Grief Dreams Podcast

E116 - Brent and Tina Birkhoff - Heart Strings

Brent Birkhoff recently received his Master of Science from Marian University in Thanatology, and is Certified in Thanatology from the Association of Death Education and Counseling. He and his wife, Tina, recently started Heart Strings by Legacy Leaders, which is dedicated to ensuring that all individuals have their story told before death.

 

In this episode we talk about the 2019 International Death, Grief and Bereavement conference, starting Heart Stings, reflecting on legacy, their multiple losses, and Tina’s grief dream of her grandmother.

 

You can find more information at http://www.heartstringsmemories.com/

E114 - Judy Hinderer - A Series of Grief Dreams

Judy Hinderer is a wife and working mother. She has been fascinated and studied dreams for as long as she can remember. The dreams with her deceased father have been integral in her life and they came to her at very specific times. Even though she never had the chance to meet her father before he died, her dreams of him has connected them.

 

In this episode we talk about the death of her father, growing up without him, receiving his guitar, and a series of 5 grief dreams she had.

Episode 113 - Jacqui Pagobo - The A+ Student

Jacqui Pagobo has suffered great heartbreak over the years after her brother, John Joseph “JJ” Pagobo, unexpectedly passed away from a longboarding accident and medical malpractice. This April will be his 10 year death anniversary, which she will be honouring him with a memorial event. She hopes that her story can inspire others.

 

In this episode we talk about her brother and his death, grieving while in school, the memorial event, and grief dreams of her brother.

Episode 112 - Taz Ahmed - #GoodMuslimBadMuslim

Tanzila "Taz" Ahmed is an activist, storyteller, and politico based in Los Angeles. She currently is a Campaign Strategist at the Asian American new media organizing group 18MillionRising. She is cohost of The #GoodMuslimBadMuslim Podcast that has been featured in Oprah Magazine, Wired, and Buzzfeed as well as live shows recorded at South by Southwest and the White House. 

 

In this episode we talk about being an activist for change, her podcast, ghosts, dreams, the death of her mother, and grief dreams of her mother.

 

You can find more about Taz at https://www.tazzystar.me or http://www.goodmuslimbadmuslim.com

 

Tickets to her LIVE Podcast on April 13, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario can be found here: https://agakhanmuseum.org/programs/comedy-from-the-other-side-of-fear-goodmuslimbadmuslim-live-podcast-taping

Episode 111 - Monica Meade - Forgiveness After Loss

Monica Meade is currently working in private practice as a clinical therapist with Whole Balance Health, specializing in Grief, and Trauma therapy utilizing EMDR (Eye Movement, Desensitization, and Reprocessing), in Colorado Springs, CO. Monica’s pursuit of becoming a grief counselor was born out of necessity. After the death of two immediate family members, she struggled to find hope for herself in the healing process. She has made it her goal to reach out to others during their grief journey to bring love and light to the healing process. 

 

In this episode we talk about EMDR, the death of her daughter and niece, forgiveness, and grief dreams of her daughter and niece.

 

You can find more about Monica's private practice on Psychology Today. Additionally, here is a link to Monica's forgiveness speech https://youtu.be/JITIpN9WkKw

Episode 109 - Rebecca MacDonald - Even in Sadness, There is Beauty

Rebecca MacDonald is a self-taught memorial jewelry artist working and living in Ontario with her husband and dog. Since immigrating to Canada 10 years ago, Rebecca has experienced loss many times as she moved throughout the country. Her Grandpa has been a huge inspiration in her life and dealing with his passing from the other side of the Atlantic ocean has been one of her biggest struggles so far. By fostering connections with animals, she has also been able to connect with others. Through her work, she is learning how to manage her grief while helping others with their loss through her jewelry making.

 

In this episode we talk about her immigration from Ireland, her love of pets, starting her business making memorial jewelry, the death of her dog and grandpa, and a grief dream of her grandpa.

 

Rebecca’s work can be found on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook

@comfortconnects or on www.comfortconnects.com  

Episode 108 - Kevin Toolis - The Irish Wake

Kevin Toolis is a BAFTA winning film maker and writer of the acclaimed death guide My Father’s Wake: How the Irish Teach Us to Live, Love and Die. Toolis has reported on famines, wars and plagues all over the world for The New York Times and The Guardian. As a documentary maker he has filmed in the middle east and directed the Emmy-nominated Cult of the Suicide Bomber television history series. He is also producer/ director of a compelling new stage work Wonders of the Wake that revives the lost art of Irish keening and celebrates the ancient rite of the Irish Wake.

 

In this episode we talk all about the Irish Wake, the death of his brother and father, grief dreams in the Irish culture, grief dreams in families of suicide bombers, and his own grief dreams of those he reports on.

 

You can find more about Kevin at www.myfatherswake.com or on Twitter @KevinToolis

 

Here is his BBC video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALT8zbjnjkY

Episode 107 - Rachel and Hannah - So Dreamy

Rachel Leoman and her cousin Hannah Brown created the podcast So Dreamy (Twitter/Insta: @SoDreamySnack) with the intent of creating a safe and fun space for dreamers to share, hear, and discuss dreams of all kinds. They both have been interested in dreams for as long as they can remember.

