Giving Grief Grace

Lisa Hartung
  • 5.0 (7)
  • MENTAL HEALTH

Giving Grief Grace is a heartfelt podcast offering a safe space where stories of love, loss, light, and healing are shared with compassion and empathy. In each episode, honest conversations woven with nurturing insights create a safe haven, fostering a community of support where sorrow is met with kindness, and the path to healing is approached with utmost care, respect, and love.

  1. Episode 42 - Ash Rose Project (Week 4): Honoring Legacy, Finding Hope, and Looking Toward the Future

    4D AGO

    Episode 42 - Ash Rose Project (Week 4): Honoring Legacy, Finding Hope, and Looking Toward the Future

    In this bittersweet finale of the Ash Rose Project series, host Lisa Hartung and artist/Executive Director of the Ash Rose Foundation, Ian McCartor close out their 30-day grief journey with a conversation full of hope, whimsy, and renewal. The conversation was recorded, fittingly, on Ash Wednesday. Week 4's theme is Looking Toward the Future: Continuing the Legacy and Embracing Hope. As Ian puts the finishing touches on a one-of-a-kind portrait made with Emily Hartung's ashes, Lisa reflects on what this project has meant for her healing and what she hopes it will mean for others. Together Ian and Lisa explore the transformative power of curiosity in grief, why asking open-ended questions beats the usual platitudes, and how art becomes a talisman that keeps our loved ones present in everyday life. Lisa shares the legacy traditions she'll carry forward from "Emily's Planting & Blooming Day" at the Farmington Public Library in Maine to a memorial bench at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Maine and even hints at two books she hopes to write in her mother's honor. The episode closes with a passage from Wordsworth's I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud, inscribed on a wind chime for Emily, and a reminder that there is always a path to spring again. A wonderful representation of the cycle of life.  A grand reveal episode is coming during the first week of spring — stay tuned! Catch up on the full Ash Rose Project series: Intro Week - When The Artist Becomes the Art: Episode 38 Week 1 – Honoring the Past: Episode 39 Week 2 – Processing Grief Through Creation: Episode 40  Week 3 – Finding Meaning in the Present: Episode 41 Visit the Ash Rose Foundation at TheAshRose.org for more information and to sign up for your own Ash Rose Project to celebrate a loved one who has passed.  Send a text Thanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone. Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to: Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star Music Podcast Music Good_B_Music

    46 min
  2. Episode 41 - Ash Rose Project (Week 3): Finding Meaning in the Present Through Creativity & Connection

    FEB 15

    Episode 41 - Ash Rose Project (Week 3): Finding Meaning in the Present Through Creativity & Connection

    In Week 3 of the Ash Rose Project mini-series, host Lisa Hartung continues her 30-day grief journey with Ian McCartor of the Ash Rose Foundation. This week centers on finding meaning in the present moment. Lisa and Ian discuss integrating remembrance and creative exploration from the first two weeks into a grounded sense of healing, hope, and transformation. Lisa reflects on what it has felt like to send her mother’s ashes to be incorporated into a memorial portrait, and how the guided journaling and weekly conversations have helped her feel closer to her mom. Allowing her the opportunity to celebrate her mom's essence through storytelling, memory, and art. Together, Lisa and Ian explore: How creativity opens new pathways in griefThe role of journaling and expression in emotional healingSigns, symbols, and moments of connection with loved onesThe beauty of nature as a mirror for life, death, and renewalWhy “creating”, not just consuming, helps grief and energy move through the bodyLisa shares a story about her mother’s hibiscus plant blooming in the middle of winter which is a vivid reminder of presence, new life, and love that continues to surround and uplift. This conversation is an invitation to slow down, embrace vulnerability, and witness how creative expression can transform grief into intimacy, meaning, and even joy. If you are interested in working with Ian McCartor on your own Ash Rose Project, visit theashrose.org.  Send a text Thanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone. Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to: Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star Music Podcast Music Good_B_Music

    53 min
  3. Episode 40 - Ash Rose Project (Week 2): Processing Grief Through Creativity, The Healing Power of Art & Legacy

    FEB 9

    Episode 40 - Ash Rose Project (Week 2): Processing Grief Through Creativity, The Healing Power of Art & Legacy

    In Week 2 of the Ash Rose Project mini-series, Lisa continues her personal grief journey with Ian McCartor, Founder of the Ash Rose Foundation. They move from honoring the past in Week 1 to processing grief in the present through creativity. As Ian begins sketching the portrait in her mother’s honor using her ashes, this week’s conversation explores what it means to actively create while grieving. Lisa reflects on the emotions that have surfaced since beginning the project: sadness, gratitude, loneliness, and the tension between letting go and holding on. Together, she and Ian discuss how creative expression allows space for the full spectrum of grief from the light to the dark, and why both are essential for healing. They explore powerful metaphors of winter, stillness, and the “quiet before the bloom,” examining how grief can feel dormant yet truly transformative beneath the surface. Lisa shares: The emotional complexity of sending her mother’s ashes for the artworkHow legacy-building reshapes her griefThe loneliness that can accompany lossReturning to joy after deep sorrowThe role of community, service, and storytelling in healingThis episode is a reflection on release, trust, and the sacred act of becoming. It serves as a reminder that even in the coldest seasons of grief, something within us is still blooming. If you are interested in working with Ian McCartor on your own Ash Rose Project, visit theashrose.org.  Send a text Thanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone. Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to: Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star Music Podcast Music Good_B_Music

