Grief, Gratitude & The Gray in Between

Kendra Rinaldi
  • 4.8 (48)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Bilingual Podcast by Kendra Rinaldi Grief, Gratitude, and the Gray in Between: Exploring grief beyond death—identity, migration, divorce, and life’s joyful transitions like motherhood, marriage, and career change. / Explorando el duelo más allá de la muerte—identidad, migración, divorcio y las transiciones alegres de la vida como la maternidad, el matrimonio y los cambios profesionales.   It is a bilingual podcast  each episode features heartfelt interviews with individuals sharing their personal grief journeys, conversations with experts offering tools and insights, and solo episodes where host Kendra Rinaldi reflects on topics that matter. Together, we honor grief in all its forms and learn tools we can use to help us navigate it. Duelo, Gratitudy todos los matices de por medio: historias de cambio, amor y resiliencia es un pódcast bilingüe, en ingles  y en español,  que explora las muchas caras del duelo—no solo por pérdidas, sino también por las transiciones de la vida. Desde cambios de identidad y migración hasta divorcio, maternidad, matrimonio y transformaciones profesionales, profundizamos en la complejidad emocional del cambio. A través de conversaciones sinceras, historias personales y perspectivas expertas, honramos el duelo en todas sus formas y celebramos el crecimiento que lo acompaña.  https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/

  1. 1h ago

    17 Years of Chemotherapy and Living Fully: Glenn Sturm on Why He Doesn't Bring Cancer Home

    Glenn Sturm is a 17-year survivor, a 4-time bestselling author with 30+ years military service. He is a law graduate from University of Florida (honors) (Order of the Coif) and a compelling storyteller who connects with audiences in crisis. Glenn was diagnosed with Advanced T-Cell Lymphoma on January 21, 2009. He has been on continuous oral and IV chemotherapy since then, and his treatment has spanned more than 6,000 days. He has assembled his own Integrated Cancer Team. He is a best-selling author of Cancer Set Me Free, and a photographer. His first novel, The Green Murphy Succession, is scheduled for release in April. It is a multigenerational, multifamily historical fiction series of six books. He is also an umbraphile, chasing and photographing eclipses worldwide. He has published two eclipse photography books, Syzygies and The Great American Eclipse (2017), both part of the Syzygies series. His next eclipse photography book is scheduled to release in February in both English and Spanish. Visit him online at www.glennsturm.com Contact Kendra Rinaldi for coaching information or to be a guest on the podcast. https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/ Episode Highlights and Themes: A Terminal Diagnosis Turned Life Sentence to Live: In 2009, high-powered corporate attorney and military veteran Glenn Sturm received an advanced T-cell lymphoma diagnosis and was given just two to three years to live. Seventeen years and over 6,000 days of continuous chemotherapy later, he shares how facing mortality transformed his relationship with time and ambition. The Turning Point — Stepping Away from the Grind: How stepping off the corporate treadmill and surviving an early post-diagnosis fall forced Glenn to realize that while we cannot change yesterday, we have complete agency over how we meet today. Why He Refuses to "Bring Cancer Home": Glenn discusses the intentional boundary he established between his medical treatments and his personal life. While the hospital and oncology clinic are for fighting the disease, his home remains a sanctuary for love, family, dinner conversations, and genuine presence—not an extension of the clinic. Building an Integrated Care Team: Glenn’s advice for patients and caregivers on approaching healthcare as proactive collaborators, assembling multidisciplinary support, and maintaining mental and emotional ownership of the healing process. Finding Wonder in the Dark: How turning to creative passions—authoring four bestselling books and traveling the globe as an astrophotographer chasing solar eclipses—helped him reconnect with the vastness of life and put suffering into perspective. Holding Both Fear and Gratitude: How living in the shadow of chronic illness doesn't mean life pauses; instead, it invites us to live honestly in "the gray in between," cherishing small, everyday moments.

