The Grief Gang 3x203e

Welcome to part 2 of the parenting without a parent series! This week I'm speaking with Rebecca, a previous group circle attendee and now dear friend on her experience of becoming mum without mum. Rebecca shares with us her story of finding out she was pregnant shortly after her mum's sudden death and what pregnancy and motherhood was like during that time and continues to be. We discuss: Finding out your pregnant in a time of deep grief The pressure on mum's to sustain a healthy pregnancy whilst enduring grief The hidden pain points in expectant motherhood and grief such as midwife appointments, seeing other mums and their mums and so much more The fantasies, whether true or not, that we can create in speculation of what pregnancy and motherhood might have been like with our mums here How living with grief shapes mothers and how they parent How and where you can get both during pregnancy, early years and beyond As you can see, this episode is jam packed! I am so grateful to Rebecca for sharing her experience and her extensive research and ion for this topic. There is no one else I felt right to do this episode with and I'm so glad we can share it with you. Rebecca, you've moved the needle for me, truly. A chapter in my future life that once filled me with dread, in some ways no longer does and that's with thanks to you. You are living testimony that though we live with this great pain, we can and will still be loving, doting, whole mothers. You are a beacon. References made in the episode: Rebecca's article interview: https://www.ealingtimes.co.uk/leisure/25166970.spirit-community-helped-ealing-new-mum-rebecca/ How to refer/get in the UK: https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/perinatal/ Hope Edelman - Motherless Mothers book.  Rebecca has also privately set up a Motherless Mothers Whatsapp group chat. If you would like to this group chat, please do get in with me via [email protected] or comment on the social media post for this episode and we will be in touch! Big love, Amber xxx Connect with The Grief Gang community: Enquire about Grief Gang 1:1 and group circle mentoring here Book onto a Grief Gang group circle here Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube TikTok Substack Website If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review. Share this episode with someone who might need to hear it today! this show http://er.acast.com/thegriefgang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the parenting without a parent series of the podcast! This topic has been one that has been widely requested throughout the years of GG and I'm finally getting round to it and can't be happier to have started this conversation with today's guest. For the first ep in this series, we're meeting Will Hunter Howell. Will is a bestselling author and the creator of The Pretty Painful Grief Book, a journal full of carefully crafted prompts to help you navigate your own grief journey. Having lost his Dad in a plane crash on his 3rd day at university, when he was just 19, this journal is the result of Will's own experiences with life after loss. An unapologetic space for you to stop pretending you're okay and start feeling it all—every raw, messy, f*cked-up emotion that comes with losing someone you love. Will shares with us in this episode what it was like for him to lose his dad at an incredibly young age and in incredibly tragic circumstances. Will walks us through his experience of becoming a Dad and the nuances it presented for him and still does. The question's we might ask ourself when it comes to our parenting styles - the styles we might pull on from our parents and the ones we leave behind. How we memorialise and tell our children about their ancestors and who they come from. Lastly, how we tend to our own grief whilst navigating becoming another human beings protector, provider and safe space. Will is so candid in this episode and I loved every minute of our chat, I hope you do too! Find and purchase Will's book via the links below: Book: Available on Amazon or linktr.ee/prettypainfulgriefbook  Instagram @prettypainfulgriefbook TikTok @prettypainfulgriefbook ***Please forgive the slight clicky noises throughout this ep. I tried my best to fix it but alas. It's the conversation that matters!*** Big love, Amber xxx Connect with The Grief Gang community: Enquire about Grief Gang 1:1 and group circle mentoring here Book onto a Grief Gang group circle here Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube TikTok Substack Website If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review. Share this episode with someone who might need to hear it today! this show http://er.acast.com/thegriefgang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grief Anon has made it's way to the pod! After some consideration, I've decided to bring Grief Anon from the Substack to the pod. This is the episode where you write in your griefy questions, queries or overall sharings and I do my best to give my two pence. In this weeks grief anon, here are the submission's we heard: "When does the totally being knackered by grief end?" "I lost my partner a month ago and am so lonely. All I want is a partner for connection but feel so guilty. I don't know if dating now is too soon/selfish" "How do you deal with changing relationships, i.e friends, family etc, with the loss of your person?" Some really nuanced and important submissions here and I really hope I did my best! As always, please give your and additional opinion over on The Grief Gang socials. Big love, Amber xxx Connect with The Grief Gang community: Enquire about Grief Gang 1:1 and group circle mentoring here Book onto a Grief Gang group circle here Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube TikTok Substack Website If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review. Share this episode with someone who might need to hear it today! this show http://er.acast.com/thegriefgang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when the loss of a parent in childhood leaves more questions than answers? In this episode, I'm chatting with Alvin Carpio, film maker and campaigner as we explore his journey to the Philippines in 2022 to retrace the life of his late father who died when Alvin was 9 years old. Through the lens of childhood bereavement, we follow Alvin in his film 'Rites' on his emotional pilgrimage to the country his father called home. Piecing together memory, his father's and his own identity and what continuing a bond with him now looks like. Alvin shares with us in this episode the layers, complexities and journey of what it is like to be a bereaved child and how that experience has shaped him throughout his life. About Alvin: Alvin Carpio is a campaigner and filmmaker. He is the founder of the School of Social Justice and director of rites, a short documentary film about childhood bereavement, grief, and healing. Born and raised in Newham, East London, Alvin’s work is currently focused on how people can face their demons in order to achieve liberation — drawing from his own journey of confronting grief to find freedom and purpose. Watch Rites: I really hope you enjoyed this episode and through Alvin's story have perhaps felt inspired to explore what storytelling is to you. To watch Rites for free on Youtube on Father's Day, follow the link below to : https://schoolofsocialjustice.com/-for-rites/ As mentioned in the episode, it is now confirmed that the World Premiere of Rites will take place on Friday 13 June 2025 at a beautiful, state-of-the-art cinema at UCL East, One Pool Street Cinema, in Newham, East London. If you would like to attend, please email [email protected] with the subject like: “World Premiere”. Big love, Amber xxx Connect with The Grief Gang community: Enquire about Grief Gang 1:1 and group circle mentoring here Book onto a Grief Gang group circle here Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube TikTok Substack Website If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review. Share this episode with someone who might need to hear it today! this show http://er.acast.com/thegriefgang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to season 8 of The Grief Gang podcast! It feels really great to be back (even though I waffle on in the beginning saying how anxious I've been to return!) I wanted the first episode to be a Griefy Walks. You guys apparently love them and they feel like a voicenote from a friend, which I also love too. It's a bit of a catch up episode since last season with some sprinklings of chat around grief and spirituality, identity and speculation about who I could have been if grief hadn't punctuated my 20's. A very reflective episode as I approach my 28th birthday in the coming days. Big love, Amber xxx Connect with The Grief Gang community: Enquire about Grief Gang 1:1 and group circle mentoring here Book onto a Grief Gang group circle here Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube TikTok Substack Website If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review. Share this episode with someone who might need to hear it today! this show http://er.acast.com/thegriefgang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the Christmas episode 2024! The episode where we hear from you, the listener. Thank you to everyone who wrote in or sent a voicenote for this special yearly episode. You make this episode magical! I am sending every one huge love and light as navigate this Christmas. Whether it's your first or tenth Christmas without your loved one, know that you are not alone. I hope this episode can really highlight that for you. Whatever you do today, I hope you can find a moment to stop, reflect and . Do what you need to get through, we've got this. Thank you all for a wonderful season 7 and 2024. This community means everything to me, thank you for letting me into your lives in so many ways. I'll see you in 2025 for season 8! Big love, Amber xxx Connect with The Grief Gang community: Enquire about Grief Gang 1:1 and group circle mentoring here Book onto a Grief Gang group circle here Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube TikTok Substack Website If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review. Share this episode with someone who might need to hear it today! this show http://er.acast.com/thegriefgang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm back for the second to last episode of season 7, and this one is a griefy walks. Where I basically just stomp around my town with my phone in my hand and see what on earth comes out. Expect rambles, birds tweeting and me coo'ing over cute doggies. But todays griefy walks has a main message. With Christmas one week away, I wanted to gently remind you that whether you're team f*** off Christmas or team embracing it, both are absolutely valid. Being all in or not doesn't quantify or equate anything, you're just doing what you need to do to get by. Listen to your heart and lean in to whatever it's asking. Whether that calling is to wrap yourself up in tinsel or the duvet. I'll see you all next week for the final ep, The Christmas episode! Big love, Amber xxx Connect with The Grief Gang community: Enquire about Grief Gang 1:1 and group circle mentoring here Book onto a Grief Gang group circle here Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube TikTok Substack Website If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review. Share