Podcast
Tendrils of Grief
Hosted by Susan Ways · EN
Grievers and grief professionals share their personal stories and describe what was helpful for them or their clients in working through grief. This podcast will outline steps to have hope and build meaning into your life.
36episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Healing Grief Through Plant Medicine: Mind, Body, and Spirit
Apr 2700:33:06Tap to summarizeI sit down with Robin Swan, plant alchemist and founder of Swan Apothecary, to explore a different perspective on grief—one that looks at healing through the lens of plant medicine, holistic health, and whole-body integration. Robin brings over 30 years of experience in holistic healing and cannabinoid medicine, blending ancestral herbal wisdom with modern science. Her approach goes beyond just physical healing—she focuses on the connection between the body, mind, spirit, and emotional experience of grief. We talk about how grief lives in the body, how it can surface in unexpected ways, and why true healing requires more than just time—it requires intention, awareness, and support. Robin shares her perspective on how plant medicine can help regulate the nervous system, support emotional processing, and create space for deeper healing. This conversation also explores the importance of ethical use, education, and personal responsibility when it comes to integrating cannabis and plant-based healing into your life. At its core, this episode is about grief, healing, and reconnecting with yourself—and understanding that healing isn't just about moving on, but about integrating what you've been through. What We Talk About How grief affects the body, mind, and nervous system The role of plant medicine in emotional healing Cannabis and holistic health: what people misunderstand Integrating physical, emotional, and spiritual healing Ethical and intentional use of plant-based medicine Why healing from grief is not linear 🔗 Links & Resources Robin Swan Founder of Swan Apothecary Plant Alchemist & Holistic Health Practitioner https://swanapothecary.com/ New Ways Barre by Susan Ways Proudly serving the Kentlands, Gaithersburg, Maryland and surrounding Montgomery County 📅 https://classpass.com/studios/new-ways-barre-gaithersburg 📸 https://www.instagram.com/sueways 📘 https://www.facebook.com/p/New-Ways-Barre-61570706490968/ Please subscribe and leave a review. If you have questions, comments, or possible show topics, email susan@tendrilsofgrief.com Don't forget to visit Tendrils Of Grief website and join for upcoming Webinars, Podcasts Updates and Group Coaching. Get involve and share your thoughts and experiences in our online community Tendrils of Grief-Survivor of Loss To subscribe and review use one links of the links below Amazon Apple Spotify Audacy Deezer Podcast Addict Pandora Rephonic Tune In Connect with me Instagram: @Sue_ways Facebook:@ susan.ways Email @susan@tendrilsofgrief.com Let me hear your thoughts!
Transcribe →
Can We Really Connect With Loved Ones After Loss?
Apr 2000:40:42Tap to summarizeToday with Julie Ryan, psychic medium, medical intuitive, and host of the Ask Julie Ryan podcast, to explore the connection between grief, spirituality, and the unseen world around us. Julie shares how intuitive and healing abilities aren't just gifts—they're skills that can be developed. We talk about what it means to connect with loved ones who have passed, how spirit communication works, and why so many of us feel the need for "one more conversation" after loss. This conversation became especially personal for me. I share my recent experience of losing my dog and the grief that followed—how loss doesn't happen in isolation, but often brings up layers of past grief all at once. We talk about pet loss, signs from loved ones, and the deep emotional bond we share with animals, and how that connection can continue even after they're gone. Julie explains how communication with spirit can be simpler than we think, how intuition works, and why we often block ourselves from receiving signs. She also offers insight into what happens as someone transitions, and how both people and pets remain connected to us in ways we may not always recognize. This episode is a blend of grief, hope, spirituality, and healing—and a reminder that even in loss, we are not as disconnected as we feel. Connect with Julie Ryan ✨ Guest: Julie Ryan 🌐 Website: https://askjulieryan.com 🎙️ Podcast: Ask Julie Ryan (available on all major platforms) 🎁 Free Book: Angelic Attendants (download on her website) 🩰 New Ways Barre by Susan Ways Proudly serving the Kentlands, Gaithersburg, Maryland and surrounding Montgomery County 📍 Boutique Barre Studio (Strength • Movement • Healing) 📅 Book a Class: https://classpass.com/studios/new-ways-barre-gaithersburg 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sueways 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/New-Ways-Barre-61570706490968/ https://newwaysbarre.com/ Please subscribe and leave a review. If you have questions, comments, or possible show topics, email susan@tendrilsofgrief.com Don't forget to visit Tendrils Of Grief website and join for upcoming Webinars, Podcasts Updates and Group Coaching. Get involve and share your thoughts and experiences in our online community Tendrils of Grief-Survivor of Loss To subscribe and review use one links of the links below Amazon Apple Spotify Audacy Deezer Podcast Addict Pandora Rephonic Tune In Connect with me Instagram: @Sue_ways Facebook:@ susan.ways Email @susan@tendrilsofgrief.com Let me hear your thoughts!
