A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast

Jake's Help From Heaven
  • 4.9 (121)
  • PERSONAL JOURNALS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Grief is messy, complicated, and deeply personal — but you don’t have to go through it alone. On A Place of Yes, host Heather Straughter creates a safe, unfiltered space to talk about the realities of loss. Each episode dives into the tears, the laughter, the WTF moments, and the hope — all of it. Through candid personal stories and expert insights, Heather explores the pain, resilience, and unexpected moments of light that come with grieving.

  1. FEB 11

    Grieving Two Children While Parenting Two Others

    Elizabeth Klug is a mother, wife, and realtor whose story is shaped by the unimaginable—and the love that remains. She and her husband are both BRCA2 gene carriers, and they lost two of their four children to Fanconi anemia, a rare and fatal genetic condition. In this raw and powerful conversation, Elizabeth shares what it’s like to parent through grief, how she and her husband survived the strain of repeated loss, and why she still proudly says she’s a mom of four. Heather and Elizabeth talk about marriage, advocacy, and the pressure to stay strong when your world has been shattered. They explore the complex emotions of guilt and anger, the burden of genetic knowledge, and how Elizabeth’s living children continue to bring meaning, connection, and light into her life. This conversation is deeply honest, heartbreaking, and full of hard-earned wisdom from a woman learning to live alongside grief. Resources & Ways to Connect Learn more about Fanconi anemia:https://www.fanconi.org/ Jake’s Help from Heaven Website: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/ Jake’s Help from Heaven Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp Jake’s Help from Heaven Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelp APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aplaceofyespodcast

    1h 7m

  2. FEB 4

    Losing Her Mom Led to a Grief Blog That Took Off

    Chelsea Ohlemiller lost her mother in 2017, but the legacy of love, resilience, and truth she left behind continues to shape Chelsea’s life today. In this honest and heart-opening conversation, Chelsea reflects on the complicated emotions of grieving a parent while raising children of your own, the unexpected ways grief shows up years later, and the power of embracing imperfection — especially during the holidays. She shares how her blog, Happiness, Hope, and Harsh Realities, grew into a community of over 150,000 hearts, and why her new book, Now That She’s Gone, is meant to be a companion for grief — a gift to hold onto long after the flowers fade. Heather and Chelsea talk about the loneliness of grief, what it means to carry a mother’s wisdom into motherhood, and why sometimes a simple family recipe like monkey bread can hold generations of meaning. They discuss the harshness of early grief, how we evolve into people we never expected to become, and the surprising moments when signs from loved ones appear — even if only for a moment. This conversation is full of tenderness, laughter, and deeply earned wisdom, and is a beautiful reminder that grief and love always live side by side. Resources & Ways to Connect Happiness, Hope & Harsh Realities Website: https://hopeandharshrealities.com/ Chelsea Ohlemiller on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeandharshrealities APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter Jake’s Help from Heaven Website: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/ Jake’s Help from Heaven Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp Jake’s Help from Heaven Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelp Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aplaceofyespodcast

    56 min

  3. JAN 28

    From Grieving Mother to Retreat Leader and Guide

    After losing both her mother and her son within two years, Marie Crews found herself shattered—and searching for meaning in the wreckage. What began as journaling to survive became the foundation for a new purpose: helping others navigate the darkness of grief through writing, connection, and community. In this episode, Marie shares how her own experience with sudden, traumatic loss reshaped her understanding of healing. She opens up about the complexity of compound grief, the doubts that haunt many bereaved parents, and how her spiritual connection with her son continues to guide her. Marie also reflects on building her journaling-based grief retreats, the importance of giving yourself permission to feel joy again, and why sharing stories helps us move forward without leaving our loved ones behind. Resources & Ways to Connect Marie’s Website: https://www.mariecrews.com APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter Jake’s Help from Heaven Website: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/ Jake’s Help from Heaven Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp Jake’s Help from Heaven Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelp Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aplaceofyespodcast

    1h 3m

  4. JAN 21

    Finding Movement, Art, and Meaning After Loss

    Carrie Pill is a Vermont-based oil painter, mountain athlete, and writer who experienced profound loss in a short span of time—losing both her mother and her stepmother within about a year. In this episode, Carrie reflects on what it means to grieve when relationships are layered and complicated, and how loss reshapes not just who we miss, but how we move through the world. Carrie shares how trail running, skiing, and time in the mountains became essential outlets during her grief, offering moments of relief, grounding, and connection. She also talks about how writing has helped her process emotions she couldn’t always name, and how creativity—rather than fixing grief—creates space to live alongside it. Together, Heather and Carrie explore anticipatory grief, self‑compassion, and the quiet ways grief continues to influence identity, relationships, and joy. Resources & Ways to Connect Carrie’s Website: https://carriepill.com Carrie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carriepillart APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter Jake’s Help from Heaven Website: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/ Jake’s Help from Heaven Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp Jake’s Help from Heaven Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelpfromheaven Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aplaceofyespodcast

