Enduring Grief

Sarah Peterson, LCSW |Fellow Griever| Founder of Clear Mourning, a nonprofit dedicated to shifting the culture of grieving| experienced in hospice care| Familiar with Grief and Loss

Enduring Grief - “Healing Practices & True Stories of Living After Loss" is a compassionate and insightful podcast dedicated to exploring the true nature of grief and loss. Hosted by Sarah Peterson, LCSW, along with frequent guests Dr. Marlis Beier and Dr. Dean Sharpe, both seasoned physicians who have spent their lives caring for others, including grievers. This podcast roots into the complex and often misunderstood journey of grieving. Through real stories, honest conversations, and expert insights, we uncover the realities of living with loss, challenging the traditional stages of grief and embracing the full spectrum of emotions that come with it. Whether you're navigating your own grief or supporting someone through theirs, "Enduring Grief" offers a space to find connection, comfort, healing practices, and practical guidance. Each episode brings a blend of personal experiences, therapeutic practices, and discussions on how to cope with the everyday challenges of loss. From answering the simple yet loaded question, "How are you?" to exploring the deeper emotional waves that come with grieving, we aim to support you through every step of living after loss. Join us weekly as we walk through this journey together, offering insights, tools, and the encouragement needed to heal. With a commitment to shifting the culture of grief through support, innovation, and awareness, "Enduring Grief" is here to remind you that there is no right or wrong way to grieve—you are free to mourn in a way that feels true to you.

  1. 22h ago

    Grief, Connection, and Communication: Healing Support with Aurena and the Planet Grief Bereavement Cards

    What do you do when grief leaves you asking, “Now what?” In this heartfelt episode of Enduring Grief, Sarah Peterson sits down with Aurena, licensed mental health counselor, yoga instructor, and co-creator of the Planet Grief deck. Aurena shares how the loss of her mother inspired a practical, compassionate tool for grievers and the people who love them. Together, Sarah and Aurena talk about receiving help, grief-informed support, changed humor, secondary losses, complicated family relationships, and why bringing up someone’s loss can feel like love instead of pain. This conversation offers real comfort for anyone living after loss, with gentle reminders that grief can feel lonely, but no one has to carry it alone. Connect with Aurena: ✅ Instagram: @aurena ✅ Website: inner-compass-therapy.com ✅ Planet Grief Deck: hackyournervoussystem.org/products/planetgrief Episode highlights: (2:26) Meet Aurena and the Planet Grief deck (5:16) Losing her mother and creating grief tools (9:49) How the deck supports grievers and loved ones (14:47) The practice of receiving help (22:05) Aurena reads her poem “Pump” (27:49) Helpful grief questions and changed humor (35:01) Complicated grief and family relationships (45:36) The kindest support after loss (50:52) Why it helps to bring up grief (52:17) Understanding secondary losses (56:23) Hope, hopelessness, and healing in community Connect with Sarah: ✅ Instagram: instagram.com/clearmourning ✅ Official Website: clearmourning.org Follow us on Instagram: @ClearMourning Stay inspired with daily reflections, quotes on healing, and behind-the-scenes content from the podcast. Love What You Hear? Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps others discover these stories of healing. And if this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who might benefit. Word of mouth is the best way to spread healing and hope.

    1 hr
  2. Jun 9

    When Grief Can’t Be Fixed: The Power of Simply Being Present With Katie Hartley

    What does it really mean to show up for someone whose pain cannot be fixed? In this heartfelt episode of Enduring Grief, Sarah Peterson sits down with her dear friend Katie Hartley to talk about grief, friendship, and the quiet power of practical support. Katie shares how her years as a hospice nurse, along with her own personal losses, shaped the way she cared for Sarah after the death of Sarah’s daughter, Marley. Together, they discuss what “being present” truly means, from doing laundry and organizing bills to offering love with no expectations. This conversation is a moving reminder that grief does not need quick answers. It needs steady people, honest love, and the courage to stay close when life feels unbearable. Episode highlights: (1:55) Sarah introduces Katie and their long friendship (6:40) What supporters can learn from hospice care (8:07) Practical help during deep grief (13:10) Why “What do you need?” is not always enough (14:15) How grief changes relationships (22:46) Feeling inadequate as a grief supporter (25:02) Learning to live with lasting pain (29:26) Katie’s top advice for supporters (36:41) Books, quotes, and language that helped explain grief (43:04) Why support can still matter 10 years later (47:51) Trust as one of grief’s greatest gifts (49:24) Why “everything happens for a reason” can hurt rather than help Connect with Sarah: ✅ Instagram: instagram.com/clearmourning ✅ Official Website: clearmourning.org Follow us on Instagram: @ClearMourning Stay inspired with daily reflections, quotes on healing, and behind-the-scenes content from the podcast. Love What You Hear? Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform—it helps others discover these stories of healing. And if this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who might benefit. Word of mouth is the best way to spread healing and hope.