Transcribe →
Losing My Dog Brought Back All My Grief
Apr 1300:38:34Tap to summarizeI'm sharing something deeply personal. This is a solo episode, and honestly—it's a hard one. On Monday, I had to say goodbye to my 16-year-old dog, Joven. And while I expected to feel sadness, I didn't expect the depth of grief that followed. This loss didn't just stand on its own—it opened the door to so many other layers of grief I've been carrying. Joven was a complicated, deeply loving presence in my life. He wasn't the easiest dog—he was anxious, dependent, and at times overwhelming—but he loved me in a way that was completely unconditional. No expectations. No conditions. Just love. In this episode, I share the story of his life, the difficult decision to let him go, and the emotional aftermath that I'm still moving through. I talk about the weight of "what ifs," the illusion that one more day would somehow make it easier, and the truth that no amount of extra time is ever enough when we lose someone we love. This loss also brought up something deeper—the way grief compounds. How losing one thing can reopen the pain of everything else: the loss of my husband, shifts in my family, changes in my life, and the quiet realization that nothing stays the same forever. But within all of this, I'm also reflecting on what Joven gave me. The lessons. The love. The reminder to be present, to show up fully for the people and pets in my life, and to not take any moment for granted. This episode is raw, real, and unfiltered. If you've ever experienced pet loss, grief after loss, or the feeling that grief comes in waves, I hope this reminds you that you're not alone—and that what you're feeling is valid. Interested with my studio? 📍 Class Booking / Studio Page: https://classpass.com/studios/new-ways-barre-gaithersburg 📸 Instagram (Brand Presence): https://www.instagram.com/sueways 📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/p/New-Ways-Barre-61570706490968/ Welcome to New Ways Barre. We are so glad you are here. Get ready to transform your body, mind and life. At New Ways Barre, we are dedicated to fostering a supportive community where individuals can achieve holistic well-being. https://newwaysbarre.com/ Please subscribe and leave a review. If you have questions, comments, or possible show topics, email susan@tendrilsofgrief.com Don't forget to visit Tendrils Of Grief website and join for upcoming Webinars, Podcasts Updates and Group Coaching. Get involve and share your thoughts and experiences in our online community Tendrils of Grief-Survivor of Loss To subscribe and review use one links of the links below Amazon Apple Spotify Audacy Deezer Podcast Addict Pandora Rephonic Tune In Connect with me Instagram: @Sue_ways Facebook:@ susan.ways Email @susan@tendrilsofgrief.com Let me hear your thoughts!