 

In this episode we talk about dreams in general, the So Dreamy Podcast, their losses (Rachel’s mom and Hannah’s brother, grandmother, and uncle), and Hannah’s dreams of her deceased grandmother.

 

Check out episode 14, 33, and 41 on the So Dreamy Podcast to hear them talk about specific grief dreams.

Episode 106 - Jay Perry - My Dad Got Sick

As a full-time photographer from Canada, Jay Perry has travelled the country and beyond to capture the moments and memories that matter. Following a photo trip to Haiti in 2010, Jay discovered his passion for helping others. He has since dedicated his time and talent to numerous charitable efforts, while founding his own establishment aptly named Friends With Hearts. Jay recently released his book “My Dad Got Sick” that talks about his experiences taking care of his dying father.

 

We talk about being in a band, becoming a photographer, starting Friends With Hearts, taking care of his dying father, writing his book, his grief, and dreams of his father.

 

For a closer glimpse into Jay’s life, check out www.jayperry.ca, www.friendswithhearts.com, www.mydadgotsick.com or his personal Instagram @jayperry

Episode 105 - Dr. Beth Allen (AKA Bif Naked) - Love All, Serve All

Dr. Beth Allen (AKA Bif Naked) is a prominent alternative artist, performer and songwriter. Throughout her remarkable career, Beth embarked on seemingly endless international tours, several feature films and multiple television roles, only to be struck down with breast cancer at the age of 37. She would discover her passion for advocacy, as a triumphant survivor and someone who helps others first. She wrote her biography in 2016 called “I, Bificus”.

 

In this episode we talk about her music career, breast cancer journey, palliative care volunteering, and death of her father, friend, and dogs.

 

Find more on her at Bifnaked.com, Facebook, instagram and twitter @bifnaked

 

 

Episode 104 - Heather Varner - Storms and Silver Linings

Heather Varner is an east-coast born and bred Canadian who moved to Ontario with her then-boyfriend (now-fiancé) after her mother died in 2014. In the 4.5 years since, Heather has dealt with her grief through therapy, faith, and plenty of writing. She has written pieces about grief and loss that have been published by Time, xoJane, and Elite Daily, and shares her grief journey through her Instagram account @stormsandsilverlinings. At the start of this calendar year she launched a blog called Storms and Silver Linings.

 

In this episode we talk about her love of reading and writing, her relationship with her mother, the death of her mother, writing her grief, and grief dreams of her mother.

Episode 102 - Pennie Hunt - Green Love & Gratitude

Pennie Hunt is a speaker, author, and the President and founder of Journey Through, LLC. Her book is titled “Love Your Life-No Matter What - 76 Tips to Live Life with Love and Gratitude.” She also writes a weekly blog called “Writings From The Corner of Spirit & Brave.”

 

In this episode we talk about a series of life changing events (including the death of her son and dog), her weekly blog, getting a memorial tattoo, and grief dreams of her son and dog.

 

You can find more information on Pennie at www.PennieHunt.com

Episode 97 - Joe Agostinelli - Ultimo Gifts

While sorting through his father’s belongings, Joe Agostinelli found a letter that was written to him from his father before his battle with leukemia came to an end. The letter had a profound impact on Joe, detailing his father’s love and pride, as well as his continued hopes and dreams for him. At the time of his father’s passing, Joe and his wife had just welcomed a son into the world. These two monumental events happening so close together put Joe on a path of self, societal, and (end of) life examination, inspiring him to create Ultimo Gifts, a service that allows you to keep giving gifts and heartfelt reminders after you have passed on. 

 

In this episode we talk about his father’s illness and death, being a father himself, finding his father’s letter, Ultimo Gifts, and two dreams of his father.

 

You can find more about him at https://www.ultimogifts.com/, and on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @UltimoGifts

Episode 96 - Jan Warner - Grief Speaks Out

Jan Warner is the author of Grief Day by Day: Simple Practices and Daily Guidance for Living With Loss. When her beloved husband Artie died nine years ago, she felt as though she had died too. To give her life meaning after the loss she started the Grief Speaks Out Facebook page, that is a supportive worldwide community with over 2.5 million likes.   

 

In this episode we talk about her relationship with her husband, his death and her grief, authoring her first book on grief, differences she has noticed in people’s grief, and her grief dreams of her husband.

Episode 95 - Jess Etchemendy - Leathersmith

Jess Etchemendy formed 174 Supply Company, which is a discussion of how grief can be transformed through creativity. After the death of his brother, Jess’s trade has become the vehicle he uses to transform his grief. 174 was the motorcycle numbers of his younger brother. Jess’s mission is for the world to look past my brother’s addiction to see a kid who passionately loved living and desired adventure. 

 

In this episode we talk all about leather and being a Leathersmith, his brother’s life, addiction, how he continues a bond with his brother (e.g., riding, leathering, etc.), and grief dreams of his brother.

 

You can find more about Jess at https://www.174supplyco.com 

Instagram: @174supplyco and @companioncollective