Podcast
The Empowered Grief Journey
Hosted by Chris Mamone · EN
Join Chris Mamone, founder of The Empowered Grief Journey podcast and coaching platform, as he helps you transform grief into healing and self-acceptance. Each episode shares raw stories, heartfelt conversations, and practical tools that remind you of your inner strength. Whether you’re navigating loss or supporting someone who is, this podcast will guide you to move through pain—not just past it—and rediscover your purpose and personal power along the way. Grief isn’t the end of your story—it’s where your empowered grief journey begins.
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Grieving the Loss of Two Children as a Couple
2d ago00:55:10Tap to summarizeIn this deeply emotional episode of The Empowered Grief Journey, Chris sits down with Tim and Becky Graff to talk about the unimaginable—losing both of their daughters—and what it took to navigate that level of grief as a couple. Tim and Becky share their story openly, including how each of them processed the loss of their daughters in different ways, and the strain that kind of grief can place on a relationship. They speak honestly about the moments where disconnection could have taken over—and the intentional choices they made to stay present, communicate, and support each other through it. This conversation sheds light on something many couples experience but rarely talk about: how profound loss can either create distance or become something you learn to move through together. They also share what helped them begin rebuilding—not just individually, but as partners learning how to carry grief side by side.
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Frank DiMaio on Losing His Wife & Learning to Live Again
4d ago00:45:10Tap to summarizeIn this deeply personal episode of The Empowered Grief Journey, Chris sits down with Frank DiMaio to talk about the reality of losing a spouse and having to rebuild your life from the ground up. Frank shares his story of losing his wife and what that loss actually looked like—not just emotionally, but in the day-to-day reality of waking up to a life that no longer felt familiar. He opens up about the shock, loneliness, and identity shift that followed, and the difficult process of learning how to move forward without the person he built his life with. This conversation goes beyond surface-level grief and into the moments most people don’t talk about—what it’s like to sit with the silence, to question what comes next, and to slowly begin rebuilding when you didn’t choose to start over. Frank also shares how he began finding purpose again, what helped him take steps forward, and how his perspective on life has changed through loss.
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Traumatic Brain Injury & Grief: How to Heal After Life Changes Overnight
1w ago00:51:46Tap to summarizeIn this powerful episode of The Empowered Grief Journey, Chris sits down with Jennifer Taylor to explore what it means to navigate grief after sudden loss and traumatic brain injury. After a life-changing skiing accident that resulted in a brain injury, Jennifer’s world shifted overnight. Alongside the emotional weight of loss, she was forced to confront changes to her identity, her daily life, and her ability to function in ways she once took for granted. This conversation offers an honest look at the intersection of physical trauma and emotional grief—and what it takes to keep moving forward when both your body and your life have been disrupted. Jennifer shares how she navigated the challenges of recovery, processed deep emotional pain, and leaned on faith and inner strength to begin rebuilding her life. If you’ve experienced a traumatic event, brain injury, or sudden life change that left you feeling lost, overwhelmed, or disconnected—this episode will meet you in that space.
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The Hidden Grief No One Talks About: Losing Yourself & Starting Over With Carissa Karban
1w ago00:47:24Tap to summarizeIn this powerful episode of The Empowered Grief Journey, Chris sits down with Carissa Karban—systems architect and shadow alchemist—to explore a form of grief that often goes unseen: the loss of identity. Carissa shares her personal journey through profound life transitions, including the unraveling of marriages, careers, and the versions of herself built for survival rather than truth. Together, they dive into what it really means to grieve the life you thought you would have, and how to rebuild from a place of authenticity. This conversation goes beyond traditional grief and opens the door to deeper healing through shadow work, self-discovery, and emotional integration. If you’ve ever felt lost, disconnected, or unsure of who you are after major life changes—this episode will meet you there.
