Advertise on podcast: Grief Refuge

Grief doesn't just break your heart—it can quietly change how you see yourself. In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked connection between grief and self-love, and why losing someone you love can make everyday life feel so much harder than expected. When grief enters your life, it can disrupt your sense of identity, trigger guilt and self-blame, and leave you feeling disconnected from the person you used to be. Simple things like getting out of bed, caring for your body, or asking for support can suddenly feel overwhelming. Over time, this can erode self-love and replace it with harsh self-judgment. This episode gently unpacks why that happens—and more importantly, why it doesn't mean something is wrong with you. You'll learn how grief affects your nervous system, why your mind may confuse pain with personal failure, and how to begin separating your self-worth from what you're going through. We also share simple, practical ways to rebuild self-love during loss—without forcing positivity or rushing your healing. If you've ever thought, "Why can't I handle this better?" or felt like you've lost yourself in grief, this conversation is for you. Get more support at griefrefuge.com

Listen to explore how grief shapes your thoughts, and how small shifts can make the journey more manageable and meaningful. For more support, download the Grief Refuge app

This interview with Belinda Koch, Author of Becoming a Mindful Mourner, shares insights from her professional experience as a Licensed counselor, and her personal experience as a grief companion. If you've ever thought you were stuck in grief or weren't grieving the right way, this conversation is for you.

Today's episode is an interview with Chelsea Ohlemiller. Chelsea shares pieces of her grief journey and how she took to writing to honor her mother's legacy, process her grief, and create a community for people navigating their own grief journey. Please visit griefrefuge.com to download the Grief Refuge app and learn more about Grief Care services.

Understanding whether you're grieving or experiencing depression can be challenging and the symptoms for each can be similar. This episode helps you distnguish your emotnaion statle by asking yourself reflective questions and recognizing key differences to gain clarity and take important steps to care for your mental and emotional health. For more grief support, visit griefrefuge.com

Today I am joined by Lisa Marie Conine to talk about the unique way she supports people in grief. Lisa Marie uses plant medicine. She views plants as helpers when people need extra support and I find it fascinating how she approaches her work. Lisa Marie is doing special work and you've got to listen to hear how she does it.  Also, join us for a 4-week workshop series starting January 30th learn how to use plants and herbs to help aid in your healing after loss! Details and registration here: https://www.griefrefuge.com/plantmedicineforgrief Lisa Marie serves as a trained Death Doula, Yoga Instructor, and Plant Medicine Guide, offering 1:1 and group containers. She supports folks by providing spaces to explore transformation by leaning into the wisdom of our bodies, sacred plants, and the earth. Lisa specializes in utilizing specific plant allies to aid in one's journey alongside somatic tools for regulation and embodiment. Her work is held with the intention to honor the power of transformative rites of passage present in life and death.   Calendly: https://calendly.com/belovedgateway Newsletter: https://lisamarieco9.substack.com/   If you need more support for your grief journey, download the Grief Refuge app for daily comfort, care, and compassionate inspiration to help manage grief (on iOS and Android).

Today we talk about a difficult emotion to manage when grieving. It's anger. Anger can cause a lot of problems and when you're grieving, and it's a very common emotion to feel. Today, I'm joined by Sandy Linda, who is a grief and women's empowerment coach. Sandy and I talk about her difficult experience of feeling heaps of grief related anger for over a 2 year period + the things she did to resolve that anger and heal herself. Sandy also offers some tips and techniques for managing your own grief related anger.  It's a powerful conversation I hope you very much enjoy. If you need more support right now, visit the Grief Refuge website to download our app or learn more about our retreats, workshops, and groups.

Today I would like to share a guest interview with you. My guest is Yuivany Aguilar who lives in California and has a powerful story to share about the loss of her twin daughters and how she worked through her grief.  Yuivany is a caregiver by nature. She's a professional nurse and has a lot of wisdom to share about navigating grief. Much of her wisdom has been documented in her new book titled Pearls of the Soul available on Amazon. For more grief support, download the Grief Refuge app.

