The Currency of Grief

The Currency of Grief
  • 5.0 (27)
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Death and money are two of the most taboo topics in our society yet they are inevitable for all of us. So why don’t we talk about death and money more? The fact is, we’re all going to have to face our mortality and the mortality of the people we love. During the toughest times in our life, we will also be faced with an overwhelming amount of financial and logistical decisions. These decisions have the power to bring people together or tear families apart. That’s why our mission is so important! Here on The Currency of Grief, we bring death and money to the forefront of the conversation. We’ll feature real life stories from real life people who have navigated the intersection of grief and money. Our guests are not celebrities, they are normal people just like you and me. My name is Justin Weidenfeld, and I’m going to serve as your Grief Financial Officer on the journey that is The Currency of Grief Podcast. My purpose for this podcast is to normalize conversations around death and money, inspire you to have deeper conversations with your loved ones (while you can), act as a resource for people currently navigating a grief and money journey, and encourage listeners to approach their own legacy head on. Whether you’re in the midst of your own grief and money journey or need a reality check about planning for the inevitable, this podcast is for you. Each episode provides heartfelt insights, logistical nuances and practical advice that will help you navigate financial and emotional adversity WHEN you are faced with loss. The Currency of Grief Podcast will air biweekly on Fridays and can be listened to on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. I am grateful that you’ve decided to join me on this journey!

  1. 3D AGO

    EP29: Kristen Heaney: Legacy and Family Wealth After Loss: The Identity Shift of Young Inheritors

    Loss can place unexpected responsibility on someone overnight, especially when legacy and family wealth are part of the story.   Justin Weidenfeld sits down with Kristen Heaney, founder of In3Generations and host of The Family Wealth Edge Podcast, to talk about the reality of navigating grief and inheritance at a young age. When Kristen lost her father during college, she suddenly faced young inheritor responsibility while still trying to figure out her path. The experience created a powerful identity shift as she moved from student to someone responsible for decisions tied to legacy and family wealth.   Kristen reflects on the challenge of stepping into legacy and family wealth before feeling ready. The responsibility extends far beyond financial decisions. It raises questions about purpose, relationships, and how to carry forward the values behind the wealth. Those early experiences shaped the work she does today helping families prepare for next-generation wealth stewardship so future inheritors have guidance and community.   The conversation also touches on something people rarely discuss openly. Even during loss, there can be beauty in grief when families create space for connection, reflection, and support. Kristen explains how those moments influenced her outlook on leadership, family responsibility, and the meaning behind legacy and family wealth.   For anyone navigating grief and inheritance, building a family legacy, or preparing the next generation to carry responsibility well, this episode offers a perspective on how loss can reshape identity and deepen the understanding of stewardship.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Money and Mortality, The Mission of The Currency of Grief 01:05 Meet Kristen Heaney and the Reality of Grief and Inheritance 03:58 Losing a Father at 21 and the Start of Young Inheritor Responsibility 08:33 The Beauty in Grief and What Community Support Can Look Like 13:52 Anticipatory Grief and Alzheimer’s Caregiving Trauma 19:10 Identity Shift After Inheritance and Finding Purpose in Work 25:21 Legacy and Family Wealth, Stewardship, Foundations, and Values 38:46 Next-Generation Wealth Stewardship and Teaching Kids Money and Loss 53:22 Marriage and Inheritance, Communication and Power Dynamics 01:08:29 “You’ve Got This” and the Mountain Metaphor for Grief Recovery Connect with Kristen Heane: Connect with Legacy Consultant on LinkedIn  Visit the In3Generations website  Listen to The Family Wealth Edge Podcast    Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: Connect with Justin on LinkedIn Follow The Currency of Grief on LinkedIn  Follow The Currency of Grief on Instagram  Follow The Currency of Grief on TikTok  Subscribe to The Currency of Grief on YouTube Visit Justin’s website bio Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

