Podcast · Health

Grief Is My Side Hustle

by meghanrjarvis · English · Health

Trauma therapist, writer and podcast host Meghan, found herself on the receiving end of the same treatments she used with her own clients after the death of both her parents within two years of each other. Meghan hosts a weekly discussion with guests who carry personal loss, professional expertise,

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 50 min
Latest: 8 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026 · 51 min

ep188: Kate Doerge: Reading the Signs With a Grieving Mother

Helping People and Organizations Navigate Change with Resilience, Connection & Purpose Kate Doerge is a USA TODAY bestselling author, motivational speaker, certified grief coach, and founder of Penny’s Flight Foundation. Through heartfelt storytelling, research-backed insights, and practical strategies, Kate inspires audiences to navigate change, embrace resilience, and lead lives filled with greater purpose and connection. After losing her father, her mother, and her 16-year-old daughter, Penny, Kate made the choice to transform unimaginable loss into a movement centered on hope, action,…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

E194 · 10 Sep 2026 · 45 min
ep.187: Ellen Kelsay--Work Health & Grief in the Workplace
Today Meghan Talks talk Work Health with Ellen Kelsay. Ellen is president and CEO of Business Group on Health. She is a sought-after speaker and expert on health and well-being issues. Kelsay hosts the Business Group on Health podcast and has authored various industry publications appearing in Harvard Business Review, Modern Healthcare, Pharmaceutical Executive and Employee Benefit News, among others. She frequently contributes on an array of critical topics such as health care affordability, prescription drug pricing, transparency, well-being, mental health, health inclusion and innovation…
E193 · 3 Sep 2026 · 43 min
Ep. 186: Grief & Longing with Amanda McCracken
Amanda McCracken dated over 100 men by her late thirties, certain she was doing everything right to find lasting love. She wasn't. At 39, her therapist handed her the word that finally made sense of it all: limerence — an obsessive, addictive longing that feels like love but runs on fantasy instead of reality. Ten years of research (and a lot of hard-won self-honesty) later, Amanda is a journalist and self-described "limerence expert" whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, Vogue, National Geographic, and NPR. Her new memoir, When Longing Becomes Your Lover, blends…
E192 · 27 Aug 2026 · 44 min
ep. 185: Marisa Renee Lee Chronic Illness & Grief
Marisa Renee Lee is the award-winning, bestselling author of Grief is Love: Living with Loss and the newly released Waiting for Dawn: Living with Uncertainty. Her work on grief and healing has been featured on Good Morning America, NPR, Fox & Friends, in Vogue, and in The Atlantic, among other outlets. She previously served as a deputy director in the Obama White House and is now CEO of Beacon Advisors, a social-impact consulting firm. She holds a dual degree from Harvard College and lives in New York with her husband, Matt, and son, Bennett. Marisa cared for her mother, Lisa, who lived with…
E191 · 20 Aug 2026 · 40 min
Ep. 184 The Power of Ritual with Tracee Stanley
Grief Is My Side Hustle — Tracee Stanley on Ritual, Rest, and What We Do With What We've Lost My guest this week is Tracee Stanley — author of Radiant Rest and The Luminous Self, and someone who has spent over twenty years teaching yoga nidra, meditation, and ancestor reverence. Her new book, Living Ritual, comes out this August, and it gave us so much to dig into. We talk about why our culture is so allergic to grief — how we've turned it into something to hide instead of something to honor — and what changes when we stop avoiding it. Tracee walks me through the role ritual plays in all of…
E190 · 13 Aug 2026 · 48 min
Ep. 183 Mental Strength in Grief with Amy Morin, LICSW
Grief Is My Side Hustle — with Amy Morin, LCSW Amy Morin knows more about mental strength than almost anyone on the planet — and she'll tell you the hard-won secret behind it: it started with loss. Amy is a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and international bestselling author of six books, including 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do, which has sold over a million copies and been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx Talk, "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," has racked up over 24 million views, and she's the award-winning host of the Mentally Stronger…
E189 · 23 Apr 2026 · 40 min
Ep. 182: The Power of Breaking Plates with Artist Rob Strati
Join me this week as I FINALLY get to sit down with one of my favorite artists, (and fellow griever) Rob Strati. Together, we explore how art can serve as a powerful healing tool for grief and loss. We also discuss the emotional depth behind his extraordinary plate series and how brokenness can reveal new stories of hope and resilience. In this episode: Rob discusses the story behind his plate series inspired by loss and repair. The contrasting philosophies of Kintsugi versus Rob's approach to brokenness. How art can transcend traditional therapy and tap into restorative energy. The impact…
E188 · 16 Apr 2026 · 58 min
Ep. 181: Marty Ross-Dolen Illuminates a Legacy of Grief in "Always There, Always Gone."
