Podcast
Turning Grief into Growth: The Journey of Transformation
Hosted by Greg Jacobs and Don Lipstein · EN
Come join Greg Jacobs and Don Lipstein on this journey of transformation as we explore what it truly means to turn grief into growth. Both Greg and Don are fathers who have lost sons, and together they share the realities of their paths—both the deep pitfalls and the unexpected triumphs.
This podcast walks alongside anyone experiencing grief, no matter what your relationship to the one you’ve lost or the circumstances of their passing. Our hope is that as you journey with us, you’ll find space to heal, to grow, and to feel the strength of shared companionship along the way.
You can email us with feedback at: TurningGriefIntoGrowth@Gmail.com
Discover more about who we are by visiting our websites:
Greg Jacobs: www.yourdadforever.com
Don Lipstein: www.imaginefamilyrecovery.net
14episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Episode #30-Dr. Frank Campbell
1w ago00:46:02Tap to summarize"Send us a Comment"In this episode, we welcome back returning guest Dr. Frank Campbell, who previously joined us on Episode #14. Dr. Campbell discusses how, in America, we often experience what he calls “microwave bereavement,” where society expects us to return to normal after only a few short days away from work following the loss of a loved one.Frank also shares his powerful concept of “The Canyon of Why” and the difficult choices we face at the fork in the river of bereavement. Within this canyon, we encounter isolation, towering walls, swift rapids, and overwhelming uncertainty. He explains how important it is to have a guide—someone who has already navigated those dangerous waters and difficult decisions before us.And when someone throws you a life preserver of empathy along the way, it is always wise to grab hold.
Transcribe →Episode #29-Joanne Harpel
2w ago00:40:31Tap to summarize"Send us a Comment"In this episode, Joanne Harpel shares part of her journey following the loss of her brother, Stephen, to suicide in 1993. Joanne is the President of Coping After Suicide (CAS).Throughout the episode, we discuss the importance of being not only reactive in grief, but also proactive. Joanne reflects on a quote from Admiral William McRaven’s book, sharing that grief, much like life, is “not one step at a time, but rather one evolution at a time.” We grow from the steps we have already taken, rather than starting over with each new one.Another powerful concept explored in this conversation is that asking “Why?” in our grief journey does not always mean there will be an answer. Sometimes the question itself becomes part of the journey toward understanding, healing, and growth.
Transcribe →Episode #28-Glen Lord
3w ago00:42:11Tap to summarize"Send us a Comment"In this episode, Glen Lord shares his personal grief journey following the loss of his son, Noah Thomas Emory Lord, on June 14, 1999, due to complications from a tonsillectomy. Glen also speaks about the heartbreaking loss of his sister to breast cancer in 2018 at the age of 39, as well as the ongoing challenges of having a son who has struggled with severe substance abuse for many years.Glen is the co-founder, co-director, and CEO of Peer Support Community Partners, and also serves as a director at SADOD (sadod.org). Since 2005, he has dedicated himself to serving others as a peer grief helper. Throughout this conversation, Glen shares openly and authentically about how grief has shaped, changed, and refined him over the 27 years since Noah’s passing. He discusses how identity evolves through loss, and how our wants, needs, and desires can shift over time.Join us for this meaningful conversation as we explore the importance of being proactive in your grief journey and the ongoing work of growth, healing, and self-discovery.
Transcribe →Episode #27-Man in the Mirror
May 2800:28:23Tap to summarize"Send us a Comment"In this episode, Don and Greg explore what it means to engage in self-reflection and attempt to define what progress truly looks like throughout one’s grief journey. They share how vulnerability and authenticity are absolutely essential in determining the path forward, fostering growth, and recognizing when it is necessary to ask for help.Grief is not a linear path; it often zigzags in unexpected directions. At times, it may feel like two steps forward and one step back. However, when evaluating yourself in the mirror, do not simply focus on the person staring back at you today compared to yesterday. Instead, take a journey back in time to recognize how far you have already come, while also considering how much further you hope to grow and heal along the way.
