Grief Witnessed

Grief Witnessed

Grief Witnessed is a podcast about the kind of grief we don’t talk about enough and the power of being truly seen inside it. Each episode shares real, honest stories of loss in all its forms: the death of a partner, parent, or child… the grief of divorce… the life you thought you’d have but didn’t get. This podcast exists to witness grief. NOT to fix it, rush it, or tidy it up. Just to sit with it.

  1. Jul 29

    Mental Illness Is Not A Character Flaw with Tamara Brock

    Don't forget to watch on Youtube! In this episode of Grief Witnessed, I sit down with one of my very best widow friends, Tamara, to share the story of her husband, Grant. They met at church, where Grant taught a Sunday School class so loved that people would crowd the room and sit on the floor just to hear him teach. He was a gifted musician, a man of deep faith, and someone who cared deeply about the people around him. Grant also lived with bipolar disorder. He carried so much shame surrounding his illness but worked incredibly hard to heal and had been doing so well in the years leading up to his death. While serving a shift at a homeless shelter, he took methadone during a manic episode without fully understanding the danger. Being the kind of person he was, he called Tamara to confess. She rushed to him and performed CPR for 13 agonizing minutes before paramedics arrived. As a nurse practitioner, Tamara wrestled with overwhelming guilt, wondering how she couldn't save the person she loved most. In one of the most vulnerable conversations we've had, Tamara also shares what happened after Grant's death. She talks honestly about the unbearable weight of grief, begging God to take her life, and how she slowly found a way to keep living after losing her best friend. This episode is a powerful reminder that mental illness is not a character flaw, that addiction and bipolar disorder deserve compassion instead of shame, and that even in the deepest despair, hope can begin to grow again. You can also listen to Grant's music on Spotify under the name Kevat.🩵

    Mental Illness Is Not A Character Flaw with Tamara Brock
  2. Jul 8

    Show Me You're Okay: with Todd Smith Widower from Lung Cancer

    Don't forget to watch on Youtube! In this episode of Grief Witnessed, I sit down with Todd to share the story of his wife, Rachel, and the seven months that changed their family's life forever. Rachel was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer on her birthday in April of 2023, despite never smoking a day in her life. Todd remembers reacting with complete panic, while Rachel, despite being devastated, met the diagnosis with incredible calm and clarity. Looking back, Todd shares the guilt he carried, wishing he could have been steadier for her in those first moments. As Rachel went through treatment, Todd says he felt like he was living in hell. Working in oncology while his own wife was dying from cancer was both a blessing and a burden. His coworkers and patients understood in a way few others could, but there was no escaping the reality they were living. Todd opens up about the night he knew the end was near, simply by the look in Rachel's eyes. She entered hospice the day before she passed away. In one of the most heartbreaking moments of his story, Todd shares that he stepped away to shower and check on their two children. On his drive back, Rachel died before he could make it to her side. We also talk about the promise he asked Rachel to make before she died: to somehow let him know she was okay. We talk about how she kept that promise. This episode is about guilt, grace, signs from the people we love, and learning that the moments we replay in our minds can never outweigh a lifetime of loving someone well. 🤍

    Show Me You're Okay: with Todd Smith Widower from Lung Cancer

Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Grief Witnessed is a podcast about the kind of grief we don’t talk about enough and the power of being truly seen inside it. Each episode shares real, honest stories of loss in all its forms: the death of a partner, parent, or child… the grief of divorce… the life you thought you’d have but didn’t get. This podcast exists to witness grief. NOT to fix it, rush it, or tidy it up. Just to sit with it.

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