The Caring Death Doula

Frances
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Society & Culture

In a world that rushes past death and ignores grief, The Caring Death Doula stops to listen with tenderness, truth, and time.  Whether you are grieving right now or here to learn how to help those grieving, join your host, Frances, a certified grief educator on the journey of finding connection, conversations, and comfort. Let's make grief and death a natural part of our conversations.

  1. 4d ago

    Can’t Judge Grief

    Someone recently suggested I didn’t have the right to share my grief because the loss was connected to their loved one. That moment stuck with me, because it exposes a quiet problem in how we talk about death, mourning, and bereavement: we act like grief needs a permission slip. We treat pain like a competition, and we pressure people to stay silent if their relationship doesn’t look “close enough” on paper. I wrestle with the questions so many of us think but rarely say out loud. What is grief, really, and who decides which kind is valid? Does pet loss count the same as losing a person? Do we judge miscarriage differently depending on whether someone already has children? What about fiancé versus spouse, unmarried partners versus legal partners, first marriage versus second, stepchildren versus birth children, adopted children versus biological children, or family who live far away versus nearby? When we rank love, we end up ranking people, and that’s where shame takes root. I share why comparing grief doesn’t work and never heals anyone. Our relationships are unique, our histories are different, and our grief is our own.  Wherever you are today, whether you feel numb, angry, foggy, or unable to get out of bed, your grief is real and valid, and I’m holding space for you.  If this conversation helps, subscribe, share it with someone who needs permission to feel, and leave a review.  Click here to send me a text. I would love to hear from you your thoughts on this episode. Sign up for my newsletter, ask questions, and get responses via Email: thecaringdeathdoula@gmail.com Follow on FB The Caring Death Doula https://www.facebook.com/share/1CUfH9Kek6/?mibextid=wwXIfr Join the private FB group for “behind the podcast” and advance notification The Caring Death Doula Podcast. A safe place to ask questions and to learn more.  IG The_Caring_Death_Doula https://www.instagram.com/the_caring_death_doula?igsh=MXdjOTF3MWo2a3RpYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

  2. Oct 22

    Grief and Grief Support can be Complex

    In this episode, we talk about how grief reaches far beyond missing the person who died, touching our future plans, our identity, and the conversations we never got to have.  We also challenge the urge to judge others for grieving differently and choose gentleness instead, even when support feels absent.  • grieving the future you expected to share  • mourning unfinished conversations, repair, and reconnection  • noticing how death changes people and family over time  • remembering each relationship creates a different grief path  • resisting the urge to judge siblings or friends who look “fine”  • considering what others may be carrying when they do not show up  • giving ourselves grace when we do not have the capacity to support well  • choosing to be gentle with ourselves and each other as we learn  Please give yourself some grace. Be gentle with yourself and with others. We are all doing the best we can with where we are at each moment.  Click here to send me a text. I would love to hear from you your thoughts on this episode. Sign up for my newsletter, ask questions, and get responses via Email: thecaringdeathdoula@gmail.com Follow on FB The Caring Death Doula https://www.facebook.com/share/1CUfH9Kek6/?mibextid=wwXIfr Join the private FB group for “behind the podcast” and advance notification The Caring Death Doula Podcast. A safe place to ask questions and to learn more.  IG The_Caring_Death_Doula https://www.instagram.com/the_caring_death_doula?igsh=MXdjOTF3MWo2a3RpYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

  3. Oct 19

    I Share My Grief Because You Deserve Real Support

    In this episode I share what it feels like to be personally attacked for speaking honestly about death and grief, and why I keep choosing real stories over polished answers. I planned my podcast to be real and to be here for you.  This podcast holds space for listeners who feel judged, reminding you that your relationship, your love, and your grief are uniquely yours. • being open about criticism and how it lands when grief is personal  • why lived experience are valued even when “real and raw”  instead of textbook grief advice  • holding space for listeners while admitting we cannot fully know their exact loss  • how funerals reveal different sides of the same person  • why siblings and families grieve differently without anyone being wrong  • reaffirming there is no right way or wrong way to grieve  you can reach out to me, and I would love to hear from you. Click here to send me a text. I would love to hear from you your thoughts on this episode. Sign up for my newsletter, ask questions, and get responses via Email: thecaringdeathdoula@gmail.com Follow on FB The Caring Death Doula https://www.facebook.com/share/1CUfH9Kek6/?mibextid=wwXIfr Join the private FB group for “behind the podcast” and advance notification The Caring Death Doula Podcast. A safe place to ask questions and to learn more.  IG The_Caring_Death_Doula https://www.instagram.com/the_caring_death_doula?igsh=MXdjOTF3MWo2a3RpYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

