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Send us Fan Mail There was black dust shooting out of my vents, and I knew exactly whose fault it was. Mine. I didn't ask. In this Shower Sprinkle, I'm sharing a messy (literally) day at home and an upcoming surgery I've been avoiding asking about, even though I used to work in the OR. Both taught me the same thing: sometimes we skip the questions because we're excited, relieved, or honestly scared of the answer. That avoidance costs us clarity, peace of mind, and sometimes a couple of hours of scrubbing walls. This week, I'm challenging you to look at where you're not asking, and whether you're asking in a way that actually gets you a clear answer. In this episode: Why we say yes before we get clearHow avoiding questions can be a way of protecting ourselves from what we don't want to knowThe difference between asking and asking wellLooking back on the Grief Series and what asking made possibleAsk yourself this week: What question am I avoiding right now?Am I scared of the answer?Could I rephrase it so I get a clearer response?Come Gather with us 🍂 Christine Marcario and I are hosting Gathered, an intimate retreat for women, November 5–7 in New Jersey. It's all about asking yourself the real questions, getting clear, and leaving with action steps and a sisterhood. Seating is limited to 8, and some seats are already gone. Ask us any questions and ask yourself if this feels aligned!  You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/cataton/ https://www.facebook.com/casey.taton/ You can find what sparks me at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AgeRtyojY/ https://www.instagram.com/lmbdcelebrations/ Music by: Jason and Ashley Scheufler Artwork by:  https://www.instagram.com/graphx_ink/

Send us Fan Mail After ten conversations about loss, love, and everything grief actually looks like, I'm closing out the Grief Series with the one thing every guest agreed on: what actually helps someone who's grieving isn't the right words — it's staying in the room. In this finale, I revisit the most powerful moment from each episode of the Grief Series — from Pam Sandrock's beach ball metaphor to Justine King's "you never move on, you move forward" — and pull together a real, practical toolkit for how to comfort someone who's grieving. This episode covers what to actually say (and what not to say) when someone dies, how to support a grieving friend without overwhelming them, and why "let me know if you need anything" almost never works. In this episode: A one-line takeaway from all 10 Grief Series guestsThe exact phrases to stop saying to someone who's grieving — and what to say insteadWhy "I'm sorry for your loss" isn't as comforting as you thinkPractical, specific ways to show up for a grieving friend or family member (no meal train required)Why there's no timeline — and no hierarchy — to griefIf you've ever wondered what to say to someone who's grieving, how to support a friend after a death, or how to talk to a child about loss, this episode is the recap and the toolkit in one. Catch up on the full Grief Series: Starting from Episode 51  You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/cataton/ https://www.facebook.com/casey.taton/ You can find what sparks me at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AgeRtyojY/ https://www.instagram.com/lmbdcelebrations/ Music by: Jason and Ashley Scheufler Artwork by:  https://www.instagram.com/graphx_ink/

Send us Fan Mail Anthony Marcario was three years old when his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer — and she spent the next two decades making sure he never noticed. In this episode, Anthony (husband of my dear friend Christine, and a high school educator of over 12 years) shares what it was like growing up with a parent who was sick for nearly his entire childhood, and how she turned every Friday treatment, every hospital stay, and every hard day into something that just looked like ordinary life. Anthony walks through the five stages of grief as he actually lived them — the denial after she passed, the anger, the bargaining with God, and the sadness that still shows up around her birthday, Mother's Day, and the holidays. He talks about "coming out of the clam shell" to finally speak about his loss, the signs he still looks for that tell him she's near, and the moment he found the yellow string tied to a Christmas ornament — proof she was there the year they lost the hooks. He also opens up about how losing his mother young shaped the way he shows up for his own students, many of whom are grieving parents of their own, and why he now tries to live by one rule: go to bed with no regrets. In this episode: Growing up with a parent who has a chronic or terminal illnessThe five stages of grief, as experienced rather than as theoryHow families "normalize" hardship to protect each otherSigns, symbols, and staying connected to someone after lossSupporting grieving students as an educatorFinding joy and living without regret after losing a parent youngYou can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/cataton/ https://www.facebook.com/casey.taton/ You can find what sparks me at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AgeRtyojY/ https://www.instagram.com/lmbdcelebrations/ Music by: Jason and Ashley Scheufler Artwork by:  https://www.instagram.com/graphx_ink/