Marty Ross-Dolen is truly magnificent, and I am so grateful to have had an hour of her time this week. Not only does she hold degrees from Wellesley College and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, she is a gorgeous, incredibly insightful author. Marty's writing delves into grief, memory, and the ripple effects of generational trauma. We discuss her maternal grandparents' legacy as the founders of the groundbreaking magazine, "Highlights for Children," and her memoir Always There, Always Gone, in which she weaves a lyrical, hybrid narrative reflecting on the devastating 1960 plane crash that…
E187 · 26 Mar 2026 · 50 min
Ep. 180: Darnell Lamont Walker, Emmy-Nominated Death Doula, on the "Art of a Peaceful End"
In the latest episode of "Grief Is My Side Hustle," I'm joined by author and death doula Darnell Lamont Walker to explore the intricacies of grief, loss, and the importance of open conversations about death. Our heartfelt discussion delves into personal experiences and cultural perspectives, shedding light on how we can better navigate the often-taboo subject of mortality. Darnell's journey into the world of grief began in his childhood, surrounded by the loving presence of his grandmother. This foundation of compassion laid the groundwork for his own understanding of grief, where…
E186 · 19 Mar 2026 · 1 hr
179: Dave Manheim on How Grief Shaped His Career--and Formed a "Dopey Nation"
Dave Manheim (host of the Dopey Podcast) is the kind of interview where you totally forget to stick to any sort of parameters and just jump right in...because once he starts a story, you just strap in and go along for the (often hilarious) ride. Beyond Dave's warm demeanor and mischevious half-smile is a man who has faced an incredible amount of grief, heartbreak and turmoil. Just over 10 years ago, Dave and his late co-host, Chris, launched Dopey together- a space where they could tell stories about their experiences in active addiction. Sadly, Chris relapsed and died shortly after the…
E185 · 12 Mar 2026 · 49 min
Ep. 178: Barry Hoffner Travels the World with His Grief
My guest this week is recent Grieftastic Book Club author Barry Hoffner. In 2017, Barry faced unimaginable loss when his wife, Jackie, tragically passed away in an accident in Botswana. After a deep period of soul-searching,Barry turned to travel—not just for exploration, but for healing. His recently released memoir, "Belonging to the World," chronicles his journey to every country on Earth and the profound ways in which the people he met helped him rediscover purpose and a sense of belonging. I loved continuing our conversation here on the show so that EVERYONE can have a chance to learn…
E184 · 5 Mar 2026 · 54 min
Ep. 177: Jill Yesko Will Not Allow Her Grief- Or Her Mother's Truth- To Be Erased
This week, I am honored to have journalist, documentarian and seasoned NPR contributor Jill Yesko joining the show. Jill shares her personal journey of losing her mother to COVID and the complexities of navigating grief during a time of social isolation. We discuss the impact of family dynamics on grief, as well as the process of creating a documentary film ("Erased") about Jill's mother's past, and the importance of memory and legacy in the healing process. In 1967, Jill's sleek and fashionable mother, Sally, suddenly disappeared from their New Jersey home. She eventually returned, only a…
E183 · 12 Feb 2026 · 48 min
Ep. 176: Dorothy Roberts on the Mixed Marriage Project
Dorothy Roberts and I really earned this conversation today, folks. After navigating some technical difficulty in the beginning, we were able to dive into a really powerful and beautiful conversation surrounding her book, "The Mixed Marriage Project." Her beautiful memoir explores the themes of grief, loss, and the complexities of identity through the lens of her parents' interracial marriage. We'll touch on the cultural context surrounding interracial relationships, which given our current climate, feels more poignant than ever. Dorothy highlights the importance of family history, the…
E182 · 29 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
Ep. 175: Dr. Alexandra Sowa Brings a New Perspective to Weight Management and Grief
I am so, so grateful to welcome the extraordinary Dr. Alexandra Sowa to our space this week. You may be wondering, "Meghan, what the heck does a doctor who works closely with GLP1s have to do with grief?" Turns out, quite a lot. Anyone who has experienced a significant weight loss or gain and has found themselves grieving the change in their form will probably want to share this conversation far and wide. In this episode, Dr. Sowa discusses the biological factors influencing weight gain- debunking the myth that effort alone determines weight management. She emphasizes the importance of…
E181 · 22 Jan 2026 · 55 min
Ep. 174: Elena Brower on How to Let Go- and "Hold Nothing"
Elena Brower is a bestselling author, artist, podcast host, teacher, mentor and chaplaincy student. Her debut book, Art of Attention, was published in 2012, and her bestselling journals Practice You and Being You, along with her courses, classes, and talks, explore stages of studentship, practice, life, and listening. In this conversation, Meghan and Elena discuss Elena's latest book, Hold Nothing, and have a beautiful conversation about learning to receive, be vulnerable, and "love ourselves with rigor." https://elenabrower.com/about/…
