Giving Grief Grace, a Grief Podcast for the Sandwich Generation

Lisa Hartung
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Mental Health

Loss changes everything. But it doesn't have to have the last word. Giving Grief Grace is a podcast dedicated to those in the throes of caregiving and loss with honest, compassionate conversations about grief, healing, and what it means to keep living after loss. Hosted by Lisa Hartung, a speaker, HR professional, and fellow griever, each episode creates space for the stories we don't always know how to tell. From disenfranchised and hidden grief, to grieving while parenting, to the ways men experience loss differently, to the unexpected power of creativity and legacy,  this show covers grief in all its forms. Featuring expert guests, real stories, and practical tools you can use right now. If you've lost someone you love or are in the throes of caregiving, you belong here. New episodes drop every Sunday. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

  1. Episode 55 - 100 Years of Living: Lucy DeRoche's Secrets to Adventure, Purpose, and Joy

    6d ago

    Episode 55 - 100 Years of Living: Lucy DeRoche's Secrets to Adventure, Purpose, and Joy

    She feels 45. She has been all around the US. She planned a month-long trip through England, Scotland, and Ireland in 1971 with no cell phones, no credit cards, and a 9-year-old in tow, and she thought nothing of it. She lost her first husband Vincent to lung cancer when he was just 41, raised her daughter Tammy on her own, and kept going. She still walks the halls of her building every day, still does puzzles, and loves Maine lobster. Lucy DeRoche of Yarmouth, Maine turned 100 on May 20, 2026 and she is here to show us what a fully lived life actually looks like. In this joyful milestone episode, Lisa sits down with Lucy and her daughter Tammy to celebrate a century of adventure, purpose, and unending love. Lucy shares the philosophy that carried her through teaching fifth graders for decades, planning epic road trips with AAA guides before the internet existed, volunteering long into retirement, and weathering the deepest losses - all with curiosity, humor, and a fierce desire to be useful. What you'll hear in this episode: Lucy's secret to staying sharp, active, and motivated at 100How she navigated losing her husband at a young age and how she and Tammy became each other's purposeThe legendary 1971 trip to England, Scotland, and Ireland, planned entirely with travelers checks and a travel agent, no internet requiredThe zebra that stuck its entire head through the car window on the Olympic PeninsulaThe 6-inch John Wayne "statue" that was NOT the six-foot statue they drove across the Peninsula to findHer food memories: Thursdays and Sundays at the 99 in Brunswick, Maine with Jim, fish chowder and blueberry muffins at the Dolphin, and lobster that must — absolutely must — come from MaineSitting in a Paris restaurant at 86 with a sneaky grin on her faceWhat truly kept her going all these years: "I always wanted to be useful. I really did."This one is a love letter to long lives, adventurous hearts, and the mothers who drag us to Gettysburg, Paris, and off-road in a Jeep Wrangler and make us better for it. Cheers to 100 years, Lucy Williams DeRoche. We love you! Send us Fan Mail 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
  2. Episode 54 - From Surviving to Thriving: The Grief Recovery Method with Dawn Michele Jackson

    May 17

    Episode 54 - From Surviving to Thriving: The Grief Recovery Method with Dawn Michele Jackson

    Have you ever carried grief you didn't have a name for? Today's guest, Dawn Michele Jackson, a registered nurse, bestselling author, and Advanced Grief Recovery Method Specialist, spent decades watching patients' unprocessed emotions show up as physical illness. When her own life was fraught with an alcoholic father, an abusive boyfriend, and she later experienced a painful divorce, and the eventual loss of her dad, Dawn knew life didn't have to be so challenging. She learned how to process her grief through an action-based program that didn't just take the edge off, it changed how she viewed the earlier struggles in her life, and allowed her to process them and find happiness moving forward. In this episode, Dawn walks us through the Grief Recovery Method: what it is, how it works, and why grief is so much bigger than death. Whether you're carrying loss from a relationship, a childhood, a divorce, or a loved one's passing, this conversation is for you. In this episode we discuss: Why grief is a normal, natural response to any loss, transition, or changeWhat the Grief Recovery Method is and how the multiple sessions workHow unhealed grief shows up in the body as physical illnessDawn's personal journey through childhood pain, divorce, and losing her dadWhy this method gives you tools for life, not dependencyHow healing changed Dawn's relationships, self-worth, and ultimately led to a joyful marriageConnect with Dawn: Website: www.dawnmichelejackson.com Facebook & LinkedIn: Dawn Michele Jackson Send us Fan Mail 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 53 - The Little Things Are the Big Things: Obituaries with Mary McGreevy of Tips from Dead People

    May 10

    Episode 53 - The Little Things Are the Big Things: Obituaries with Mary McGreevy of Tips from Dead People