    1h 15m

  2. FEB 27

    EP28: Kay Pfleghardt: Dad’s Drives and the Long Goodbye

    Money and grief have a way of colliding when you are least equipped to handle either. In this episode of The Currency of Grief, Justin Weidenfeld sits down with financial advisor Kay Pfleghardt to unpack what happens when money and grief stretch across years of illness, responsibility, and complicated family dynamics. Kay lived through eleven years of her father’s decline from diabetes, navigating anticipatory grief long before his death. She speaks candidly about caregiver guilt, the emotional whiplash of hospital calls, and the regret that can linger after the process is over. If you have ever wondered whether you did enough, showed up enough, or handled it the right way, this episode will resonate with you.   Justin and Kay dig into the reality of sibling estate decisions and how even close families can feel strained when assets, timelines, and expectations collide. They openly say conflict is usually not about greed. It is often about exhaustion, old roles, and the emotional weight attached to small financial details. You will hear how Kay’s family protected their relationships and what she sees differently now as a financial advisor guiding others through similar moments.   They also delve into a topic rarely discussed, a breakup during a time of loss and the unexpected clarity that can arise when the parent you once sought guidance from transforms into an internal guide. Kay shares how money and grief reshaped her career decisions, her boundaries, and the way she counsels clients today. If money and grief are showing up in your life, whether through illness, estate questions, or family tension, this episode offers perspective based on lived experience. Money and grief are powerful forces. With the right conversations, they can shape growth instead of division.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Grief and Money: Why Grief and Finances Collide 03:41 Estate Chaos and a $347,000 Tax Lien Lesson 07:28 Type 2 Diabetes, Denial, and a Slow Medical Decline 17:04 Caregiver Guilt and Anticipatory Grief During Dialysis 18:22 Choosing to Stop Dialysis and the Hospice Goodbye 32:40 What Actually Needs to Happen Financially After a Death 38:33 Sibling Estate Decisions, Disclaimers, and Protecting Family Relationships 49:12 How Money Changes People During Estate Settlements 01:03:21 Regret, Isolation, and What She Wishes She Had Done Differently 01:22:44 “It Gets Better”: Growth, Legacy, and Life After Loss   Links: Listen to Leaving Behind a Legacy with Kay Pfleghardt Listen to Terrible Thanks for Asking Get the No Longer Awkward book   Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: Connect with Justin on LinkedIn Follow The Currency of Grief on LinkedIn  Follow The Currency of Grief on Instagram  Follow The Currency of Grief on TikTok  Subscribe to The Currency of Grief on YouTube Visit Justin’s website bio Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

    1h 28m

  3. FEB 13

    EP27: Cassidie Bates: How Becoming an Executor at 25 as an Only Child Sparked a Mission for Bereavement and Executorship Advocacy

    Losing a parent is devastating. Being named an executor at 25 meant grief and responsibility arrived at the same time, with no warning.   After the sudden death of her father, Cassidie Bates faced loss and grief as an only child while also carrying full legal responsibility for his estate. With divorced parents and no siblings to share decisions with, she shouldered the weight all alone, making important choices while still in shock.   The conversation reflected on what happens when grief and obligation overlap. It touched on how family dynamics can shift after loss, how heavy executorship can feel for someone so young, and how little support exists for people navigating both emotional and practical demands at once. At its heart, it was about honoring a parent and finding steadiness when responsibility arrived before there was space to grieve.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 When Grief And Money Collide 03:19 Becoming An Executor At 25 After A Sudden Parent Death As An Only Child 07:33 The Shock Of Sudden Cardiac Death 15:13 Grief With Divorced Parents And Family Dynamics 22:24 Compartmentalizing Grief To Survive Executorship 34:47 Funeral And Cremation Decisions In Early Grief 40:41 Estate Planning That Helped Avoid Probate 46:20 Bereavement Leave In America And Why Time Matters 48:57 Turning Personal Loss Into Executorship Advocacy 01:06:55 Honoring A Parent’s Legacy And Living With Grief Connect with Cassidie Bates: Visit Cassidie's portfolio Follow Cassidie's Instagram Connect with Cassidie on LinkedIn Follow Cassidie on Tiktok Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: Connect with Justin on LinkedIn Follow The Currency of Grief on LinkedIn  Follow The Currency of Grief on Instagram  Follow The Currency of Grief on TikTok  Subscribe to The Currency of Grief on YouTube Visit Justin’s website bio Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

