A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast

Heather Straughter
  • 4.9 (122)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Weekly

Grief is messy, complicated, and deeply personal — but you don’t have to go through it alone. On A Place of Yes, host Heather Straughter creates a safe, unfiltered space to talk about the realities of loss. Each episode dives into the tears, the laughter, the WTF moments, and the hope — all of it. Through candid personal stories and expert insights, Heather explores the pain, resilience, and unexpected moments of light that come with grieving.

  1. 2d ago

    The Child Loss Club No Parent Wants to Join

    Erica Phelps never imagined she would one day be navigating life after the loss of her daughter, Emmie. Born healthy, Emmie began experiencing infantile spasms as a baby, and over time her condition became increasingly medically complex, requiring around-the-clock care and reshaping every part of family life. In this conversation, Erica shares what it looked like to parent a child with profound medical needs, the identity and purpose that caregiving created for her family, and the devastating reality of losing not only a child, but the entire life built around caring for them. Erica and Heather talk openly about the rawness of early grief, the physical and emotional weight of losing a medically fragile child, and the complicated process of figuring out who you are after years of 24/7 caregiving. They also explore sibling grief, guilt, honoring a child while continuing to live, and the ways parents try to keep their children’s presence woven into everyday life after they’re gone. Erica shares how donating Emmie’s medical equipment to other medically complex families has become one meaningful way to carry her legacy forward. It’s an incredibly honest conversation about child loss, caregiving, survival, and the deep need to feel understood by people who truly know this kind of pain. Resources & Ways to Connect Jake’s Help from Heaven Website: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/ Jake’s Help from Heaven Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp Jake’s Help from Heaven Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelp APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aplaceofyespodcast For more of Heather’s writing and thoughts: https://ohheather.substack.com/ Everything’s Jakey (Substack): https://everythingsjakey.substack.com/

    41 min

  2. Jun 3

    The Camp That Still Feels Like Her Dad

    Kate Walsh grew up alongside the community at Double H Ranch, the camp co-founded by Paul Newman and Charles Wood for children living with serious illnesses. Her connection to the camp began through her father, a pediatric ICU doctor who volunteered there for years and helped shape the experience for countless families. When he was diagnosed with stage four metastatic kidney cancer shortly after Kate’s wedding in 2021, her family was suddenly forced to navigate the impossible balance of celebrating new life while preparing for profound loss. In this conversation, Kate and Heather talk about caregiving, anticipatory grief, and the way loss reshapes how we move through the world. Kate shares how her family chose to celebrate everything during her father’s illness, why creating moments of joy became so important, and what it looked like to help him spend his final days peacefully at home surrounded by the people he loved most. They also explore parenting after loss, the unexpected moments grief resurfaces, and how carrying someone forward can show up through stories, community, work, and even the smallest everyday interactions. It’s a thoughtful conversation about legacy, family, grief seasons, and learning how to show up better for the people we love. Resources & Ways to Connect Double H Ranch Website: https://www.doublehranch.org/ Double H Ranch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doublehranch/ Jake’s Help from Heaven Website: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/ Jake’s Help from Heaven Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp Jake’s Help from Heaven Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelp APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aplaceofyespodcast For more of Heather’s writing and thoughts: https://ohheather.substack.com/ Everything’s Jakey (Substack): https://everythingsjakey.substack.com/

    48 min

  3. May 20

    Told She Would Die at 18 — Then She Got a Second Chance at Life

    Erin Mark has lived with the awareness of death for as long as she can remember. Born with cystic fibrosis and told at just five years old that she likely wouldn’t live past 18, Erin grew up navigating a reality most people never have to face: building a life while believing time may be running out. But instead of letting that diagnosis define her, she spent years determined to squeeze as much joy, laughter, and meaning out of life as possible — even as her health steadily declined and she entered end-stage illness in her 30s. In this conversation, Erin and Heather talk about what it means to grow up grieving the future you thought you’d have while still learning how to fully live in the present. Erin shares the emotional impact of living with chronic illness, the importance of advocating for yourself when others give up on you, and the perspective shift that comes from surviving beyond the timeline you were once given. They also explore grief that exists beyond death — grieving health, fertility, identity, and the life you imagined for yourself — while holding space for joy at the same time. It’s a powerful conversation about resilience, uncertainty, love, and what can happen when someone refuses to stop fighting for your life. Resources & Ways to Connect Erin Mark Website: https://www.erinmark.com/ Jake’s Help from Heaven Website: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/ Jake’s Help from Heaven Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp Jake’s Help from Heaven Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelp APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aplaceofyespodcast For more of Heather’s writing and thoughts: https://ohheather.substack.com/ Everything’s Jakey (Substack): https://everythingsjakey.substack.com/

    1 hr

  4. May 13

    When Grief and Fear Collide: Surviving Loss, Trauma, and A Stalker

    Cassie Wilusz never expected her life to unravel the way it did. What began as a season of happiness — raising her daughter, running a successful café, and rebuilding a close relationship with her father after years apart — was suddenly shattered by a series of unimaginable events. First, her father died unexpectedly in a house fire. Then, just a few years later, her husband Dave was diagnosed with terminal cancer. At the same time, Cassie found herself trapped in a years-long nightmare involving an escalating stalker who terrorized her family while she was already fighting to survive overwhelming grief and trauma. In this conversation, Cassie and Heather talk about what it means to keep functioning when life becomes almost impossible to carry. Cassie shares the emotional toll of caregiving during Dave’s cancer journey, the fear and helplessness of navigating stalking while trying to protect her daughter, and the frustration of a system that repeatedly failed her. They also explore therapy, resilience, boundaries, and how profound loss can completely reshape the way we value time, relationships, and what truly matters. It’s an intense, honest conversation about survival, advocacy, motherhood, and finding clarity after years spent living in crisis. Resources & Ways to Connect Jake’s Help from Heaven Website: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/ Jake’s Help from Heaven Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp Jake’s Help from Heaven Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelp APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aplaceofyespodcast For more of Heather’s writing and thoughts: https://ohheather.substack.com/ Everything’s Jakey (Substack): https://everythingsjakey.substack.com/