Send us Fan Mail I met Justine at a boxing gym, and it didn't take long to realize she's one of the most genuine, heart-of-gold people I've ever known. She's spent seven years opening her home to strangers walking through the unimaginable — the loss of a child. In this episode, Justine shares the story of her son Josh, who she and her husband Bob lost on Easter Sunday, 2017 — the day after what she calls one of her best birthdays ever. She talks about the moment everything changed, the years since, and the support group she and Bob ran out of their own living room for families who understood exactly what she was carrying. We talk about what it actually means to help someone who's grieving — why "call me if you need anything" doesn't work, why just showing up does, and why sitting in silence with someone can say more than any words you could find. Justine shares the phrase she's started using instead of "I'm sorry," what her tattoos mean to her, and why she believes you never move on from a loss like this — you move forward, carrying it with you. This one is heavy, and it's also full of hope. Justine's faith carried her through the worst thing she could imagine, and she's spent the years since turning that into a place for other people to land. In this episode: Justine's story of losing her son Josh, and the years that followedWhy "call me if you need anything" isn't real support — and what isThe support group Justine and her husband ran for seven yearsWhat her tattoos mean and why she got themWhy grief isn't something you move on from — it's something you carry forwardWhere to find support if you or someone you love has lost a childResources mentioned: While We're Waiting support group — Wichita, KS (Riverlawn Church, last Thursday of the month)While We're Waiting Facebook group (for bereaved parents)Listener challenge: If you know someone who's lost someone — whether it was last month or ten years ago — reach out today. Not "let me know if you need anything." Just reach out. Send the text. Bring the toilet paper. Sit with them in silence if that's all you have. You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/cataton/ https://www.facebook.com/casey.taton/ You can find what sparks me at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AgeRtyojY/ https://www.instagram.com/lmbdcelebrations/ Music by: Jason and Ashley Scheufler Artwork by:  https://www.instagram.com/graphx_ink/

Send us Fan Mail This week, I step away from the guest chair and get honest about my own grief — mid-eclipse season, mid-edit, mid-life. Fresh off the conversation with Dr. Craig Farney about the difference between feeling sad and being sad, I found myself living the answer in real time. A physical health scare pulled her straight back into an old fear, grief showed up uninvited at her desk, and she made the choice to let it move through her instead of pushing past it. In this Shower Sprinkle, I talk about: Why eclipse season seems to be surfacing heaviness for everyone latelyThe moment grief ambushed her while editing an upcoming guest episodeA physical trigger that took her back to a hard season of her health historyWhy hosting a grief-focused show doesn't make her immune to griefThe practice of letting a feeling have its five minutes, instead of solving or explaining it awayA note on what's ahead: Next week's guest joins me to talk about the loss of a child, and how she's turned unimaginable pain into helping others survive theirs. Trigger warning noted in advance — I want you to know this one will be tender. You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/cataton/ https://www.facebook.com/casey.taton/ You can find what sparks me at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AgeRtyojY/ https://www.instagram.com/lmbdcelebrations/ Music by: Jason and Ashley Scheufler Artwork by:  https://www.instagram.com/graphx_ink/

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Grief Series, I sit down with Dr. Craig Farney — who I jokingly call "the feelings doctor" — for a conversation about the connection between our emotions and our physical health. Dr. Farney has personally helped me work through my own grief, and in this episode he breaks down why so many of us were never taught how to feel our feelings in the first place, and what that costs us physically and emotionally when we don't. What we cover: Dr. Farney's approach to helping people become aware of the subconscious patterns driving their wellbeingThe three questions he asks every client: what do you feel, where do you feel it, and why do you feel itThe inner parent / inner child framework, and how most of us "parent" ourselves the same way we were parentedWhy feelings aren't the problem — it's the behavior that follows them that we're really trying to controlThe critical difference between "I feel sad" (an experience) and "I am sad" (an identity) — and why that distinction changes how grief moves through youHow unprocessed grief shows up in the body: gut issues, fatigue, sleep problems, autoimmune flare-upsGrief isn't only about death — the death of a relationship, a dream, or a career can grieve just as deeplyWhy grief has no timeline, and why something can resurface 20 years laterGendered grief norms — why men are so often taught not to cry, and the health cost of that conditioningDr. Farney's own story: a distant relationship with his father, not being able to cry at his dad's funeral, and the moment his dad turned, kissed his mom, and passed awayWhy "the past without emotion is wisdom," and how to hold complicated grief without judgmentYou can connect with Dr. Craig Farney at:https://www.docerelifecenter.com/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrCraigFarney Listen to his podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@mind.shift.podcasts You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/cataton/ https://www.facebook.com/casey.taton/ You can find what sparks me at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AgeRtyojY/ https://www.instagram.com/lmbdcelebrations/ Music by: Jason and Ashley Scheufler Artwork by:  https://www.instagram.com/graphx_ink/

