i swear on my mother's grave

and other pods of the moment to save and savor

I made a deal with “wake-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night” Barri. I promised her that at 2, or 3 or 4am, I would not doom-scroll into dawn — but pop on my podcast list and listen myself back to slumber. I am pleased to say, this works! And also, because of this nifty new habit, I have a lot of great podcast recommendations. My love of true crime sidles up next to my favorite comedy pick.

What do folks ask me about most often? My griefy favorites…

If you have not listened to All There Is with Anderson Cooper — start here. He never set out to start a podcast about loss, but when he turned on the recorder as he sorted through his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt’s apartment after her death, he realized there was much to say and share. The Stephen Colbert episode “Grateful for Grief” is a must.

I Swear on My Mother’s Grave, was a favorite before I was Dana’s guest. She is an actress and producer — and it all shows here. Meet my Mom, Ellen, and listen to some rare salvaged footage of our conversation from 1993. This is all about the loss of our complex mother’s - and not just in death.

Dear friend and brilliant trauma-informed therapist, Meghan Riordan Jarvis’ Grief Is My Side Hustle is a veritable who’s who of folks and best resources to know in the grief space. From authors to docs and scientists to folks who hold space for the bereaved —one of those, may just be me.

The Grief Gang with Amber Jeffrey is the straight up conversation I wish I’d had way back when in motherloss. She lost her “mum” at 19 and her wise council helps to normalize the conversation — especially to a younger set. The Good Mourning mates, Sal and Im, met in a bereavement group and started their pod to share tips, truth and community. A little sweet and a little sweary-just the way I like it.

Charlene Lam’s Curating Grief opens up to all the ways in which we are curators after a loved one dies. I linked the origin story for you. Terrible Thanks for Asking with writer Nora McInerney of Feelings & Co. always sets the record straight. She adds the funny just when you need it most.

Medium and clinical psych Dr. Amy Robbins talks NDE and lots of psychic experiences on Life, Death & The Space Between. Her ghost stories are also a treat for those into signs from across the veil.

I recently spoke to Dr. Laura Berman on The Language of Love pod, about writing in grief. Bring paper and pen to this episode. It is a mini prompt-led writing sesh.

Jenny Lisk talks “only parenting” as host of The Widowed Parent Podcast. She just featured NY therapist, Gina Moffa and her new book Moving On Doesn’t Mean Letting Go.

Feel free to forward my links and likes to friends and family. Sometimes listening can prove healing. Maybe we can hear the story of another and see ourselves in their experience and in turn—feel much less alone.

Subscribe for part two.

x, Barri