this episode with someone who might need to hear it today! this show http://er.acast.com/thegriefgang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This weeks episode is a bit of a diary dump. Verbal diarrhoea if you will! I've been feeling a bit stuck, if I'm totally honest. Creatively constipated, and it's been tough. As I've been grappling with the unfolding of my new identity since Poppy's death, the penny has well and truly finally dropped as to what that means for me as a creative. How this grief and life changing loss has sculpted my creative identity and the rut I'm in at the moment. It's very kitchen table-esque style. It might make sense to some of you and if it does, I'd really really love to hear from you. I know I need community in this experience to see me through, I want community in this experience. So if you identify as a creative in any shape or form and relate to this or have navigated through this creative ickiness in grief, please do reach out. I'd really love to be in touch and find ways we can navigate through this together. Find our creative selves again and welcome all the new unfolding parts of ourselves. Big love, Amber xxx Connect with The Grief Gang community: Enquire about Grief Gang 1:1 and group circle mentoring here Book onto a Grief Gang group circle here Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube TikTok Substack Website If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review. Share this episode with someone who might need to hear it today! this show http://er.acast.com/thegriefgang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I'm delving into the complex relationship between grief and vices. When faced with grief and death, many of us (me included) turn to habits or substances like alcohol, drugs, food, shopping, or sex as a way to cope. But when do these behaviours and acts cross the line from being a comfort to a crutch? This episode is categorically not here to shame, judge or even endorse. It's here to highlight the various ways we cope and show that we are all just trying to figure some big stuff out and deserve and comion in doing so. If you are struggling and need direct with drugs and alcohol, please visit https://www.talktofrank.com/ Big love, Amber xxx Connect with The Grief Gang community: Enquire about Grief Gang 1:1 and group circle mentoring here Book onto a Grief Gang group circle here Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube TikTok Substack Website If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review. Share this episode with someone who might need to hear it today! this show http://er.acast.com/thegriefgang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this insightful part 2 episode, I'm deep diving into the intersections between grief and the nervous system with my friend Meghan Riordan Jarvis, a renowned grief therapist and trauma expert. Together, we explore how our bodies react to loss and how understanding the nervous system can empower us to navigate grief with self-comion. Meghan shares practical approaches, including vagal toning techniques and her signature Six Mentor Methods (keep your eyes peeled for this!), to nervous system health throughout the grieving process. We also answer questions from you, The Grief Gang listeners, addressing your experiences and concerns about how grief impacts your well-being and nervous systems. If this episode landed with you, I'm excited to share that Meghan and I are cooking something up off the back of your wonderful to our episodes. This will be a workshop hosted by me and Meghan , where we’ll take a deeper dive into understanding and tending to grief through nervous system . This workshop will cover hands-on strategies for managing grief’s impact on the body and exclusive insights into Meghan’s Six Mentor Methods. This workshop will be taking place in the 2025 New Year, but we wanted to get the word out nice and early to gauge interest. So if this sounds up your alley, be sure to your interest below to receive early access and updates about this incredible workshop! interest here for Grief, the brain and nervous system workshops. Resources Mentioned: •"Grief is crime prevention" Instagram post Amber mentioned early in the episode. •Vagal toning exercises - From Neurodivergentinsights.com •Can Anyone Tell Me? - Meghan's new brilliant book! Big love, Amber xxx Connect with The Grief Gang community: Enquire about Grief Gang 1:1 and group circle mentoring here Book onto a Grief Gang group circle here Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube TikTok Substack Website If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review. Share this episode with someone who might need to hear it today! this show http://er.acast.com/thegriefgang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this intimate solo episode, I'm opening up about one of the most challenging aspects of grief that I don't think we talk about enough: letting go of past versions of ourselves and looking towards our new self. Grief doesn’t only change our world; it fundamentally changes who we are and how we see ourselves in the world. I'm sharing today my personal journey of navigating these profound identity shifts through my various experiences of loss, up to some very present day revelations. How these revelations have revealed to me, the term 'letting go' hasn't been about resistance of letting loved ones go as that's simply not possible, but really and truly about letting the hand of a past version of Amber go. It's big, it's deep, it's woo-woo. It's very dare, I say...the new me. Big love, Amber xxx Connect with The Grief Gang community: Enquire about Grief Gang 1:1 and group circle mentoring here Book onto a Grief Gang group circle here Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube TikTok Substack Website If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review. Share this episode with someone who might need to hear it today! this show http://er.acast.com/thegriefgang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, I'm welcoming Sara Rian. Sara Rian is a poet, self-published author, mother, wife, licensed therapist, and griever living in Metro Detroit. She has been drawn to grief poetry ever since her mother's death in 2018. Her mother embraced the power of words through her own love notes and poems and had always wanted to publish a book. As a mental health professional, suicide loss survivor, and grieving human, Sara shares her work with others to let them know that they are not alone in their big love or big grief.  