    51 min

  5. JAN 14

    A Grief Counselor’s View on Life After Loss

    Grief doesn’t disappear—it changes, evolves, and becomes part of how we move through the world. In this episode, grief counselor and thanatologist Kelly Daugherty shares what she’s learned from two decades of walking alongside people in mourning. Drawing on both professional expertise and her own personal losses, Kelly offers a compassionate, practical look at how grief lives in us over time—and how we can begin to support ourselves and each other through it. Kelly and Heather explore the impact of early grief, the importance of community, and why schools and workplaces need to become more grief-informed. They also discuss trauma, brain-based therapies like brainspotting, and how Kelly helps clients reconnect to the lives and love behind the loss. Whether you're in the depths of it or walking beside someone who is, this conversation is honest, insightful, and deeply human. Resources & Ways to Connect Kelly’s Website: https://www.glgrief.com APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughterJ ake’s Help from Heaven Website: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/ Jake’s Help from Heaven Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp Jake’s Help from Heaven Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelp Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aplaceofyespodcast

    54 min

  6. JAN 7

    A Veterinarian’s Perspective on Grief, Pets, and Peaceful Endings

    Dr. Anja Wurm is a veterinarian who specializes in at-home euthanasia—helping families say goodbye to their beloved pets in the comfort of their own space. This conversation explores how grief, dignity, and compassion come together in those final moments, and why this work has become the most meaningful part of her career. Topics include how to prepare for a pet’s death, how to support children through the process, and the importance of truly listening to animals when they can no longer speak for themselves. Dr. Wurm also shares her own relationship with grief, how boundaries help protect emotional presence, and why a “good death” is possible when we create the right conditions for it. Resources & Ways to ConnectAPOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcastHeather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughterJake’s Help from Heaven Website: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/Jake’s Help from Heaven Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelpJake’s Help from Heaven Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelpYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aplaceofyespodcast

    51 min

  7. 12/17/2025

    Turning Pain Into Pages After Losing His Daughter

    When Jim Labate lost his daughter Maria just 30 days after she entered the hospital on Christmas Day, his world changed forever. A longtime teacher and writer, Jim turned to storytelling to process the unimaginable—first privately, and then publicly through his memoir Our Sweet Maria. What started as a way to document her final month became a deeply personal tribute to her entire life. In this special live episode recorded at Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga Springs, Jim reflects on the moments that shaped Maria’s life and legacy, the quiet strength of parenting through loss, and the complicated emotions that resurface around holidays and anniversaries. He also shares how writing became a way to stay close to his daughter—and why the simple act of someone asking “Tell me about Maria” remains one of the greatest gifts of all. Resources & Ways to Connect Our Sweet Maria: A Father’s Story of Love, Loss, and Hope is available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Our-Sweet-Maria-Story-Loss/dp/1667878390 A Place of Yes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter Jake’s Help from Heaven Website: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/ Jake’s Help from Heaven Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp Jake’s Help from Heaven Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelpfromheaven Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aplaceofyespodcast

    34 min

  8. 12/10/2025

    A Marine’s Mission to Honor His Daughter

    Kim “Rooster” Rossiter knows what it means to live through unimaginable loss. After the death of his daughter Ainsley, the retired Marine turned his pain into purpose—founding Ainsley’s Angels, an organization that promotes inclusion by empowering people with disabilities to experience endurance events like races and triathlons. What started as a tribute to Ainsley’s life has become a national movement, helping families across the country feel seen, included, and celebrated. In this episode, Rooster shares how running with Ainsley transformed both of their lives, what he’s learned about advocacy, and how love and grief continue to propel him forward. He speaks candidly about parenting through illness, the moments of connection that carried them through, and how Ainsley’s spirit continues to guide his work. It’s a powerful reminder that grief doesn’t just break us—it can move us. Resources & Ways to Connect Ainsley’s Angels Website: https://www.ainsleysangels.org Ainsley’s Angels Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ainsleysangels Ainsley’s Angels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AinsleysAngels APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter Jake’s Help from Heaven Website: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/ Jake’s Help from Heaven Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp Jake’s Help from Heaven Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelp Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aplaceofyespodcast

    1h 4m
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About

Grief is messy, complicated, and deeply personal — but you don’t have to go through it alone. On A Place of Yes, host Heather Straughter creates a safe, unfiltered space to talk about the realities of loss. Each episode dives into the tears, the laughter, the WTF moments, and the hope — all of it. Through candid personal stories and expert insights, Heather explores the pain, resilience, and unexpected moments of light that come with grieving.

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