    52 min
  3. Jun 2

    Pixie Lighthorse on Grief, Community, and Letting Loss Move Through You

    What if grief is not something to fix, but something asking to move through us with care, witness, and community? In this heartfelt episode of Enduring Grief, Sarah Peterson welcomes Pixie Lighthorse for a powerful conversation about loss, kinship, and the deep need for support when life breaks open. Pixie shares why grief cannot be rushed, hidden, or carried alone, and how a “support core” can help us stay connected when pain feels too heavy. Together, they talk about death, men and grief, the body’s role in sorrow, and the courage it takes to let tears, shaking, silence, and love have their place. This episode is a gentle reminder that grief changes us, but we do not have to face it by ourselves. Pixie Lighthorse is an author, poet, teacher, and grief tender whose work helps people build honest relationships with grief, healing, nature, and community. An enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Pixie writes about sorrow, belonging, boundaries, and the support we need when life breaks open. She is the author of several books, including Prayers of Honoring Grief, Boundaries & Protection, Goldmining the Shadows, and The Wound Makes the Medicine. Connect with Pixie: Web: https://www.pixielighthorse.com/ IG: @pixielighthorse Episode highlights: (2:29) Why Pixie said yes to the conversation (5:33) Holding grief for others (8:37) What to say when you do not know what to say (11:48) How work culture limits grief (16:12) Men, vulnerability, and unspoken grief (22:42) Why grief needs community (28:33) Building a “support core” (32:17) Why grief is human and painful (35:04) Grief as an inside job (37:03) Letting tears and sorrow move (42:54) What helped Sarah in her deepest grief (47:18) Pixie’s kinship school and grief groups Connect with Sarah: ✅ Instagram: instagram.com/clearmourning ✅ Official Website: clearmourning.org Follow us on Instagram: @ClearMourning Stay inspired with daily reflections, quotes on healing, and behind-the-scenes content from the podcast. Love What You Hear? Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform—it helps others discover these stories of healing. And if this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who might benefit. Word of mouth is the best way to spread healing and hope.

    50 min
  4. May 26

    Finding Refuge in Grief: How to Breathe, Feel Safe, and Keep Going After Loss

    What if refuge in grief is not a place where pain disappears, but a small moment where you can finally breathe? In this heartfelt episode of Enduring Grief, Sarah Peterson sits down with Marlis and Dean to talk about finding steadiness when loss feels too heavy to carry. Together, they explore what true refuge can look like, from feeling your feet on the ground to calling a friend, reaching out to 988, or reconnecting with nature, faith, ancestors, and inner wisdom. They also speak honestly about false refuge, the pull to escape, and the brave work of learning who you are after loss. This conversation offers gentle reminders that grief and love are deeply connected, and even in the hardest moments, you are not alone. Episode highlights: (2:29) Finding refuge in grief (4:46) Taking the next breath (7:30) False refuge versus real safety (10:07) Losing and rediscovering yourself (15:24) Self-soothing tools for grief (22:13) Letting go of control (28:48) How supporters can help (32:43) Going into the “hole” of grief (42:27) When grief feels scary and isolating (43:08) Asking for help and calling 988 (47:31) Faith, ancestors, and inner sources of comfort (51:39) Creating daily practices for support Connect with Sarah: ✅ Instagram: instagram.com/clearmourning ✅ Official Website: clearmourning.org Follow us on Instagram: @ClearMourning Stay inspired with daily reflections, quotes on healing, and behind-the-scenes content from the podcast. Love What You Hear? Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform—it helps others discover these stories of healing. And if this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who might benefit. Word of mouth is the best way to spread healing and hope.