Sara opens up in this episode about the complexities of grief that come with such a profound loss through suicide, and how she found solace and healing through the power of words and poetry. Her experience shines a light on the struggles and emotional waves that follow, offering a comionate perspective for others who may be grappling with a similar experience. Towards the end of the episode (Where Sara also shares some exclusive poetry with us!) Sara explains how writing became and is a vital outlet for her to express feelings that often felt too overwhelming to speak aloud. Writing that makes and made her tremble as she put pen to paper. Poetry provided her with a space to give voice to sorrow, confusion, guilt, and hope, helping her to process and navigate this world of grief. This episode also touches on the healing potential of writing for others facing grief. Sara encourages us to explore our own creative outlets and to at the core of it all, our why. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or have never tried poetry, I hope Sara’s insights will inspire you to take that first step, to embracing writing as a gentle companion on this path of grief. Connect with Sara Rian: •Instagram •Website Big love, Amber x Connect with The Grief Gang community: Enquire about Grief Gang 1:1 and group circle mentoring here Book onto a Grief Gang group circle here Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube TikTok Substack Website If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review. Share this episode with someone who might need to hear it today! this show http://er.acast.com/thegriefgang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let's talk about will's baby! In this week's episode, I'm talking with Sam Grice, founder of Octopus Legacy. Sam founded Octopus Legacy after his Mum died in a car accident. She died suddenly and didn’t have a plan in place. As a lot of us have learnt the hard way, losing someone you love is tough enough, without everything else that comes with it. Sam and his family had to deal with the shock and grief that came with her death, as well as navigating mountains of legal and financial paperwork, all when it was needed the least. It was overwhelming, and Sam knew he wasn’t alone. So he set up Octopus Legacy, to try and solve the problem for other families like his. Now Octopus Legacy, which is part of the Octopus group, helps people plan for death and find after loss - to make life that little bit simpler for those of us left behind after someone dies. All with the mission of making life easier for those of us left behind, to free up space so we can focus on what matters. Octopus Legacy is a place to plan for death and find after a loss. They’ve partnered with charities across the UK, so that you can update your will for free, until November 6th. You can write your will in whatever way suits you best: online, over the phone or face-to-face. The cost of the will is covered by whichever charity you choose – many choose to leave a gift to charity as a thank you, but it isn’t required to claim the offer.  No matter what assets you have or your situation, having a will helps to save time, money, and stress for the people you leave behind. Claim your free will at the following link: https://octopuslegacy.com/free-will?utm_channel=partner&utm_source=&utm_medium=2024autumnolads&utm_campaign=thegriefgang&utm_term=podcast  Listening after November 6th? Get 50% off an online will here with an exclusive Grief Gang discount code: https://octopuslegacy.com/online-will?utm_campaign=thegriefgang This offering and ep is not an ad or sponsorship. Just a company I know and love doing good work that I think you should know about! Big love, Amber x Connect with The Grief Gang community: Enquire about Grief Gang 1:1 and group circle mentoring here Book onto a Grief Gang group circle here Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube TikTok Substack Website If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review. Share this episode with someone who might need to hear it today! this show http://er.acast.com/thegriefgang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to season 7! In this episode, I'm diving into the journey of navigating the year of firsts after the death of my friend, Poppy. I explore how grief impacts our personal and professional lives, the ways disassociation can emerge as a coping mechanism and can actually be beneficial, and the unexpected lessons I've learned in healing and personal growth. You’ll also hear for the first time on the podcast what it has been like starting a business in the midst of the most emotionally weighted time of my life. Key Topics Covered: •Grief and the “Year of Firsts”: What navigating the year of firsts has been like for me, even with 8 years of grief under my belt already. My unexpected pleasant experience of