    17 Years of Chemotherapy and Living Fully: Glenn Sturm on Why He Doesn't Bring Cancer Home

  2. Aug 26

    How Fulfilling My Sister's Dying Wish Saved My Life with Mia Godfrey

    MIHAELA (MIA) GODFREY is a certified life coach, Bible counselor, EME (Emotions,Mind and Energy) practitioner,public speaker, and author of Buried, Not Broken: A Memoir of Survival, Sisterhood, and Starting Over. With more than 17 years of leadership experience at Cellular Sales, where she serves as talent acquisition operations manager, Mia brings authenticity and compassion to every area of her work. Her professional success is matched by her lifelong devotion to helping others find healing, strength, and renewed purpose. Mia has built a career on showing empathy, upholding integrity, and helping others rise to their potential. Beyond the boardroom, she is a guiding voice for women navigating grief, trauma, and life transitions, offering practical tools for rebuilding confidence and rediscovering purpose through faith. Born in Romania as the youngest of 10 children, Mia learned resilience and faith early. After earning her bachelor of science in education, she immigrated to the United States at 27, carrying with her an unwavering belief that every challenge holds the seed of growth. She has since earned multiple leadership and public speaking awards through Toastmasters International and is an active member of the AACC World Counselors. Now based in Knoxville, Tennessee, Mia is a proud wife and mother to two grown children, Alli and Isaac. Outside her professional life, she finds joy in mentoring others, connecting through faith, and helping people see hope where they once saw only hardship. Her life’s purpose is to remind others that healing is possible, growth is continuous, and purpose is always within reach. Learn more or connect with Mia at www.miagodfrey.com. Contact Kendra Rinaldi https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/ Epis:ode Highlights: Survival Under Communism: Growing up as the youngest of 10 in survival-mode poverty in Romania, and how writing her memoir finally freed her family from decades of shared fear . Escaping Addiction at 18: Running 300 miles from home after her father’s sudden death to escape a path of addiction and protect her family from shame. The 800-Letter Love Story: Writing hundreds of letters using a physical paper dictionary to communicate with her late husband, Robert, before she even knew English . Coping Through Exhaustion: Surviving the sudden loss of Robert by working three intense jobs just to keep herself too exhausted to face the grief . Losing Her "Lifeline": Serving as the primary caregiver for her beloved sister Mona during her 11-month battle with ovarian cancer. Fulfilling a Deathbed Promise: Breaking childhood vows of secrecy by starting a journal that fulfilled Mona's final, healing wish to tell their stories . The "Silent Napkin Friend": Why the best support in grief isn’t unsolicited advice or preachiness, but simply holding a quiet, loving presence. Buried, Not Broken: Shifting our perspective from feeling broken by trauma to realizing we are whole and simply growing strong roots under the soil.

    How Fulfilling My Sister's Dying Wish Saved My Life with Mia Godfrey

  3. Aug 19

    Finding Peace from Within: Spiritual Awakening and Grief with Chris Papadopoulos

    Christopher Papadopoulos holds Bachelor degrees in education and history from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada and has served as both a primary and secondary school teacher. Based on his desire to help create a better world, in 1993 he ran for Parliament in the Canadian federal elections. Realizing that a world of peace and harmony begins within the individual he then embarked on an inner journey toward greater self-awareness. In 2003 he experienced a permanent shift in consciousness from identification with thoughts to the spacious presence that contains all forms. Since this spiritual awakening he has worked with individuals and groups guiding others to experience peace, clarity, and love through the process of their own self discovery. Connect with Chris: https://www.youtube.com/@chrispeacenow/shorts https://www.instagram.com/uarepeace https://www.tiktok.com/@you.are.peace Connect with Kendra Rinaldi https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/ Show themes: 1. Object vs. Space Consciousness We often suffer because we focus entirely on "forms" (like thoughts, emotions, and physical events) rather than the space they occupy. Shifting our attention to "space consciousness" takes the pressure off our suffering and allows us to safely experience and sit with our grief. 2. Shifting Nouns to Verbs (Identity) Deep loss often triggers an identity crisis because we wrap our entire sense of self in rigid "noun" labels like wife, parent, or career title. Shifting these rigid nouns to active verbs (focusing on "mothering" or "relating" in the moment) allows us to view our personalities as temporary "skins" or "avatars" we can put on and take off. 3. The Default Mode Network & Egoic Survival The brain's "default mode network" is an ancient tribal survival mechanism that relies on compulsive, self-referential thinking to keep us predictable and safe. However, over-identifying with this loop causes toxic rumination and anxiety, which forces us back into a primitive survival brain and suppresses our naturally empathetic, collaborative selves. 4. "Marching Forth": Moving Grief Through the Body When we are frozen by grief, our natural instinct is to collapse into sedentary comfort. Physically getting up to move contracts our muscles and prompts our endocrine system to release myokines (the "happiness molecules"), helping us process and carry our grief so it literally feels lighter. 5. Unconditional Love as an Integrative Healing Force Much like gratitude, unconditional love physically expands and opens the chest area. While life's traumas psychologically, emotionally, and physically fragment us, love acts as an intelligent, integrative energy that pulls our fragmented pieces back into wholeness.