    53 min
  5. May 19

    Divorce Grief: How to Heal, Rebuild, and Find Yourself After Marriage Ends with Steph Kafoury

    What happens when the marriage ends, but the grief stays? In this honest and deeply human conversation, Sarah welcomes divorce coach Steph Kafoury to talk about the loss that can come with divorce, even when leaving was the right choice. They speak with care and humor about anger, sadness, identity, parenting, dating, support, and learning to trust yourself without needing a perfect plan. Steph shares how divorce coaching helps people move from “we” to “me,” while Sarah connects divorce grief to the larger pain of living after loss. Together, they remind listeners that healing has no set timeline, kids need love and safety, and small daily choices can help you find hope while life changes around you. Before becoming a life coach, Steph Kafoury built a dynamic career as an international advertising executive in Amsterdam, a yoga instructor, and the founder of a marketing consultancy. Each chapter taught her something vital about human connection, resilience, and the importance of living with intention. Her greatest transformation, however, came in 2023, when her marriage ended. What began as a breaking point became a breakthrough — the experience that reshaped not just her life, but her purpose. That season of uncertainty revealed the heart of her work: helping women navigate the raw, beautiful, and often messy process of rediscovering themselves after major life transitions. Steph lives in Bend, Oregon with her three amazing kids and their yellow lab, Sabrina. Together, they fill their days with hiking, skiing, travel, and spontaneous adventure. She believes that healing doesn’t happen by running from your story — it happens when you finally embrace it. Connect with Steph: Web: www.riselifecoach.com IG: @divorcecoachsteph Episode highlights: (0:25) Introducing divorce as a real form of grief (2:54) Feeling the full range of emotions after divorce (4:03) What a divorce coach does (6:55) Coaching vs. therapy (9:31) Knowing when you are ready to date or move forward (11:55) Feeling alone in divorce grief (17:46) The real losses that come with divorce (20:49) How men and women may process divorce differently (25:07) Why support matters (26:39) Naming and feeling emotions (29:33) Self-care, daily rituals, and finding hope (34:03) Certainty, guarantees, and making hard decisions (39:56) Where to find Steph and final reflections Connect with Sarah: ✅ Instagram: instagram.com/clearmourning ✅ Official Website: clearmourning.org Follow us on Instagram: @ClearMourning Stay inspired with daily reflections, quotes on healing, and behind-the-scenes content from the podcast. Love What You Hear? Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform—it helps others discover these stories of healing. And if this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who might benefit. Word of mouth is the best way to spread healing and hope.

    42 min
  6. May 12

    Grief, Art, and Finding Beauty After Loss with Mary Marquiss

    What if the pain you never asked for could still become a place where beauty, courage, and connection grow? In this heartfelt Season 3 conversation of Enduring Grief, Sarah Peterson, LCSW welcomes artist and author Mary Marquiss to discuss Behind the Painting: An Artist’s Memoir. Mary shares how painting and writing helped her live through miscarriages, divorce, family suicide, stroke, cancer, betrayal, and deep grief. Together, Sarah and Mary talk about letting go, trusting change, asking for help, and honoring both anger and gratitude without shame. This episode offers a kind reminder that grief has no set timeline, healing can look many ways, and even in the darkest seasons, we do not have to face loss alone. Mary Marquiss has been an art teacher and artist for thirty years, and is the forthcoming author of ‘Behind the Painting – An Artist’s Memoir”. Through serious life challenges, including divorce, family suicide, and cancer, Marquiss discovered a relationship with her art in the form of a circular language. If you have ever faced what felt like insurmountable life challenges, her stories and paintings will inspire you. With a degree in psychology, and both an artist and writer, the most provocative element to her paintings is their personal content. Learn more about Mary: Web - https://marymarquiss.com/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/mary.marquiss/ FB - https://www.facebook.com/MaryMarquissArtist/ Grab a copy of her book: https://www.amazon.com/Behind-Painting-Artists-Mary-Marquiss-ebook/dp/B0GNSHVP86?ref_=ast_author_mpb Episode highlights: (1:03) Season 3 begins and Mary Marquiss is introduced (3:17) Mary shares the heart behind Behind the Painting (5:24) Living through loss, divorce, stroke, and cancer (7:05) Change, letting go, and choosing your response (8:40) Empathy, support, and being present with pain (14:57) Art as a way to listen to the body and heal (19:31) Betrayal, forgiveness, and the time it takes (25:21) Choosing beauty while still honoring darkness (33:42) Reaching out and remembering you are not alone (35:00) Self-kindness, rest, and caring for your whole self Connect with Sarah: ✅ Instagram: instagram.com/clearmourning ✅ Official Website: clearmourning.org Follow us on Instagram: @ClearMourning Stay inspired with daily reflections, quotes on healing, and behind-the-scenes content from the podcast. Love What You Hear? Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform—it helps others discover these stories of healing. And if this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who might benefit. Word of mouth is the best way to spread healing and hope.

