Grief Is My Side Hustle

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 discussions about death were not shunned but embraced. You are GOING to want to listen to every word Darnell speaks- he's incredibly eloquent, charming, knowledgeable and soothing. I'm so grateful to have gotten this hour of his time! 

 

More about Darnell:

https://www.instagram.com/hello.darnell/
https://darnellwalker.com/never-can-say-goodbye/

 

 

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 podcast started gaining a substantial following. To honor his friend, Dave just kept going. And a decade later, he has never missed a week of his now beloved (and highly regarded) show. 

 

Dave has now interviewed everyone from Real Housewives cast members to Marc Maron and Jamie Lee Curtis. Despite the accolades, however, he remains humble, kind, and speaks about his grief and addiction with an openness that is wonderfully disarming. 

 

You won't want to miss this unique, vibrant, and incredibly touching episode.

 

Thanks for listening! Please don't forget to rate and review us wherever possible! 

 

More about Dave:
https://dopeypodcast.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dopeypodcast/

 

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 about Barry's quite remarkable take on turning his grief from a noun to a verb by literally traversing the globe with it. 

 

Thank you for listening! Please feel free to rate and review; we LOVE hearing from you! 

 

More about Barry Hoffner:

https://belongingtotheworld.com/about

https://www.instagram.com/barryh99/

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 shell of her former self; and Jill was never given an explanation as to what had taken her away from the family all that time.

After Sally died from Covid at an assisted living facility in 2020, Jill did some research. She discovered her mother hadn't just disappeared; she'd been admitted to High Point Hospital, a private psychiatric facility in Port Chester, New York. 

You'll have to tune in to this compelling conversation to learn more about this incredible journey that Jill has taken- I KNOW you're going to be glad you did. 

 

Thank you, as always, for listening. Please rate and review where and when you can- lots of love!

 

More about Jill:
https://www.erasedfilmdocumentary.com/ 

https://www.instagram.com/sayyesjill/ 

 

 

 

 

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 lessons learned from parents, and how she's implemented continuing bonds through her work.

Ultimately, our time today is a shining example of the significance of storytelling in understanding (and processing) loss.

Thank you SO much for listening; if you like what we're doing on the show, please rate and review wherever possible, and tell your friends! 

More about Dorothy:

https://www.instagram.com/dorothyeroberts/ 

https://www.npr.org/2026/02/10/nx-s1-5704334/dorothy-roberts-the-mixed-marriage-project

Buy her book HERE!

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 understanding the role of environment and mental health in sustainable weight loss strategies. We talk all things GLP-1, of course, and Dr. Sowa brings valuable advice to folks who have been considering that step, or have taken that step- and now find their feelings are all over the place. 

I really enjoyed how this conversation braided a lot of topics together that folks might not always find related...but really, when you think about, grief is pretty far-reaching. I hope you all found this episode as valuable and special as I did. If so, PLEASE don't hesitate to leave us a rating and a review wherever possible. 

More about Dr. Sowa:
https://alexandrasowamd.com/ 
The Ozempic Revolution
https://www.instagram.com/alexandrasowamd/ 

 

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/
https://www.instagram.com/elenabrower/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenabrower/

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 Executive Vice President for JustLeadershipUSA (JLUSA). He is also a 2015 Leading with Conviction (LwC) Fellow with JLUSA.

Thank you SO much for coming back to another season of Grief is My Side Hustle! Please be sure to leave a five-star rating and review wherever possible. We truly appreciate you!

For more about Ronald:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4kwP3U0d5w
https://www.instagram.com/ronaldsimpsonbey/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/simpsonbey1/

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 approaches to grief, emphasizing the importance of patience and self-permission in the grieving process. They also touch upon the challenges new parents face, the cultural norms surrounding grief and loss, and the importance of support systems. 

 

We hope you enjoy this Thanksgiving bonus episode. If you eat all your veggies...maybe we'll be serving another bonus for dessert. Who's to say? Well, we are....but stay tuned!

 

Thank you, as always, for listening. Please rate and review where possible- it REALLY helps!  

 

 

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 end-of-life care and supporting families through this beautiful, but extremely difficult process. I loved learning about her as a person, as well as what carries through this extraordinary work, while also maintaining her other life roles. Trust me, this is a must-listen conversation! 

 

Thank you so much for your continued support- please give a rate and review wherever possible. 

 

More about Katie:
https://hospicenews.com/2022/09/30/future-leaders-class-of-2022-katie-leonard-director-of-pediatrics-anchor-health/