    53 min
  4. Episode 39 - Ash Rose Project (Week 1): Honoring the Past Through Memory, Ritual, and Reflection

    FEB 1

    Episode 39 - Ash Rose Project (Week 1): Honoring the Past Through Memory, Ritual, and Reflection

    In Week 1 of the Ash Rose Project mini-series, Ian McCartor of the Ash Rose Foundation and Lisa Hartung begin the most emotionally intense part of the journey: honoring the past. This episode centers on reflection. Of memories, values, rituals, and the everyday moments that continue to shape us after loss. As Ian begins the artistic process of creating an ash portrait, Lisa walks through the first week of journaling prompts designed to deepen connection with her mother and gently “till the soil” of grief. Through vivid storytelling, Lisa shares cherished memories of painting with her mother "en plein air," a girl's trip to Italy, road trips through Maine, being in the garden with her mom, and the small daily routines she misses most such as bedtime rituals, phone calls, games, and laughter. Together, Lisa and Ian explore how memory transforms grief, how rituals can be carried forward into the next generation, and how reflection allows the past to inform hope for the future. Week 1 is raw, messy, and sacred, just like sketching before a painting takes form or preparing the soil for planting seeds in the garden. This episode invites listeners to witness how grief can be honored, felt fully, and woven into the present with intention, beauty, and love. To learn more about the Ash Rose Foundation, head to theashrose.org. You can sign up for your own Ash Rose Project in honor of a loved one!  Send a text Thanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone. Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to: Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star Music Podcast Music Good_B_Music

    53 min
  5. Episode 38 - When the Artist Becomes the Art: Inside the Ash Rose Project with Ian McCartor

    JAN 26

    Episode 38 - When the Artist Becomes the Art: Inside the Ash Rose Project with Ian McCartor

    This week we welcome back Ian McCartor, Founder and Executive Director of the Ash Rose Foundation, for a first-ever behind the scenes exploration of the Ash Rose Project.  This episode marks the kickoff of Lisa’s own Ash Rose Project, a sacred 30-day grief journey that culminates in the creation of a memorial portrait made using her mother’s ashes. Together, Lisa and Ian invite listeners into the intimate beginnings of this process, offering a rare glimpse into how art, ritual, reflection, and community can become powerful vehicles for healing. Ian shares the philosophy behind the Ash Rose Project and its intentionally intimate, one-person/family-at-a-time approach. He invites Lisa to share about her mother who was an artist, teacher, gardener, and joy-bringer whose legacy lives on through water lilies, garden blooms, birds, heart rocks, and the magic of everyday beauty. From Monet’s garden to Maine summers, from chemo-chair sketches to planting a thousand flower bulbs, this conversation explores how love continues, transforms, and becomes something new as time passes. If you’ve ever wondered what it might look like to honor grief creatively, to stay in relationship with someone who has died, or to witness healing rather than rush it, this episode is for you.  If you're interested in getting involved with the Ash Rose Foundation, or would like to honor your loved and continue your healing grief journey by partaking in your own 30-day Ash Rose Project, please visit theashrose.org.  We'll be back next week to review the questions and discuss the experience of Week 1 of the Project! Send a text Thanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone. Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to: Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star Music Podcast Music Good_B_Music

    1h 1m
  6. Episode 37 - Grief Group Support: The Power of Connection, Healing, and Community After Loss

    JAN 18

    Episode 37 - Grief Group Support: The Power of Connection, Healing, and Community After Loss

    What kind of support actually helps after loss—and what role does community play in healing? Everyone is different and has their own unique grief journey.  In this episode, the original Giving Grief Grace small grief group comes together for an honest conversation about the power of grief group support after losing a parent. Together, they explore how connection, vulnerability, and shared experience can create a healing space that feels both deeply personal and profoundly supportive. Listeners get a behind-the-scenes look at what a small grief group truly offers—from weekly check-ins and grounding rituals to storytelling, breathwork, and the comfort of being understood without needing to explain. Members of the group just "get it" on a level few others understand. The group reflects on parenting while grieving, honoring loved ones through traditions and memories, navigating anniversaries and holidays, and learning to care for yourself in seasons when grief feels overwhelming. This episode is for anyone wondering if a grief support group might help, feeling isolated in their loss, or longing for community that allows grief to be expressed honestly and held with compassion. This group is a safe space for all the feelings! You don’t have to have the right words, you just show up as you are.  While many participants have never met in real life (only online), you feel a sense of comfort and deep connection because you've been in the trenches together and worked through the emotions as a group.  When does the next small grief group start? Tuesday, February 10 - March 17th (6 weeks, every Tuesday night) 8:30 - 9:30pm ET via Zoom For listeners looking to join, send a DM to @givinggriefgrace on Instagram or email hello@lisahartung.com. You are not alone!  Send a text Thanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone. Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to: Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star Music Podcast Music Good_B_Music