    46 min
  7. May 11

    Grief Hit Me Again 10 Years Later

    What happens when grief returns years later and knocks the breath out of you all over again? In this episode, Sarah Peterson, LCSW opens up about the deep waves of grief she faced nearly 10 years after losing her child and her dad within just a few months. With honesty and care, she shares why grief is not something we “finish,” but something we keep practicing as life changes. This season expands the conversation beyond death loss to include divorce grief, illness grief, mental health grief, and other painful life changes. Sarah also introduces the new video format, the mission of Clear Morning, and the heart behind this podcast: real stories, practical support, and a reminder that no one has to grieve alone. Key Timestamps: (0:32) Welcome to Enduring Grief and the mission of Clear Morning (1:20) Season 3 introduction and what listeners can expect (2:02) Expanding grief beyond death loss (3:42) Exciting new video format on YouTube (4:17) Sarah’s personal grief story (5:13) Why grief is a practice (6:36) Guests sharing healing practices and true stories (6:52) Clear Morning’s mission and podcast purpose (7:39) Looking for hope in later grief chapters (8:30) Building community and feeling less alone (9:45) Closing reminder: there is no right or wrong way to grieve Connect with Sarah: ✅ Instagram: instagram.com/clearmourning ✅ Official Website: clearmourning.org Follow us on Instagram: @ClearMourning Stay inspired with daily reflections, quotes on healing, and behind-the-scenes content from the podcast. Love What You Hear? Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform—it helps others discover these stories of healing. And if this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who might benefit. Word of mouth is the best way to spread healing and hope.

    10 min
  8. “Am I Grieving Right?”: Honest Answers to Your Hardest Questions

    07/08/2025

    “Am I Grieving Right?”: Honest Answers to Your Hardest Questions

    Join host Sarah Peterson, LCSW, for an honest, heartfelt Q&A as she wraps up Season 2 of Enduring Grief. In this episode, Sarah responds to listener questions about the unpredictable journey through loss—touching on what changes to expect from grief counseling, why people grieve differently, and the complex emotions like guilt around finding joy after loss. Expect thoughtful reflections on “the relationship you have with your grief,” practical support for honoring your unique process, and reassurance that there’s no one “right way” to grieve. Whether you’re struggling with isolation, wondering if it’s okay to laugh again, or searching for coping strategies, this episode offers grounded guidance and encouragement. If you’re seeking grief support resources and real talk about healing after loss, tune in and see how Sarah helps create connection, hope, and understanding for anyone navigating bereavement. Sarah Peterson is a licensed clinical social worker with over 13 years of experience in medical social work, hospice care and in private practice. As the founder of Clear Mourning, a nonprofit organization dedicated to shifting the culture of grief through innovation, support, and awareness, Sarah brings a deep understanding of grief and loss to her work. Her personal experiences, including the tragic loss of her two-year-old daughter and father, have profoundly shaped her mission to provide compassionate support to others navigating grief. Sarah holds a Master of Social Work from Portland State University and has extensive experience in both private practice and nonprofit leadership. She also serves as an adjunct instructor at Portland State, runs her own private practice, and provides supervision for licensure candidates. Connect with Sarah: ✅ Instagram: instagram.com/clearmourning ✅ Official Website: clearmourning.org Follow us on Instagram: @ClearMourning Stay inspired with daily reflections, quotes on healing, and behind-the-scenes content from the podcast. Love What You Hear? Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform—it helps others discover these stories of healing. And if this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who might benefit. Word of mouth is the best way to spread healing and hope.

    22 min

Trailer

5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Enduring Grief - “Healing Practices & True Stories of Living After Loss" is a compassionate and insightful podcast dedicated to exploring the true nature of grief and loss. Hosted by Sarah Peterson, LCSW, along with frequent guests Dr. Marlis Beier and Dr. Dean Sharpe, both seasoned physicians who have spent their lives caring for others, including grievers. This podcast roots into the complex and often misunderstood journey of grieving. Through real stories, honest conversations, and expert insights, we uncover the realities of living with loss, challenging the traditional stages of grief and embracing the full spectrum of emotions that come with it. Whether you're navigating your own grief or supporting someone through theirs, "Enduring Grief" offers a space to find connection, comfort, healing practices, and practical guidance. Each episode brings a blend of personal experiences, therapeutic practices, and discussions on how to cope with the everyday challenges of loss. From answering the simple yet loaded question, "How are you?" to exploring the deeper emotional waves that come with grieving, we aim to support you through every step of living after loss. Join us weekly as we walk through this journey together, offering insights, tools, and the encouragement needed to heal. With a commitment to shifting the culture of grief through support, innovation, and awareness, "Enduring Grief" is here to remind you that there is no right or wrong way to grieve—you are free to mourn in a way that feels true to you.

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