Podcast
Grief Unveiled
Hosted by Sarah Nannen · EN
You've come to the right place if you're looking for real talk and real truths about grief and living. Our explorations are infused with a renegade approach to grief, inviting you to get curious about the possibility of more than just surviving your life after loss. Grief Unveiled is hosted by Sarah Nannen, a veteran, military widow and mama turned best-selling author and life coach for widows. Known as The Renegade Widow, Sarah facilitates big conversations that gently bring your sense of Self and empowerment alive. Listen with tender curiosity and an open heart. You never know when a moment of insight will drop in and open you up to a new perspective of possibility. We use the language of widowhood, but the themes we'll explore in grief and living are universal. We honor the truth that enormous grief springs from myriad life experiences. Whether you're navigating divorce, health crisis, death of someone you love, a financial loss, and more, there's a message in these explorations for you. Your story and your grief are important here. Let's get started. Life is waiting!
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Raw Grief in Real Time (1 of 4)
Jul 13, 201900:54:35Tap to summarizeI'm thrilled to announce a new project within the Grief Unveiled podcast - a series of FOUR solo episodes titled "Raw Grief in Real Time." The first episode in this series is an examination of something that brings a lot of anxiety, anticipation, even fear into the lives of those who are grappling with grief: Calendar Milestones. I actually recorded this episode on March 1, the fifth anniversary of my late husband Reid's rainbow day (that's what we call the milestone date of the day he died). Birthdays, anniversaries, and even the Hallmark card holidays can really elicit some intense feels in us. In this solo episode, I discuss the challenges and big emotions that these days present, offer a glimpse into a piece of my grief story and how we choose to acknowledge these days, and a bunch of nuggets to help you determine how YOU can honor and acknowledge these dates as they come up on your calendar with a bit more peace in your belly. On these days, that are already so emotionally charged, I'd like to offer a renegade perspective that doesn't require you to be overcome by dread or fear. Topics Covered: Unpacking the calendar milestones and the huge expectation to "do them right." Understanding the source of anxiety around these dates. Honoring our own experiences as an important piece of the milestone dates and holidays (and I share a bit of mine, too!). How to "shift" our experience of memories that might feel painful. Ways to be intentional about preparing for new calendar milestones as they approach. Reframing the way we experience our grief with a perspective of gratitude for what has been (without discounting the pain). How to be discerning about the type of support you invite into your life after loss. What it means to move beyond surviving grief and how to get started. Taking the word "should" out of our decision making on acknowledging calendar milestone dates. Asking for what we need most on the important milestone days (and giving that same grace to others). The easiest question to ask yourself to get clarity when planning for a milestone day. Resources: My book, "Grief Unveiled: A Widow's Guide to Navigating Your Journey in Life After Loss" Life Coach and Grief Expert: my website Connect with me on Facebook The International League of Widow Sisters' facebook page
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The Joy Revolution with Marc Cordon
Jun 17, 201901:15:06Tap to summarizeOh yes I did dare to bring the co-founder of The Joy Revolution on a podcast devoted to the intricacies of grief! They don't call me the renegade widow for nothing, after all. Marc Cordon's positivity and joy is contagious and inspiring, especially when we learn that his activism and understanding of the human experience and fascination with psychology was rooted in fear and expressed from a place of anger in its early days. None of this positivity is rooted in spiritual bypass, fake-it-til-you-make-it, or fluff. It's pure, unadulterated, authentic, from deep-down-in-the-belly joy that has been hard earned and continues to be deeply revered by this incredible guest. Marc is an expert in transitions, a positive psychology coach, (not to mention, he's got a BS in neuroscience, and master's degree in public health!!). By employing the principles of positive psychology to real life and real hard times, Marc sheds light on the human capacity to shift from reacting out of anger and fear to living fully and thriving...even when pain and suffering are present! And that's not just something that sounds nice to say - he's got the data to back it up! Marc and I discuss why the "fake it 'til you make it" attitude so common in grief support circles is actually keeping us locked in a cycle of suffering. We get honest and unfiltered about what's possible when it comes to mental wellness for us all and how the bar has been set so abysmally low when it comes to our expectations for healing. We can all step onto the path to thriving, NOW—no matter what stage of grief we're in or level of heartache we've experienced. These ideas may seem like a fluffy luxury for the lucky, but we're expanding what's possible on the other side of deep pain, my friends. Let's not wait to "hit rock bottom" to take action on behalf of our own healing. Let's not settle for a life of surviving when there's so much more living left to do. By cultivating resilience and moving in the direction of healing each day (instead of just learning to cope), we learn to feel the enormity of whatever we're feeling and be safe there with it in the moment. Come one, come all. This is a conversation you don't want to miss. Topics we covered: the damaging (and exhausting) impact of reactivity and a new way of doing things why we need virtuous friends (and what that even means!) how the five stages of grief are so totally incomplete simple steps for cultivating mindfulness and resilience that you can take right now a whole lotta unpacking the topics of pain and suffering the most direct route to shifting your life and mindset in the direction of joy (no matter what you're going through) Resources: "Man's Search for Meaning," by Viktor Frankl The Joy Revolution Marc's website, where you can download his free book, "Beyond Resilient" Connect with Marc and the Joy Revolution on facebook.