Transcribe →Episode #26-Choices
May 2100:33:17Tap to summarize"Send us a Comment"In this episode, Greg and Don discuss what it means to make choices throughout the grief journey. Some choices may lead toward healing and long-term growth, while others can prove unsustainable over time. While they avoid taking a one-size-fits-all approach to grief, they explore several foundational principles that can help guide healthier decisions along the way. They also discuss how choosing to pause, avoid, or remain stuck in grief is, in itself, a choice. Although life is filled with decisions, the grief journey often confronts us with some of the heaviest and most difficult choices we will ever face.
Transcribe →Episode #25-Robyn Houston-Bean
May 1400:40:35Tap to summarize"Send us a Comment"In this episode, Robyn Houston-Bean shares the growth she has experienced throughout her grief journey following the loss of her son, Nick, who passed away from an overdose on May 23, 2015. Robyn is the founder of The Sun Will Rise in Massachusetts, an organization dedicated to creating and facilitating safe spaces for peer support groups for individuals experiencing various types of loss.Robyn reflects on how, prior to Nick’s passing, she had never truly experienced grief. Encouraged by her sister, she took the first step off the couch and attended a peer support group—an experience that would become foundational in her healing. As she puts it, “I didn’t need fixing; I needed someone to listen.”To learn more about Robyn and the impactful work she is doing, visit www.thesunwillrise.org.
Transcribe →Episode #24-Franklin Cook
May 700:42:35Tap to summarize"Send us a Comment"In this episode, Franklin Cook shares the story of losing his father to suicide in November 1978, following a lifetime struggle with daily alcohol use. He reflects on his own journey with substance use, including years spent in and out of rehab, and the limited attention given to grief as part of the recovery process.Recognizing this gap, Franklin went on to found SADOD (Support After Death by Overdose), an organization dedicated to supporting those navigating loss and recovery. You can learn more about this work at www.recoveryandgrief-ma.org.
Transcribe →Episode #23-Larry Carlat
Apr 3000:38:17Tap to summarize"Send us a Comment"In this episode, Larry Carlat joins us to share his story and discuss his book, A Space in the Heart: A Survival Guide for Grieving Parents. Larry opens up about the loss of his son, Robbie, who died by suicide on February 6, 2019—over seven years ago. Robbie faced struggles with alcoholism, bipolar disorder, and complex emotions surrounding his adoption.Through his journey, Larry offers a powerful perspective: “Life is about choice. We can choose to be happy and have joy. There is always hope—we just have to look for it, embrace it, and never let go.”Larry also shares that while he has been a guest on more than 50 podcasts, Don and I are the only two fathers he knows who host a podcast dedicated specifically to grief.
Transcribe →Episode #22-Putting The Work In
Apr 2300:35:52Tap to summarize"Send us a Comment"In this episode, Greg and Don explore what it truly means to “put the work in” on a grief journey. They acknowledge that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach—grief is deeply personal, and the path forward looks different for everyone. Still, they highlight several practices that many have found helpful in fostering growth: staying connected to one’s emotions, engaging with others who have experienced similar loss or trauma, and prioritizing self-care through exercise, healthy eating, and meditation or prayer.They also reflect on the meaningful ways people choose to honor and remember their loved ones—whether through visiting a gravesite or urn, creating foundations or scholarship funds, advocating for legislative change, mentoring others, or finding other personal expressions of remembrance.
Transcribe →Episode #21-Rebecca Mullaney
Apr 1600:44:29Tap to summarize"Send us a Comment"In this episode, we are joined by Rebecca Mullaney, a licensed psychotherapist from North Carolina. Rebecca shares her deeply personal grief journey following the loss of her husband, Captain Ian Morrison, who died by suicide on March 21, 2012. At the time, Rebecca was just 24, and Ian was 26.She opens up about the early days of her loss—pouring her love and energy into her dog, Daisy, and committing to daily counseling and group therapy throughout the first year. Rebecca speaks candidly about the depth of her depression and the intentional work it took to begin climbing out of that dark place—work she continues to this day, 14 years later.Rebecca also shares how life has grown around her grief. She is now remarried to Brennan, and together they have a three-year-old son, Harrison Samuel.She leaves us with a powerful reminder: the importance of setting “loose goals” in grief—allowing space for flexibility, while taking small, steady steps forward. Rebecca encourages listeners to discover what truly helps them on their own path and to honor that journey in their own way.
Transcribe →