Podcast
Good Grief with Nikki the Death Doula
Hosted by Nikki Smith; Death Doula, Grief Coach, Podcaster, Nature lover · EN
Demystifying and destigmatizing grief with compassion and humor. We'll dive into all the ins and outs of grief and loss and meet some guests along the way.
If you like Terrible, Thanks for Asking or We Can Do Hard Things, you'll love Good Grief.
31episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
169. Losing My Daughter: Danielle Crittenden on Grief, Faith, and Surviving the Unthinkable
1w ago00:40:08Tap to summarizeIn this deeply personal conversation, journalist and author Danielle Crittenden joins the show to discuss her new memoir, Dispatches from Grief: A Mother's Journey Through the Unthinkable. On a February morning in 2024, Crittenden received the call no parent prepares for: her 32-year-old daughter, Miranda, had been found dead in her Brooklyn apartment. In this episode, she talks candidly about the howling early days of loss, mourning rituals that gave her structure, the search for a grief therapist who could actually help, and how she found her way back to living .You can get Danielle’s Book here:Dispatches from Grief: A Mother's Journey Through the Unthinkable: Barnes & Noble | AmazonPlease read more about Pelotonia here: Pelotonia.orgIf you want to donate to me: https://my.pelotonia.org/profile/NS0026Want to Join the Good Grief Society? https://www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/the-good-grief-societySupport me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch and find any other info you need on the podcast here: https://www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/podcast
Transcribe →168. Just Stare at the Wall: A Former Marine's Mission to Bring Meditation to Prisons and Senior Living with Mark Blacknell
2w ago00:43:15Tap to summarizeTW mentions of suicideWhat does meditation look like when you strip away the incense, the apps, and the spiritual jargon? In this episode, I sit down with Mark Blacknell, a former Marine turned ordained Soto Zen meditation guide and author of Stare at the Wall, to talk about the no-frills practice he's built his life around.Mark works with two populations many wellness conversations overlook entirely: incarcerated individuals, including correspondence with someone on Florida's death row, and seniors in assisted living and memory care communities. We talk about why a practice as simple as sitting and staring at a wall can reach people in solitary confinement and people living with memory loss just as powerfully as it reaches anyone else, and why Mark believes simplicity, not complexity, is what makes a meditation practice actually stick.www.stareatthewall.orgWant to Join the Good Grief Society? https://www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/the-good-grief-societySupport me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch and find any other info you need on the podcast here: https://www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/podcast
Transcribe →167. Letting Go to Live Fully: Olivia's Story of Transition, Family, and Joy
3w ago00:31:37Tap to summarizeTW light politics, adult themesWeek 4 of our June Pride Month series brings one of my favorite conversations yet. This week I sat down with my longtime friend Olivia. Olivia is and author and founder of the podcast; It’s All Been Done Radio Hour.In this episode, Olivia opens up about what it felt like to finally step into her true self, what life looks like now as a trans woman and a parent of two amazing small humans.This is a story about love, honesty, courage, and what it really means to live your most authentic life.You can find Olivia’s show at https://www.iabdpresents.com/Want to Join the Good Grief Society? https://www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/the-good-grief-societySupport me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch and find any other info you need on the podcast here: https://www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/podcast
Transcribe →166. Coming Out, Starting Over & Hot Flashes: Heather Vickery on Living with Joy
Jun 1700:41:54Tap to summarizeWhat happens when you finally stop living by everyone else's rules and start living your truth? This week, I sat down with transformational coach, Human Design expert, and all-around brave human Heather Vickery of Vickery & Co for a warm, honest, and deeply moving conversation about what it really looks like to come out later in life.Heather opens up about coming out after years of living a life that looked great on the outside: married, successful, a mother. But didn't fully reflect who she was on the inside. She shares what it was like to navigate divorce, redefine her relationship with her children as they grew into adults, and do all of that while going through menopause. (Because of course.) This is the kind of conversation that reminds you: it is never too late to choose yourself.You can find Heather here: https://vickeryandco.com/Want to Join the Good Grief Society? https://www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/the-good-grief-societySupport me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch and find any other info you need on the podcast here: https://www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/podcast
Transcribe →165. The Raw Truth About Traumatic Loss with Author & Coach G. Scott Graham
Jun 1000:47:01Tap to summarizeTW: language, graphic description of traumatic deathWhat does grief actually look like when the loss is sudden, traumatic, and completely shatters the life you knew? In this powerful and unfiltered conversation, author, coach, and psychedelic support coach G. Scott Graham opens up about the traumatic death of his husband — and what the experience taught him about the limits of clinical language, the courage it takes to feel real emotions, and what healing actually requires.You can find G Scott here: https://gscottgraham.com/Want to Join the Good Grief Society? https://www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/the-good-grief-societySupport me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch and find any other info you need on the podcast here: https://www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/podcast