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I'm sitting down with someone I don't usually get to interview — my grandfather, Glenn Gum. He was married to my grandmother, Sheila, for 69 years before she passed. We recorded this conversation at Table Rock Lake, where our family has vacationed together for over 50 years — so this isn't a studio interview. It's just us, talking the way we always have. My Grandpa agreed to share this because he wants it to help someone else walking through the same thing. He talks about what grief has actually felt like for him — not the version people expect, but the real one: isolation, the pull to stay in bed, the guilt of still being here. He talks about the friends who chose to stay in that isolation, and the sister-in-law who told him plainly: if you sit in your house and do nothing, the devil wins. And he talks about what it took to choose differently — staying active, staying connected, and deciding, one morning at a time, to be the guy who says good morning instead of the guy who doesn't. This one is personal. My grandpa didn't just answer questions for this episode — he gave us 69 years of love, and what he's learned about living after loss. In this episode: What grief has actually felt like for him, in his own wordsThe role isolation plays in grief, and how it compoundsThe moment his sister-in-law's words changed his mindsetWhy "positive" has to be a practice, not just a feelingHow he's rebuilt a life, health, and community after 69 years with one partnerYou can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/cataton/ https://www.facebook.com/casey.taton/ You can find what sparks me at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AgeRtyojY/ https://www.instagram.com/lmbdcelebrations/ Music by: Jason and Ashley Scheufler Artwork by:  https://www.instagram.com/graphx_ink/

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Inner Spark Grief Series, I sit down with Terri Brown, an LSCSW psychotherapist with 39 years of experience in death and dying, critical incident response, and grief counseling — including work with Kroger's critical incident teams and 12 years serving soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with the Department of Defense. Terri has personally walked alongside me through my own journey, and in this conversation we get into why grief is so rarely talked about — and why that silence leaves so many people feeling alone in it. We talk about: Terri's beach metaphor for grief — the waves that lap gently at your feet, and the ones that swamp you without warningWhy "I'm so sorry for your loss" isn't the comfort we think it is, and what to say insteadThe "grief grocery bag" — a simple, tangible way to show up for someone grievingWhy there's no timeline, no order, and no wrong way to grieve — even 20 years laterWhat happens after the casseroles stop and everyone goes homeHow to actually mean it when you say "I'm here for you"Why grief and joy aren't opposites — and how humor becomes part of healingTerri's own story about her dad, and the moment they still laugh about todayA line worth sitting with: "This is your process. This is your journey, and it's your timeline. No one gets to drive this but you." If this episode brought something up for you, please know — grief doesn't need to be earned, explained, or timed. You're allowed to be exactly where you are. If you found something that sparked you, share it with a friend who needs to hear it today. You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/cataton/ https://www.facebook.com/casey.taton/ You can find what sparks me at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AgeRtyojY/ https://www.instagram.com/lmbdcelebrations/ Music by: Jason and Ashley Scheufler Artwork by:  https://www.instagram.com/graphx_ink/

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Grief Series, I sit down with Carmen Walsh — writer, speaker, and fierce advocate for women over 40 claiming their freedom and joy — for one of the most vulnerable conversations the series has featured yet. Carmen opens up about losing her older brother to epilepsy when she was just 15, and how she spent the next three decades shutting her grief down to protect the people around her. She shares the exact moment she decided to stop expressing her feelings — a story involving a piano, a boyfriend, and the words "it's been over a year" — and how that moment shaped her relationships for years to come. The conversation shifts when Carmen shares her father's death in 2019, and how being present for his passing gave her a completely different, healing experience of grief — one that helped her finally understand what she'd missed for 30 years. Together, Carmen & I explore why grief has no hierarchy, why we're never taught how to feel our feelings, and why avoiding what feels hard also means denying ourselves what feels delicious. This episode is a permission slip — to feel, to grieve loudly or quietly, and to know there's no wrong way to carry loss. What You'll Hear In This Episode Why grief means you had deep love — and why that reframe changes everythingCarmen's story of losing her brother at 15, and the moment she decided to stop sharing her feelingsHow her father's death in 2019 gave her a completely different, healing experience of griefWhy grief has no hierarchy — pet, parent, job, or illness, it's all the same weightWhat Carmen would tell a grieving child — and a grieving adultSimple tools for processing grief without a "safe person" nearby (writing, vocalizing, screaming into a pillow)Connect with Carmen Walsh: https://www.instagram.com/carmen_livelovesavorlife/ Featured Quote "Deep grief means you felt deep love." — Carmen WalshYou can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/cataton/ https://www.facebook.com/casey.taton/ You can find what sparks me at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AgeRtyojY/ https://www.instagram.com/lmbdcelebrations/ Music by: Jason and Ashley Scheufler Artwork by:  https://www.instagram.com/graphx_ink/