    58 min

  5. May 6

    Jake Turns 20: Heather Reflects on 16 Birthdays Without Her Son

    This solo episode from Heather marks what would have been Jake’s 20th birthday—a milestone that brings both reflection and reality into sharper focus. Sixteen birthdays have passed since Jake died at age four, and in this episode, Heather revisits a letter she wrote to him on his first birthday after his death, uncovering how grief has evolved in ways she didn’t fully realize until now. Heather shares what it means to live with grief over time—the shift from raw fear and constant anxiety to a more familiar, though still painful, presence in daily life. She reflects on the difficulty of imagining who Jake would be today, the weight of unanswered questions, and the quiet moments that still carry him forward. This episode is deeply personal, grounded in honesty, and a reminder that grief doesn’t disappear—it changes, softens, and becomes something we learn to carry. Resources & Ways to Connect Jake’s Help from Heaven Website: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/Jake’s Help from Heaven Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelpJake’s Help from Heaven Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelpAPOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcastHeather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughterOur YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aplaceofyespodcastEverything’s Jakey (Substack): https://everythingsjakey.substack.com/Heather’s Substack (Oh, Heather):⁠ https://ohheather.substack.com/⁠

    26 min

  6. Apr 29

    What to Say When Someone Is Grieving (And What to Stop Saying)

    Shelby Forsythia is a grief coach, founder of Life After Loss Academy, and author of Of Course I’m Here Right Now—a practical, compassionate guide for anyone who wants to better support someone through grief. After losing her mother unexpectedly at 21, Shelby began searching for language that could make grief feel less isolating and more understood. In this conversation, Shelby and Heather talk about the three core feelings so many grievers carry: feeling crazy, feeling alone, and fearing life will be like this forever. Shelby shares why the words we use matter more than we think, how common comfort phrases often miss the mark, and what actually helps instead. It’s a thoughtful, deeply useful conversation about validation, presence, and the simple language that can help grieving people feel seen rather than shut down. Resources & Ways to Connect Shelby Forsythia Website: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/ Jake’s Help from Heaven Website: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/ Jake’s Help from Heaven Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp Jake’s Help from Heaven Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelp APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aplaceofyespodcast

    57 min

  7. Apr 22

    Guiding Families Through Their Hardest Day

    Timothy Schramm has spent more than 40 years walking alongside families in the immediate aftermath of loss. As a funeral director and national spokesperson, he has helped guide thousands of people through grief—often on the worst day of their lives—while also serving as a state and federal mass fatality responder in times of large-scale tragedy. In this conversation, Tim shares what decades in funeral service have taught him about grief, human connection, and the quiet responsibility of showing up when it matters most. He explains how funeral directors help families make decisions they may not yet understand, why gathering together is such a critical part of the grieving process, and what it means to treat this work as both a calling and an honor. From deeply personal reflections to extraordinary experiences in disaster response, this is a powerful look at the people who help carry others through unimaginable moments—and why those moments shape us forever. Resources & Ways to Connect Tim is a spokesperson for the NFDA. Find out more at nfda.org nfda.organd rememberingalife.comJake’s Help from Heaven Website: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/ Jake’s Help from Heaven Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp Jake’s Help from Heaven Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelp APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aplaceofyespodcast

    40 min

  8. Apr 15

    She Lost 14 Family Members — And Chose Joy Anyway

    Dr. Darlene “Dr. Dee” Williams has experienced a level of loss most people can’t imagine. Over the course of several years, she lost 14 members of her family—including both parents, her only sibling, and close relatives—all connected to the long-term impact of 9/11. What followed wasn’t just grief, but a complete reshaping of identity, family, and what it means to keep going when so much has been taken. In this conversation, Dr. Dee shares how she carries that loss while still choosing a life that holds joy. She and Heather talk about grief seasons, why grief isn’t linear, and how the idea of “growing around grief” can shift everything. Dr. Dee explains why joy and happiness are not the same, how guilt can show up when life starts to feel good again, and why community and connection are essential in navigating loss. It’s a conversation about surviving the unimaginable, honoring what’s been lost, and discovering that even after profound grief, joy is still possible. Resources & Ways to Connect Dr. Dee Williams Website: https://www.drdarlenewilliams.com/ Email: info@drdarlenewilliams.com Jake’s Help from Heaven Website: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/ Jake’s Help from Heaven Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp Jake’s Help from Heaven Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelp APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aplaceofyespodcast

    48 min
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4.9
out of 5
122 Ratings

About

Grief is messy, complicated, and deeply personal — but you don’t have to go through it alone. On A Place of Yes, host Heather Straughter creates a safe, unfiltered space to talk about the realities of loss. Each episode dives into the tears, the laughter, the WTF moments, and the hope — all of it. Through candid personal stories and expert insights, Heather explores the pain, resilience, and unexpected moments of light that come with grieving.

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