Grief Dreams Podcast

Vera Decena is the founder of ColourFull Nutrition and a grief-informed nutrition counsellor and health & wellness coach. With over a decade in food, nutrition, and health sciences, she created ColourFull Nutrition after her own spousal loss, where she noticed a gap in grief care, which had plenty of emotional support, but little guidance for the physical body in mourning. Today, Vera supports the bereaved with compassionate, whole-body care, helping people nourish, regulate, and rebuild gentle routines. She normalizes the body’s response to grief and highlights the mind-body connection so people can feel more grounded in themselves. You can find more about Vera at colourfullnutrition.com and IG @colourfull_nutrition. In this episode, we discuss her journey into valuing nutrition, her relationship with her partner, the loss of her partner from substance use, the changes in her body that she went through, nutrition and grief, and the grief dreams she has had about her partner. You can find more about Grief Dreams here: Website – www.griefdreams.ca Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group Looking for ways to support the podcast? You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways: 1) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen to) and give a review. This improves its online visibility. 2) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. I appreciate any support that helps raise awareness of the topic. 3) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support) https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast

In this episode, I recap some of the dream conversations I had with guests in 2025. You can find more about Grief Dreams here: Website – www.griefdreams.ca Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group Looking for ways to support the podcast? You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways:1) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen to) and give a review. This improves its online visibility. 2) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. I appreciate any support that helps raise awareness of the topic. 3) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support)https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast

Michael Mackenzie has worked in Developmental Services, supporting people with intellectual disabilities, for more than 35 years. His areas of focus have included person-directed employment navigation, fundraising, staff training, advocacy and rights, decision making in health care, palliative and Hospice family support, and legacy work through storytelling. Michael is also a volunteer at Bereaved Families of Ontario (Toronto), where he facilitates peer grief groups for people with intellectual disabilities and another series for direct support workers who have experienced loss of those they have supported. He is joined today with Luke Lapas, who has co-facilitated the grief group with people who have intellectual disabilities. In this episode, we discuss their grief, developing and running a grief program for people with intellectual disabilities, support staff grief, and the grief dreams they have had (grandparents, friend, and clients). You can find more about Grief Dreams here: Website – www.griefdreams.ca Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group Looking for ways to support the podcast? You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways: 1) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen) and give a review. This improves its online visibility. 2) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. I appreciate any support that contributes to raising awareness on the topic. 3) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support) https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast

Felicia Cardinal manages an Indigenous clothing store in Chilliwack, British Columbia called Section 35. She is originally from Saddle Lake Cree Nation. Saddle Lake Cree Nation is a Plains Cree, First Nations community, located in the "Beaver Hills" region of central Alberta, Canada. Felicia was born in Edmonton, Alberta and raised in and around there. She moved to Chilliwack in 2009 with her grandmother, who has since moved back to Alberta. Felicia likes to spend her free time at home with her 2 cats or connecting with close friends. In this episode, we talk about her love of dreams, the death of her parents and friend, changes in how she has dealt with grief over the years, Indigenous culture, her journey with her grandmother’s dementia, dreams of her grandmother, and grief dreams of her mother, auntie, and friend. You can find more about Grief Dreams here: Website – www.griefdreams.ca Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group Looking for ways to support the podcast? You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways: 1) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen) and give a review. This improves its online visibility. 2) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. I appreciate any support that contributes to raising awareness on the topic. 3) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support) https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast 4) Buy me a Coffee (one-time financial support) https://www.buymeacoffee.com/griefdreams

Lindsey Whissel Fenton is an Emmy award-winning filmmaker, international speaker, and grief educator. In her current role as a senior producer and director at PBS/NPR affiliate WPSU, Lindsey focuses on projects related to grief, trauma, and mental health. She is the creator of Speaking Grief and its sister-initiative, Learning Grief, and serves on the board of directors for the National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG). Lindsey is the founder of Empathic Media, a company that works with clients from non-profit organizations to provide thoughtful and compelling content creation services. She’s also the creator, producer, and host of The Apologies Podcast. You can find more about Lindsey on Instagram @lindseywhisselfenton or at https://lindseywhisselfenton.com/ In this update episode we talk about her new losses since being on the show over 4 years ago (episode 168), including the death of her dog. We discussed her relationship with her dog, her grief, and her grief dreams. We also chatted about the Learning Grief website. You can find more about Grief Dreams here: Website – www.griefdreams.ca Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group Looking for ways to support the podcast? You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways: 1) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen) and give a review. This improves its online visibility. 2) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. I appreciate any support that contributes to raising awareness on the topic. 3) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support) https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast 4) Buy me a Coffee (one-time financial support) https://www.buymeacoffee.com/griefdreams

