Grief Out Loud

• The Grief We Bury: Daria Burke on Childhood Loss, Collective Grief, & Estrangement

  Daria Burke is an author, executive, and healer-at-heart. She's also a grandchild grieving for her grandmother and a daughter estranged from her parents. In this episode, Daria shares the profound impact of losing her maternal grandmother at age seven and how that early loss reverberated through her life. This loss and grief exist alongside the immense healing she's done around growing up in poverty, childhood trauma, and her parents' absences, addictions, and the eventual estrangement from them. With the recent release of her memoir, Of My Own Making, Daria opens up about the moment, decades later, that reawakened the grief for her grandmother - finding a newspaper article about her fatal car accident. That discovery, and ensuing grief, started a new chapter in Daria's healing process. In our conversation, we talk about inherited trauma, the emotional weight of estrangement, the invisible grief of childhood neglect, Daria's healing practices, and how she  stays connected to her grandmother through what she calls “love taps.” Key Topics: What role Daria's grandmother played in her early childhood The ongoing impacts of childhood grief and unprocessed trauma How truth-telling is part of healing The collective grief she grew up around in Detroit of the 1980's Uncovering the grief she buried after her grandmother died Grieving for family members who are still alive Grief Practices Daria Shares: Giving herself permission to cry freely Meditative practices to connect with her grandmother Volunteering on holidays and creating new rituals Finding signs from her grandmother in the world around her Daria Burke is an American writer, speaker and award-winning business leader. A marketer by trade and a seeker at heart, Daria is a storyteller and sense-maker, weaving together personal experience and the science of healing and transformation to explore new ways of understanding how we choose who we become. This passion led her to complete Dr. Tara Swart’s Neuroscience for Business course at MIT and Positive Psychology and Well-Being at Stanford, taught by Dr. Daryn Reicherter, an international expert in trauma psychiatry.  Her debut memoir, OF MY OWN MAKING (April 2025) explores trauma, neuroplasticity, and Post-Traumatic Growth through the lens of her own healing journey. Kiese Laymon called it “as profound a book about the treacherous experience of befriending ourselves as I’ve read this decade.” Part memoir, part methodology, OF MY OWN MAKING blends personal narrative with scientific insight, Daria inspires readers to reimagine the narratives that define their lives. Connect with Daria: Website: www.dariaburke.com Instagram: @dariaburke Resources & Links: Dougy Center: www.dougy.org Email the show: [email protected] Production Note: Grief Out Loud is produced by Dougy Center: The National Grief Center for Children & Families, and is supported in part by The Chester Stephan Endowment Fund.

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• Going Beyond Words: Supporting Children With Autism Who Are Grieving - Jennifer Wiles, M.A., LMHC, BC-DMT, FT

  In this episode, we delve into the grief experiences of children and teens with autism. Our guest, Jennifer Wiles, M.A., LMHC, BC-DMT, FT - Director of the HEARTplay Program and a dance movement therapist with decades of experience - joins us to discuss how children with autism process grief and how parents and others in their lives can support them. Drawing on her background in both nonverbal forms of expression and grief support, Jennifer shares compassionate, practical insights rooted in her work with families. This conversation is both timely and essential, especially during Autism Acceptance Month, as it highlights the importance of expanding how we understand and support grief beyond more traditional approaches rooted in words.  We discuss:   The importance of using direct, concrete language when talking about death  Common misconceptions about how kids with autism express grief  Why behaviors often interpreted as indifference may be expressions of deep emotion  How sensory overload and disrupted routines can intensify grief reactions  The powerful role of nonverbal communication—movement, gesture, rhythm, and ritual—in grief expression  How social stories and structured activities can prepare kids for events like funerals  Grief rituals for significant days like anniversaries and birthdays  The impact of other losses, including changes in routine, missed milestones, and the death of service animals  Resources mentioned:  Toolkit from the National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG): A resource for supporting children of all abilities who are grieving Books:  I Have a Question About... series by Meredith Polsky & Arlen Gaines  Understanding Death and Illness and What They Teach About Life by Catherine Faherty  A Kids Book About Grief by Brennan Wood  HEARTplay Program: Free downloadable social stories and grief support  Have feedback or a story to share? Email us at [email protected]  Visit dougy.org for grief support resources, activity sheets, and past episodes. 