Today I would like to share a webinar replay about grieving in isolation. The webinar shares some important perspectives from some of the world's leading experts on grief support. If isolation has been something you've felt during your grief, this information is for you. As you listen in, do your best to let go of any self judgements you may have about how you're grieving. Please enjoy the information shared regarding this important topic.

Today I would like to share a guest interview with you. My guest is Bryan Jung and he created a platform for individuals who have lost a parent as a child or teen. It's called "This Is Why" and it's found online at thisiswhy.life.  In our conversation, Bryan shares some of the trauma he and his family endured after tragically losing his father at 10 years old. He also shares some of the things that have helped and continue to help him cope when the waves of grief hit. Brian's heart is in the right place and I'm grateful he made This is Why for people in need.  If you need more support right now, download the Grief Refuge app for daily companionship, comfort, care, and compassionate suggestions for managing grief (on iOS and Android)

On this Grief Refuge podcast episode, Founder and Host, Reid Peterson, shares a guest interview with you. His guest is Barb Higgins and she has a helpful perspective on giving grief a voice. She shares her journey publicly on her "A Thousand Tiny Steps" podcast and Youtube channels.  One of the things that really stands out about this interview is her visual analogies for some of the harder experiences in grief. It made a lot more sense to have a metaphorical image to visualize when talking about the complex emotions involved in handling death related loss.  Barb's insights can help validate you for being your true self as you grieve and heal. You no longer have to tell yourself you're supposed to think or feel a certain way or that somehow you're responsible for the comfort of others in your own grief. Enjoy the podcast episode. If you need more support, download the Grief Refuge App

On this new Grief Refuge podcast episode, Founder and Host, Reid Peterson, shares his thoughts regarding some of the initial responses and reactions to a death related loss. These include:  Shock Numbness Denial Disbelief Repression Distraction Avoidance It's tragic. Losing someone you love so deeply or someone who had such an impact on your life is very painful. It hurts in ways that some people can't begin to describe. And even if you had a heads up that death was coming, you still may feel unprepared and overwhelmed with all of the emotions involved.  Gain the needed insights and perspective from this unique and special episode.

Today's episode is a sequel to Episode 64: As a Grieving Spouse… but today we hear the experience, perspective and support provided by a grief counselor. On today's episode, Carol Goldfain Davis shares what she observed in Marv's process as he experienced anticipatory grief, deep sorrow, and his journey for coping and finding his footing in life again. Carol's empathy clearly speaks as she shares several reflections from Marv's journey. It's remarkable to know there are people on this planet who can show up for others in this way! Carol and Marv also collaborated to create the book, When the Rocks Sing, which is available for purchase on Amazon. If you need more support, download the Grief Refuge app for daily companionship, comfort, care, and compassionate inspiration to help manage grief (on iOS and Android)

This new Grief Refuge podcast episode is a story and conversation of love, loss, and repair. Repair in a sense of how a person with a broken heart got support and was able to put the pieces back together again.  On this podcast episode, I interview Marv Weidner, a grieving spouse who authentically articulates his grief and healing  journey.  There's so much beauty in this conversation because Marv speaks from his heart, is honest, and shares important things he experienced to aid in his healing. We hope this Grief Refuge podcast episode helps support you on your own grief journey. BONUS: This is Part 1 of a 2 Part series. In Part 2, you will hear insights and reflections from Marv's Grief Counselor, Carol Goldfain. If you need more grief support, download the Grief Refuge app for daily companionship, comfort, care, and compassionate suggestions for managing grief (on iOS and Android)

Are you tired of people trying to fix your grief or judging you for feeling a certain way? If so, you will want to listen to this Grief Refuge podcast conversation with Stephenie Zamora.  On this podcast episode, Grief Refuge founder, Reid Peterson, and Stephanie discuss the ways grief's "Dark and Twisty" overwhelm someone experiencing loss and not knowing who they are right now, or who they are going to be when they get their grief bearings down. This is a truly authentic conversation about grief that we hope helps you put your own loss into words, helps you feel heard and understood, and gives you insights into the deeper and darker experiences and emotions of grief: disorientation, guilt, rage, recklessness, etc. If you need more support for your grief journey, download the Grief Refuge app for daily comfort, care, and compassionate inspiration to help manage grief.