Restorative Grief with Mandy Capehart

Mandy Capehart
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Mental Health

A grief podcast for people learning to live with grief, loss, and change. Grief educator, somatic practitioner, coach, and bestselling author Mandy Capehart explores death and other losses, life transitions, burnout, estrangement, faith shifts, identity changes, and changing capacity. Through honest conversations, practical grief tools, humor, real stories, and whole-person support, Mandy offers a more honest approach to grief and healing, helping you understand what you're experiencing, meet yourself where you are, and carry what matters without losing yourself.

  1. 17h ago

    260. For Many of Us Who Grew Up a Little Feral

    "Grief does not require us to become less independent. It gives us an opportunity to become less alone." If you grew up a little feral and learned early how to take care of yourself, grief can create an unexpected challenge: learning how to receive care without feeling like you've lost yourself. In this solo episode, I explore the tension between self-reliance and connection, why grief often changes our relationships, and how restorative grief invites us to build a life that reflects who we are becoming, not who we were before loss. If you've ever struggled to ask for help, felt uncomfortable receiving support, or wondered how grief is reshaping what matters to you, this conversation is for you. In this episode, we talk about: Self-reliance, resilience, and their limitsThe difference between independence and isolationHow grief changes relationships and capacityReceiving care without betraying yourselfBuilding a life that fits who you are now Links + Resources from this episode: Become a Patron/Get the WorkbookConnect with Mandy about coachingFollow Mandy on Instagram/Threads

  2. Sep 27

    259. The Uninvited Guests of Grief with Dr. Jennifer Dall

    "When I began to recognize that one step forward, two steps back was part of the work, it was part of the process." What if the moments that feel like setbacks aren't signs you're grieving wrong? In today's conversation, I'm joined by Dr. Jennifer Dall, a grief-informed neurodivergence specialist, educator, ADHD coach, and founder of ADHD Holistically. Together, we explore the intersection of grief, widowhood, ADHD, identity shifts, and the everyday realities of carrying loss while still trying to function. We talk about grief brain, changing capacity, masking, self-compassion, and why so many people mistake overwhelm for personal failure. If you've ever wondered why simple tasks feel harder after loss, this conversation will help you feel a little less alone. In this episode, we talk about: Grief brain and everyday overwhelmThe overlap between grief and neurodivergenceWidowhood and identity shiftsMasking and feeling unseenThe hidden labor that comes with lossChanging capacity and self-compassionWhy setbacks are part of the processWhat restoration can look like after lossLinks + Resources from this episode: Dr. Jennifer Dall, ADHD HolisticallyCurveball Press & Space to GrieveFollow Mandy⁠ on Instagram⁠Become a Patron!

  3. Sep 20

    258. Talking About Suicide (Without Getting It Perfect): The Awkward Conversation That Can Save A Life

    “We accidentally communicate that their feelings are something to be argued with instead of something to be witnessed.” What do you do when someone you love says something that makes you wonder if they might be suicidal? Most of us were never taught how to have this conversation. We’re afraid of saying the wrong thing, making things worse, or asking too directly. In this episode, we talk about how to stay present, why asking directly about suicide matters, how to listen without trying to fix, and what a safety plan can offer when things feel overwhelming. You don’t need perfect words. You need a willingness to stay. In this episode, we talk about: How to ask directly about suicideWhat to say when someone is strugglingWhy connection matters more than fixingSafety planning and creating space for supportLetting go of shame around suicidal thoughts Links + Resources from this episode: Get Lisa Sugarman's book, Surviving: Finding Hope After Suicide LossDownload the free companion conversation guideBecome a Patron/Get the WorkbookLearn more about Restorative Grief and Enneagram CoachingConnect on Instagram/Threads

  4. Sep 13

    257. Everyday Grief - Finding Humanity in the Ordinary After Loss with Leslie Harter-Berg

    "No one is actually grading you on your grief." What if the pressure to be "strong" is keeping you from being honest about what grief actually feels like? Today's conversation is with Leslie Harter-Berg, author of You're So Strong: On Grief and Letting Go of My Favorite Compliment. After the sudden death of her husband, Ryan, Leslie found herself trying to live up to everyone's expectations of what a grieving person should look like, until she realized there was no right way to carry loss. If you've ever wondered whether you're grieving "correctly," I hope this conversation offers you permission to let that question go. In this episode, we talk about: Why "you're so strong" can become an impossible expectationLetting go of the idea that grief follows a predictable timelineHow grief shows up in ordinary moments instead of dramatic onesRedefining strength after profound lossWhy failure isn't the opposite of healingThe importance of simply showing up for grieving peopleFood, hospitality, and caring for one another through everyday ritualsLeslie's collaboration with her sister Natalie and The Modern Proper on supporting grieving families Links + Resources from this episode: You're So Strong: On Grief and Letting Go of My Favorite Compliment by Leslie Harter-BergLeslie Harter-Berg: https://www.leslieharterberg.com/Leslie's Substack: https://leslieharterberg.substack.com/Casserole Core with Natalie Mortimer and The Modern ProperVids for Wids: https://vidsforwids.com/Join the Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/mandycapehart