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• When Grief Comes Home - Parenting & Grief

  Grief often arrives without warning and changes everything we thought we knew about ourselves, our families, and the world around us. In this episode, we talk with Erin Nelson and Colleen Montague about their new book, When Grief Comes Home, a resource created from years of both personal loss and professional experience supporting families who are grieving. Erin, founding Executive Director of Jessica’s House in Central California, and Colleen, Program Director, discuss how they came to write this book that blends memoir, practical tools, and reflective questions.  We discuss: Erin's personal experience with grief including the death of her husband when their children were just 3 and 5 years old, her mother from suicide, and her son Carter, who died in an accident The unique impact of sudden loss  The power of rituals and expressive activities  What teens really need when they are grieving Strategies for returning to school and work Activites and discussion starters parents and caregivers can use to connect with their kids Learning to trust yourself in grief Making space for the dark parts of grief while also staying open to moments of light and joy Resources & Mentions:  When Grief Comes Home: A Guide For Living Through Loss While Supporting Your Child, by Erin and Colleen – [available wherever you get your books]  Jessica’s House: https://jessicashouse.org/  Dougy Center: https://www.dougy.org/  💬 Connect with us: [email protected]  🎧 If you find this episode meaningful, consider leaving us a rating or review to help more people find Grief Out Loud.  Grief Out Loud is produced by Dougy Center: The National Grief Center for Children & Families. 

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• When You Lose Your Anchor People: Renée Watson & Making Space For Grief

  What does it mean to lose your anchor people? In a short period of time, Renée Watson experienced the death of her mother, her mentor Nikki Giovanni, and her childhood friend, Charnetta. Renée shares how these experiences influenced her latest novel for young readers, All the Blues in the Sky, which follows 13-year-old Sage as she navigates grief after the death of her best friend. Renée Watson is a #1 New York Times bestselling author whose recent book All the Blues in the Sky explores grief through the eyes of a young person. Her young adult novel, Piecing Me Together, received a Coretta Scott King Award and Newbery Honor. Her children's picture books and novels for teens have received several awards and international recognition. Many of her books are inspired by her experiences growing up as a Black girl in the Pacific Northwest. We Discuss Experiencing multiple significant losses in a short period of time  The impact of losing "anchor people" in one's life  How Renée's mentor and friend, Nikki Giovanni, supported her as she grieved for her mother  The spectrum of emotions that come with grief  Why it’s important to acknowledge grief rather than avoid it  What Renée learned about grief from writing her main character, Sage.   The comparison of sudden loss versus anticipated loss  Finding tangible reminders of love after someone dies  Connect with Renée Watson  Website: RenéeWatson.net  About Dougy Center  Grief Out Loud is a production of Dougy Center, the National Grief Center for Children and Families in Portland, Oregon. For more resources, visit dougy.org or email [email protected]. 

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• Fifty-Seven Fridays: Myra Sack On Love, Loss & Grieving Her Daughter

  In this deeply moving episode we talked with Myra Sack about the love, loss, and legacy of her daughter, Havi. Diagnosed with Tay-Sachs disease at just 15 months old, Havi's life was brief but profoundly impactful. Myra shares how she and her family navigated the unbearable reality of their daughter's illness and death, including transforming their Shabbat ritual into "Shabbirthdays" held every Friday to celebrate Havi's life.   Myra reflects on the arduous medical rollercoaster that led to Havi's Tay-Sachs diagnosis, the challenges of navigating a world that struggles to support the bereaved, and how she and her family find solace in sharing Havi's legacy with others. She also discusses her memoir, Fifty-Seven Fridays, and how she started E-Motion, Inc. an organization that harnesses movement, community, and ritual to support those who are grieving.   We discuss:  The ongoing presence of grief, particularly during milestone moments and everyday life.  How Myra and her husband Matt created the Shabbirthday ritual to honor Havi each week.   How Havi continues to teach others even after her death.  The impact of isolation for grieving families and the struggle of navigating social norms post-diagnosis.  Finding ways to stay connected to Havi through rituals, storytelling, and shared memories.  Myra's journey into grief education and the founding of E-Motion, which supports people who are grieving through movement and community.   The need for more grief-informed communities.  Resources & Links:  Fifty-Seven Fridays by Myra Sack  E-Motion What Happened to You? By Bruce D. Perry & Oprah Winfrey Connect With Us: Have thoughts on this episode? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] or visit our website for more resources and past episodes. 

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