Transcribe →
Finding Hope After Losing Someone You Love
Apr 600:34:41Tap to summarizeToday with Steve Beal Sr., author of Generation Jumping: Losing Those Who Are Not Lost, to explore a perspective on grief that is both deeply personal and rooted in hope. Steve shares how a lifetime of loss—especially the passing of his father—shaped the way he understands grief today. We talk about the moments that stay with us, the memories that resurface when we least expect them, and why grief is not something we simply "get over," but something we learn to carry. One of the most powerful parts of our conversation is the role of hope. Not as something that replaces grief, but something that exists alongside it. Steve opens up about how hope can give meaning to sorrow, and how even in the hardest moments, there can be something to hold onto. We also talk about legacy—how the people we love continue to live on through our stories, our actions, and the way we choose to show up in the world. And how sometimes, without even realizing it, we become a source of hope for others walking through their own grief. This episode is a reminder that grief is real, necessary, and deeply human. But within it, there is also connection, purpose, and the opportunity to honor those we've lost in how we continue to live. Check Steve Beal Sr 🌐 Official Website: https://www.stevebealsr.com 📖 Book: Generation Jumping: Losing Those Who Are Not Lost https://www.amazon.com/Generation-Jumping-Losing-Those-Lost/dp/B0FXBMG7WT Welcome to New Ways Barre. We are so glad you are here. Get ready to transform your body, mind and life. At New Ways Barre, we are dedicated to fostering a supportive community where individuals can achieve holistic well-being. https://newwaysbarre.com/ Please subscribe and leave a review. If you have questions, comments, or possible show topics, email susan@tendrilsofgrief.com Don't forget to visit Tendrils Of Grief website and join for upcoming Webinars, Podcasts Updates and Group Coaching. Get involve and share your thoughts and experiences in our online community Tendrils of Grief-Survivor of Loss To subscribe and review use one links of the links below Amazon Apple Spotify Audacy Deezer Podcast Addict Pandora Rephonic Tune In Connect with me Instagram: @Sue_ways Facebook:@ susan.ways Email @susan@tendrilsofgrief.com Let me hear your thoughts!
Transcribe →
You Don't "Move On" From Grief — You Learn to Live With It
Mar 3000:31:19Tap to summarizeI sit down with Jackie Disch , a lifelong writer and author of Losing Katie: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Living Grief. Jackie shares the deeply personal story behind her book—written from journal entries spanning the time before, during, and after the loss of her partner, Katie. What makes Jackie's perspective so powerful is her honesty about what grief really looks like. Not something you "move on" from, but something you learn to live with. Together, we talk about the non-linear nature of grief, the weight of honoring a loved one's final wishes, and how love continues even after loss. Jackie also opens up about the unique challenges of losing Katie during the pandemic—navigating isolation, medical restrictions, and the emotional complexity of being unable to fully show up in the ways she wanted to. Yet within that pain, she found moments of connection, meaning, and even signs that continue to comfort her today. This conversation is a reminder that grief isn't something to fix. It's something to honor. And if you allow it, it can walk beside you as you continue to build a meaningful life after loss. Check Jackie Disch https://www.jackieldisch.com/ Welcome to New Ways Barre. We are so glad you are here. Get ready to transform your body, mind and life. At New Ways Barre, we are dedicated to fostering a supportive community where individuals can achieve holistic well-being. https://newwaysbarre.com/ Please subscribe and leave a review. If you have questions, comments, or possible show topics, email susan@tendrilsofgrief.com Don't forget to visit Tendrils Of Grief website and join for upcoming Webinars, Podcasts Updates and Group Coaching. Get involve and share your thoughts and experiences in our online community Tendrils of Grief-Survivor of Loss To subscribe and review use one links of the links below Amazon Apple Spotify Audacy Deezer Podcast Addict Pandora Rephonic Tune In Connect with me Instagram: @Sue_ways Facebook:@ susan.ways Email @susan@tendrilsofgrief.com Let me hear your thoughts!
Transcribe →
What If Your Grief Isn't the Problem—But the Story You Tell Is?
Mar 2300:44:50Tap to summarizeIn this deeply moving episode of Tendrils of Grief, I welcome memoirist and book coach Carolyn Flynn for an honest conversation about grief, storytelling, and healing after loss. Together, we explore how the stories we tell shape our grief—and our lives. From sudden loss to prolonged goodbyes, I share my experience losing my husband, Paul, while Carolyn opens up about untended grief, motherhood, identity shifts, and her journey through profound life transitions. We dive into what it really means to "feel your feelings," why being witnessed in grief is so powerful, and how shifting from a victim mindset to becoming the hero of your own story can change everything. If you're navigating grief, struggling with identity after loss, or searching for meaning in your pain, this episode offers both comfort and perspective—you are not alone in this. Check Carolyn Dawn Flynn https://www.carolynflynn.com/ Welcome to New Ways Barre. We are so glad you are here. Get ready to transform your body, mind and life. At New Ways Barre, we are dedicated to fostering a supportive community where individuals can achieve holistic well-being. https://newwaysbarre.com/ Please subscribe and leave a review. If you have questions, comments, or possible show topics, email susan@tendrilsofgrief.com Don't forget to visit Tendrils Of Grief website and join for upcoming Webinars, Podcasts Updates and Group Coaching. Get involve and share your thoughts and experiences in our online community Tendrils of Grief-Survivor of Loss To subscribe and review use one links of the links below Amazon Apple Spotify Audacy Deezer Podcast Addict Pandora Rephonic Tune In Connect with me Instagram: @Sue_ways Facebook:@ susan.ways Email @susan@tendrilsofgrief.com Let me hear your thoughts!
