By Audrey Walls, M.Ed, MFA, with Full Circle Staff
With July in full swing, it’s common to find lists of books and podcasts for light summer reading to beat the heat. While sometimes an easy beach read or a fantasy novel can provide a great escape for grievers, finding content that affirms and informs your grief can be just as needed.
This summer, we decided to focus on sharing several podcasts for grief and loss that have resonated with us. We recently asked our staff members here at Full Circle for their favorite griefy podcasts that they would recommend to clients, friends, family members, and neighbors. However, if podcasts aren’t your thing, we have an entire library of books on grief and loss that are available for checkout at any time. Just stop by.
Read on for our links and list of Full Circle approved podcasts for this summer and beyond.
Staff Podcast Picks
Jess Recommends:
“It’s OK That You’re Not OK with Megan Devine” Noted as a “refreshing and realistic view of grief” with psychotherapist and grief advocate (and Full Circle favorite) Megan Devine, based on her bestselling book by the same title.
“Crying Out Loud with Dr. Laura Berman” This podcast bills itself as a “grief companion” with a focus on trauma, meditation, and the host’s relationship with her faith after loss. Jess especially the episode with David Kessler called “The Sixth Stage of Grief”.
“Grief in the Raw” Hosted by Kelli Holloway, this podcast takes on grief from death, motherhood, parenting and loss, and also more broadly, the Black community’s perspective on grief and the meaning of community.
“When Grief Comes Home” This podcast supports navigating parenthood after the loss of a child and supporting children through loss of a sibling, hosted by fellow griefy Jessica’s House experts Erin Nelson and Colleen Montague.
Karen C. Recommends:
“Grief is A Sneaky Bitch” Hosted by Lisa Keefauver, MSW, and now in its seventh season of broadcasting, guests are invited to explore the expansiveness and pervasiveness of grief in our lives.
“Widowed 2 Soon” Hosted by Michelle Bader Ebersole, W2S is focused on supporting young widows grieving the loss of their partners. The program navigates faith, mental health, and dating while raising children.
Allyson Recommends:
“All There Is with Anderson Cooper” An award winning podcast on grief and loss, hosted by CNN’s Anderson Cooper, focusing on building community and sharing experiences. Laura especially recommends an episode with grief expert David Kessler, titled “Love, Loss, and Parenting is Forever”.
Casey Recommends:
“Terrible, Thanks for Asking” A popular and candid podcast hosted by Nora McInerny that ran for over ten years before transitioning to a subscriber-supported format on Substack, now called “Thanks for Asking”. The archive of the podcast and all of its topics, as well as new content, are still available at Nora’s website.
“On Being” – While not specifically a grief only podcast, On Being tackles questions and conversations around the human condition, spirituality, healing, and poetry. Hosted by Krista Tippett, the program has gained a quiet but fervent following. Check out the Hope Portal series for meditation, the John O’Donahue episode, and the section specifically on Death and Dying on their website.
Everyone Recommends:
“What’s Your Grief?” Our team favorite and great place for starting your grief podcast journey, What’s Your Grief consistently turns out highly relatable, grounded advice and insights from WYG team founders Eleanor Haley and Litsa Williams.
“Grief Out Loud” It’s hard to do a podcast better than our West Coast friends at the Dougy Center, so Grief Out Loud is also a team-wide favorite. Hosted by Jana DeCristofaro, the program features personal stories, experts, interviews, and support ideas for children, teens, and adults alike.