Alison Garwood-Jones is an award-winning magazine writer and a former editor at Elle Canada. She now heads up Pen Jar Productions, an art shop and publishing imprint. She also teaches writing and digital strategy at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies, where she won the 2021 Excellence in Teaching Award. Alison’s new picture book, titled “I MISS MY MOMMY: 150 Portraits of Orphaned Adults”. You can find more about Alison at https://alisongarwoodjones.com/. In this episode, I talk with Alison about the death of her parents, her grief journey, her new picture book, and grief dreams of her parents. You can find more about Grief Dreams here: Website – www.griefdreams.ca Instagram and Twitter - @GriefdreamsFacebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group Looking for ways to support the podcast? You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways:1) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen to) and give a review. This improves our online visibility.2) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. I appreciate any support that contributes to raising awareness on the topic.3) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support)https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast

Nina Rodriguez is the founder and host of the Grief and Light Podcast, created after the unexpected loss of her only sibling, Yosef, as an authentic exploration of grief and life after loss. Beyond the podcast, Nina extends her heart-centered support through monthly circles, personalized mentorship, speaking engagements, active presence on social media, and forthcoming in-person retreats. She has also completed the Grief Care Professional Certificate Program. You can find more about Nina at https://www.griefandlight.com/ In this episode, I talk with Nina Rodriguez about the death of her brother from toxic drug poisoning, her journey in looking for answers and living without her only sibling, starting her podcast, and having 201 dreams of her brother. You can find more about Grief Dreams here: Our website – www.griefdreams.ca Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group Looking for ways to support the podcast? You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways: 1) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support) https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast 2) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen) and give a review. This improves our online visibility. 3) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. We appreciate any support that contributes to raising awareness on the topic.

Dr. Saul Ebema brings over 20 years of spiritual care experience to his role as President of Hospice Chaplaincy and Director of Bereavement Services for a leading home health and hospice provider in the United States. Ordained as a minister in South Africa, he served in various pastoral roles supporting congregations and outreach. Dr. Ebema completed his Doctor of Ministry focused on advancing hospice chaplaincy practices. He has over a decade of experience as a healthcare and hospice chaplain providing compassionate end-of-life support. Recognized as a leader in his field, Dr. Ebema’s mission is transforming care for diverse communities. In addition to patient services, he advocates for education and research on inclusive, meaningful end-of-life experiences. Through his podcast, online training, and publications, Dr. Ebema is helping prepare providers to foster healing for those coping with terminal illness, grief, and bereavement. In this episode we talk with Dr. Ebema about the murder of his parents when he was a child, being kidnapped by rebels, the murder of his brother, nightmares throughout his healing journey, finding his faith, and working with those who are at end-of-life and bereaved. You can find more about Dr. Ebema and The Hospice Chaplaincy Show at https://hospicechaplaincy.com/clinical-practice/ You can find more about Grief Dreams here: Our website – www.griefdreams.ca Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group Looking for ways to support the podcast? You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways: 1) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support) https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast 2) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen) and give a review. This improves our online visibility. 3) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. We appreciate any support that contributes to raising awareness on the topic.

In this episode we recap some of the dream conversations we had with guests in 2023. You can find more about Grief Dreams here: Our website – www.griefdreams.ca Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group Looking for ways to support the podcast? You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways: 1) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support) https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast 2) Buy us a Coffee (one-time financial support) https://www.buymeacoffee.com/griefdreams 3) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen) and give a review. This improves our online visibility. 4) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. We appreciate any support that contributes to raising awareness on the topic.