E180 · 15 Jan 2026 · 50 min
Ep. 173: Ronald Simpson-Bey on the Wrongful Conviction that Changed Everything
Ronald Simpson-Bey would call his grief a proponent of his survival. While he was incarcerated (for a crime he didn’t commit) during the early 2000s, his young adult son was fatally shot. Ronald’s conviction was finally overturned in 2012, and he would return to mainstream society as a grieving father who had lost such a formative piece of his life. These days (after becoming a paralegal while imprisoned) Ronald is a staunch advocate for individuals fighting wrongful conviction, and acts as a pillar of strength and wisdom in his community and beyond. Ronald is currently working as the…
E179 · 27 Nov 2025 · 49 min
Ep. 172: Thanksgiving BONUS! Kim Long of Dochas Psychological Services
Kim Long is a psychologist based in Alberta, Canada. She and her team created the incredible resource hub, Dochas Psychological services, where they offer the groundbreaking Lifejacket app, as well as the Dochas compass, a short quiz that can help guide you toward the therapist and goals that will best serve YOUR desired outcome. Find out more about these groundbreaking tools here. In this conversation, Meghan and Kim explore the complexities of grief and loss, discussing how these experiences shape identity and the societal expectations surrounding them. They delve into the therapeutic…
E178 · 13 Nov 2025 · 51 min
Ep. 171: Katie Leonard On Being a Pediatric Hospice Nurse
We need more people like Katie Leonard in the world, truly. When I heard about Katie's work, I knew I needed to sit down with her for this podcast. Katie is a pediatric hospice nurse. And while I've had a few wonderful conversations with hospice nurses on Grief is My Side Hustle, this one hit a bit differently. Katie reveals that, after a brief time in pediatric oncology, she wanted to branch outside of the hospital space. After working as a case manager in pediatric neurology, she'd learned a lot about children with life-limiting and chronic conditions. Katie has a true passion for…
E177 · 6 Nov 2025 · 1 hr 9 min
Ep. 170: Casey Mulligan Walsh Embraces The Full Catastrophe
Casey Mulligan Walsh is a gorgeous writer and her book now has two major awards to prove it! I'm so excited to bring you all this conversation with my sweet, sweet friend, who found herself pondering what kind of legacy she'd leave the world of grief and loss- and ended up writing this gorgeous memoir! It is SUCH a gif to all of who are struggling in the wake of untenable, devastating pain. Casey has endured being orphaned as a young girl, going through a tumultuous divorce, and the death of her son at age 20. This book, for lack of more splendid adjectives, is beautiful, bold and…
E176 · 30 Oct 2025 · 52 min
Ep. 169: Alison Larkin Loses her Love, Finds Her Funny, and Sings us into Sobs
Alison Larkin is such a gift. She is an English-American, having been born here in the states and then adopted by British parents who raised her across the pond. These days, she is a comedian, novelist, actress, and audiobook narrator. Her novel, "The English American," sprang from her autobiographical one-woman comedy show about an adopted English woman who finds her birth parents in the United States. The grief of being adopted and searching for your birth parents might be enough, you say-but no. Alison also lost her soulmate, Bhima, five days after they decide to get married. Alison's…
E175 · 23 Oct 2025 · 41 min
Ep. 168: Kristina Amelong on Learning to Live with the Aftermath of What Her Brother Knew
Kristina Amelong's brother, Jay, knew from an extremely young age that he was going to die. Not only that, but he predicted how it would happen, and that he would not live to be an adult. Kristina's gripping and gorgeous memoir, "What My Brother Knew," tells the heartbreaking story of a tragedy rooted in an understanding that reaches far beyond anything that she or I are capable of fully grasping; thus the pinnacle of our conversation today. I have always said that I struggle with my own spirituality, and my understanding of things that feel juuuussssttt out of our reach. With Kristina, it…
E174 · 16 Oct 2025 · 59 min
Ep. 167: Timothy Frie Talks Nutrition & Grief
I think you all are used to me saying this by now, but I found Timothy Frie online- and stalked him into talking to me. He is fascinating, as is his work, and I think once you listen to this episode you’ll agree. Timothy Frie is a neuronutrition educator, nutritional psychology researcher, writer, and president of the National Academy of Neuronutrition. He helps neurodivergent people who have experienced early-life trauma understand the story behind their relationship with food. This is such a crucial topic, and Tim does a beautiful job of illuminating how the elements of grief and mental…
E173 · 9 Oct 2025 · 46 min
Ep. 166: Hospice Nurse Julie Talks End-Of-Life Expectations Vs. Reality
Hospice Nurse Julie (AKA Julie McFadden) is one of my favorite recurring guests. She is an RN/BSN nurse with a passion for education- she believes that people should know about the dying process BEFORE they're actually going through it with a loved one or themselves. We have a beautiful, funny, and candid conversation about how death and dying are reflected in the media and film, as well as what to actually expect when you're at your loved one's bedside. Julie will also be a featured author at Grieftastic on November 21, 2025, showcasing her second book, The Nothing to Fear Journal (a…