Transcribe →164. Living Grief: How Author Jackie Disch Turned the Sudden Loss of Her Wife Into a Memoir
Jun 300:45:11Tap to summarizeKicking off our 4-week Pride Month series celebrating voices from the LGBTQIA+ community, we sit down with Jackie L. Disch. Jackie is a poet, indie author, and the woman behind a raw and honest grief memoir; Losing Katy: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Living Grief. It is a genre-bending work that weaves together poetic prose, journal entries, and emotional insight to paint an intimate portrait of what she calls "living grief." The memoir follows her journey from just before the sudden death of her wife, Katy, through the third anniversary of that loss.In this conversation, Jackie opens up about what it means to lose a spouse without warning, how writing became her lifeline, and why she believes grief isn't something you get over, it's something you learn to carry.Whether you've experienced loss yourself, love someone who has, or simply want to hear a story about how deep love can go, this episode is for you.You can find Jackie here: jackieldisch.comAnd her book: https://www.amazon.com/Losing-Katy-Memoir-Living-Grief/dp/1665310480/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.oj2TLojOcFn0Y-YMTklkbKAOg-1KjX2fWdru89knFdc.6CQFvIBr2EEtyEA1mpvqTcStRSm9Oxk9h0C4wHb9U-o&qid=1756238881&sr=1-1Want to Join the Good Grief Society?https://www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/the-good-grief-societyHave a burning question for Nikki the Death Doula? Leave me a message here: https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/458190/1/9pa2xynf4iwbj6p1Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoulaYou can find me here:https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/
Transcribe →163. Honoring What Matters: The Art of Memorialization with Liz Balli of Dignity Memorial
May 2700:39:05Tap to summarizeWhat does it really mean to memorialize someone, and why does it matter more than most of us realize?I sat down with Liz Balli of Dignity Memorial, for an honest and compassionate conversation about death, grief, and the profound importance of honoring those we've lost. Liz brings a thoughtful, human-centered perspective to an industry that touches every single one of us.We explore the evolving landscape of burial practices and dig into what the act of memorialization really does for the living. Whether you're navigating a recent loss, thinking ahead for your own end-of-life planning, or simply curious about how we as a culture relate to death, this episode will leave you with both comfort and clarity.Want to Join the Good Grief Society?https://www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/the-good-grief-societySupport me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoulaYou can find me here: https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/
Transcribe →162. Caregiver Resentment: The Taboo Nobody Talks About
May 2000:20:50Tap to summarizeCaregiving is often described as an act of love. Because it is.But what doesn’t get talked about enough? The moments when it also feels overwhelming, exhausting… and yes, even resentful.In this episode, we’re having the honest conversation most caregivers keep to themselves.Because you can love someone deeply and still feel frustrated, trapped, or completely drained by the responsibility of caring for them. And that doesn’t make you a bad person!! It makes you human.Want to Join the Good Grief Society?https://www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/the-good-grief-society Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoulaYou can find me here: https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/
Transcribe →Season 9 coming next week!!
May 1300:06:24Tap to summarizeWelcome to Season 9! I have a lot of great things coming this season and I’m so excited to have you all back. New episode dropping next week!You can find me at www.nikkithedeathdoula.comWant to Join the Good Grief Society?https://www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/the-good-grief-societyHave a burning question for Nikki the Death Doula? Leave me a message here: https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/458190/1/9pa2xynf4iwbj6p1Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/
Transcribe →161. Escaping a Cult, Surviving Unimaginable Loss, and Reclaiming Personal Power with Isabella Young
Apr 1500:37:33Tap to summarizeTW: mentions of murder, SA and some strong language.This episode is not an easy listen, but it’s an important one. In this week’s episode, I sit down with Isabella Young, a survivor whose life took a devastating turn when she escaped a messianic cult led by her ex-husband. What followed was unimaginable loss, deep trauma, and the long, complicated road back to herself.Isabella also shares how her lived experience shaped her work today, helping others identify harmful patterns, reclaim their autonomy, and begin healing from deep emotional wounds.You can find Isabella at: www.feelingbetternaturally.lovehttps://youtube.com/@feelingbetternaturally.natureSubstack: https://feelingbetternaturally.substack.com/Want to Join the Good Grief Society?https://www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/the-good-grief-societyHave a burning question for Nikki the Death Doula? Leave me a message here: https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/458190/1/9pa2xynf4iwbj6p1Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoulaYou can find me here:https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoulaGet merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music: Cherry Monday by Kevin MacLeod - licensing info can be found at filmmusic .io
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