Good Grief with Nikki the Death Doula

Nikki Smith; Death Doula, Grief Coach, Podcaster, Nature lover
  • 4.8 (33)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Demystifying and destigmatizing grief with compassion and humor. We'll dive into all the ins and outs of grief and loss and meet some guests along the way. If you like Terrible, Thanks for Asking or We Can Do Hard Things, you'll love Good Grief.

  1. 4d ago

    176. The Loss No One Names: Termination for Medical Reasons with Sabrina, The TFMR Doula

    Content note: This episode discusses pregnancy loss, infant diagnosis, and termination for medical reasons (TFMR). Please take care while listening. October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and this episode centers a grief that is too often left out of that conversation entirely: termination for medical reasons. In this episode, I sit down with Sabrina Fletcher, founder of The TFMR Doula, who became a bereavement doula after her own TFMR in 2018 with her planned and wanted second baby, Clara. We talk about what it actually means to end a wanted pregnancy after a devastating prenatal diagnosis and why the medical system's language so rarely matches the lived experience of grieving parents. Sabrina now supports TFMR parents through 1-on-1 bereavement care, decision support calls for those newly facing a diagnosis, and a private community of over 1,000 parents who've walked this path. Connect with Sabrina / The TFMR Doula: website: thetfmrdoula.comInstagram: @thetfmrdoulaFacebook: @thetfmrdoula Join the Facebook Group: www.thetfmrdoula.com/facebookgroupFree Guide: Real self-care for TFMRparentsDecision Support: Schedule hereIf this episode resonated with you, or if you're currently walking this path yourself, please know you're not alone, and your loss is valid. Our TFMR Stories podcast (and on YouTube) https://open.spotify.com/show/5mSactEFVmIg2OBz195FXs https://www.youtube.com/@sabri224 #TFMR #TFMRisbabyloss #TFMRmamas #endingawantedpregnancy #terminationformedicalreasons Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠ Get merch and find any other info you need on the podcast here: www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/podcast

  2. Sep 23

    175. The Silent Grief of Therapists: A Conversation with Dr. Megan Whittemore

    A quick note: this episode touches on suicide loss. If it brings up anything difficult for you, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) is available anytime In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Megan Whittemore a LOOONG time friend/sister from another mister and licensed psychologist and founder of Kinnect Psychology in Ballwin, Missouri,  for an honest conversation about one of the hardest things a mental health professional can face: losing a client to suicide. Dr. Whittemore shares her personal experience of this loss and speaks candidly about the grief that follows. A grief that is often complicated by guilt, self-doubt, and professional isolation. We talk about why this kind of loss is so rarely discussed openly in the field, why clinicians often feel they have to grieve in silence, and what real support (or the lack of it) looks like within the mental health profession. About Dr. Megan Whittemore: Dr. Megan Whittemore is a licensed psychologist and the founder of Kinnect Psychology, where she provides individual, couples, and group therapy as well as parent coaching. She is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Missouri Psychological Association, and currently serves as Secretary of the Saint Louis Psychological Association. Learn more about her work at kinnectpsychology.com. The Coalition for Clinician-Survivors: https://www.cliniciansurvivor.org/ Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠ Get merch and find any other info you need on the podcast here: www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/podcast Music: "Cheery Monday"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    175. The Silent Grief of Therapists: A Conversation with Dr. Megan Whittemore

  3. Sep 16

    174. The Words We Use, The People We Lose

    This episode discusses suicide, grief, and loss. No graphic details or methods are described. If you're struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available by call or text (US), and the Crisis Text Line is available by texting HOME to 741741. Last week, we talked about prevention. This episode goes somewhere prevention often skips; the language we use around suicide, the people left behind after a loss, and the conversation most of us are too afraid to have. We break down why "died by suicide" has replaced "committed suicide," what postvention means and why survivors of loss are so often left without support, and most importantly, how to actually ask someone if they're okay, in a way that might genuinely help. If someone came to mind while you were listening: that's probably not a coincidence. Reach out to them this week. Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠ Get merch and find any other info you need on the podcast here: www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/podcast Music: "Cheery Monday"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