  5. Sep 6

    256. The Grief of Life Transitions

    "Maybe that is what these seasonal transitions are really offering us. Not a chance to get back to normal, but a chance to become more honest about what is changing." What if some of the grief in your life is coming from a transition you actually wanted? In this episode, we are talking about the grief that can show up when life changes, even when the change is exciting or necessary. Sending a kid to college, moving, changing jobs, leaving a community, or simply becoming someone new can bring a surprising amount of grief with it. We look at Francis Weller's idea of the descent, what our bodies can tell us during seasons of change, and why we do not have to rush ourselves into whatever comes next. I also share two simple rituals for marking transitions and making a little more room for what we are feeling. In this episode, we talk about: Transitional grief and why we often miss itWhy wanted changes can still hurtFrancis Weller's idea of the descentListening to your body during changeWhy we need other people when life is shiftingTwo simple rituals for marking a transitionMaking room for the in-between Links + Resources from this episode: Become a Patron!Connect with Mandy on InstagramLearn more about coachingGet a copy of Apprenticeship with Sorrow by Francis Weller

  6. Aug 30

    255. Why Bad Poetry is Good for Grief with Margaret Bryden

    "Living a full life, living a beautiful life, means learning how to carry grief." What if grief isn't something we're meant to get over, but something we're meant to learn how to carry? In today's episode, I'm joined by therapist and author Margaret Bryden to explore the intersection of grief, creativity, and the healing power of honest expression. Margaret's upcoming book, How I Understand It: A Bad Poet's Guide to Mental Health and Resilience, offers a refreshing invitation to set aside perfection and discover how writing can help us better understand ourselves and our experiences. In this episode, we talk about: Why grief is an inevitable part of living a full lifeHow "bad poetry" helps quiet perfectionism and self-criticismTurning grief into something tangible we can hold and understandThe role of creativity in restoring agency after lossWhy many people feel pressure to perform griefNarrative authority and reclaiming ownership of your storyThe connection between poetry, self-awareness, and healingWhy resilience is learning how to love differentlyHow creative expression reduces isolation and fosters connectionA simple way to begin writing, even if you've never considered yourself creative Links + Resources from this episode: Buy Margaret's bookConnect with Margaret onlineFollow her on InstagramBecome a PatronLearn more about Restorative Grief

  7. Aug 23

    254. High-Functioning Grief: The Life of Saying “I’m Fine”

    “I’m fine” is often less a truth and more a reflex that pulls us away from what we actually feel. What if that phrase is quietly shaping how you move through grief, stress, and relationship without you realizing the cost? Beneath it, self-abandonment can start to look like stability. Today’s conversation explores what I’m calling high-functioning grief; the kind that runs underneath daily life while everything still looks “fine” on the outside. We look at how this pattern shows up in the nervous system, why grief often hides inside functioning and responsibility, and what it means to stop overriding yourself and come back into contact with your inner experience. In this episode, we talk about: High-functioning grief in everyday lifeWhy “I’m fine” becomes a reflexGrief hidden inside functioning and responsibilityNervous system patterns of self-abandonmentComing back into contact with yourselfHow honesty shifts relationships Links + Resources from this episode: Get Anne Lamott’s book, Almost EverythingBecome a PatronConnect with MandyLearn more about Restorative Grief

  8. Aug 16

    253. The Sediment of Untouched Sorrow with Francis Weller

    “The invitation has always been towards a descent.” Grief is a core human faculty that requires skill development rather than simply passing through. This week, we’re exploring these skills through the lens of an apprenticeship of sorrow with author and teacher Francis Weller. Francis’ work invites us to consider the necessarily communal reality of grief work and in this conversation, we also covered practical advice for those struggling with acute grief, too. In this episode, we talk about: ​Grief as a communal human faculty​The value of community support in our grief work​The expression of vulnerability​Collective ritual practices​Balancing grief and gratitude​Embracing the darkness​Acknowledging and pursuing primary satisfactions for grounding Links + Resources from this episode: ​FrancisWeller.net​Learn more about Restorative Grief Coaching​Become a Patron/Get the workbook​Follow Mandy on Instagram

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About

A grief podcast for people learning to live with grief, loss, and change. Grief educator, somatic practitioner, coach, and bestselling author Mandy Capehart explores death and other losses, life transitions, burnout, estrangement, faith shifts, identity changes, and changing capacity. Through honest conversations, practical grief tools, humor, real stories, and whole-person support, Mandy offers a more honest approach to grief and healing, helping you understand what you're experiencing, meet yourself where you are, and carry what matters without losing yourself.

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