    1h 18m

  4. JAN 30

    EP26: Angie Ingraham: It Only Hurts Because You Love Him: A Daughter’s Journey Through Care and Advocacy

    When a parent’s “we have time” suddenly becomes five months, what actually deserves your attention first? The paperwork. The passwords. Or the care conversations that shape every decision that follows?   Angie Ingraham joins Justin Weidenfeld to talk through what it looks like when grief collides with healthcare in real time. An independent patient advocate and trauma surgeon, Angie brings both professional insight and personal experience to the conversation. After Angie’s father was diagnosed with glioblastoma in the fall of 2020 and died just months later, her family was forced to navigate complex care decisions during the pandemic while trying to stay present with the person they were about to lose. Even with her background as a trauma surgeon, Angie finds herself overwhelmed by how fragmented and demanding the system feels from the patient side. This episode centers on patient advocacy and the conversations families often postpone until choices narrow. Angie shares how a brief window before surgery allowed her family to clarify what mattered most to her father and how that clarity became a guide when he could no longer speak for himself. The discussion also pulls back the curtain on how families are expected to navigate healthcare systems while emotionally depleted. Who is responsible for communication when patients cannot advocate for themselves? How do you reduce chaos without trying to control outcomes? And what changes when care conversations happen early rather than under pressure? This episode offers a clear examination of how preparation, advocacy, and direct dialogue shape both the care experience and what families carry with them afterward.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Death, Money, And Why Care Conversations Matter 02:28 A Glioblastoma Diagnosis And Five Months Of Rapid Loss 09:49 Healthcare Planning Under Pressure: Power Of Attorney And Access 14:12 Care Conversations That Guide Medical Decisions 20:32 Healthcare System Barriers: Communication And Prior Authorization 33:43 Building A Care Team: Long-Term Care And Family Support 40:46 Patient Advocacy Explained: Navigating Healthcare Systems 49:10 Grief And Humor: Finding Meaning In Small Moments 53:18 A Grief Mantra About Love, Loss, And Living Fully Connect with Angie Ingraham: Visit the True North Patient Advocates website Connect with Angie on LinkedIn Visit the Dollars for Scholars website Dead People Suck Survivors Departed Book   Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: Connect with Justin on LinkedIn Follow The Currency of Grief on LinkedIn  Follow The Currency of Grief on Instagram  Follow The Currency of Grief on TikTok  Subscribe to The Currency of Grief on YouTube Visit Justin’s website bio Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

    1 hr

  5. JAN 16

    EP25: Rebecca Feinglos: How Money Complicates Grief and Grief Complicates Money

    When grief enters your life, money often follows close behind, and without financial agency, inheritance and responsibility can quickly become part of the loss.   Justin Weidenfeld sits down with Rebecca Feinglos, founder of Grieve Leave, for a conversation about what happens when grief and money collide. Rebecca shares how losing her mother after a long illness, her father suddenly at the start of COVID, and later her marriage reshaped her relationship with responsibility, service, and financial decision-making. Her perspective challenges the pressure to turn grief into something productive and asks a quieter question instead: what if carrying it forward is enough?   Money, she explains, is never neutral after loss. Missed income, unpaid leave, medical bills, and inheritance decisions arrive fast, often before there is space to think clearly. The conversation explores how silence around money and death leaves families unprepared, especially women, and how limited financial education can undermine financial agency at the moment it matters most.   This episode is a call to service through honesty. Talking openly about inheritance, responsibility, and money does not remove grief, but it can reduce harm for those left behind. Through Grieve Leave and her podcast Grief’d Up, Rebecca works to change workplace culture and systems so people navigating loss are supported rather than left to figure it out alone.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Grief and Money: Why Death and Finances Are So Intertwined 02:03 Bereavement Leave and Workplace Grief: The Hidden Financial Costs 04:47 Rebecca Feinglos’ Grief Story: Losing Parents and Navigating Divorce 06:29 Sudden Loss During COVID: Losing a Parent While at Work 16:12 Divorce After Loss: Making Major Life Decisions While Grieving 26:02 Inheritance and Financial Responsibility After Death 32:06 Financial Agency After Divorce: Learning Money Skills From Scratch 39:27 Grief Spending and Inheritance Guilt: Emotional Money Decisions 42:53 Service and Philanthropy: Using Inherited Wealth With Intention 52:07 Talking About Inheritance Before Crisis Hits 01:01:48 Grieve Leave: Changing Workplace Policies Around Grief 01:05:28 Final Takeaway: Why Talking About Grief and Money Matters Connect with Rebecca Feinglos: Visit the Grieve Leave website Visit the Feinglos Fund website Tune in to Rebecca's podcast: Grief'd Up Follow Financial Feminist on Instagram Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: Visit Justin’s website bio Connect with Justin on LinkedIn Follow The Currency of Grief on LinkedIn  Follow The Currency of Grief on Instagram  Follow The Currency of Grief on TikTok  Subscribe to The Currency of Grief on YouTube Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