Transcribe →
are our loved ones really gone? a psychotherapist 's honest answer
Mar 300:31:52Tap to summarizeIn this powerful episode of Tendrils of Grief, I sit down with psychotherapist and author Sally Dukes for a deeply personal and layered conversation about grief, identity, attachment, and the stories that shape our lives. During our discussion, I share my own journey with abandonment wounds and the loss of my husband — how those early attachment patterns resurfaced in grief, and how loss forces us to confront the narratives we've carried for years. Sally brings her expertise in transpersonal psychology and narrative healing to explore how the stories we tell ourselves can either keep us stuck in victimhood or help us step into growth. We also dive into Sally's near-death experience at age three during open-heart surgery — a profound encounter with a violet light of love that forever shaped her understanding of death and what may lie beyond it. Together, we explore anxious attachment, spiritual connection, manifestation, and whether the bonds we share with loved ones truly end when they die. This episode is an honest conversation about grief not as something to "get over," but as something that reveals who we are beneath the surface. It's about rewriting the story — not denying the pain — and discovering that love may continue in ways we don't fully understand. If you've ever questioned your patterns, wrestled with abandonment, or wondered whether your loved ones are still somehow near, this episode will meet you with compassion and depth. Know Sally Dukes Website:https://www.sallydukes.com/ Did you enjoy today's episode? Welcome to New Ways Barre. We are so glad you are here. Get ready to transform your body, mind and life. At New Ways Barre, we are dedicated to fostering a supportive community where individuals can achieve holistic well-being. Please subscribe and leave a review. If you have questions, comments, or possible show topics, email susan@tendrilsofgrief.com Don't forget to visit Tendrils Of Grief website and join for upcoming Webinars, Podcasts Updates and Group Coaching. Get involve and share your thoughts and experiences in our online community Tendrils of Grief-Survivor of Loss To subscribe and review use one links of the links below Amazon Apple Spotify Audacy Deezer Podcast Addict Pandora Rephonic Tune In Connect with me Instagram: @Sue_ways Facebook:@ susan.ways Email @susan@tendrilsofgrief.com Let me hear your thoughts!
Transcribe →
The Love Story Cancer Couldn't Destroy
Feb 2300:33:40Tap to summarizeIn this powerful episode, I dive into a deeply honest conversation about what it really means to live with grief—not fix it, rush it, or silence it. Drawing from personal experience and the themes we explore in this episode, I unpack how loss reshapes identity, challenges faith, and forces us to confront the parts of ourselves we often avoid. We talk about the waves of grief that return years later, the guilt and unanswered questions that linger, and the quiet strength it takes to keep moving forward. This conversation is for anyone who has ever wondered, "Why does this still hurt?" or "Am I grieving the right way?" Together, we explore how grief evolves, how love continues, and how healing isn't about closure—it's about learning to carry both the pain and the love with intention. If you're navigating loss in any form, this episode offers validation, perspective, and reassurance that you are not alone—and that your grief, in all its complexity, is human. Check out the book! The Luckiest Unlucky Couple Welcome to New Ways Barre. We are so glad you are here. Get ready to transform your body, mind and life. At New Ways Barre, we are dedicated to fostering a supportive community where individuals can achieve holistic well-being. https://newwaysbarre.com/ Please subscribe and leave a review. If you have questions, comments, or possible show topics, email susan@tendrilsofgrief.com Don't forget to visit Tendrils Of Grief website and join for upcoming Webinars, Podcasts Updates and Group Coaching. Get involve and share your thoughts and experiences in our online community Tendrils of Grief-Survivor of Loss To subscribe and review use one links of the links below Amazon Apple Spotify Audacy Deezer Podcast Addict Pandora Rephonic Tune In Connect with me Instagram: @Sue_ways Facebook:@ susan.ways Email @susan@tendrilsofgrief.com Let me hear your thoughts!
