Grief Dreams Podcast

E125 - Karen Millsap - Making Lemonade

Karen Millsap is a TEDx speaker, Founder of The Groflo community and the CEO - which stands for "Chief Empathy Officer" of Egency. At only 29 years old, her life was suddenly flipped upside down... she became a widow when her husband, Richard, was tragically murdered. On the quest to rebuild her life, she discovered simple habits and lifestyle changes that helped her find her way back to a whole heart. Self-care essentially saved her life. This realization sparked a deep desire to share everything she has learned and spread light to anyone who needs help navigating tough situations.

 

In this episode we talked about her relationship with her husband, his murder, finding joy again, grieving in the work place, and grief dreams of her husband and uncle.

 

You can find more about Karen here https://www.karenmillsap.com/

E124 - Dr. Sherry Cormier - Sweet Sorrow

Dr. Sherry Cormier is a licensed psychologist and a professor emerita in the Department of Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling, and Counseling Psychology at West Virginia University. She is a certified bereavement trauma specialist, the author of two textbooks, and the producer of over 100 training videos for Cengage Learning. Her new book, Sweet Sorrow: Finding Enduring Wholeness After Loss and Grief was written by her in the decade following the loss of her husband, father, mother, dog, and only sibling.

 

In this episode we talk about how she became interested in the field of psychology, inspiring others on their journey, the power of acknowledgment and love, loneliness in life and after loss, her new book, her multiple losses, and grief dreams of her husband and others.

 

You can find more about Sherry here https://www.sherrycormierauthor.com/

 

E123 - Donald Knight - Spei Lumina

Donald Knight is an ordained independent catholic priest, dreamer, light worker, and podcaster (Spei Lumina - Lights of Hope). His grief journey began at the age of 10 when his father unexpectedly passed away. The event of his father’s death set him on a path of faith, spirituality and seeking the Divine.

 

In this episode we talk about his father, grieving as a child, understanding dreams, grief dreams of his dad and aunt, becoming religious, relics in the church, and his podcast.

 

You can find out more about Donald at www.angelsofthenativity.org, on Facebook at SpeiLumina and on Twitter @SpeiLumina.

E122 - A Father's Day Episode with Darwyn Dave

In this Father’s Day episode, Shawn Ram talks with Dr. Joshua Black and Darwyn Dave about the Toronto Raptors (NBA) and St. Louis Blues (NHL), players on those teams with a dead father, what it’s like not having a father here for important moments, and grief dreams we think the players would like to have of their deceased father. 

 

To find more about Darwyn visit http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/

E121 - Dr. Pei Grant - The Good Doctor

Dr. Pei Grant is the Research Director at Hospice Buffalo, one of the largest hospice and palliative care organizations in Western New York. Her research encompasses a diverse range of projects from programmatic studies to psychosocial research, to medical projects. Her work has been recognized nationally and internationally to be innovative and enhancing quality of care to new levels. She believes that while it is important to find ways to lead a meaningful life, she advocates for people to focus on what it takes to have a meaningful death.

 

In this episode we talk about how she got started working at Hospice Buffalo, her research on end-of-life dreams and visions, her research on the Photographs of Meaning Program in family caregivers, the death of her grandparents and baby through miscarriage, and a grief dream of her maternal grandmother.

 

You can find her on Twitter @Peigrant and IG @Peicgrant . Here is a link to Hospice Buffalo’s research page https://www.hospicebuffalo.com/healthcare-providers/research/

 

To hear more about Hospice Buffalo's research on end-of-life dreams and visions, just download Dr. Christopher Kerr's episode on this podcast (episode 73).

E118 - Shivy Galtere - Love Loss Light

Shavinder Galtere, commonly known to her friends and family as Shivy, is a Celebrity and VIP Relations Consultant to fashion and lifestyle brands. After the passing of her mother Davinder Kumaran, less than a year ago, Shivy started @lovelosslight, an Instagram account with the slogan 'let's try to understand, help + heal', with the purpose of helping others navigate through their process of grief.

 

In this episode we talk about the value of hard work, her love of fashion, her last time seeing her mom, the day her mom died, getting to the funeral in India, the funeral, her instagram account, and grief dreams of her mom (before and after the loss).

  

The Sat Nam prayer that was song at the funeral– https://youtu.be/GrzJAJhyeLQ

 

E117 - A Mother's Day Episode with Darwyn and Shelby

This is a special Mother’s Day episode where Dr. Joshua Black interviews Darwyn Dave and Shelby Forsythia. In this episode we talk about our moms, the experience of facing this day when your mom is dead, and tips for those grieving on Mother’s Day.

 

To find more about Darwyn visit http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/

 

To find more about Shelby visit http://www.shelbyforsythia.com/

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/

E115 - Medea Chechik - The Garden

Medea Bavarella Chechik is the Best Selling Author of “Facing Grief With Eyes Wide Open,” a Transformative Teacher, Transformational Facilitator and Leader, and a Master Coach. Medea is the Founder and Host of WeEvolve TV™, an online talk show, where she has interviewed many Luminaries in the field of Human Consciousness.

 

In this episode we talk about her search for meaning, transforming her life after the death of her son, writing poetry and her book, and a grief dream of her son.

 

You can find more about Medea here: http://www.masteringselftransformation.com

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 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 110 - Update with Jade Black

In this episode we talk about where she has been the last 4 months, the new podcast logo, reflections on reaching over 100 episodes, and new events we are hosting.

 

 

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.