Losing A Grandparent (Part 2)

Navigating Grief and Family Bonds: A Conversation on Loss and Healing

In this episode of Phoenix Rising with Dr. Z, host Dr. Christina Za Patella sits down to discuss the intricacies of grieving the loss of grandparents and the restorative love within family dynamics. The conversation covers personal stories of grief, the importance of maintaining family bonds, and how to navigate the complexities of mourning in healthy ways. Dr. Z emphasizes the need to give oneself space and grace to grieve while maintaining connections through shared stories and traditions. This heartfelt discussion offers a holistic view on coping with loss and the impact of generational ties.

00:00 Introduction to Phoenix Rising

00:28 Family Dynamics and Caregiving

01:26 Impact of Loss on Family

02:15 Grandparents and Their Legacy

02:52 Coping with Grief and Memories

11:42 Selling the Family Home

14:57 Reflecting on Grandparent Relationships

24:38 Reflecting on Mortality and Loss

25:40 Grandma's Final Moments

27:57 The Role of Food in Family Traditions

33:49 Nurturing Family Relationships

37:36 Dealing with Ambivalent Relationships

41:28 The Importance of Grieving

43:54 Concluding Thoughts and Farewell

In this two-part episode, Dr. Christina Zampitella sits down with licensed marriage and family therapist Marcus Scarfo for an open and heartfelt conversation about what it’s like to grieve the loss of a grandparent — particularly when that grandparent played a central, stabilizing role in the family. Marcus shares the story of his grandfather’s death and how it quietly unraveled parts of his identity, relationships, and sense of emotional safety. Together, they explore how grief shows up in adult grandchildren, how family systems shift after a loss, and why the death of a grandparent is often underestimated or overlooked. This episode invites reflection on the layers of grief, the importance of rituals, and the subtle ways we search for emotional grounding when we lose someone who once provided it.

Chapters 00:00 – Welcome and episode overview 01:02 – Introducing guest: Marcus Scarfo, LMFT 02:25 – What made Marcus’s grandfather so special 04:20 – How grief hit differently as an adult 06:10 – Recognizing secondary losses after death 08:40 – Family roles and dynamics shifting 10:50 – The emotional undercurrent of stability and safety 13:30 – Disenfranchised grief around grandparents 15:00 – The complexity of letting go of family traditions 17:25 – Navigating grief as a therapist 19:00 – How Marcus’s grief impacted his work and relationships 21:12 – Closing reflections and what’s coming in Part 2

💬 Have you ever felt the ripple effects of losing a grandparent? Share your experience in the comments or tag someone who might relate. 🔔 Subscribe to catch Part 2 next week, where Dr. Z and Marcus go deeper into the healing process, internalized messages around masculinity and grief, and how to keep someone’s legacy alive. #PhoenixRisingPodcast #GriefSupport #GrandparentLoss #FamilyGrief #TherapistPerspective #GriefHealing #MentalHealthAwareness #GriefPodcast #DrZampitella #MarcusScarfo #NewEpisode

The Anniversary of My Cancer Diagnosis

In this deeply personal solo episode, Dr. Christina Zampitella opens up about the emotional weight of the two-year anniversary of her leukemia diagnosis. From lingering fears and disrupted sleep to a powerful reminder that grief and trauma don’t follow a linear timeline, Dr. Z shares how even after healing begins, the body and mind continue to carry echoes of the past.

Whether you're a survivor, a caregiver, or someone supporting a loved one through illness, this short but powerful reflection reminds us of the importance of compassion — especially toward ourselves.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Introduction 00:49 – Remembering the gap in podcast episodes 01:10 – Cancer diagnosis, multiple losses, and memory triggers 02:00 – Signs of emotional and physical distress around the anniversary 03:00 – Lingering fear of symptoms returning 04:00 – Practicing self-compassion and facing mortality 04:52 – Reflection on hair loss, visual comparisons, and milestones 05:45 – Sharing as a way to heal 06:20 – Final thoughts: Navigating anniversaries with honesty and hope

💬 Let’s Talk

Has an anniversary ever hit you harder than expected? Do you feel your body remembering even before your mind catches up?

Drop your thoughts or questions in the comments — we’d would love to hear from you.

#PhoenixRising #CancerAnniversary #GriefSupport #TraumaHealing #Survivorship #MentalHealthAwareness #DrZ #PodcastForHealing #SelfCompassion