    What if the most profound life lessons you ever received came from the dead? In this episode of Giving Grief Grace, Lisa sits down with Mary McGreevy, the creator of @tipsfromdeadpeople and author of an upcoming HarperCollins book (August 2027), to explore what over 10,000 obituaries have taught her about grief, imperfection, and what it means to live a life well-lived. Mary shares the origin story behind her viral social media account, born from her mother's brief career as an obituary editor and Mary's own childhood fascination with the stories hiding in the back pages of the newspaper. Now with over 400,000 followers across platforms, Mary is on a mission to remind us: you are more than your worst chapter, and you are absolutely more than your LinkedIn profile and resume. Together, Lisa and Mary talk about: The themes that surface most often across thousands of obituariesWhat happened when Mary posted, "How do you learn to live without your mom?" after losing her own mother in November 2024, and the 2,000+ comments that became a masterclass in griefWhy the best obituaries name the hard stuff: addiction, estrangement, regret, and how that honesty allows readers to feel a deeper sense of connection with the individualThe obituary of Trish, Mary's "patron saint" of Tips from Dead People, and why two simple lists of loves and hates tell you everything about a personMary's complicated feelings about AI-written obituaries (and animated dead people)The book offer that arrived three days after her mom died, and what she believes about that timingThis episode is tender, funny, and full of permission to be exactly as messy and as human as you already are. Connect with Mary: Instagram/TikTok/YouTube: @tipsfromdeadpeopleSubstack: https://tipsfromdeadpeople.substack.com/ Obituary inspiration & more: https://linktr.ee/tipsfromdeadpeopleBook: coming August 2027 from HarperCollinsSend us Fan Mail 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

    51 min
  4. Episode 52 - A Year of Giving Grief Grace: What No One Tells You About Starting a Grief Podcast

    May 3

    Episode 52 - A Year of Giving Grief Grace: What No One Tells You About Starting a Grief Podcast

    One year. 52 episodes. 62 countries and territories. 454 cities. Thank you for a year of grace, gratitude, and being part of this grief journey.  In this special solo anniversary episode, Lisa Hartung pauses to celebrate what Giving Grief Grace has become. She reflects honestly on the time commitment, what it gave back, and who the show supports. Lisa shares the origin story behind the podcast: the week her firstborn arrived was the same week her mother, Emily, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given a year to live. What followed was a year of caring for a newborn and a dying parent. It was also the birth of a mission to make sure no one had to navigate grief alone. In this milestone episode, Lisa reflects on: The guests who shaped year one: from hospice nurses and end-of-life doulas to grief counselors, artists, authors, and cancer survivorsThe most downloaded episode (Emily’s Final Wish: A Visit to Monet’s Garden)The very real, unglamorous side of solo podcasting (including a toilet overflow, two sick kids, and a husband out of town)What grief has taught her about loneliness, showing up, and becoming your  own cheerleaderWhat’s ahead for Season 2: retreats, community events, animal grief, and moreIf you’ve been listening since episode one, thank you! If you've been a guest on the show, THANK YOU! If you’re brand new, welcome to the community. Either way, you belong here. 📧 hello@lisahartung.com | 🎙️ podcast.lisahartung.com 📱 Instagram: @GivingGriefGrace | Facebook: Giving Grief Grace Send us Fan Mail 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

    19 min
  5. Epsiode 51 - Free Smiles: The Tiny Act That Lifts a Grieving Heart

    Apr 26

    Epsiode 51 - Free Smiles: The Tiny Act That Lifts a Grieving Heart

    What if the simplest thing you did today — curling up the corners of your mouth — could make you feel even 1% better? In this solo episode, host Lisa Hartung laces up her running shoes and shares a reflection born from the road: smiles are free, they cost nothing, and they might be exactly what a stranger needs today. Lisa talks about the science behind smiling, how the physical act of smiling, even a forced one, can shift your emotional state. She shares her personal mission to make at least one TSA agent smile every time she passes through airport security, and how running through neighborhoods, waving and smiling at fellow people exercising, walking their dogs, or chatting with friends, fills her with joy. For anyone living alone or isolated in grief, Lisa reminds us that a genuine smile and a warm "thank you" to your pharmacist or grocery cashier might be the most meaningful human connection you have that day. It is a simple act that really matters. Don't rush past it. Cherish the moment.  If you are sitting with someone who is deep in grief, you don't have to have the right words. Show up. Smile. Be present. That is enough. How many smiles will you give to others this week? Stay tuned. Episode 52 is coming next week and it's a BIG one: one full year of Giving Grief Grace! 🎉 Send us Fan Mail 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

    7 min
  6. Episode 50 - It Takes a Village: How Schools, Friends, & Communities Can Support Grieving Children with Carrie Silver of A Haven

    Apr 19

    Episode 50 - It Takes a Village: How Schools, Friends, & Communities Can Support Grieving Children with Carrie Silver of A Haven