Send us Fan Mail  In this Shower Sprinkle, I'm sharing the heart behind the Grief Series, why I believe grief deserves a place in our everyday conversations, and why you don't have to be fully healed to make a difference in someone else's life. If you've ever questioned your story, your purpose, or whether you're "qualified" enough, this episode is for you. In this episode, we'll talk about: Why I almost didn't start this seriesThe many forms grief can takeWhy grief and joy can exist togetherThe power of sharing your storyWhy no one should have to grieve aloneMy hope is that this series helps you feel seen, understood, and reminds you that whatever you're grieving—you don't have to carry it alone. 💛 If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to share it with someone who may need it today. You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/cataton/ https://www.facebook.com/casey.taton/ You can find what sparks me at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AgeRtyojY/ https://www.instagram.com/lmbdcelebrations/ Music by: Jason and Ashley Scheufler Artwork by:  https://www.instagram.com/graphx_ink/

Send us Fan Mail You can only hold a ball underwater for so long before it pops back up. Grief works the same way — and in this episode of the Inner Spark Podcast Grief Series, I sit down with Pam Sandrock, founder of No Knockouts Life Coaching and host of the No Knockouts Podcast, to talk about what really happens when we stop pushing our grief down. Pam was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. What followed wasn't just a medical battle — it was a grief process. She grieved the person she was before the diagnosis, and the person she thought she was going to be after. In this raw and real conversation, Pam shares what a decade of silence taught her, why grief is a skill we all need to get good at, and how she finally found joy on the other side of her hardest chapter. In this episode we talk about: Why grief is something we have to get good at, not get overWhat it really means to grieve your identity after a life-changing diagnosisHow to support someone who is grieving without saying the wrong thingWhy stuffing grief down never works — and what to do insteadHow joy and grief can exist in the same momentConnect with Pam Sandrock: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noknockouts/ Website: https://noknockouts.com Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-knockouts-with-pam-sandrock-trailer/id1811892908?i=1000705766515 You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/cataton/ https://www.facebook.com/casey.taton/ You can find what sparks me at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AgeRtyojY/ https://www.instagram.com/lmbdcelebrations/ Music by: Jason and Ashley Scheufler Artwork by:  https://www.instagram.com/graphx_ink/

Send us Fan Mail Can you celebrate and grieve at the same time? For a long time, I didn't think I could. In this first episode of the Grief Series, I'm sharing a deeply personal story about the loss of my grandmother, launching my podcast the very next day, and the unexpected journey of learning how to hold grief and joy at the same time. Two years ago, my grandmother passed away just 30 minutes before my birthday. The next day, I released my podcast trailer. Looking back, the day I found my voice was also the day I felt like I lost it. For years, I struggled with the question: Is it okay to celebrate while grieving someone you love? This year, I finally found my answer. In this episode, we're talking about grief, love, loss, healing, and the realization that we don't have to choose between remembering someone and continuing to live our lives. This episode also kicks off a brand-new series where we'll explore different forms of grief through honest conversations and powerful stories. Because grief isn't just about losing a loved one. It's about friendships, health, relationships, dreams, identities, and the versions of ourselves we've had to let go of along the way. In This Episode: ✨ Why my birthday carries a deeper meaning ✨ The connection between losing my grandmother and launching my podcast ✨ Why grief can feel so lonely ✨ Learning that grief is a form of love ✨ Holding joy and sadness at the same time ✨ Why there is no "right way" to grieve ✨ An introduction to the Grief Series and what's coming next Remember: You don't have to choose between grief and joy. You can miss someone and still laugh. You can carry sadness and still celebrate. You can remember and move forward. Both things can be true. If this episode resonates with you, I'd love to hear your story. Reach out, share this episode with a friend, and join us as we begin this important conversation together. Until next time, keep finding your spark. ✨ You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/cataton/ https://www.facebook.com/casey.taton/ You can find what sparks me at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AgeRtyojY/ https://www.instagram.com/lmbdcelebrations/ Music by: Jason and Ashley Scheufler Artwork by:  https://www.instagram.com/graphx_ink/