    1h 9m

  6. JAN 2

    EP24: Honoring Grandy B and the First Birthday Without You

    Caregiving for anyone is an act of love, but that responsibility and unspoken end-of-life plans can linger in grief long after loss.   In this episode, Justin Weidenfeld reflects on caring for his grandmother, Grandy B, and marks the first grief anniversary and birthday following her death. He shares how caregiving gradually became part of his life and how stepping into medical and financial responsibility brought both closeness and strain. The episode explores how the absence of clear end-of-life planning conversations created confusion and emotional weight after her passing, especially as money and legacy became intertwined with grief.    Through honest reflection, Justin offers a look at honoring a grandparent, the quiet demands of caregiving, and how the conversations we avoid can shape grief anniversaries for years to come.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Death, Money, And The Purpose Of Currency Of Grief 01:05 Honoring My Grandmother And Marking A Grief Anniversary 04:50 Love, Identity, And Family Legacy 11:32 Dementia, Decline, And Stepping Into Caregiving 17:26 Becoming Medical And Financial Power Of Attorney 19:47 Hospice, Final Goodbyes, And Unanswered Questions 24:05 Estate Administration And Family Conflict After Death 38:31 When Money Becomes Tied To Love And Grief 52:23 Carrying Her Legacy And What I Learned   If you’d like to donate in honor of Grandy B’s legacy, you can donate to Experience Camps for Grieving Children, an organization she named as a beneficiary of her Estate (Mention The Currency of Grief Podcast in your donation): https://experiencecamps.org/?campaign=456056 Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: Visit Justin’s website bio Connect with Justin on LinkedIn Follow The Currency of Grief on LinkedIn  Follow The Currency of Grief on Instagram  Follow The Currency of Grief on TikTok  Subscribe to The Currency of Grief on YouTube Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

    57 min

  7. 12/19/2025

    EP23: Brian Helfman: Don’t Put Off The Conversations (Or The Life) You Want To Have

    What happens to your relationship with work, money, and time when losing a parent at 23 forces you to confront death far earlier than expected?   Justin Weidenfeld speaks with Brian Helfman about how early loss reshaped his understanding of success, security, and purpose. Brian shares how his father’s death challenged the belief that life can be postponed and pushed him toward living with intention after loss. The conversation explores how grief can clarify priorities and expose the cost of waiting to enjoy your life.   Brian also opens up about inheritance guilt and the complicated emotions that come with receiving money tied to loss. He reflects on family financial dynamics, caregiving responsibilities, and the tension that arises when intentions were never clearly discussed. Grounded in the philosophy of memento mori, this episode invites listeners to consider what they are delaying, what truly matters, and how acknowledging mortality can lead to more honest choices now.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Death, Money, and Why We Avoid the Conversation 05:24 Losing a Parent at 23 and the Shock of Early Grief 09:32 A Complicated Father and Lessons About Work and Worth 14:23 At-Home Hospice, Guilt, and the Reality of Final Moments 20:53 Returning to Life While Carrying New Responsibility 24:25 Rethinking Work, Time, and the “Back Nine” Mentality 29:34 Leaving Corporate Life and Finding Clarity in Nature 37:46 Inheritance Guilt and Family Financial Dynamics 46:12 Why Estate Planning Conversations Must Happen Earlier 01:06:50 Regret, Unsaid Words, and a Letter From His Father 01:12:22 Memento Mori: Don’t Put Off the Life You Want Connect with Brian Helfman: Visit the Third Nature website  Connect with Brian on LinkedIn  Check out Brian’s book recommendation, Memento Mori: The Art of Contemplating Death to Live a Better Life Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: Visit Justin’s website bio Connect with Justin on LinkedIn Follow The Currency of Grief on LinkedIn  Follow The Currency of Grief on Instagram  Follow The Currency of Grief on TikTok  Subscribe to The Currency of Grief on YouTube Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

