Grief, Gratitude & The Gray in Between

Kendra Rinaldi
  • 4.8 (48)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
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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. 3D AGO

    Alzheimer's and End-of-Life Choices with Author Erica Baccus

    ERICA BACCUS started her professional career in the suburbs of Chicago as an 8th grade English teacher. She went on to San Francisco to become a high-tech marketing, advertising, and research executive. She and her beloved husband John were married for 41 years. Together they lived an active and adventurous life—skiing, golfing, hiking and traveling around the world. Erica enjoys spending time with her son, stepson, stepdaughter and grandkids. Now she helps advocate and educate people about end-of-life decisions exploring the moral and ethical perils so many face. Erica is a caregiver, widow, and lived-experience expert on end-of-life autonomy for dementia. Erica’s new memoir, A PROMISE KEPT: Honoring His Wishes, Embracing Our Love [Soul Spark Press | September 30, 2025], is a clear-eyed account of honoring her husband John’s self-determined end while navigating the legal maze that forced their hand.Get in touch with Erica Baccus and order her book:EricaBaccus.comInstagramFacebook  Linkedin Contact Kendra Rinaldi to be odded to the newsletter, to find out about coaching or to be a guest on the show. https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/ Show Themes and highlights: A 41-Year Love Story: Erica details her magical 41-year marriage to John, which was filled with deep connection, independent passions, and a cherished tradition of surprise anniversary trips. The Alzheimer's Diagnosis: We trace John's 2020 early-stage Alzheimer's diagnosis and his firm declaration that his "brain is his person" and he did not want to live in a "vegetative state". Navigating End-of-Life Laws: Erica explains why U.S. assisted dying laws fail dementia patients, leading them to seek help from Dignitas in Switzerland where the focus is solely on mental competency. The Burden of Secrecy: The couple's difficult decision to keep their end-of-life plan hidden from their wider circle to protect John's dignity and avoid defending his choice. A Final Farewell: How their family rallied to support John's final wishes, including a beautiful last weekend spent playing poker and creating memories with his children and grandchildren. Planning While Healthy: Erica’s powerful plea for listeners to make and discuss their end-of-life plans while they are still healthy, rather than during a medical crisis

    55 min
  2. Building a Will with No Overwhelm: Journey of Family Connection and Creating HeirLight with Jermaine Ee

    APR 8

    Building a Will with No Overwhelm: Journey of Family Connection and Creating HeirLight with Jermaine Ee

    Jermaine Ee is a founder and storyteller interested in three things: how we spend our time, the work we do, and what we leave behind. His career has zigzagged across ed‐tech, logistics, toys, political campaigns, executive search, and impact projects, but the through‐line has always been the same: helping people make better decisions about their money, careers, and futures. He’s run financial‐aid workshops in low‐income high schools, built a startup to help kids confront their fear of math, and worked inside the Venture Capital & Private Equity ecosystem, studying how talent shapes enduring companies. Through Rotary and other efforts, he has helped lead humanitarian projects from Los Angeles to Colombia, Mexico, and Ukraine, working on refugee housing, medical transport, and frontline logistics. Today, Jermaine spends most of his time on HeirLight, a simple and smart will maker designed to turn one of adulthood’s most avoided tasks into a fast, modern, emotionally intelligent experience. Born in Los Angeles and raised between LA and Malaysia, he thinks a lot about belonging, identity, and the quiet instructions we leave behind for the people we love. ***Since recording the podcast HeirLight is now also available in Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Illinois by March 15. ***Chekout this link to get 50% off! www.heirlight.com/en/podcast  https://www.eejermaine.com/ Contact Kendra Rinaldi to be a guest or for coaching information https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/ Show Highlights Navigating Migratory Grief: Jermaine discusses growing up across different countries like Malaysia and Mexico, and the grief and struggles of being the "new kid" coming back into the U.S. high school system. The Inspiration Behind HeirLight: Jermaine shares how a simple lunch conversation with his parents about retirement turned into a mission to create an unbiased, judgment-free estate planning app that helps families—particularly immigrant families—plan for the future without overwhelm. Honoring Immigrant Sacrifices: We hear a beautiful, tear-jerking story of Jermaine taking his parents back to Oklahoma to trace their first steps in the U.S., including a poignant moment at a Burger King that reminded the family of how far they've come in just one generation. Estate Planning as a Tool for Clarity: We discuss how HeirLight doesn't just record assets, but also captures the user's bucket list, helping them align their finances with what truly brings them joy and contentment today. The "Memory Dividend": Jermaine introduces the concept from the book Die With Zero, emphasizing that creating memories early in life allows you to enjoy the "dividends" of those memories for decades. Living Intentionally Before Loss: Jermaine opens up about taking his mom to Salzburg, Austria to live out her Sound of Music bucket list dream just eight days before she was suddenly hospitalized, reminding us all not to wait to live our lives.