Nikki Wilson is a model and the owner of Mira Denim. Mira Denim is a small batch, ethically made, sustainable fashion company. You can find more about Nikki on Instagram @nikkiwilso or at https://www.miradenim.com/ In this update episode we talk about her grief journey since joining us 4 years ago on the podcast (episode 128), building confidence, learning about her emotions, ambiguous loss of her birds, and dreams relating to her deceased uncle and of her birds. You can find more about Grief Dreams here: Our website – www.griefdreams.ca Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group Looking for ways to sup port the podcast? You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways: 1) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support) https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast 2) Buy us a Coffee (one-time financial support) https://www.buymeacoffee.com/griefdreams 3) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen) and give a review. This improves our online visibility. 4) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. We appreciate any support that contributes to raising awareness on the topic

Colin Campbell is a writer and director for theater and film. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Seraglio, a short film he wrote and directed with wife Gail Lerner. He has taught Theater and/or Filmmaking at Chapman University, Loyola Marymount University, Cal Poly Pomona University, and to incarcerated youth through The Unusual Suspects. His one person show titled, Grief: A One Man ShitShow, premiered at the Hollywood Fringe Festival where it won a Best of Broadwater Award. He recently wrote the book titled Finding the Words: Working Through Profound Loss with Hope and Purpose. You can find more about Colin at https://colincampbellauthor.com/ In this episode we talk about the death of his two teenage children, bereavement challenges in processing his grief (including anger), using the Jewish tradition to embrace grief, how his grief changed overtime, his one person show and new book, and grief dreams of his deceased children. You can find more about Grief Dreams here: Our website – www.griefdreams.ca Instagram, Threads, and X (formerly Twitter) - @Griefdreams Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group Looking for ways to support the podcast? You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways: 1) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support) https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast 2) Buy us a Coffee (one-time financial support) https://www.buymeacoffee.com/griefdreams 3) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen) and give a review. This improves our online visibility. 4) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. We appreciate any support that contributes to raising awareness on the topic.

After teaching poetry as an academic for over 20 years, Cathy Sosnowsky started writing poetry herself in response to the sudden death of her teenaged son. Two lines of poetry came to her in a dream on the very night he died. She had to get out of bed and write them down. From then on, in her grief journey, writing poetry saved her. Eventually, many of these poems were published in the book, Holding On: Poems for Alex. Cathy has since published two more books: Snapshots: A Story of Love, Loss, and Life, and, more recently, Finding Heartstone: A Taste of Wilderness. As a chapter leader of The Compassionate Friends, a support group for bereaved parents, Cathy often gives “Writing as Healing Workshops.” You can find more about Cathy at www.cathysosnowsky.com In this episode we talk about the death of her 17-year-old son, how she used poetry to process her grief, poems she wrote, and a grief dream of her deceased son. You can find more about Grief Dreams here: Our website – www.griefdreams.ca Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group Looking for ways to support the podcast? You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways: 1) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support) https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast 2) Buy us a Coffee (one-time financial support) https://www.buymeacoffee.com/griefdreams 3) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen) and give a review. This improves our online visibility. 4) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. We appreciate any support that contributes to raising awareness on the topic

Dr. Donna Stoneham is the author of The Thriver’s Edge: Seven Keys to Transform the Way You Live, Love, and Lead (SWP, 2015), and a contributor to the anthology, Art in the Time of Unbearable Crisis: Women Writer’s Respond to the Call (SWP, 2022), and the new book Catch Me When I Fall: Poems of Mother Loss and Healing (being released May 9, 2023). Additionally, over the span of her thirty-year career in leadership development, she has coached hundreds of leaders, teams, and executives, guiding them to live more fulfilling, authentic lives while expressing their gifts in the world. She has also worked for twelve years part-time as a chaplain and a hospice chaplain, providing spiritual and end-of-life care in nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. You can find more about Donna at https://donnastoneham.com/ In this episode we talk about her near-death experience after a suicide attempt at age 15, her relationship with her mother before and after her death, her new book, coping with her grief, honouring her mother on Mother’s Day, and dreams of her deceased mother. You can find more about Grief Dreams here: Our website – www.griefdreams.ca Instagram and Twitter - @Griefdreams Facebook – Grief Dreams Podcast Page and Grief Dreams Group Looking for ways to support the podcast? You can help support the Grief Dreams Podcast in a few ways: 1) Become a Patreon supporter (monthly financial support) https://www.patreon.com/griefdreamspodcast 2) Buy us a Coffee (one-time financial support) https://www.buymeacoffee.com/griefdreams 3) Subscribe to the podcast (on the platform you listen) and give a review. This improves our online visibility. 4) Support the topic by sharing the podcast or website. We appreciate any support that contributes to raising awareness on the topic.