiguous grief. Drawing on both personal and professional experience with grief, WYG was built as a resource offering concrete, accessible, and relatable support, founded on the values of psychoeducation and creative coping. It has grown to serve more than 3 million grievers each year. Litsa received her master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Maryland School of Social Work, as well as a master’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Warwick (UK). She co-authored the 2022 book What’s Your Grief: Lists to Help You Through Any Loss and has been interviewed as a grief expert for the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, NPR, and the New York Times. You can find more about Litsa here - https://whatsyourgrief.com/
In this episode, I talk with Litsa Williams about her journey to becoming a grief therapist, co-founding the online grief organization What’s Your Grief, and creative ways of coping after loss. We also discuss the multiple losses in her life (e.g., the death of her stillborn brother, her best friend's mom, her dad, her sister’s partner, and her grandmother) and the grief dreams of her father, sister’s partner, and grandmother.
You can find more about Grief Dreams here:
Our website – www.griefdreams.ca
Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams
Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group
Looking for ways to support the podcast?
You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways:
1) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support)
https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast
2) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen) and give a review. This improves our online visibility.
3) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. We appreciate any support that contributes to raising awareness on the topic.
Sunday Jun 02, 2024
Sunday Jun 02, 2024
Dr. Saul Ebema brings over 20 years of spiritual care experience to his role as President of Hospice Chaplaincy and Director of Bereavement Services for a leading home health and hospice provider in the United States. Ordained as a minister in South Africa, he served in various pastoral roles supporting congregations and outreach. Dr. Ebema completed his Doctor of Ministry focused on advancing hospice chaplaincy practices. He has over a decade of experience as a healthcare and hospice chaplain providing compassionate end-of-life support. Recognized as a leader in his field, Dr. Ebema’s mission is transforming care for diverse communities. In addition to patient services, he advocates for education and research on inclusive, meaningful end-of-life experiences. Through his podcast, online training, and publications, Dr. Ebema is helping prepare providers to foster healing for those coping with terminal illness, grief, and bereavement.
In this episode we talk with Dr. Ebema about the murder of his parents when he was a child, being kidnapped by rebels, the murder of his brother, nightmares throughout his healing journey, finding his faith, and working with those who are at end-of-life and bereaved.
You can find more about Dr. Ebema and The Hospice Chaplaincy Show at https://hospicechaplaincy.com/clinical-practice/
You can find more about Grief Dreams here:
Our website – www.griefdreams.ca
Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams
Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group
Looking for ways to support the podcast?
You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways:
1) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support)
https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast
2) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen) and give a review. This improves our online visibility.
3) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. We appreciate any support that contributes to raising awareness on the topic.
Friday Apr 05, 2024
Friday Apr 05, 2024
Dr. Enrique A. Mundaca is a Biologist graduated from the University of Concepción (Chile), holds a Master of Science in Conservation Biology, and a PhD in Ecology from Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand). He has a wide range of research interests including taxonomy and ecology of insects; natural history of marine organisms; sustainability in agricultural ecosystems; agro-biodiversity as cultural heritage; human-nature relationship, and environmental education. On a personal level, he has studied classical and jazz percussion, and has participated as a guest drummer in numerous musical events and radio programmes specialised in jazz. After the passing of his lifetime best friend, Dr. Mundaca had two grief dreams that changed his life profoundly. This opened his mind into new perspectives about death and the process of dying, which has significantly expanded the horizons of his understanding of life.
In this episode we talk with Enrique about being an atheist, his friend’s battle with cancer, the grief after his death, dreams of his deceased friend, and how his dreams changed his grief and his belief about an afterlife.
You can find more about Grief Dreams here:
Our website – www.griefdreams.ca
Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams
Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group
Looking for ways to support the podcast?
You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways:
1) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support)
https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast
2) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen) and give a review. This improves our online visibility.
3) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. We appreciate any support that contributes to raising awareness on the topic.
Monday Feb 19, 2024
Monday Feb 19, 2024
In this episode we recap some of the dream conversations we had with guests in 2023.
You can find more about Grief Dreams here:
Our website – www.griefdreams.ca
Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams
Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group
Looking for ways to support the podcast?
You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways:
1) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support)
https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast
2) Buy us a Coffee (one-time financial support)
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/griefdreams
3) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen) and give a review. This improves our online visibility.
4) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. We appreciate any support that contributes to raising awareness on the topic.
Monday Dec 11, 2023
Monday Dec 11, 2023
Roberta Kuriloff is a speaker, community activist, former attorney and the author of the new book “Framing a Life: Building the Space to be Me”. With humor and poignancy, her memoir takes readers along an inspiring journey of self-discovery. She is also a founding member of two domestic violence projects, as well as an elderly services organization, and was a hospice patient-volunteer and bereavement workshop facilitator. You can find more about Roberta at www.RobertaKuriloff.com.
In this episode we talk about the death of her mother when she was a child, her time in the orphanage, self-discovery, her new book, the death of her partner, and dreams of her deceased mother, partner, and father.
You can find more about Grief Dreams here:
Our website – www.griefdreams.ca
Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams
Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group
Looking for ways to support the podcast?
You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways:
1) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support)
https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast
2) Buy us a Coffee (one-time financial support)
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/griefdreams
3) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen) and give a review. This improves our online visibility.
4) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. We appreciate any support that contributes to raising awareness on the topic