Remember the last time you tried to talk about grief and suddenly everyone left the room? Hosted by Jana DeCristofaro and produced by Dougy Center, Grief Out Loud® is opening up this often avoided conversation because grief is hard enough without having to go through it alone. We bring you a mix of personal stories, tips for supporting children, teens, and yourself, and interviews with professionals. Platitude and cliché-free, we promise!
October 23rd, 2026
When Nina's mom, Shawn, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, everything changed - and rapidly. Nina, who was in her mid-twenties, stepped into a caregiver role, learning to navigate medical appointments, medications, and the realities of her mom's declining health while also trying to deepen their connection. In this conversation, Nina reflects on how facing the reality of her mom's death brought them closer, allowing some of the barriers in their mother-daughter relationship to come down. As Shawn's ability to speak diminished, Nina discovered that connection doesn't always require words. They shared time, music, and even moments of laughter. Nina also talks about the unpredictable nature of grief, the unexpected moments that bring her mom to mind, and the signs that help her feel connected, from a perfectly timed collection of soup photos to bald eagles appearing in unexpected places. A year and a half after losing her mom, Nina has learned that grief doesn't simply vanish - but neither does joy.
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In 1994, The Dougy Center had been around for just over a decade. It was also the year Hope Edelman published her groundbreaking book, Motherless Daughters. Brennan Wood, Executive Director of The Dou read more...
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Judith Finneren's husband Ralph, or Ralphie as she liked to call him, was hit and killed while riding his bike in the summer of 2011. Even when grief and anger are close companions, most of the time t read more...
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Sweaters, shoes, a favorite coffee mug, the pen always angled a certain way - items, big and small, create the landscapes left behind when someone dies. Nicole Leslie was 15 and she turned to fashion read more...
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This is an encore episode that originally aired on February 25th, 2019. Claire Bidwell Smith, LCPC, recently published her new book, Anxiety, the Missing Stage of Grief, that delves into all the ways read more...
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Grief Out Loud® is supported in part by the Chester Stephan Endowment Fund in loving memory by the estate of Theodore R. Stephan.
Dougy Center, through the Grief Out Loud podcast, is committed to learning from and sharing diverse perspectives on grief experiences and grief support. The views expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Dougy Center, its staff, or its Board of Directors.