Truth After Loss

Kendra Merrill
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This podcast is about who we become after loss strips away the noise, the expectations, the roles, the version of your life you thought you were supposed to live. You've lived through a loss. Maybe it was a death, a divorce, a miscarriage, a job you didn't see coming to an end. Maybe it's quieter than that — the loss of the life you thought you'd have. Either way, you're still showing up. Still functioning. But something under it all has shifted, and your life doesn't quite fit you the same way anymore. That's not the end of your story. It might be the start of finding out who you actually are. I'm Kendra Merrill, and this is Truth After Loss — a show about what's left standing after loss, and what you build with it. This isn't about getting over your loss or finding a silver lining in it. Grief doesn't owe you a lesson, and I won't pretend it does. But if you're willing to sit with it, it can reveal what matters and what never did, and you can build a life from that truth. Hit follow so you don’t miss an episode, and together, let’s explore what it's like on the other side of what you've lost. 

Episodes

  1. Jul 15

    12 Years After Losing My Daughter, My Body Was Still Holding Grief

    Episode 1: 12 Years After Losing My Daughter, My Body Was Still Holding Grief In the first episode of Truth After Loss, Kendra Merrill sets the stage for the podcast and shares three cultural messages about grief that she's learned aren't true. What we cover: Why "getting over" grief isn't the goal, and what to aim for instead How grief stays with you for life, even as its intensity changes Why unprocessed grief gets stored in the body (with a nod to Bessel van der Kolk's The Body Keeps the Score) The Yosemite hike that left Kendra in pain for days, and the moment on her floor that showed her why Why feeling your feelings, even years later, is the way forward What Kendra's daughter Adeline taught her about worth, value, and building a life around truth About Kendra: Kendra Merrill is the host of Truth After Loss. Her story includes the stillbirth of her daughter Adeline, losing her father six weeks later, and a decade of loss that followed. This podcast is where she shares what grief has revealed to her, and invites you to find your own truth in what you've carried. Notable line: "What if the point was never how do we get through it, but more how do we learn to carry it?" Connect: Subscribe on YouTube or follow on your podcast app so you never miss an episode. Share your story in the comments — Kendra reads every one.

  2. Season 1 Trailer

    Truth After Loss Podcast - Trailer

    Trailer for Truth After Loss Podcast.

    Truth After Loss Podcast - Trailer

  3. Apr 22

    The Truth About Why Modern Women Feel So Exhausted and Disconnected

    In this episode: Why "just shift your mindset" stopped being enough for so many women What science actually says about somatic intelligence and where it falls short How school, religion, corporate culture, and even the self-help industry trained us to override our inner knowing Why the rise of AI makes reclaiming this capacity more urgent than ever Three practices to start expanding your capacity to listen inward and rebuild self-trust Resources: Free 10-Day TrueYou Reset: https://kendrathriving.com/reset10 TrueYou Coaching: https://kendrathriving.com/work-with-kendra This episode includes discussion of the stillbirth of Kendra's daughter.

  4. Mar 25

    Your Nervous System Is Wrecking Your Relationships. Here's Why.

    In this episode, Kendra gets personal about something most of us haven't connected yet — how a nervous system running in chronic survival mode quietly shapes every relationship in your life. She shares her own story, the patterns she's recognized in herself and the women she works with, and what becomes possible when you start to heal. Not perfect relationships. Real ones.

  5. Mar 11

    Are Your Core Beliefs Actually True? The Question Most Women Never Stop to Ask

    What if the story you've been telling yourself about who you are… was never really yours? In this episode, we're getting into something I believe is the most foundational work a woman can do — understanding her core beliefs. Not in a therapy-speak, clinical kind of way. In a real, this-is-running-your-whole-life kind of way. We cover: What core beliefs actually are (and why they're not facts) How the belief → behavior chain works (and why it's automatic) Where your beliefs came from — and why most were formed before you had a say The wild Kelly McGonigal stress study that changed how I think about beliefs and the body My personal story — what I had to reconcile alone in Bali before everything changed A simple 3-step process to identify and start challenging your own limiting beliefs Links mentioned: Free 10 Day True You Reset → https://kendrathriving.com/reset10

  6. Feb 25

    Why Chasing Happiness Keeps You Feeling Miserable. How to Truly BE Happy.