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Jun 3, 201901:10:56Tap to summarizeThis week, our guest is Jenny Carr, engaging speaker, author, and leading inflammation expert. Once a professional skier, Jenny found herself bedridden years ago, fighting for her health and at times, literally at the brink of death. Her understanding of the impact inflammation has on the body and mind (regardless of its cause - and there are MANY!) helped her return to a place of true healing, health and restoration. Chronic inflammation shows up in our bodies as bloating, extreme fatigue, depression, and physical aches and pains. Sound familiar? Over 40% of the U.S. population is diagnosed with chronic inflammation (and that's only counting those who seek medical intervention)! We are quick to attribute these symptoms to "just getting older," settling and coping with our lot in life. Inflammation's effects compound when grief enters the picture. In this vicious cycle, stress increases inflammation and inflammation increases stress. We're here to tell you that it doesn't have to be this way! When you acknowledge and address the signs of chronic inflammation in your own body, you create the conditions for healing. Your biological systems begin to operate more efficiently and smoothly, and the physical body can finally feel safe to do the deeper healing work. Jenny guides us through the in's and out's of inflammation, educating us on the physiological processes that are taking place, and gives us straightforward and practical steps we can take to support our body through grief, such as deep breathing and drinking more water— powerfully simple, easy to implement actions with profound results! Topics we covered: The causes and symptoms of chronic inflammation: what's happening in the body and why. How to recognize and respond to chronic inflammation. The deeper emotional responses and reactions we experience with inflammation. The simplest, most underrated step that you can take NOW towards feeling better (and many other really easy action items!). The food items that exacerbate our symptoms...and foods that help us heal! Resources Jenny's website, where you can sign up for her free e-book, "Peace of Cake: The Secret to an Anti-inflammatory Diet." Connect with her on facebook. The past episode of Grief Unveiled all about sugar addiction with Jenn Edden. Listen on iTunes or Spotify.
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Reclaiming Your Truth with Tonia Adleta
May 20, 201900:57:04Tap to summarizeLosing your beloved brings you face-to-face with the question: Who am I now? In the throes of massive life transition, it can be terrifying to lose our sense of Self alongside deep grief, yet when we cultivate the capacity to pause and get curious about the person within, our true Soul mate, we begin to understand the essence of who we really are - who we've always been. From this place, somehow the way forward seems more possible - and perhaps, even enjoyable. We cover a LOT of ground in this week's episode of the Grief Unveiled podcast! Join me in my exquisite conversation with Tonia Adleta: entrepreneur, international speaker, and single mom on a mission to help us unlearn the shame and fear that impacts the way we live. She shares her evolution from a completely depleted 60 hour work week to seeking the answer to the important question, "What do I want?" You'll hear about her journey to founding the Single Parent Summit, a space for solidarity in single parenting and a community of single parents dedicated to growth, positivity, and productivity. Tonia most recently founded Recovering Church Girls* (no, it's not just for girls!), a community committed to cultivating a sense of Self, solidarity and spirituality from a place of total ownership while releasing fear and shame. We tackle the topics of guilt, shame, fear of judgment, the proverbial "should" that dictates so much of our days and a truly deep look at where it all comes from and how we can shift into a life with more freedom to choose - including that which we prefer, want, need and desire! If you're looking to connect with your intuition and understand the truth of you, don't miss this episode! Topics we covered: Why "staying busy" isn't the golden ticket...and why creating boundaries around your time is! The loneliness that accompanies widowhood and single parenthood and how to find your true-blue community. An examination of the limiting beliefs and stories we internalize about our (lack of) worth. The different influences in society that can keep us small and distance us from owning our true desires. The impact of solo travel for self-knowledge and self-awareness. Resources: Byron Katie and "The Work" Elizabeth Gilbert More about Recovering Church Girls and the Podcast Sarah Nannen as a guest on the podcast, Recovering Church Girls The Single Parent Summit Connect with her on Facebook
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Holistic Healing with Dr. Christina Bjorndal
May 8, 201900:53:43Tap to summarizeThis episode is packed full of powerful perspectives and informations for anyone who is in search of relief, release, and complete healing. My guest is Dr. Christina Bjorndal, a naturopathic doctor who brings us a revolutionary message on a new (not so new) approach to healing ourselves. In lieu of pharmacological drugs to treat symptoms, she considers her patient's lifestyle, history, experiences, and overall wellness to encourage healing in their most hurt-filled, tender areas of their soul. As a naturopathic doctor, she uses homeopathic methods (such as nutrition, supplementation, reiki, and acupuncture) to nurture a patient's entire being, empowering them on their path towards health and wholeness. Dr. Christina lovingly unpacks and examines the cultural tendencies to defer, numb, and disconnect from our most painful physical and emotional experiences and ailments and shows us a different way. She encourages us to accept and honor how we're struggling, to seek support that is aligned with our needs, and offers us practical methods to do so. "The healing is in the feeling," rings as a theme throughout our entire conversation. Topics we covered: What is a naturopathic doctor and how they are (and are not) different than a traditional physician. What to do when strong emotions present themselves. Why vulnerability is a SUPERPOWER - and what that means for you. How mental illness relates to grief and why they are so commonly grouped together. The impact of learning to manage your mind and thoughts and how to get started. How to trust your intuition. Resources: Explore Dr. Christina's website! Her free forgiveness meditation Her books, including, "Beyond the Label." Marianne Williamson's book, "A Return to Love." Jeff Foster's video, "Why am I not healed yet?"
