Laugh, Cry, Scream: Life with Grief & Estrangement

Chris Workman
  • 4.6 (41)
  • Parenting

Laugh Cry Scream is a raw, honest, and deeply human podcast about life with grief and estrangement. Hosted by Chris Workman, the show dives into the messy, complicated, and often unspoken parts of loss, family pain, healing, and survival. With real conversations, dark humor, hard truths, and zero fake positivity, this podcast creates space for people who are carrying the weight of grief while trying to keep going. Some days you laugh. Some days you cry. Some days you scream. Here, all of it is welcome.

  1. The Grandkids Grew Up Without Me

    4h ago

    The Grandkids Grew Up Without Me

    Some grandparents are grieving children and grandchildren who are still alive. And almost nobody talks honestly about what that kind of grief actually does to people over time. In this episode, we talk about:  grandparent estrangement  grief without closure  watching grandchildren grow up from far away  social media grief  emotional waiting  missed years and milestones  unresolved family pain  attachment and memory  and how people survive when life does not turn out the way they imagined. This is not a therapy lecture. This is an honest conversation about the human side of estrangement and the silent grief many grandparents carry privately for years. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with somebody who may need to hear they are not alone. 💜 Resources, support, podcast episodes, and community: 🌐 griefandhealingwithchris.com #GrandparentEstrangement #Estrangement #FamilyEstrangement #GriefSupport #Grandparents #EmotionalGrief #ChildLoss #MentalHealth #FamilyConflict #GriefPodcast

    35 min
  2. Suicide Doesn’t Just Kill One Person

    2d ago

    Suicide Doesn’t Just Kill One Person

    In this deeply emotional episode of Laugh. Cry. Scream., Chris sits down with Jennifer to talk about the devastating ripple effects of suicide loss. This conversation explores: • the shock after suicide • guilt and unanswered questions • the silence survivors often face • how suicide grief impacts entire families • what support actually helps after this kind of loss This episode is raw, honest, and intended to help suicide loss survivors feel less alone. FREE RESOURCE: “Suicide Doesn’t Just Kill One Person: A Practical Survival Guide” https://stan.store/griefandhealingwithchris/p/suicide-doesnt-just-kill-one-person If you are struggling or in crisis: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US & Canada) Call or text 988 More grief resources: https://www.griefandhealingwithchris.com

    34 min
  3. Psychological Limbo - When Your Child Feels Gone

    6d ago

    Psychological Limbo - When Your Child Feels Gone

    Grief can make you feel like you’re still physically here… while emotionally disappearing piece by piece. In this episode of Laugh, Cry, Scream, Chris talks about the identity loss, emotional exhaustion, numbness, and quiet isolation grieving parents often experience after child loss. Because sometimes grief doesn’t look like crying. Sometimes it looks like: • pulling away from people • forgetting who you used to be • struggling to function normally • feeling emotionally detached from life itself This episode is for the grieving parents secretly wondering: “What happened to me?” You are not crazy. You are grieving. Resources & support: griefandhealingwithchris.com #Grief #ChildLoss #GrievingParent #MentalHealth #Loss

    31 min
  4. Grief Changed Me And I Didn't Even See It Coming

    May 19

    Grief Changed Me And I Didn't Even See It Coming

    Grief doesn’t just hurt. Sometimes it completely changes who you are. In this episode of Laugh. Cry. Scream., Chris Workman talks about the identity shifts that happen after major loss — the emotional exhaustion, social disconnect, numbness, irritability, and quiet ways grief can make people feel unfamiliar to themselves. Because grief isn’t always obvious. Sometimes it looks like:  pulling away from people  struggling with everyday conversations  feeling emotionally flat  losing interest in things you once loved  pretending you’re okay because the world feels uncomfortable with grief This episode is a raw conversation about what grief really does to people behind closed doors — especially grieving parents trying to survive life after loss. If you’ve ever thought: “I don’t even recognize myself anymore…”This episode is for you. IN THIS EPISODE  Why grief changes identity  Emotional numbness after loss  Social exhaustion and isolation  The hidden mental load of grief  Why grieving people often feel misunderstood  Learning how to exist after life changes forever RESOURCES & SUPPORT Website: griefandhealingwithchris.com Facebook Community: Laugh. Cry. Scream. Hosted by: Chris Workman PODCAST TAGLINE Laugh. Cry. Scream. Where we say the hard stuff out loud.  grief   child loss   grieving parents   grief support   healing after loss   emotional healing   mental health   grief podcast   surviving grief   life after loss

    24 min
  5. Why Estranged Parents Stop Talking About Their Grief

    May 16

    Why Estranged Parents Stop Talking About Their Grief

    Estranged parents are grieving too. But many stop talking about it because every conversation starts to feel dangerous. In this episode of Laugh, Cry, Scream, Chris Workman talks honestly about the silence many estranged parents fall into after being dismissed, judged, blamed, or emotionally shut down. This conversation explores:  why estranged parents start censoring themselves  the fear of being labeled “toxic” or “narcissistic”  how grief changes when nobody wants to hear your side  the emotional exhaustion of defending your pain  why silence is not always healing  the difference between accountability and public humiliation This is not a parent-bashing episode. It’s a nuanced conversation about grief, identity, rejection, and what happens when parents no longer feel emotionally safe enough to speak honestly. If you’ve ever felt erased, silenced, or afraid to talk about your estrangement out loud… this episode is for you. Website/resources: Grief & Healing With Chris

    27 min
  6. What Happened to Me After Grief? The Identity Loss Nobody Talks About