    Finding Peace from Within: Spiritual Awakening and Grief with Chris Papadopoulos

  4. Aug 12

    The Power of Handwritten Letters in Grief with Amy W. Daughters

    A native Houstonian and a graduate of Texas Tech University, Amy W. Daughters has been a freelance writer for more than a decade — mostly covering college football and sometimes talking about her feelings. Her debut novel, You Cannot Mess This Up: A True Story That Never Happened (She Writes Press), was selected as the Silver Winner for Humor in the 2019 Foreword INDIES and the Overall Winner for Humor/Comedy in the 2020 Next Generation Indie Awards. Her second book, Dear Dana: That time I went crazy and wrote all 580 of my Facebook friends a handwritten letter (She Writes Press, 2022), has won several awards, including the 2023 Reader’s Favorite Gold Medal for NonFiction Relationships, and caught the attention of Kelly Clarkson! An amateur historian, hack golfer, charlatan fashion model, and regular on the ribbon dancing circuit, Amy — a proud former resident of Blackwell, England, and Dayton, Ohio, currently lives in Tomball, Texas, a suburb of Houston. She is married to a foxy computer person, Willie, and is the lucky mother of two amazing sons, Will and Matthew. https://www.amydaughters.com/ https://www.instagram.com/smokinhotamys/ Connect with Kendra Rinaldi https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/ In this episode, you will learn about: The Unexpected Grief of Empty Nesting: Amy opening up about entering her second year of empty nesting, validating that major life transitions—even happy ones—often carry shades of grief as we say goodbye to old identities and readjust to a new rhythm of life. The "Dear Dana" Story: How reconnecting with a camp friend from 1986 whose 15-year-old son was battling cancer at St. Jude sparked an intensive, two-year pen-pal relationship. Amy discusses the "free space" created by writing letters, where two relative strangers could share their deepest thoughts without fear or expectation of an immediate response. Writing Letters to 580 Facebook Friends: The massive, 18-month experiment where Amy set out to test the boundaries of social media friendships by writing handwritten letters to all 580 of her Facebook connections—yielding an incredible 78% response rate and proving how deeply people crave authentic, high-effort connection. When the Casseroles Stop Coming: Amy shares a powerful story from a neighbor who lost his father in middle school, recalling how "the casseroles just stopped coming" after a few weeks. This heartbreaking realization became Amy's motivation to keep sending "casseroles in the form of cards" to her grieving friend long after the initial wave of support faded. Time Traveling to Heal the Inner Child: A look into Amy’s memoir, You Cannot Mess This Up: A True Story That Never Happened, where she writes herself back to 1978 to spend 36 hours in her childhood home as an adult. She explains how this creative exercise allowed her to let her parents, her siblings, and most importantly, her own childhood self "off the hook". Bridging Divides Through High-Effort Love: How stripping away the curated perfection and political divisiveness of social media through tactile letters reminds us of our shared humanity, showing us that love and relationship can exist beautifully even when we don't agree on everything.

    The Power of Handwritten Letters in Grief with Amy W. Daughters

  5. Aug 6

    Feeling "Griefy" in Seasons of Change: Empty Nest, Life Transitions, and Grief Waves

    In this raw, vulnerable, and deeply personal solo episode, host Kendra Rinaldi shares straight from her heart about the intense transitions she has been navigating lately. From her daughter Mila preparing to move away to college [1] to facing complex personal medical decisions. Kendra opens up about how these major life shifts cracked open an unexpected wave of grief for her mother, who passed away nearly ten years ago. Kendra breaks down the myth of the "linear grief timeline" . introduces her concept of feeling "griefy" , and maps out the common "doorways" that can trigger sudden waves of grief to resurface years or even decades after a loss [5, 6]. If you have ever felt overwhelmed by a sudden heaviness of heart out of nowhere, this episode is a gentle reminder that you are not broken, you are not failing, and you are navigating your healing exactly as you should . Kendra shares that when grief unexpectedly returns, it often enters through specific doorways in our lives. Recognizing these triggers can help us navigate them with more grace and self-compassion: Transitions that mirror a past loss (e.g., a child leaving for college  mirroring when you first left home). Major  milestones (such as weddings, graduations, and birthdays) where a   loved one's physical presence is deeply missed. Reaching  a milestone age (such as turning the age your loved one was when  they passed, or seeing a child reach that age). Sensory  triggers (a specific smell, perfume, taste, or hearing a familiar  sound). Reading      old physical items (like looking at birthday cards or letters    they once wrote you). Health  scares and medical decisions that you are forced to navigate without their support. Watching  someone else go through grief. Experiencing  milestones they never got to experience (such as getting married,  building a career, or raising children). Anniversaries  and birthdays .10. Seasons of layered high stress (at work or in your family life) that leave your emotional      reserves low. Resources & Connect with Kendra Subscribe to the Newsletter: Stay updated on Kendra's upcoming Grief & Gratitude Journal and Self-Guided Course by signing up on her website: Grief, Gratitude, and the Gray in Between . Follow on Instagram: Connect with Kendra daily @GriefGratitudePodcast . Work with Kendra: If you are looking for a compassionate guide to walk alongside you on your transition or grief journey, learn more about Kendra's 1-on-1 grief coaching offerings .