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What Grief Teaches Us About Life, Purpose, and Starting Over Again | Bill Cushing
4w ago00:42:38Tap to summarizeGrief has a way of changing everything—and the hardest part is learning how to move forward when life no longer looks the same. In this episode, Chris sits down with Bill Cushing, who shares his personal journey of losing his wife to breast cancer and the profound impact that loss had on his life, identity, and sense of direction. Through honest reflection and lived experience, Bill opens up about what it’s like to walk through deep grief, face the reality of life after loss, and begin the process of rebuilding when everything feels uncertain. In this conversation, you’ll learn: What it’s like to lose a spouse to breast cancer How to navigate the emotional weight of grief and loss The challenges of rebuilding your life after losing a partner Finding strength, resilience, and meaning after tragedy How your perspective on life shifts after experiencing deep loss This episode is a powerful reminder that while grief never fully goes away, it can reshape you—and over time, help you rediscover purpose, connection, and a path forward. If you’ve lost someone close to you or are struggling to find your footing after loss, this conversation offers real, grounded insight into what healing can look like. You don’t have to have it all figured out—you just have to take the next step.
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Healing Grief Through the Body: Breathwork & Love with Colleen Quinn
Apr 2100:46:58Tap to summarizeGrief doesn’t just affect your mind—it lives in your body. In this episode, Chris sits down with psychologist, mystic, and breathwork practitioner Colleen Quinn to explore how trauma and grief are stored in the body—and how true healing happens when we begin to work with it, not avoid it. Drawing from decades of experience in somatic experiencing, internal family systems (IFS), and breathwork, Colleen shares how unresolved grief can shape our identity, emotions, and nervous system—and how we can begin to release it in a safe, embodied way. Together, they dive into: How grief and trauma are stored in the body Why healing isn’t just mental—it’s physical and emotional The role of breathwork in processing grief How identity shifts after loss Learning to “get comfortable with the uncomfortable” Turning pain into personal growth and transformation If you’ve experienced loss and feel stuck, disconnected, or overwhelmed, this conversation will help you understand why healing takes time—and how to begin reconnecting with yourself in the process. Grief isn’t the end of your story—it’s the beginning of a new chapter.
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Who Am I Really? Navigating Identity and Belonging After a DNA Discovery
Apr 1900:47:08Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Empowered Grief Journey Podcast, Chris speaks with Lezlee Liljenberg—entrepreneur, author, and speaker—about her life-changing DNA discovery. What started as a fun family experiment quickly turned into a deeply emotional journey that challenged everything she believed about her identity and biological roots. Lezlee shares the realities of navigating unexpected family truths, the grief that can come with identity shifts, and how she found acceptance, connection, and meaning through her journey.
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Leaving the Hospital Without Your Baby: A Story of Loss, Grief, and Resilience
Apr 1600:38:22Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Empowered Grief Journey Podcast, Chris speaks with Lori Layne—author, speaker, and founder of The Lane Less Traveled—about her experience with a high-risk pregnancy, a long NICU journey, and the loss of her daughter. Lori shares the emotional realities of child loss, including navigating grief while raising a surviving child, how partners grieve differently, and the importance of community and support. She also discusses how she turned her pain into purpose through writing, ministry, and legacy work to help other grieving parents feel less alone.
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Losing Both Parents: Navigating Double Grief and Rebuilding Your Life with Penelope Alonso
Apr 1400:38:36Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Empowered Grief Journey Podcast, Chris sits down with writer and storyteller Penelope Alonso to discuss her experience of losing both parents within a short period of time. Through her journey of caregiving and profound loss, Penelope opens up about the emotional and identity shifts that follow when the foundational figures in your life are gone. She also shares how writing became a meaningful way to process grief, honor her parents, and move forward with intention.
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Turning Grief Into Art: Healing Trauma Through Creativity with Devorah Brinckerhoff
Apr 1200:47:45Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Chris sits down with Devorah Brinckerhoff, a mixed media artist and creator of the Soul Portrait Process, to explore how creativity can help transform grief, trauma, and life challenges into empowerment. Together, they discuss healing through art, reconnecting with your authentic self, and how expression can become a powerful tool for growth after loss.
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