Grief Uncensored Podcast

For this episode, we had the you submit topics, questions, advice, or anything else you wanted us to talk about pertaining grief. We answered all your questions & talked about various topics including how to deal with self isolation after a loss, going back to work, accepting the rippling effects of grief including shifting relationship dynamics and other secondary losses, struggles in dating, and grief dreams.

In this minisode, we talk about the pressure that we feel as grievers to have grief all figured out. People look to us to help them understand grief in general, and, specifically, we have this responsibility to help others understand our complex feelings surrounding our own grief. This is so much, and we don't always know the answers because we're still struggling to figure it out for ourselves! We still struggle to place our emotions and express them correctly. We struggle to know what we need sometimes, and how to communicate something we don't even know ourselves. When another loss occurs, we will probably struggle to find the right words to say to another griever even when deep down we know the ones we would want to hear. We know first hand that the best condolences are action-based, and not words. Just by you having “survived” grief, you are a comfort to someone. Just because we know grief DOES NOT make us experts!

Join us this week on Grief Uncensored as we dive into the meaning of the phrase we always say in the beginning of our episodes - your grief is your own. We'll also dive into the complex world of social media and its impact throughout all the stages of the grieving process. Social media and it’s endless stream of information, people, interactions, proves to be one of our biggest triggers, but also our best resource.  No two grief stories are ever the same, even when grieving the same person within the same family. Everybody deals with it differently, and whatever you do, however you cope and process your grief, is 100% valid. As a griever, vulnerability, although scary, can be so rewarding. Sharing your story with others is a powerful tool that can help people close to you understand who you are. We hold a lot of power in our storytelling, and it is a tool for healing. If sharing is something you want to do, we believe you should do it with confidence. But we’ve all been there: you decide to share some details or stories about your journey, just to be met with blank stares and awkward silences.  In this episode, we discuss the importance of choosing the right confidants for your grief journey and why it's perfectly okay to keep some aspects of your experience private. here's the truth: you don't owe anyone an explanation for your grief. It's yours to carry, yours to process, and yours to share - on your own terms. Feeling like you're "too much" or burdening others with your pain is a common struggle. But we're here to remind you that you are worthy of love and understanding, no matter the depth of your grief or the "baggage" you carry. 

In this minisode of Grief Uncensored, we talk about the concept of closure. As always, we’re skipping the clichés and diving right into the bleak realities of finding closure after loss: a process with no fixed destination. When we talk about closure, it doesn't just mean with the person we lost. We also talk about finding closure with everything we experienced: the loss, the guilt, the anger, the trauma, and all the other unresolved feelings. Do we need to accept our realities to find closure? What if we didn’t get to say goodbye, or be with them in their final moments? Do we really need closure to move on, or is it a societal expectation that adds unnecessary weight to the grieving process? Come join us this week as we try to answer these questions surrounding this concept of closure. In a culture that often urges us to "move on," we acknowledge that grief has its own timeline. Instead of pushing for closure, we explore how time itself becomes a crucial factor in healing wounds and finding a sense of peace.

In this week's minisode, we confront the whirlwind of existential thoughts and questions that come with being in your 20 somethings. As 20-somethings, we are trying on so many different hats, exploring new paths, and choosing & changing our minds a million times. How scary of a thought is it to realize you have to power to make decisions that will impact your life? And how do we deal with the impact of situations that were out of our control? Trying to figure out your identity and place in this world is hard enough, then adding grief & loss on top of that is a while other thing. Talk about feeling lost! Join us as we talk about how losing a parent at this young age, amid self discovery, changes EVERYTHING. We discuss the void that created is so massive it impacts who we are & who we will become. It's okay to question why we're here, why these things happen, and what we would be like if they hadn't. It's okay not to have all the answers and have everything figured out. It's okay to take risks, try new things, and learn from failures along the way. Embracing the uncertainty and understanding that plans may not always unfold as expected are all part of the journey. Experiencing the profound impact of a life-altering loss only adds another layer of complexity to this transformative time.

In this episode, we dive headfirst into the unfiltered emotions surrounding the holidays. We share our personal experiences with no holding back when it comes to acknowledging that, yeah, the holidays can downright suck when faced with the empty chair at the table and the missing laughter of a loved one.  As we approach the New Year, the passage of time hits differently for grievers. We discuss the bittersweet reality of bidding farewell to one year and bracing for the unknowns of the next. New Year's has become a painful reminder of the relentless passage of time and acknowledging the changes in our lives since our losses. We explore ways to cope during the holiday season and share personal insights on setting intentions for the upcoming year with mindfulness.  Join us for another genuine and heartfelt conversation about the realities of grief during this holiday season.

Welcome back to Season 3 of Grief Uncensored, the podcast where we navigate the uncharted waters of loss, pain, and healing. Your hosts, Julia Gallegos and Yako Shirasuna, are back after a much-needed hiatus. During our break, we took the time to reflect, recharge, and analyze how this year will bring a different perspective to both our personal grief journeys and the podcast itself. Join us in this candid catch-up session as we share our experiences, the lessons we've learned, and how the landscape of grief has evolved in our lives. Year 3 of grief has brought new challenges, unexpected twists, and, of course, moments of profound growth. We're here to lay it all out on the table, discussing the highs, the lows, and everything in between. It's an emotional journey, but we're not holding back. This season promises to be more honest, more vulnerable, and more comforting than ever before. So grab your headphones, find a cozy spot, and join us as we embark on another season of Grief Uncensored. Let's navigate the complexities of grief together, finding solace in shared experiences and embracing the healing power of open, unfiltered conversation. Welcome to Season 3; we've missed you, and we can't wait to explore the depths of grief with you once again.

Thank you for joining us! Follow us on Instagram @griefuncensoredpodcast & check out our YouTube for the video version of this podcast. We're so glad you are here.

In this minisode, we can only offer validation and understanding for whatever you may be going through because we know damn well how it feels. Gratitude doesn’t come naturally to us especially after our life has been ripped apart, so a whole holiday dedicated to that feels especially painful. We’re right here alongside you today, and you’re not alone.

This week we met with Zane Landin, journalist and mental health advocate, to talk about his experience losing his mom suddenly in January 2021. Together we talk about doing “grief math”, and speculate on the afterlife and what “heaven” means for us grievers who have our favorite people on the other side. We discuss dreams, mediumship, and signs we get from our loved ones from the other side. Zane also opens up about different coping mechanisms he uses including using his imagination & daydreaming to conceptualize new memories with his mom. Watch the video version of this podcast on YouTube. Want to be a guest? Want to join our Facebook group for other grieving young adults? Want to submit your person for our "Feature of The Week" Instagram series? CLICK THE LINK BIO!!  https://linktr.ee/griefuncensoredpodcast