    According to A Haven, one in five children will experience the death of someone close to them before they graduate high school. That means grief is already in your classroom, your neighborhood, and your faith/athletic/artistic community, whether you can see it or not. Many well-meaning people surrounding that grieving child have no idea how to show up. In this final episode of our A Haven mini-series, Lisa sits down with Carrie Silver, Clinical Director of A Haven, a free child and family grief center in Exton, Pennsylvania, to talk about the village it takes to truly support a grieving child. Carrie walks us through what teachers and school counselors can do right now for the grieving student in their building, why pushing for counseling too soon can actually backfire, and how grief groups at school give children something a 1:1 setting cannot fully replicate — the relief of knowing they are not the only one, they have a supportive community to lean on. We also talk about what grief looks like across different types of loss including suicide, violence, and anticipatory grief, and how to hold space for each with care. For friends, neighbors, and community members, Carrie shares something beautifully practical: you never need permission to remember someone's person. A text. A calendar reminder set in advance. A message that says, "baseball season started and I thought of your dad." These small, consistent acts of remembrance are what grieving families carry with them long after the casseroles and cards stop coming. Whether you're a parent, a teacher, a friend, or simply someone who loves a grieving family and wants to show up well, this episode will give you the language, the posture, and the courage to do it. Check out the other episodes in this series: Episode 45 - It's Okay to Say Died: How to Talk to Children About Death at Any Age Episode 49 - The Whole Family Grieves: Supporting Every Child in the House, Even When They Grieve Differently Connect with A Haven: ahaven.org | Instagram: @ahaven.chesterco | LinkedIn & Facebook: A Haven | Email: Carrie Silver, Clinical Director carrie@ahaven.org Send us Fan Mail 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

    43 min
  7. Episode 49 - The Whole Family Grieves: Supporting Every Child in the House, Even When They Grieve Differently with Carrie Silver of A Haven

    Apr 12

    Episode 49 - The Whole Family Grieves: Supporting Every Child in the House, Even When They Grieve Differently with Carrie Silver of A Haven

    Grief doesn't arrive at the door of a family and touch everyone the same way. One child draws. Another runs. Another goes silent. And somewhere in the middle of it all is a caregiver trying to hold everyone together while barely holding it together themselves. In this episode, Lisa sits down again with Carrie Silver of A Haven, a free child and family grief center in Exton, Pennsylvania, to talk about what it really looks like when a whole family grieves. We explore why siblings can experience the same loss so differently, and why research shows that how a caregiver grieves is a huge factor in how a child grieves. Carrie walks us through the creative and embodied ways A Haven supports grieving children — from movement and art to circle time — and why these approaches reach children in ways that words alone often can't. We also talk about the power of community: what it means for a grieving family to sit in a room with other families who simply understand and "get it," helping each other on this journey, regardless of age.   Whether you're a parent navigating loss alongside your children, an educator supporting a grieving student, or someone who loves a grieving family and wants to show up well, this conversation is for you. A Haven offers free grief support groups for children ages 3–25 and their families. Learn more at ahaven.org and see the extensive book list for additional resources!  Check out our first conversation of the series with Carrie Silver here: Episode 45 - It's Okay to Say Died: How to Talk to Children About Death at Any Age with Carrie Silver of A Haven Send us Fan Mail 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

    49 min
  8. Episode 48 - Fought the Fight: Grief, Easter Sunrise, and Finding Joy Again

    Apr 5

    Episode 48 - Fought the Fight: Grief, Easter Sunrise, and Finding Joy Again

    Easter has a way of cracking grief wide open. In this solo episode, Lisa shares a raw and vulnerable reflection on how the season of resurrection intersects with loss. From waking up before dawn in a small Maine town to sing "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" on a hillside with her mom, to attending Duke Chapel's sunrise service the year after her mother Emily passed, Lisa walks us through the traditions that keep her mother's memory alive. She also shares about the moment a hymn lyric brought her to her knees, and the friend who held her through it. She also shares the beautiful cycle of grief and new life: her own daughter now old enough to pack a thermos of hot chocolate and head to the garden for sunrise Easter service. History, as Lisa says, repeats itself. Lisa also introduces something new - Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way: a 12-week journey into creativity she's embarking on with a community of women, and why she believes unblocking our creativity is one of the most powerful tools we have to move through grief. If you've felt stuck, joyless, or creatively frozen in your grief, this episode is for you.  To join the 12 week workshop, email hello@lisahartung.com or DM @givinggriefgrace on Instagram. All are welcome! The workshop kicks off on Monday, April 6, 2026. Send us Fan Mail 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

    20 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Loss changes everything. But it doesn't have to have the last word. Giving Grief Grace is a podcast dedicated to those in the throes of caregiving and loss with honest, compassionate conversations about grief, healing, and what it means to keep living after loss. Hosted by Lisa Hartung, a speaker, HR professional, and fellow griever, each episode creates space for the stories we don't always know how to tell. From disenfranchised and hidden grief, to grieving while parenting, to the ways men experience loss differently, to the unexpected power of creativity and legacy,  this show covers grief in all its forms. Featuring expert guests, real stories, and practical tools you can use right now. If you've lost someone you love or are in the throes of caregiving, you belong here. New episodes drop every Sunday. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

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