Send us Fan Mail What if becoming the best version of yourself isn't about working harder, pushing more, or hustling your way there? In this Shower Sprinkle episode, I'm sharing a personal realization that stopped me in my tracks: I thought I had slowed down, but really, I had just gotten better at disguising my hustle. After spending time grieving an old version of myself, I found myself sitting in the stillness—something that didn't come naturally to me. But in that space, something unexpected happened. The moment I stopped trying to force everything and started trusting, doors began opening in ways I couldn't have planned. From meaningful new connections and unexpected opportunities to a major milestone in my healing journey, this episode is a reminder that sometimes the breakthroughs we're searching for arrive when we finally make room for them. If you've been feeling stuck, exhausted, or wondering what's next, this conversation is an invitation to pause, listen, and trust the process. In This Episode: ✨ The hidden hustle I didn't realize I was still carrying ✨ Why slowing down felt harder than staying busy ✨ What happened when I stopped trying to control every outcome ✨ A celebration in my healing journey after frozen shoulder and ulnar neuropathy ✨ How trusting yourself creates space for new opportunities ✨ Letting go of an old identity and stepping into a new chapter Reflection Questions: • What am I still trying to force? • Where can I create more space in my life? • What version of myself am I ready to let go of? • What would trusting myself look like right now? Friend, your next chapter doesn't require more hustle. It may simply require more trust. You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/cataton/ https://www.facebook.com/casey.taton/ You can find what sparks me at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AgeRtyojY/ https://www.instagram.com/lmbdcelebrations/ Music by: Jason and Ashley Scheufler Artwork by:  https://www.instagram.com/graphx_ink/

Send us Fan Mail What if feeling unlike yourself isn't a sign that something is wrong—but a sign that you're growing? In this heartfelt Shower Sprinkle, I share a raw look at what transformation really feels like behind the scenes. While growth is often celebrated for the breakthroughs and victories it brings, we rarely talk about the grief that comes with letting go of an old version of ourselves. This week, a series of unexpected moments—from a computer crash to an ice-cold shower—became powerful reminders about trust, gratitude, and the importance of slowing down. As I reflect on the hustle, the pressure to keep pushing, and the mirror I was forced to hold up to myself, I uncover a truth many of us need to hear: Growth isn't always exciting. Sometimes it feels like grief. In this episode, you'll hear: ✨ Why personal growth can feel uncomfortable and emotional ✨ The hidden grief of outgrowing old habits and identities ✨ How hustle culture can disconnect us from the people we love most ✨ The power of choosing gratitude over frustration ✨ Learning to trust yourself and the process during seasons of change ✨ Why "I haven't felt like myself lately" might actually be a beautiful sign If you've been feeling stuck between who you were and who you're becoming, this episode is your reminder that transformation isn't always easy—but it is worth it. You are not falling apart. You are making space for something new. So take a deep breath, trust the process, and remember: You're not broken. You're growing. You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/cataton/ https://www.facebook.com/casey.taton/ You can find what sparks me at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AgeRtyojY/ https://www.instagram.com/lmbdcelebrations/ Music by: Jason and Ashley Scheufler Artwork by:  https://www.instagram.com/graphx_ink/

Send us Fan Mail Hey friend! Welcome back to another Shower Sprinkle. If you listened to last week's episode with my dear friend Christine Marcario, you know I had a big realization — I was caught in the hustle and had lost touch with what it means to truly play, rest, and give myself permission to just be. This week, that realization went even deeper. During a powerful breathwork and meditation session with my mentor Jennifer Liss, I did something I didn't expect — I drew a line in the sand. And I stepped over it. On one side of that line? Worry. Doubt. Fear. Judgment. The need for permission from other people. Old stories I've been carrying way too long. On the other side? My voice. My power. My joy. My permission to celebrate, create, help others, and have so much fun doing it. In this Shower Sprinkle I'm talking about: Why you are the only one who can give yourself permission to live, dream, and growWhat it felt like to draw that line and step over it during breathworkHow we grow into new people and don't have to carry old versions of ourselves forwardThe reminder that wherever you are right now, you can pivotWhat I'm calling forward in my life — and the question I'm leaving with youThis week's challenge: Look in the mirror this morning and say it out loud — "Good morning, beautiful. I love you. You are magic." Then ask yourself: what am I stepping into? And what am I finally letting go of? Reach out and tell me. I would love to hear what's on the other side of your line. You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/cataton/ https://www.facebook.com/casey.taton/ You can find what sparks me at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AgeRtyojY/ https://www.instagram.com/lmbdcelebrations/ Music by: Jason and Ashley Scheufler Artwork by:  https://www.instagram.com/graphx_ink/