    In this episode we cover: [00:00] Introduction — Why this conversation matters right now [01:00] What are we actually chasing? [03:00] The pursuit of happiness — traced back to 1776 and the Declaration of Independence [05:00] How cultural norms shape what we believe will make us happy [07:00] Why we exhaust ourselves chasing everyone else's version of happiness [08:00] Kendra's personal story — the rocking chair moment [12:00] Why our nervous systems are wired to prioritize belonging over truth [15:00] The graveyard story — learning to advocate for your own truth [22:00] What happens when you continuously abandon yourself (mentally, physically, spiritually, relationally) [27:00] How to start cultivating real happiness — 5 ways [28:00] Embrace wants vs. needs (from The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan) [29:00] Measure yourself backwards, not against the future [31:00] Create meaning from your past [33:00] Soul-led living — making yourself the reference point [34:00] The 10-Day True You Audio Reset [34:00] Do your part and surrender — co-creating your life Resources mentioned: • The Gap and the Gain — Dan Sullivan • The Body Keeps the Score — Bessel van der Kolk • FREE 10-Day True You Audio Reset https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aknaC2rEZGY

  7. Feb 11

    How to Live a Meaningful Life Without Knowing Your Purpose

    In this episode, Kendra explores the cultural pressure to find and chase a life purpose — and why that pressure left her feeling more shame than inspiration for most of her life. She shares four truths about meaning that changed her perspective: meaning is felt not figured out, presence reveals what's meaningful, how you show up matters more than what you accomplish, and service emerges naturally from inner wisdom. Kendra gets personal about her decade of loss, her transition out of corporate life, and what it feels like to finally show up as her full self in the rooms she holds. This one is for anyone who's been exhausted by the search.

  8. Jan 27

    Depth Before Direction: How to Set Goals From Inner Truth, Not Pressure

    In this episode of A Little More You, we explore what happens when we set goals and make decisions without first checking in with ourselves. So many women are busy, capable, and doing what they were taught to do, yet still feel exhausted or disconnected. Often, it isn’t because they’re doing too little, but because their direction was shaped by pressure, expectation, or external voices rather than inner truth. This conversation invites you to slow down and reconnect with your inner knowing. We talk about what depth really means, how your body signals alignment or tension, and why clarity doesn’t come from more strategies or answers, but from listening inward first. This episode is not about taking action or fixing your life. It’s about creating awareness, honoring what feels true, and allowing your direction to emerge from a deeper place.

  9. Jan 13

    How to Make Choices that Actually Align with Your Truth

    In this episode, we explore how to make life decisions that feel aligned with your true self instead of driven by pressure, expectations, or fear. You will learn:Why so many of us were taught to ignore our inner knowing. How to recognize the difference between fear and intuition. The physical and emotional signs of soul aligned guidance. How to rebuild trust with yourself through small, gentle choices.Why clarity comes from connection, not overthinking. This is a compassionate invitation to slow down, listen inward, and remember that you already carry the wisdom you are seeking.

  10. 12/30/2025

    Why Your New Year’s Resolutions Don't Stick

    Why Change Feels Hard and How to Soften Into It Change often feels harder than we expect, even when it’s something we truly want. In this episode, we explore why resistance shows up and why it isn’t a personal flaw or lack of willpower. It’s a natural response shaped by how our brains are wired and the world we’re living in. In this episode, we look at: Why resistance to change is a protective brain response, not a failure How cultural expectations quietly influence our choices and sense of belonging The impact of constant mental noise, digital saturation, and overload What survival mode looks like and how it pulls us away from ourselves Why familiar patterns can feel safer than growth, even when they no longer fit Rather than pushing through resistance or trying to override it, this episode invites a different approach. One rooted in understanding, compassion, and working with your nervous system instead of against it. We also explore what becomes possible when you slow down, quiet the noise, and begin listening inward. When change is approached gently, clarity tends to arise naturally and the next step feels more supportive and sustainable. This episode is for anyone who feels tired of striving, overwhelmed by constant pressure, or stuck in patterns that no longer reflect who they are becoming. Gentle Next Step If survival mode feels familiar, grab my free guide, 5 Gentle Ways to Break Free from Survival Mode. You may find it supportive in helping you slow down, quiet the noise, and reconnect with yourself without pushing or forcing change.The link is below whenever you’re ready.

Trailer

About

This podcast is about who we become after loss strips away the noise, the expectations, the roles, the version of your life you thought you were supposed to live. You've lived through a loss. Maybe it was a death, a divorce, a miscarriage, a job you didn't see coming to an end. Maybe it's quieter than that — the loss of the life you thought you'd have. Either way, you're still showing up. Still functioning. But something under it all has shifted, and your life doesn't quite fit you the same way anymore. That's not the end of your story. It might be the start of finding out who you actually are. I'm Kendra Merrill, and this is Truth After Loss — a show about what's left standing after loss, and what you build with it. This isn't about getting over your loss or finding a silver lining in it. Grief doesn't owe you a lesson, and I won't pretend it does. But if you're willing to sit with it, it can reveal what matters and what never did, and you can build a life from that truth. Hit follow so you don’t miss an episode, and together, let’s explore what it's like on the other side of what you've lost. 

Information

  • Creator
    Kendra Merrill
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 TruthAfterLoss, LLC. All rights reserved. The views expressed in this podcast are for informational and inspirational purposes only and are not intended as medical, mental health, or professional advice. Listening does not establish a coaching, therapeutic, or professional relationship. Please seek qualified support as needed.
  • Show Website
    Truth After Loss