    57 min
  3. Life After the Narcissist: Healing, Dating, and Reclaiming Your Identity with Melissa Rymer

    APR 2

    Life After the Narcissist: Healing, Dating, and Reclaiming Your Identity with Melissa Rymer

    Melissa Rymer is a certified recovery coach, author, and survivor whose work centers on helping individuals heal, rebuild, and regain self-trust after emotionally unsafe or high-conflict relationships. Using a trauma-informed and spiritually grounded approach, Melissa guides people in understanding relational dynamics, strengthening boundaries, planning safe transitions, and rebuilding financial and emotional stability to create lives rooted in clarity, confidence, and emotional safety. She is the author of Grieving the Narcissist: Mourning the Love You Thought Was Real, a book that explores one facet of the healing journey many experience after leaving an emotionally manipulative relationship. Melissa is also the co-founder of the Victim to Warrior Method, where her work emphasizes long-term recovery, personal empowerment, and life after survival. https://victimtowarriormethod.com/thegray  https://www.facebook.com/v2wvictimtowarrior https://www.tiktok.com/@v2wvictimtowarrior https://www.instagram.com/v2w_victimtowarrior/ https://www.youtube.com/@v2wvictimtowarrior To get more information about coaching with Kendra Rinaldi or being a guest on this porcast reach out. https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/ Show Highlights: The "Sneak Attack" of Narcissistic Abuse: Melissa shares her personal story of meeting her ex-husband in a church recovery group, explaining how predators look for empathetic victims and mirror their lives to appear as the perfect "soulmate". The Mask Slips: A look at how the charming "Prince Charming" facade eventually falls away, leaving victims isolated, questioning their reality, and trying to fix an impossible situation. The Warning from a Professional: The pivotal moment when a marriage counselor refused to treat Melissa and her ex-husband together, privately warning Melissa that she was married to a narcissist. Understanding the Abuser's Psychology: We discuss how a narcissist's need to belittle others and their inability to accept failure actually stems from deep-rooted low self-esteem. Why It's So Hard to "Just Leave": Melissa breaks down the shame and self-isolation that keeps victims trapped, and why leaving a narcissistic relationship is a dangerous "war" that requires an exit strategy. From Victim to Warrior: How Melissa found love again with her current husband, John, and how they turned their shared experiences of surviving abuse into a business that helps others safely escape and recover. Grieving the Illusion: We explore the profound grief that comes with narcissistic abuse—validating that it is necessary to mourn the loss of the person you thought they were and the future you thought you would have

    1 hr
  4. Trauma Responses vs The Portal of Grief with Lillian Eve Moore

    MAR 26

    Trauma Responses vs The Portal of Grief with Lillian Eve Moore

    Lillian Eve Moore is a trauma expert and teacher known for her surgical precision, radical love, and optimistic approach to transformation. With more than twenty years of experience, she helps clients resolve trauma with uncommon speed by blending somatics, nervous-system work, energy medicine, and mindset tools, teaching them to work with themselves so breakthroughs become fast and lasting. Her Treasure Hunting framework views every part of the psyche as precious material for creation. Trauma isn’t something to move past, it’s raw potential that, once alchemized, becomes the foundation for a life that wasn’t possible before. Influenced by motherhood, entrepreneurship, global travel, and a deep relationship with nature, Lillian’s work is both deeply human and profoundly efficient. Through mentoring and online programs, she guides clients into clarity, courage, and creative power. Connect with Lillian Eve Moore: https://www.lillianevemoore.com/ Contact Kendra Rinaldi: https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/ Show Highlights & Themes: Grief as a "Portal": Lillian explains that grief is not something to be "healed" or "fixed". Instead, it is a beautiful portal that connects us to the eternal and the transient nature of existence. Trauma vs. Grief: While grief is a natural initiation, trauma acts as "undigested information" that can block us from fully moving through the grief portal. The Past is "Fiction": Lillian shares a profound perspective that whatever you experience in your mind is real to your body, regardless of objective facts. Because of this, the stories we tell ourselves about our past trauma can be rewritten to support our healing. 3 Steps to Process Trauma: Discover a simple formula for working with trauma: 1) get in touch with the wound, 2) give it kind or accepting attention, and 3) utilize the body's natural metabolism (like walking, EFT tapping, or EMDR) to process it. Manifestation for Trauma Survivors: For those whose nervous systems are dysregulated, standard "law of attraction" advice can feel invalidating. Lillian reframes manifestation not as acquiring things, but as an identity question: "Who do I want to be?". The Treasure Hunting Framework: Learn how to retrain your brain to look for "berries instead of tigers" by actively seeking evidence of love and goodness to build a new, healed identity. Nothing Cannot Be Healed: The episode concludes with a powerful message of hope—there is absolutely nothing that cannot be healed.