Transcribe →
Grief took everything-- then he took the world
Feb 1600:34:17Tap to summarizeIn this moving episode of Tendrils of Grief, I sit down with Barry Hoffner, a widower whose life changed forever after his wife was tragically killed in a sudden accident while they were traveling in Botswana. In the wake of devastating loss, Barry made an extraordinary decision: to honor his wife by visiting every country in the world. What began as heartbreak became a journey of purpose, connection, and healing. Barry shares openly about sudden loss, trauma, widowhood, and what it means to carry love forward instead of leaving it behind. We talk about grief as transformation, continuing bonds after death, and how meaning can emerge even from unimaginable pain. This episode is a powerful reminder that love doesn't end—and that even after tragedy, life can still hold purpose, courage, and connection. Know Barry Hoffner CONNECT WITH BARRY Instagram: @barryh99 Facebook: Barry Hoffner Goodreads: @BarryHoffner LinkedIn: Barry Hoffner Website: https://belongingtotheworld.com/ Belonging to the World is available for pre-order now from Amazon. Did you enjoy today's episode? Welcome to New Ways Barre. We are so glad you are here. Get ready to transform your body, mind and life. At New Ways Barre, we are dedicated to fostering a supportive community where individuals can achieve holistic well-being. Please subscribe and leave a review. If you have questions, comments, or possible show topics, email susan@tendrilsofgrief.com Don't forget to visit Tendrils Of Grief website and join for upcoming Webinars, Podcasts Updates and Group Coaching. Get involve and share your thoughts and experiences in our online community Tendrils of Grief-Survivor of Loss To subscribe and review use one links of the links below Amazon Apple Spotify Audacy Deezer Podcast Addict Pandora Rephonic Tune In Connect with me Instagram: @Sue_ways Facebook:@ susan.ways Email @susan@tendrilsofgrief.com Let me hear your thoughts!
Transcribe →
When Grief Changes Shape, Healing, Closure and Moving Forward Without Forgetting
Feb 900:34:11Tap to summarizeI open my heart and share where I truly am in my grief journey—eight years after losing Paul, and after walking through layers of loss I never imagined I'd have to carry. This episode was born out of a quiet but powerful realization during the holidays: that grief evolves, that endings can bring clarity, and that moving forward doesn't mean forgetting—it means choosing alignment, peace, and authenticity. I reflect on parental estrangement, complicated family dynamics, selling the home Paul and I built our life in, and the tender moment of recognizing when a chapter has truly completed. I talk honestly about what I've learned along the way: How sitting with your feelings—rather than avoiding them—can bring unexpected peace Why turning inward matters more than seeking answers from others Letting go of anger, old stories, and the need to react Trusting your inner guidance, even when life feels unfair Holding grief and hope in the same container Choosing not to participate in cycles of dysfunction Finding purpose after loss, even when it feels scary or unreasonable I also share how opening a community-centered barre studio became part of my healing—not because grief ended, but because I allowed myself to evolve. This episode is about trusting that what broke you may also be the thing that reshapes you into someone stronger, clearer, and more aligned than ever before. If you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure whether you'll ever be "okay" again, I want you to hear this clearly: you are not broken, you are not grieving wrong, and you are capable of moving forward in your own time. This episode is an invitation—to get quiet, to turn inward, to trust yourself, and to believe that even now, something meaningful is still unfolding for you. Welcome to New Ways Barre. We are so glad you are here. Get ready to transform your body, mind and life. At New Ways Barre, we are dedicated to fostering a supportive community where individuals can achieve holistic well-being. https://newwaysbarre.com/ Please subscribe and leave a review. If you have questions, comments, or possible show topics, email susan@tendrilsofgrief.com Don't forget to visit Tendrils Of Grief website and join for upcoming Webinars, Podcasts Updates and Group Coaching. Get involve and share your thoughts and experiences in our online community Tendrils of Grief-Survivor of Loss To subscribe and review use one links of the links below Amazon Apple Spotify Audacy Deezer Podcast Addict Pandora Rephonic Tune In Connect with me Instagram: @Sue_ways Facebook:@ susan.ways Email @susan@tendrilsofgrief.com Let me hear your thoughts!
Transcribe →