  4. Oct 12

    Who Decides What Counts As Grief

    Life can hit a point where it feels like everything that mattered fell a part at once: relationships strain, trust breaks, doors close, and you’re left asking a brutal question that doesn’t get enough airtime. What’s next and who am I now?  I’m Frances, the Caring Death Doula, and I’m holding space for anyone sitting in that kind of loss, especially when it doesn’t fit the narrow box people call “normal grief.” We talk about grief as more than death, because grief shows up anytime something meaningful changes or disappears. That includes pet loss grief, which many people silently carry because they’ve been told it “shouldn’t count.” If you’ve ever loved an animal who was part of your daily rhythm, you already know how deep that bond goes and how painful it is when it’s gone.  We also explore why even good change can bring grief: moving cities, starting a new job, buying a home, or leaving people and places that held your memories. Most of all, we confront the pressure to grieve the “right way.” There’s no grief timeline, no checklist, and no linear path you have to follow. You can feel joy and sorrow at the same time. You can laugh and still be grieving.  You can step away from this podcast when it’s heavy and come back when you’re ready, and I’ll still be here. If you want real, raw grief support that makes room for your whole experience, listen now. If it helps even a little, subscribe, share with someone who feels alone, and leave a review so more people can find this kind of care. Click here to send me a text. I would love to hear from you your thoughts on this episode. Sign up for my newsletter, ask questions, and get responses via Email: thecaringdeathdoula@gmail.com Follow on FB The Caring Death Doula https://www.facebook.com/share/1CUfH9Kek6/?mibextid=wwXIfr Join the private FB group for “behind the podcast” and advance notification The Caring Death Doula Podcast. A safe place to ask questions and to learn more.  IG The_Caring_Death_Doula https://www.instagram.com/the_caring_death_doula?igsh=MXdjOTF3MWo2a3RpYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

  5. Oct 5

    October Grief And Memory Markers

    In this episode we talk directly to those who find October a hard month on their grief journey.  A single date on the calendar, a favorite holiday/event,  or the shift in the season can pull you right back into the moment everything changed and suddenly your loss feels brand new.  If this month carries a hard reminder for you, I want you to hear this clearly: you are not alone, and nothing about your grief is “wrong.”  I talk about the memory markers that can make October especially heavy, including anniversaries, birthdays, and the day you realized the loss was real.  And grief isn’t limited to the death of a loved one. We can grieve a pet, a dream, a career, a relationship, or an identity we once held. No matter what you’re carrying, your path is personal, and it won’t look like anyone else’s, even if you shared the same person or the same life chapter.  We also get real about the pressure people put on grievers: “Just keep busy,” “You should be over it,” “Why do you go back there?” Whether you find comfort in visiting a cemetery, returning to a favorite park, staying in bed for a day, or never revisiting certain places, your rituals and choices can be valid because they mean something to you.  I’m Frances, The Caring Death Doula, and I’m here to hold space while we talk about life and death, real and raw.  If this helped you feel a little less alone or touched you in any way, subscribe, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more grievers can find this support. Click here to send me a text. I would love to hear from you your thoughts on this episode. Sign up for my newsletter, ask questions, and get responses via Email: thecaringdeathdoula@gmail.com Follow on FB The Caring Death Doula https://www.facebook.com/share/1CUfH9Kek6/?mibextid=wwXIfr Join the private FB group for “behind the podcast” and advance notification The Caring Death Doula Podcast. A safe place to ask questions and to learn more.  IG The_Caring_Death_Doula https://www.instagram.com/the_caring_death_doula?igsh=MXdjOTF3MWo2a3RpYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

  6. Sep 28

    Grief

    Grief gets policed in quiet, everyday ways and it can make you feel like you have to earn the right to mourn.  I’m working hard to help us push back on that. I talk openly about why this show started, what it took to hit record for the first time, and what it means to hear from listeners who say my words helped them through loss when nothing else did.  I share the turning point that shaped everything: walking beside my dad during a painful death journey and realizing how many families need clearer support around dying, hospice,  end-of-life planning, and grief.  You’ll hear why I trained as a death doula, what that role can and cannot do, and why I still care deeply about protecting vulnerable older adults who live alone and depend on caregivers without nearby family oversight.  Then the conversation shifts to the place I keep getting pulled back to: grief.   We discuss why death and loss are still taboo in families, and how that silence lands on kids. I share a listener story about being kept from a grandmother’s funeral and carrying anger for decades until a simple reframing finally brought release.  If you’re navigating bereavement, pet loss, anticipatory grief, or a loss nobody else seems to understand, I want you to hear this clearly: there are no rules in grief. No right or wrong way to grieve.  If this resonates, subscribe, share with someone who needs permission to feel, and leave a review so more people can find real, raw support when it matters most. Click here to send me a text. I would love to hear from you your thoughts on this episode. Sign up for my newsletter, ask questions, and get responses via Email: thecaringdeathdoula@gmail.com Follow on FB The Caring Death Doula https://www.facebook.com/share/1CUfH9Kek6/?mibextid=wwXIfr Join the private FB group for “behind the podcast” and advance notification The Caring Death Doula Podcast. A safe place to ask questions and to learn more.  IG The_Caring_Death_Doula https://www.instagram.com/the_caring_death_doula?igsh=MXdjOTF3MWo2a3RpYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