    Feeling "Griefy" in Seasons of Change: Empty Nest, Life Transitions, and Grief Waves

  6. Jul 29

    Using Brain Retraining and Community to Navigate Grief with Angela Croop

    Angela Croop is a speech pathologist turned grief mentor, writer, and retreat leader. After the devastating loss of her daughter Avianna to SIDS, Angela transformed her pain into purpose by creating Fly Avi Fly, a small shop she started in Avianna’s honor. Today, the shop not only keeps Avianna’s name alive through handcrafted items but also funds scholarships for bereaved parents to attend child loss retreats. Blending her professional background with her personal journey, Angela integrates neuroscience into grief mentorship, explaining why the brain gets stuck after loss and how practices like neural rewiring, thought retraining, and accountability can help parents move forward. Through her work, she challenges outdated ideas of grief and equips parents with the tools to rebuild life after unimaginable loss. Her mission is simple yet powerful: to show that while grief never disappears, it can be carried in a way that allows love, resilience, and even joy to exist alongside it. https://flyavifly.com/  https://www.instagram.com/flyavifly  https://www.instagram.com/angela_avi_rebuilds Contact Kendra Rinaldi for more information about coaching and being a guest on the podcast. In this episode, you will learn about: The Tragic Loss of Aviana to SIDS: Angela shares the terrifying phone call she received while recovering from bronchitis, the sudden hospital visit, and the painful diagnostic process surrounding Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The Turning Point at Target: Angela recalls the eye-opening moment when letting a door slam in someone's face made her realize she was suffering from an identity crisis and needed to actively retrain her mindset . Applying Brain Science to Emotional Pain: How principles from speech pathology—like creating new neural pathways, interrupting ruminating thoughts, and calming fight-or-flight responses—can be used to navigate grief . Rebuilding Your Support System ("Chess Pieces"): Why grievers need different types of support in their corner, including friends who validate feelings and friends who play devil's advocate to help shift perspective . Writing to Aviana with Purpose: How writing daily letters describing the world to her daughter helped Angela rebuild her life in Aviana's honor rather than staying trapped in sorrow . Creating Retreats & Scholarships for Bereaved Parents: How Angela built Fly Avi Fly, a shop and mentorship platform that funds retreats and full scholarships for parents navigating infant and pregnancy loss . Debunking "Time Heals All Wounds": Angela's powerful perspective on why time alone doesn't heal grief—it is what you choose to do with that time that makes all the difference .

  7. Jul 23

    Spiritual Awakening After Child Loss: Past Life Regression & Reiki with Terri Ann Russell

    Terri Ann Russell is a Reiki Master Teacher, Frequency Holder, and Author. Terri-Ann helps others by guiding them through the sacred alchemy of awakening, loss, and identity rebirth so they become embodied, spiritually sovereign, and emotionally whole. She helps them return to themselves, gently, honestly, and with compassion. Terri-ann is the author of 3 books and after the loss of her son Anthony, she began a massive journey of returning to true self. Terri Anne's Websites: https://linktr.ee/TerriAnnRussell  www.facebook.com/sassysoulhealing https://www.instagram.com/sassysoulhealing Go to https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/ to subscribe to Kendra Rinaldi's newsletter and findout more about coaching with or and upcoming grief courses. In this episode, you will learn about: The Catalyst of Midlife Awakening: Terri Ann discusses giving birth to her daughter at age 40 and how reading Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now triggered an existential realization that she had no true identity outside of her traditional roles as a mother, wife, and corporate employee. Discovering Reiki in Crisis: When her daughter was born with a severely blocked intestine and faced multiple surgeries, Terri Ann turned to alternative medicine, discovering a profound calling for Reiki that awakened her physical and spiritual sensors. The Devastating Loss of Her Son, Anthony: The heartbreaking story of losing her perfectly healthy 27-year-old son to sudden acute pancreatitis, and the intense shock of receiving the knock on the door in the middle of the night. Communicating Through the Veil: Terri Ann shares her incredible experiences of hearing Anthony's voice immediately after his passing, playing a beautiful game of "looking for lions" to help her 9-year-old daughter connect with him, and eventually channeling his words to co-write his book, From Death to Life. Understanding Past Lives and "Soul Contracts": A fascinating look into past life regressions in the "theta state." Terri Ann explains how she learned that she and her son had contracted this painful earthly experience in the spirit realm to foster ultimate soul growth. Grief Beyond Death: Terri Ann emphasizes that grief uncovers more than just sorrow—it forces us to look at our patterns of people-pleasing and boundary-setting. Ultimately, she teaches that grief is a sacred space where sadness and joy can exist as a cohesive experience.