    42 min
  7. Episode 36 - Pancreatic Cancer at 34: Mom of 3 on Self-Advocacy, Surgery, FOLFIRINOX & Finding Hope

    JAN 12

    Episode 36 - Pancreatic Cancer at 34: Mom of 3 on Self-Advocacy, Surgery, FOLFIRINOX & Finding Hope

    What happens when you know something is wrong—but no one is listening? In this episode, Lisa sits down with Amy Johnston, a 34-year-old mom of three and stage 3 pancreatic cancer survivor, to share the story that changed her life. After months of unexplained symptoms, dismissed concerns, and “normal” test results, Amy refused to settle for reassurance that didn’t sit right. That decision ultimately led to an MRI that revealed pancreatic adenocarcinoma—and saved her life.  Amy walks us through the emotional whiplash of receiving a pancreatic cancer diagnosis at such a young age, advocating for herself in a complex medical system, seeking second opinions, and finding the right specialist. She shares what it was like undergoing major surgery, completing 12 rounds of full-dose FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy, and parenting three young children through treatment—while still trying to preserve normalcy and create magic for the kids at home. This conversation offers rare honesty about chemo side effects, fear, anxiety, medical frustrations, and the importance of being your own advocate. Amy reflects on how cancer has reshaped her relationship with time, joy, and the present moment. Whether you are part of the pancreatic cancer community, caring for someone with cancer, navigating medical uncertainty, or walking through grief alongside motherhood, this episode is a reminder that your voice matters and persistence can save your life. Your intuition is often valid!  ✨ Topics covered: Early symptoms of pancreatic cancer in young adultsSelf-advocacy and second opinionsDistal pancreatectomy vs. Whipple procedureFOLFIRINOX chemotherapy side effectsParenting through cancer treatmentPreserving holiday magic during illnessHope, resilience, and living in the presentSend a text Thanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone. Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to: Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star Music Podcast Music Good_B_Music

    57 min
  8. Episode 35 - Escaping the Berlin Wall & Grieving from Afar: Freedom, Loss & Finding Home

    JAN 4

    Episode 35 - Escaping the Berlin Wall & Grieving from Afar: Freedom, Loss & Finding Home

    What does grief look like when it begins with leaving home? In this episode, artist and musician Jacqueline van Bierk shares her extraordinary life story of escaping communist East Germany as a teenager just weeks before the Berlin Wall fell, leaving her parents behind with no way to know if they’d ever reunite. Jacqueline opens up about growing up in a controlled, black-and-white world, her daring escape through Prague, and the emotional weight of choosing freedom while risking everything. She reflects on how displacement shaped her identity, her lifelong “gypsy” spirit, and her eventual move to the United States which is where she found both creative freedom and a sense of home. Jacqueline vulnerably shares about the loss of her father, flying across the world to say goodbye, and returning to the stage just days later to perform through her heartbreak. She also speaks honestly about grieving from the US while her mother remains in Germany. Jacqueline has supported her mother through multiple losses, illness, cancer, and actually moved back to Germany to be her caregiver during COVID.  “After taking care of my mom during the pandemic, I packed whatever I could fit in my car and began a completely new chapter.” - JVB This episode explores: Escaping East Germany before the Berlin Wall fellGrief, freedom, and identity as an immigrantLosing a parent while living abroadCaregiving from a distanceThe complex emotions of guilt, anger, numbness, and acceptanceHow music, creativity, and purpose became lifelines in griefIf you’ve ever grieved a loved one from afar, felt torn between ambition and family, or wondered how loss reshapes who we become, this conversation is for you. Follow Jacqueline: Website: pinkstarmusic.com IG: jacquelinevanbierk Join the January 2026 30 Day Clutter Challenge: https://pinkstarmusic.com/30-day-declutter-challenge Send a text Thanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone. Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to: Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star Music Podcast Music Good_B_Music

    1 hr
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Giving Grief Grace is a heartfelt podcast offering a safe space where stories of love, loss, light, and healing are shared with compassion and empathy. In each episode, honest conversations woven with nurturing insights create a safe haven, fostering a community of support where sorrow is met with kindness, and the path to healing is approached with utmost care, respect, and love.

Information

  • Creator
    Lisa Hartung
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Giving Grief Grace
  • Show Website
    Giving Grief Grace