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Radical Healing, Body + Mind with Jeanette Bronée
May 7, 201901:02:29Tap to summarizeMy guest today is Jeanette Bronée, who guides us through her personal journey to healing after the death of her parents as an adult. She shares about the drastic lifestyle shift she committed to - from running herself into the ground ("I was surviving on coffee and stress") to a life of balance and boundaries - and the impact that it's had on her worldview and experience of healing. Jeanette believes (and science supports this!) that our emotional well-being has a significant impact on our physical health. We discuss in this loving conversation how caring for our emotional well-being can protect and nurture our physical bodies. As Jeanette explains in this episode, "There's more truth to how we feel rather than what we think." Topics we covered: The insights that death and grief offers us. What self-care can teach us....(and what it actually is and how to incorporate it into our lives). What IS mindfulness, why it's so important to the healing process in grief and how we can actually adopt a mindful lifestyle even in this busy life. How to identify a recurring thought or story that may not be serving you (or even hurting you). Why and how to change your relationship with your emotions. Resources: Explore her website 27 days of change, her FREE program! Path for Life
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The Power of Storytelling with Tricia Brouk
Apr 24, 201900:45:35Tap to summarizeToday we're discussing storytelling and it's profound impact on the way we're able to navigate grief with my guest Tricia Brouk, an award winning director and documentary filmmaker whose passion for storytelling has shaped her worked in film, television, and theater for over two decades. If you're thinking: why on earth would I want to tell the story of the worst day of my life? - you're not alone. Which is why this episode is SO important to hear. Most of our encounters with grief feel incredibly private, painful, personal...and vulnerable to ever consider sharing. Often, the reactions we get when we do share even a small part of our story are uncomfortable enough to never want to speak of it again. Tricia and I talk about the impact that hiding our story has not just on our own identity, but also the way the narrative around our experiences gets represented within the culture. Telling our story can actually make it easier for others to be courageous enough to seek the support they need to move their own lives in the direction of healing. As we share our truth, we not only change the status quo, but we also encounter a community of solidarity in the process, one of the most important ingredients in the recipe for healing any traumatic experience or loss. Topics we covered: How (and why) to share our true-blue story within the small and complex interactions throughout our day-to-day. What's shame got to do with storytelling. Some important steps to take in owning our story before sharing it. How to discern who has earned the privilege of hearing the details of your story (and who gets to hear the less intimate version of it). How we can create a more honest and authentic conversation about mental health so we can be more graceful with ourselves and others when intense emotions and experiences present themselves. Separating grief and trauma from the label of mental illness. Understanding the impact of our own personal village in navigating the complexities of life and all its highs and lows. Resources: Speakers Who Dare, a groundbreaking speaker series! Explore her website! Connect with her on Facebook. Her podcast, The Big Talk. TEDx Lincoln Square
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Renegotiating Death and Dying with Susan Mercer
Apr 22, 201900:53:04Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Grief Unveiled podcast I have guest Susan Mercer—a death doula and energy healer. Today's topic is death, the transition of dying, and how we talk about it with our families and friends. It's a topic that's considered mysterious and taboo by many, which is why we approached it respectfully and with the utmost tenderness. As a death doula, Susan provides comfort and creates a sacred space around the dying one. Her role is to mindfully facilitate the emotional, physical, and informational support for the dying process and immediate aftermath for everyone involved in accordance with their preferences. Whether you're supporting a beloved in hospice or taking the perhaps uncomfortable but important step of making plans for your own death, this episode is full of invaluable considerations and information to inform your decisions. Topics we covered: What is a death doula and why might you choose to hire one. The socially normative medical and philosophical approach to death and what a more conscious and personal approach entails. The impact our disconnect from the dying process has on our healing. Options for support when someone is actively dying as well as the immediate aftermath. How (and why) to acknowledge the sacred transition of death in meaningful ways. How to consciously make your wishes and plans for your own death (or those you love) known and understood for implementation when the time comes. Resources: International End of Life Doula Association - INELDA: https://www.inelda.org Susan's book, "A Graceful Goodbye: A New Outlook on Death." Her website, where you can access a FREE 30 min. session with Susan! Connect with her on facebook!