    May 13

    What Happened to Me After Grief? The Identity Loss Nobody Talks About

    Grief does not just change your life. Sometimes it changes you. In this episode of Laugh, Cry, Scream, Chris Workman talks about the part of grief many people quietly experience but struggle to explain out loud:the identity loss that can happen after profound grief. This conversation explores:• emotional exhaustion• brain fog and overwhelm• feeling disconnected from yourself• relationship changes after loss• loneliness in grief• masking pain while appearing “fine”• why ordinary life suddenly feels so difficult after trauma and loss Because sometimes grief is not only about missing someone. Sometimes it is also about looking in the mirror and wondering:“What happened to me?” Whether you are grieving the death of a child, spouse, parent, relationship, estrangement, or another life-altering loss, this episode is meant to remind you that you are not weak, broken, or failing. You are responding to something life-changing. Resources & Support 🌐 Website:griefandhealingwithchris.com 🖤 Laugh, Cry, Scream Support GroupA support community for estranged parents, estranged adult children, and anyone navigating grief, complicated family relationships, healing, and emotional survival. 🖤 Grief, Loss & LifeA private women-only support community for women navigating grief, estrangement, loss, identity shifts, and rebuilding after profound life changes. ⸻ IMPORTANT:Chris Workman is not a licensed therapist or mental health professional. This podcast is based on lived experience, emotional insight, grief education, and open conversations around complicated grief, estrangement, healing, and survival. If you are struggling deeply, please seek support from a licensed mental health professional or crisis resource. Thanks for listening to Laugh, Cry, Scream.

    31 min
  7. When Your Adult Child Cuts You Off: The Guilt Loop Nobody Talks About

    May 8

    When Your Adult Child Cuts You Off: The Guilt Loop Nobody Talks About

    When your adult child walks away, the pain is not just the silence. It is the guilt, the shame, the judgment, and the endless replay of every moment where you wonder what you could have done differently. In this episode of Laugh, Cry, Scream: Life with Grief and Estrangement, Chris Workman and Joe Sassman talk honestly about the guilt and shame loop that so many estranged parents live with. From the 2 AM thoughts that won’t stop, to the pressure of feeling like society has already decided you are the villain, this conversation gives language to the pain many parents are carrying quietly. Chris and Joe discuss why estranged parents often stay silent, how shame can keep people isolated, what overcompensation can look like in parent-child relationships, and why support matters when you are trying to heal from estrangement. This episode is not about blaming one side. It is about acknowledging that estrangement is complicated, painful, and full of nuance. Parents can make mistakes. Adult children can hurt too. And still, no one deserves to be shamed into silence. If you are an estranged parent who has ever thought, “I must have failed,” “I should have done more,” or “Why can’t I stop replaying this?” this episode is for you. Visit us at: www.laughcryscream.com Subscribe for more honest conversations about grief, estrangement, family loss, healing, and the messy reality of learning how to keep living after the relationship you thought would last forever changes. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to Laugh, Cry, Scream00:45 Why estranged parents are often blamed and shamed02:10 The myth that every estranged parent “deserved it”03:30 Why parents stay silent about estrangement05:00 The guilt and shame loop begins06:25 Joe shares the 2 AM thoughts that still show up08:00 Chris talks about moving forward and feeling guilty for it09:25 “Why did I even have kids?” and the pain behind that thought10:45 The Garth Brooks lyric that explains the pain of loving anyway12:00 Overcompensating as a parent after past mistakes14:10 Joe shares his experience gaining custody and trying to create stability16:45 When giving too much becomes expected18:20 The “pros and cons” of parenting and why it is never that simple20:00 Why kids have struggles too, even when parents are carrying adult responsibilities22:15 How to stop the guilt loop when you cannot control the situation23:20 Why support groups matter for estranged parents25:00 The shame of telling people your child no longer speaks to you26:45 Lying when people ask, “How are your kids?”28:00 Social media, family memories, and emotional triggers30:10 Missing grandchildren and the guilt that comes with being cut off31:45 How estrangement changes your trust in other relationships33:45 Guardrails, protection, and fear of being hurt again35:00 The pain of wanting to send gifts but fearing rejection36:30 Coping tools, support, and knowing your triggers37:20 Final reminders, resources, and how to follow the podcast

    38 min
  8. Everything Happens for a Reason” & Other Lies: Navigating the Loss of a Child

    May 5

    Everything Happens for a Reason” & Other Lies: Navigating the Loss of a Child

    In this deeply emotional episode of Laugh, Cry, Scream, Chris and Joe talk about the unimaginable reality of losing a child. They share the phone calls, the final moments, the shock, the numbness, and the memories that never leave. Joe opens up about the final conversation his son had with his own child before his death, and Chris shares the heartbreaking day she lost her son after years of navigating his medical needs. Together, they talk about the things people say after loss, especially phrases like “everything happens for a reason,” and why those words can feel so painful to a grieving parent. This episode is not about perfect healing. It is about truth, love, grief, survival, and the reality of trying to keep going after a loss that changes everything. Chris and Joe are not therapists. They are two parents sharing lived experience, honest conversation, and support for others walking through grief, estrangement, or loss. For resources, support, and more, visit:www.laughcryscream.com

    44 min
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4.6
out of 5
41 Ratings

About

Laugh Cry Scream is a raw, honest, and deeply human podcast about life with grief and estrangement. Hosted by Chris Workman, the show dives into the messy, complicated, and often unspoken parts of loss, family pain, healing, and survival. With real conversations, dark humor, hard truths, and zero fake positivity, this podcast creates space for people who are carrying the weight of grief while trying to keep going. Some days you laugh. Some days you cry. Some days you scream. Here, all of it is welcome.

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