    42 min
  5. What Attending Three Memorials Taught Me About Living a Purposeful Life

    MAR 19

    What Attending Three Memorials Taught Me About Living a Purposeful Life

    In this solo episode, I share my recent reflections after attending three different memorials. We often avoid going to funerals, memorials, or celebrations of life because we are afraid it will be too sad or that it will "bum us out". However, I want to share how these ceremonies can actually be incredibly inspiring and uplifting experiences centered around an immense amount of love. I discuss the beautiful and unique ways these families chose to honor their loved ones, who all lived into their 80s. You will hear about a beautiful at-home memorial that perfectly captured a mother's sense of humor with prank plastic spiders and her favorite recipe cards. I also share the story of a gentleman whose eulogy highlighted his incredible journey of moving to the United States, learning new languages, and validating his studies to build a beautiful life. Key Takeaways from this episode: Funerals are about love, not just sadness: While there is certainly grief, the core of a memorial is the immense love present for the person who passed. Personalization brings deep comfort: Honoring a loved one's specific quirks—like their love for cats, cultural food, or even playing pranks—helps attendees connect with their memory and share wonderful stories. Witnessing the end of a life can inspire the rest of yours: Hearing about these lives lived with such profound purpose deeply inspired me. Having just turned 50 myself, these memorials made me reflect on how I want to show up for my family and live my next 30 years with intentionality and presence.I invite you to listen and perhaps reconsider any reluctance you might have about attending a funeral or memorial in the future. I would also love to hear about your own experiences and what you have learned from the memorials you have attended! Contact me on my website: https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/ or on Instagram

    13 min
  6. Helping Children Process Grief: "Are You Here?" with Jenny Robinson Clark and Travis Clark

    MAR 11

    Helping Children Process Grief: "Are You Here?" with Jenny Robinson Clark and Travis Clark

    Jenny Robinson Clark is an author, former dancer and actress, and homeschooling mother of four. Inspired by motherhood, healing, and mindfulness, she wrote Are You Here?, a heartfelt children’s book exploring connection, grief, and the magical signs that remind us we are never alone. Jenny is passionate about meditation, creative living, and building meaningful moments with her family. When she’s not writing or baking sourdough, she can often be found in a hip-hop dance class with her husband, Travis Clark, her biggest supporter. Travis Clark is best known as the lead vocalist, guitarist, and founding member of the pop-rock band We the Kings, whose music has connected with fans around the world through heartfelt lyrics and high-energy performances. Throughout his career, he has remained passionate about creating music that brings people together and tells meaningful stories. While his accomplishments in music have shaped much of his professional journey, Travis considers his most important role to be that of a devoted husband and proud father to his four children. Family is at the heart of everything he does, inspiring both his life and his creativity. Balancing life on the road with life at home, he strives to lead with love, gratitude, and purpose — believing that his greatest success is found not on stage, but in the memories and moments shared with his family.  Order your Book here www.jennyrobinsonclark.com  Free Printables for Children Song by We the Kings "Are you here?" Connect with Kendra Rinaldi to be a guest on the podcast or for information about Grief Coaching and Grief Education Workshops  In this episode, we cover: The Inspiration Behind the Art: Jenny shares the emotional journey of moving back to Florida to care for her mother, Debbie, during her cancer treatments. She recounts the profound peace of her mother's passing at home, accompanied by a beautiful sign: three deer that laid outside her window for three days and walked away just as she took her last breath. A 3 A.M. Divine Message: After attending a Joe Dispenza retreat with the intention of reconnecting with her mom's spirit, Jenny woke up in the middle of the night and channeled a beautiful poem. Turning Grief into a Song: Travis (lead singer of We the Kings and Jenny's husband) shares how he took Jenny's late-night poem and turned it into the emotionally resonant companion song, Are You Here?,. Creating a Toolkit for Children: Jenny and Travis explain how the poem naturally evolved into a children's book. With stunning, hopeful illustrations by Elisabetta Fantone (who was also grieving the recent loss of her father), the book serves as a "toolkit" to help kids understand grief, process the unknown, and look for signs from their loved ones. Healing the Inner Child: We discuss how this book is not exclusively for children. For adults experiencing "grief brain" who cannot focus on a novel, this book offers simple, grounded beauty. It also provides an opportunity for adults to heal their "inner child" if their own childhood grief was never acknowledged or processed. A Mission over Ego: Jenny shares her ultimate mission for the book: to get it out of the stores and directly into hospitals, grieving centers, libraries, and schools to help families navigate their darkest seasons with hope and connection