    Spiritual Awakening After Child Loss: Past Life Regression & Reiki with Terri Ann Russell

  8. Jul 15

    Ditching the "Cookie-Cutter" Funeral with r Dan Ford

    Dan Ford is the 2025-2026 president of the National Funeral Directors Association on the NFDA Board of Directors. Dan comes from a funeral service family and always knew he wanted to be part of the profession. Ford recognizes the importance of being engaged in his chosen profession and has served NFDA and the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association as a volunteer and leader in a number of ways. His service to the association in his home state culminated with his term as president in 2009. Dan previously served as Connecticut’s representative to the NFDA Policy Board. He has also served on NFDA’s Audit Task Force, Disaster Response Work Group, Convention Education Task Force, Budget Task Force, Spokesperson Team and Headquarters Operations Committee. Websites  https://www.fordfh.com/    https://www.nfda.org/ https://www.rememberingalife.com/ Reach Kendra Rinaldi to be considered as a guest or to subscribe to the newsletter  In this episode, you will learn about: Ditching the "Cookie-Cutter" Funeral: Dan emphasizes the importance of personalizing services to reflect how a person truly lived. He shares the incredible story of his own mother's funeral, which featured a heavy metal and Motown playlist, an endless amount of Snoopy stuffed animals, and a motorcycle cop escort honoring her favorite TV show, CHiPs. Balancing the Deceased's Wishes vs. The Family's Needs: What happens when a loved one asks for "no services," but the family desperately needs a way to grieve? Dan discusses how to honor a loved one's desires while ensuring the family still gets the necessary space—like a structured visitation or a keepsake urn—to process their loss and control the narrative of their grief. The Power of Therapy Dogs in Funeral Homes: Dan shares how the presence of certified therapy dogs, like his dynamic duo Joey and Annie Grace, is a growing and highly comforting trend for families walking into a funeral home. The Relief of Pre-Planning: We plan for birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries, yet so many families shy away from discussing funerals. Dan explains why it is crucial to communicate not only what you want, but also what you don't want, so your family isn't left guessing during a time of deep emotional distress and brain fog. Invaluable Grief Resources: Dan introduces listeners to RememberingALife.com, a comprehensive tool created by the Funeral Service Foundation that helps families find local funeral homes, provides conversation flashcards, and offers a toolbox for those difficult end-of-life discussions.

    Ditching the "Cookie-Cutter" Funeral with r Dan Ford
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4.8
out of 5
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About

Bilingual Podcast by Kendra Rinaldi Grief, Gratitude, and the Gray in Between: Exploring grief beyond death—identity, migration, divorce, and life’s joyful transitions like motherhood, marriage, and career change. / Explorando el duelo más allá de la muerte—identidad, migración, divorcio y las transiciones alegres de la vida como la maternidad, el matrimonio y los cambios profesionales.   It is a bilingual podcast  each episode features heartfelt interviews with individuals sharing their personal grief journeys, conversations with experts offering tools and insights, and solo episodes where host Kendra Rinaldi reflects on topics that matter. Together, we honor grief in all its forms and learn tools we can use to help us navigate it. Duelo, Gratitudy todos los matices de por medio: historias de cambio, amor y resiliencia es un pódcast bilingüe, en ingles  y en español,  que explora las muchas caras del duelo—no solo por pérdidas, sino también por las transiciones de la vida. Desde cambios de identidad y migración hasta divorcio, maternidad, matrimonio y transformaciones profesionales, profundizamos en la complejidad emocional del cambio. A través de conversaciones sinceras, historias personales y perspectivas expertas, honramos el duelo en todas sus formas y celebramos el crecimiento que lo acompaña.  https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/

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