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Raw Grief in Real Time (1 of 4)
Mar 19, 201900:54:35Tap to summarizeI'm thrilled to announce a new project within the Grief Unveiled podcast - a series of FOUR solo episodes titled "Raw Grief in Real Time." The first episode in this series is an examination of something that brings a lot of anxiety, anticipation, even fear into the lives of those who are grappling with grief: Calendar Milestones. I actually recorded this episode on March 1, the fifth anniversary of my late husband Reid's rainbow day (that's what we call the milestone date of the day he died). Birthdays, anniversaries, and even the Hallmark card holidays can really elicit some intense feels in us. In this solo episode, I discuss the challenges and big emotions that these days present, offer a glimpse into a piece of my grief story and how we choose to acknowledge these days, and a bunch of nuggets to help you determine how YOU can honor and acknowledge these dates as they come up on your calendar with a bit more peace in your belly. On these days, that are already so emotionally charged, I'd like to offer a renegade perspective that doesn't require you to be overcome by dread or fear. TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: -->Unpacking the calendar milestones and the huge expectation to "do them right." -->Understanding the source of anxiety around these dates. -->Honoring our own experiences as an important piece of the milestone dates and holidays (and I share a bit of mine, too!). -->How to "shift" our experience of memories that might feel painful. -->Ways to intentional about preparing for new calendar milestones as they approach. -->Reframing the way we experience our grief with a perspective of gratitude for what has been (without discounting the pain). -->How to be discerning about the type of support you invite into your life after loss. -->What it means to move beyond surviving grief and how to get started. --> Taking the word "should" out of our decision making on acknowledging calendar milestone dates. -->Asking for what we need most on the important milestone days (and giving that same grace to others). -->The easiest question to ask yourself to get clarity when planning for a milestone day. Resources: My book, "Grief Unveiled: A Widow's Guide to Navigating Your Journey in Life After Loss" Life Coach and Grief Expert: my website Connect with me on Facebook The International League of Widow Sisters' facebook page
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Finding Beauty in Broken with Anna Curnes
Mar 17, 201901:06:46Tap to summarizeThe wonderfully creative Anna Curnes, a Dallas-based glass artist, is my guest for this episode full of so many beautiful, personal shares and actionable offerings. Anna was yearning for a way to express her pain (and eventually celebrate her healing) after her younger sister died from colon cancer, and now works closely with her clients' stories to create custom-designed glass masterpieces. Her work is an expression of her mission: finding the beauty in the brokenness. We're culturally ingrained and trained to compartmentalize and power through our pain. Anna shares with us how a hands-on practice, such as art-making, can be an incredibly cathartic and perhaps powerfully healing experience. It's true–there's no cure or easy fix for grief, but these practices we examine can help create an expression of grief and love in a more tangible, visual, malleable way, while also potentially illuminating precious insights to your inner world as well. "Many times words can't express what you're feeling, but that doesn't mean that it isn't there, and your hands can get it out." -Anna Curnes Topics we cover include: Why (and how) to let your curiosity lead to making things with your hands…even if you don't identify as artistic. Creative expression and its rich offerings…beyond the physical thing you're creating. Real methods to creating a home space that feels like "yours" in grief. Cultivating safety in stillness (instead of staying busy) Resources: Check out Anna's beautiful website! Connect with her on Instagram @annalouglass
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