  7. Aug 3

    Sometimes Grief Needs Permission

    Grief doesn’t just hurt, it can silence you, numb you, and make the simplest parts of life feel heavy.  If you’re mourning someone you love, I want you to hear this clearly: I see you, and you don’t have to pretend you’re okay. We make room for the real emotions that show up after loss, from tears to anger to denial, and we talk honestly about how numbness can linger longer than people expect.  I also share a fresh, personal experience of loss and the surreal feeling of thinking, “This can’t be real.” That disbelief is more common than most people admit, and it doesn’t mean you’re doing grief wrong. Because every relationship holds different dreams, love, and memories, there’s no fair comparison, no universal timeline, and no “right” way to grieve.  The goal isn’t perfect healing or to fix  anything; it’s to honor what you feel and take the next small step.  To make this practical, we walk through a simple nervous system tool you can use anywhere: box breathing. You’ll learn how to inhale, hold, exhale, and hold again in a steady count, plus a visualization technique that helps you stay anchored when your mind is spinning.  If you’re looking for grief support, coping skills, and a gentle reminder that your experience is valid, press play. Subscribe and share this with someone who needs it. You never know what it could mean to someone. Consider leaving a review so more grieving listeners can find this space. This is The Caring Death Doula, and I am here for you, holding space.  Click here to send me a text. I would love to hear from you your thoughts on this episode. Sign up for my newsletter, ask questions, and get responses via Email: thecaringdeathdoula@gmail.com Follow on FB The Caring Death Doula https://www.facebook.com/share/1CUfH9Kek6/?mibextid=wwXIfr Join the private FB group for “behind the podcast” and advance notification The Caring Death Doula Podcast. A safe place to ask questions and to learn more.  IG The_Caring_Death_Doula https://www.instagram.com/the_caring_death_doula?igsh=MXdjOTF3MWo2a3RpYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

  8. Jul 27

    Estrangement Grief part 2

    Some losses don’t come with funerals, casseroles, or even permission to talk about them.  In this episode we discuss how when a relationship ends but the person is still alive, the grief can feel confusing, isolating, and nonstop, especially when the outside world acts like nothing happened.  The pain is real, heavy, and constant as the year moves through holidays, birthdays, and even just daily activities.  I share a story that has stayed with me for years: a woman  whose son died, and afterward her daughter-in-law moved away with the children and cut contact. She didn’t even know where her grandchildren were.  I also reflect on my own experience as a grandmother with grandkids who live out of state, and how distance alone can create a steady ache as children grow up in the gaps between visits.  These stories highlight why family estrangement and relationship loss can be a form of complicated grief with triggers built into the calendar. We also talk about another kind of estrangement, when someone pulls away because connection hurts too much, like an aunt who can’t be around her niece because she looks like the sister she lost.  The result is still the same: people left without support, left without words, left alone with grief and sorrow.  My purpose is simple: to help us get more comfortable talking about death and grief and to see the “death” of dreams, hopes, and relationships, so we can support each other better. If this resonates, listen, share it with someone who might feel unseen, and leave a review so more people can find support around estrangement grief, grief support, and emotional healing. You never know what it could mean to someone that you thought of them and shared this episode.  Click here to send me a text. I would love to hear from you your thoughts on this episode. Sign up for my newsletter, ask questions, and get responses via Email: thecaringdeathdoula@gmail.com Follow on FB The Caring Death Doula https://www.facebook.com/share/1CUfH9Kek6/?mibextid=wwXIfr Join the private FB group for “behind the podcast” and advance notification The Caring Death Doula Podcast. A safe place to ask questions and to learn more.  IG The_Caring_Death_Doula https://www.instagram.com/the_caring_death_doula?igsh=MXdjOTF3MWo2a3RpYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

In a world that rushes past death and ignores grief, The Caring Death Doula stops to listen with tenderness, truth, and time.  Whether you are grieving right now or here to learn how to help those grieving, join your host, Frances, a certified grief educator on the journey of finding connection, conversations, and comfort. Let's make grief and death a natural part of our conversations.

Information

  • Creator
    Frances
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    79
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Caring Death Doula
  • Show Website
    The Caring Death Doula