Poppy's 1 year anniversary and what it has taught me, once again. •Coping with Disassociation: Understanding and sharing how disassociation as a coping mechanism during intense grief has kept me afloat and it's positives to me. •Building a Business During Grief: My insight into starting a business while navigating personal loss. It feels really good to be back and I hope you enjoy this episode and the season ahead! Big love, Amber x Connect with The Grief Gang community: Enquire about Grief Gang 1:1 and group circle mentoring here Book onto a Grief Gang group circle here Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube TikTok Substack Website If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review. Share this episode with someone who might need to hear it today! this show http://er.acast.com/thegriefgang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm back with a lil bonus ep for your ears. In this bonus episode I'm giving you a recap on this summer and what I've been navigating. As a family, we celebrated the wedding of my older brother and what would be our Mum's 60th birthday...it's been quite the summer. I hope this episode can give you a small insight into what it's like to navigate such milestones and perhaps give you a little bit of hope that it all might be okay in the end. Events mentioned in the episode: if we don’t laugh in conversation with The Grief Gang and Suicide&Co- Wednesday 25th September at Feel Good Club Manchester. Suicide and Co retreat at The Falcon, Northampton. October 2024. Big love, Amber x Follow and be part of The Grief Gang community: Enquire about Grief Gang 1:1 and group circle mentoring here Book onto a Grief Gang group circle here Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube TikTok Substack Website this show http://er.acast.com/thegriefgang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And it's a wrap for Season 6 of TGG podcast! What a whirlwind of a season it's been. One I'll never forget, that's for sure. I decided for this final episode, I wanted to hit the pavement again. Get outside in nature to bring this season to a close. Thank you all, for your continuous love and for this podcast. It means more than you'll ever know. Big love, Amber x Follow and be part of The Grief Gang community: Enquire about Grief Gang 1:1 and group circle mentoring here Book onto a Grief Gang group circle here Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube TikTok Substack Website this show http://er.acast.com/thegriefgang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to this years Father's Day episode 2024. The episode where we get to hear directly from TGG audience on this special and difficult day for many. If you're a regular listener, you'll know the score with these episodes. If you're new here, this episode consists of submissions from TGG audience sharing their loved ones, memories and advice for their fellow griever on difficult days such as Father's Day. As always, thank you so much to all who have contributed, it truly means the world to me that you entrust me with your special memories, sharings and people. Big love, Amber x Follow and be part of The Grief Gang community: Enquire about Grief Gang 1:1 and group circle mentoring here Book onto a Grief Gang group circle here Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube TikTok Substack Website this show http://er.acast.com/thegriefgang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, I'm talking about getting older than your loved one who died. It's been a topic that has come up most recently in my group circles and when sharing this with TGG community, it seemed to be something that was on their brains too. It can be a hugely daunting and unknown feeling reaching the age your person died. These are years and ages they have never seen, how do we hold and navigate that? Listen to this episode to hear directly how TGG audience do and what their experiences are. Big love, Amber x Follow and be part of The Grief Gang community: Enquire about Grief Gang 1:1 and group circle mentoring here Book onto a Grief Gang group circle here Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube TikTok Substack Website this show http://er.acast.com/thegriefgang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

me for a rogue, stompy, out of breath griefy walk. I decided to pick up the phone, head out and just record. Enjoy the waffle as I fill you in on where I'm at with grief at this present moment. I hope you enjoy it! (and the sounds of nature too) Big love, Amber x Follow and be part of The Grief Gang community: Enquire about Grief Gang 1:1 and group circle mentoring here Book onto a Grief Gang group circle here Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube TikTok Substack Website this show http://er.acast.com/thegriefgang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, I'm speaking with End of Life Doula, Anna Lyons. Anna also fronts the incredible online platform Life, Death, Whatever which was one of the first s I came across when I started Grief Gang! In this episode, Anna shares with us what brought her to this line of work, what is the role of an end of life doula and why we find as a society talking about death so difficult. Talking about death and dying isn't as bad as we think it is, we all just need a little in it. I hope this episode can provide some of that! Big love, Amber x Follow and be part of The Grief Gang community: Enquire about Grief Gang 1:1 and group circle mentoring here Book onto a Grief Gang group circle here Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube TikTok Substack Website this show http://er.acast.com/thegriefgang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.