This episode is a dialogue about how hope and grief coexist. We can rise while still bearing the marks of loss. The scars we carry do not disqualify us from purpose joy or calling. Dr. Marilyn Pendelton joins us as she relates her work bridging education, health and grief recovery. Your Voice Heard is is dedicated to equipping leaders, schools and workforce members with tools to address grief related to trauma, loss and major life transitions.

Disenfranchised grief with our guest Brittany Squillace,

Brittany Squillace, MA, LMFT is a mental health therapist and founder of Best Self Therapy. Brittany’s mission through Best Self Therapy is to instill hope in grieving adults to change the way they view, talk about, and navigate grief. This allows them to live a better life as their best self. Through her specialty of grief and loss, Brittany guides clients in making meaning of their losses.

Brittany’s grief specialization also includes guiding clients in healing ambiguous/ living losses (such as the losses experienced through divorce, loss of identity, grieving a loved one who is still physically present but emotionally/mentally absent, loss of job, losses that may come with being a new parent, etc.). Brittany values creating a safe and welcoming space, allowing clients to discover how to continue living as their best selves while honoring your unique grief journey

Philip Gracia, President/CEO, Frogtown Tuned-In, Inc.

At WFNU-LP 94.1 FM Frogtown Radio, Philip is a community leader and a family man who has nurtured a feeling here at the station that everyone belongs. That we are an extended family of people interested in the health and welfare of our community. Leading an effort like running a radio station is no small task. Sharing the stories that make an impact.

Telling stories that educate and entertain is a tradition that developed out of our need to communicate and connect. Today’s topic is a personal tale and we’ll share perspectives as we explore how

“Something not said in the family isn’t always best for family members.”

Our Journey continues…

We are currently in the 25th portal of Leah’s death. It began on November 3rd, the date of the accident, and continues through November 13th, the date of her funeral.

How this anniversary reminded us of our humanness.

How our grief journey makes us, reminds us, makes us more human

What being human means and how it has evolved as we’ve grieved.

Check out Brandi Carlyle’s Song Being Human to complement this episode.

One of the things that isn't often discussed are all the effects of grief. We hear about depression and the effect of grief on our mental health however, there are also physical manifestations of grief. It certainly was not something I was aware of after Leah died.

Losing a loved one is extremely stressful, and can take a toll in unexpected ways.

According to the National Institutes of Health, grief can cause everything from bodily pain and a weakened immune system to stomach upset and fatigue,

Many of our aging parents grew up in an era in which people didn’t discuss their various ailments or personal struggles much — even with their own family members. As such, they were taught that suffering in silence was a virtue and that discussing their issues with their children showed too much vulnerability and might lead to disrespect. In reality, they’re likely desperate to talk to you about the things listed below, but either don’t know how to broach the subject or are terrified of what may happen if they do.

Topic: The Sweet Burden: Grief as a Teacher to Weave Belonging

Bio: From her youngest days, Kate Towle has been an advocate for racial equity. As a child, she worked alongside her father and his Black friend to build a vibrant interracial community center in Michigan City, Indiana. She has organized and delivered numerous talks and workshops to help people start a racial and ethnic healing process where they live, work, and learn, often co-leading sessions with colleagues of color.

She lives in Minneapolis, MN, where racial tensions after the murder of George Floyd swept across the nation. She was the winner of the St. Paul Foundation’s Facing Race Idea Challenge in 2011 and wrote about her groundbreaking interracial work with high school students in Talking About Race: Alleviating the Fear (2013).

With her friend Rose McGee, she engaged young leaders in building the organization Sweet Potato Comfort Pie, which wraps cross-community dialogue and healing around baking and delivering the pies that symbolize caring and connection in Black culture.

Kate’s novel Sweet Burden of Crossing about interracial friendship has helped people of all ages speak candidly about their life experiences and biases in peer conversations, as discussed in a recent Democratic Visions interview. She helps communities see how sharing stories, service, and honoring each person’s gifts can heal longstanding divides. She co-leads the Weave Peace and Justice subcommunity

Being stuck in grief is an uncomfortable place to find yourself. When you have experienced a loss and can’t seem to find a path forward, you pause to consider your situation. Are you in grief?

Getting unstuck from grief involves :

Acknowledging your pain

Practicing self-care,

Finding social support, and

Taking purposeful action to process the loss

How do you find meaning again? This can include therapy for complex grief. Be gentle with yourself, understand that healing takes time, and explore activities like creative expression, exercise, and connecting with your loved one's memory to move forward.