    1h 20m

  8. 12/05/2025

    EP22: Ret Taylor: Finding Purpose Through Nature

    What would you do if grief forced you to see exactly how little time you might have left?   Ret Taylor joins host Justin Weidenfeld to talk through his mother’s death, the last wishes he never got to ask about, and how that experience led him to take severance seriously as both a vision quest phase and a turning point in how he meets loss, legacy, and money. He shares how walking his mom’s laps under a harvest moon became a quiet practice of healing through nature, how her cancer journey shaped his work with Natural Remedies, and why he eventually shifted from selling products to guiding people in the wilderness. Through stories about vision quests, nights spent saying goodnight to the moon, and hard questions about how many years might remain, Ret invites listeners to uncover the buried treasures in their own lives and to start talking about what they want long before anyone loses their voice.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Why Talk About Death And Money On Currency Of Grief 02:08 Meet Ret Taylor And His Work With Vision Quests 05:40 Wynn’s Cancer Journey And The Stroke That Changed Everything 14:36 Regretting Unspoken Last Wishes And Why Early Conversations Matter 21:56 Harvest Moon Grief Rituals And Healing Through Nature 37:03 Presence Twenty One Years Left And Permission To Stop Playing Small 45:02 Vision Quests Severance And Finding Buried Treasures In Nature 54:03 Using The Moon And The Natural World To Stay Connected After Loss Links: Book: Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End   Connect with Ret Taylor: Visit Ret’s Website Connect with Ret on LinkedIn Follow Ret on Instagram Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: Visit Justin’s website bio Connect with Justin on LinkedIn Follow The Currency of Grief on LinkedIn  Follow The Currency of Grief on Instagram  Follow The Currency of Grief on TikTok  Subscribe to The Currency of Grief on YouTube Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

    58 min
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About

Death and money are two of the most taboo topics in our society yet they are inevitable for all of us. So why don’t we talk about death and money more? The fact is, we’re all going to have to face our mortality and the mortality of the people we love. During the toughest times in our life, we will also be faced with an overwhelming amount of financial and logistical decisions. These decisions have the power to bring people together or tear families apart. That’s why our mission is so important! Here on The Currency of Grief, we bring death and money to the forefront of the conversation. We’ll feature real life stories from real life people who have navigated the intersection of grief and money. Our guests are not celebrities, they are normal people just like you and me. My name is Justin Weidenfeld, and I’m going to serve as your Grief Financial Officer on the journey that is The Currency of Grief Podcast. My purpose for this podcast is to normalize conversations around death and money, inspire you to have deeper conversations with your loved ones (while you can), act as a resource for people currently navigating a grief and money journey, and encourage listeners to approach their own legacy head on. Whether you’re in the midst of your own grief and money journey or need a reality check about planning for the inevitable, this podcast is for you. Each episode provides heartfelt insights, logistical nuances and practical advice that will help you navigate financial and emotional adversity WHEN you are faced with loss. The Currency of Grief Podcast will air biweekly on Fridays and can be listened to on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. I am grateful that you’ve decided to join me on this journey!

Information

  • Creator
    The Currency of Grief
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Currency of Grief