  4. Sep 9

    Rewind: Suicide Prevention

    We're revisiting this conversation for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month because this episode still matters!! A note before you listen: this episode discusses suicide and mental health struggles openly. If you're in a rough place right now, please see the resources at the bottom of these notes before or after listening. If you or someone you know is struggling: -988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988 (US), available 24/7-Crisis Text Line — Text HOME to 741741 (US)-International Association for Suicide Prevention — findahelpline.com for resources outside the US You don't have to be in crisis to reach out. These lines are also there if you just need to talk something through. Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠ Get merch and find any other info you need on the podcast here: www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/podcast Music: "Cheery Monday"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

  5. Sep 2

    173. Messy Mourning: Jackie Baker on Losing a Son to Suicide and Finding Hope

    If you have thoughts about suicide or harming yourself please call or text 988. I promise someone is there who cares. Trigger Warning: This episode discusses suicide, mental illness, and grief in detail. For Suicide Awareness Month, I sat down with Jackie M. Baker, a pediatric nurse practitioner, author, and mother, who lost her son Sebastian to suicide after his years-long battle with bipolar disorder and suicidal thoughts. Jackie shares what it was like to walk through the hardest kind of grief,  and why she now devotes her time to supporting other mothers who've lost children to suicide. Jackie is the author of the upcoming book Messy Mourning: Hope for Mothers Grieving the Loss of a Child by Suicide, and writes regularly about grief, faith, and healing at her Substack, Jackie's Substack. You can find Jackie at: Website: jackiembaker.com Substack: jackiembaker.substack.com Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠ Get merch and find any other info you need on the podcast here: www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/podcast Music: "Cheery Monday"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

  6. Aug 26

    172. Do We Choose How We Die? A Hospice Mystery

    We see it again and again: a family keeps vigil for days, someone finally steps out for coffee, and that's the exact moment their loved one dies. Why does it happen? In this episode, I dig into one of the strangest, most consistent patterns in end-of-life care: patients who seem to wait until the room is empty (or, just as often, wait until everyone arrives) before they let go. I look at the leading theories and what this pattern might say about autonomy, love, and how little we really understand about dying. A note: This episode explores death and dying in a reflective, non-graphic way. If end-of-life topics are difficult for you right now, feel free to skip this one and come back to the feed next week. Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠ Get merch and find any other info you need on the podcast here: www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/podcast Music: "Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

  7. Season 9 Trailer

    Welcome to Season 10!

    Welcome to Season 10! I’m so excited to be back and have some great episodes upcoming as well as some lovely ideas for a special project in the future. Stay tuned!!! Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠ Get merch and find any other info you need on the podcast here: www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/podcast "Cheery Monday"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

  8. Aug 5 ·  Bonus

    Bonus: Just Rest with Nicole Havelka

    TW: religion and reproductive rights discussed I’m sharing a full episode of Just Rest today! Just Rest is hosted by a guest on good Grief from my early days, and dear friend Niccole Havelka. Here is more info onh er show and this episode: What does faith have to do with reproductive justice — and what does either have to do with rest? Everything, it turns out. Nicole sits down with Elaina Ramsey, Executive Director of FaithChoice Ohio, an organization that elevates the moral power of faith communities for abortion justice and reproductive freedom in Ohio and beyond. Elaina shares her journey from fundamentalist evangelical to pro-faith, pro-choice advocate, and how that transformation shaped her understanding of bodily autonomy, mutual aid, and rest as a deeply spiritual practice. Whether you're navigating burnout in movement work or simply trying to stay human while doing hard things in the world, this episode is for you. CONNECT WITH ELAINA RAMSEY & FAITHCHOICE OHIO:Website: faithchoiceohio.org Instagram: @FaithChoiceOhio Facebook: @FaithChoiceOhio Podcast: R-Soul https://www.faithchoiceohio.org/podcast CONNECT WITH NICOLE HAVELKA: Newsletter LinkedIn Work with Nicole Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠ Get merch and find any other info you need on the podcast here: www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/podcast

    Bonus: Just Rest with Nicole Havelka
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4.8
out of 5
33 Ratings

About

Demystifying and destigmatizing grief with compassion and humor. We'll dive into all the ins and outs of grief and loss and meet some guests along the way. If you like Terrible, Thanks for Asking or We Can Do Hard Things, you'll love Good Grief.

Information

  • Creator
    Nikki Smith; Death Doula, Grief Coach, Podcaster, Nature lover
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    207
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Nikki Smith; Death Doula, Grief Coach, Podcaster, Nature lover
  • Show Website
    Good Grief with Nikki the Death Doula

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