E172 · 2 Oct 2025 · 34 min
Ep. 165: John Palfrey, Defender of the Arts (Brought to you by the MacArthur Foundation).
As Meghan always says, "Art may not solve all your problems, but it CAN save your life." There's definitely a few champions of this philosophy in the world, of course- certainly artists themselves. Today, however, we are lucky enough to be hosting the remarkable John Palfrey, President of the MacArthur Foundation. The MacArthur Foundation is famous for many things, namely their eponymous grant of $800,000, awarded to fellows of extraordinary talent so that they may support their work long-term. John Palfrey is an educator, scholar, and law professor. His areas of focus include emerging…
E171 · 25 Sep 2025 · 49 min
Ep. 164: Sara Rian is the Siren of Griefy Poetry
Sara Rian writes poems whenever a thought strikes her while washing the dishes, or folding laundry. However, her words, her profound understanding of the human spirit and what it is to grieve, will make you feel as though she wrote each poem for YOU. She's in your head, your heart- you'll feel her work in your bones. This might sound like hyperbole, but it's true, I promise. She has a superpower. Sara sits down with me to discuss her mother's lifelong struggles with suicidality, and how the end of her life has since shaped everything Sara does. She is also a skilled therapist, and her…
E170 · 18 Sep 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
Ep. 163.: Ryan Bowles Helps Us Find Our Faith
As their own website states, Ryan and his wife Calie Bowles started the Good Grief HQ community because they know what it's like to go through grief. They've lost parents, friends, pets, and had a miscarriage. They understand the deep ache that grief causes - the sleepless nights, confusion, and endless "what ifs". Ryan is a dear friend and colleague in this space and I love his perspective on faith and healing. At this moment in time particularly, this conversation felt so necessary. We discuss his steadfast Christianity, my own checkered past with religion and trauma, and how sometimes…
E169 · 11 Sep 2025 · 57 min
Ep. 162: Daria Burke is a Woman Of Her Own Making
Daria Burke is, according to her own website, an "Author, speaker and possibility pusher. An accomplished business leader and investor-turned-author, Daria is a multiplier of ideas and people, helping them expand to their highest potential, in business and in life." Indeed, Daria is a teacher. She taught herself how to push through the incredible pain of living with grief, poverty, and an addicted parent in 1980s Detroit. In her book, Of My Own Making, she teaches the reader that (above everything else) belief in oneself can unlock the rest of the world we deserve to have access to. Your…
E168 · 10 Jul 2025 · 56 min
Ep. 161: Jennifer Pastiloff is Giving Us Proof of Life!
Hello, fellow grievers! This week I have a special BONUS episode for you, while we work HARD to continue to bring you quality content for our new season coming this fall. My sweet friend Jennifer Pastiloff joins us just before the release of her new book, "Proof of Life" (available NOW at your favorite bookseller!). According to her own website, "Jen Pastiloff travels the world with her unique workshop “On Being Human,” a hybrid of yoga related movement, writing, sharing out loud, letting the snot fly, and the occasional dance party. Jen has been featured on Good Morning America, New York…
E167 · 19 Jun 2025 · 1 hr
Ep.160. John Onwuchekwa: How to Survive Sibling Loss Using Spirituality and Grief Fluency
It's the season finale already- and I know how to leave a lasting impression! John Onwuchekwa, (a.k.a. "John O.") is a preacher, a writer, a husband, father, and brother. According to his own website, "Everything in John Onwuchekwa’s life hinges on the power of words, both spoken and written...in one way or another everything John does intersects with the beauty and power of words—both how he has been shaped by them and how he uses them to shape the world around him." I couldn't agree more. John is a gifted orator and dear friend, and I could engage with him endlessly. This week, please…
E166 · 12 Jun 2025 · 47 min
Ep. 159. Jessica Zucker: How to Normalize Reproductive Health
Dr. Jessica Zucker, author of "Normalize It: Upending the Silence, Stigma, and Shame That Shape Women's Lives" is my guest this week...and man, is she someone who tells the truth. About everything. Jessica is a L.A.-based psychologist who specializes in reproductive and maternal mental health. She has written extensively about how the landscape of her marriage changed in the face of profound loss, as well as eventual parenthood. Jessica is incredibly powerful in how she relates the experience of a devastating miscarriage (suffered while she was home alone). She is also a fierce advocate for…

About Grief Is My Side Hustle

Grief Is My Side Hustle is a English health podcast from meghanrjarvis. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: meghanrjarvis
Language: English
Category: Health
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 50 min
Latest episode: 8 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1805235598

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