    56 min
  7. Yoga for Grief and Finding Self-Compassion with Nancy Watson

    MAR 5

    Yoga for Grief and Finding Self-Compassion with Nancy Watson

    Nancy Watson has been practicing yoga since the year 2000. In 2019, she experienced a traumatic loss and realized that the only thing that made her feel a tiny bit less awful was continuing to show up on her yoga mat. She completed her yoga teacher training (YTT-200) in 2022 and knew that she wanted to help others to discover the ways that yoga can be helpful in grief. She went on to achieve a certification in Compassionate Bereavement Care Yoga from the MISS Foundation and began offering Yoga for Grief classes in January 2024. Nancy is currently the only yoga teacher in the Northeast Texas area who leads yoga classes specifically for grieving individuals.  She loves sharing what she calls "the yoga magic" with her participants, both in her grief-focus classes and in her "regular" yoga classes. Find her on Instagram @yogaforgriefdallas or on Facebook @yoga.for.grief.dallas. yogaforgriefdallas.com Contact Kendra Rinaldi to be a guest, get the newsletter  or for a complimentary coaching session: https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/ Show Highlights: A History of Silent Grief: Nancy reflects on losing her father to a brain tumor at age six in 1967, and how her family’s refusal to talk about him shaped her early inability to process loss. The Loss of Adam/Emily: Nancy opens up about the sudden death of her child, who was born Emily and later transitioned to Adam. She discusses the complex layers of her grief, including the feeling that she had to grieve her child twice. A Tiny Bit Less Awful: In the harrowing months following her child's death, Nancy found that stepping onto her yoga mat—even if she cried the entire time—was the only thing that made her feel a "tiny bit less awful". The Parallels of Grief and Yoga: Nancy and Kendra explore how grief, much like yoga, should be non-competitive and non-comparative. They discuss how grievers must honor wherever they are on a given day, just as a yogi must accept their daily balance on the mat. Quieting the "Mean Mind": Nancy explains how yoga breathwork helps regulate the nervous system and how mindfulness can help grievers step back from the cruel things their "mean minds" tell them. The Yoga for Grief Workbook: Nancy shares the journey of creating her workbook, which is designed for all bodies and includes short, accessible yoga flows (both floor and chair versions) and guided meditations

    49 min

  8. FEB 26

    "Generación Sándwich" Entre Soltar a Nuestros Hijos y Cuidar a Nuestros Padres

    En este episodio, quiero validar la pesadez y las emociones encontradas que trae esta encrucijada. Hablamos sobre cómo nuestros roles cambian drásticamente: pasamos de ser los "managers" de nuestros hijos a ser sus consejeros, y al mismo tiempo, nos convertimos en los cuidadores de nuestros padres. Es un proceso lleno de duelo por la dinámica familiar que conocíamos. Si te sientes abrumado tratando de estar en dos lugares a la vez, este episodio es para ti. Te comparto mis reflexiones sobre el mito del "balance" perfecto y tres herramientas fundamentales para sobrevivir esta etapa sin volverte loco: priorizar tu autocuidado (ponerse la máscara de oxígeno primero), soltar la culpa y apoyarte en tu comunidad. Quiero que sepas que te veo, te entiendo, y estás haciendo un trabajo increíble sosteniendo ambas partes de tu mundo. ¡Date mucha gracia y paciencia. Conéctate conmigo: Suscríbete a mi Newsletter mensual en mi página web para recibir información y recursos adicionales. https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/ Si estás pasando por un momento difícil y buscas acompañamiento de duelo, puedes encontrar la información de mis servicios en mi sitio web. ¡Me encantaría saber de ti! Envíame un mensaje por correo electrónico o a través de mi Instagram y cuéntame si estás pasando por algo similar y cómo lo estás navegando. Para otros episdios en Español puedes ver mi playlist en YouTube donde tengo la lista de episodios en español.

    22 min
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4.8
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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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