Guide Through Grief

In the ninth episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom and his guests, Mike and Shane, discuss their challenges, experiences, and milestones in each of their own unique grief journeys. Although no two grief journeys are the same, the value of sharing perspectives holds fast. This episode is not about comparing each others personal experiences but observing and respecting all aspects of another persons loss. These discussions give insight...

In the eighth episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom Van Ness and Dr. Ryan Stivers discuss the importance of asking for help in difficult times of grieving. In Tom's personal grief journey there where many moments of struggle and heartbreak. These moments materialized in many ways, some expected and some unexpected. By having conversations and vulnerability with Ryan, as well as others close to him, Tom was able to face some incredibl...

In the sixth episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom Van Ness and Bob Woolsey discuss Tom's personal experience in navigating distractions. The need for healthy distractions, as well as the dangers of even the most innocent distractions becoming addictive, will all be tackled in this episode. From taking care of his sons, work, cleaning, and e...

In the fifth episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom Van Ness and Bob Woolsey discuss Tom's grief and the importance of embracing it. Grief is an emotion that the entire human race will feel at some point in their lives. With this in mind, reconciling and even having gratitude for the experience of grief is one of the hardest and most important challenges we all...

In the fourth episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom Van Ness and Dr. Ryan Stivers talk about the importance of therapy, not only concerning Tom's mental health journey, but also in general. For Tom, grief created a world where he felt guilty and ashamed of how he was grieving. Through meeting with Ryan, Tom discovered a safe space to share his struggles, thoughts, and goals moving forward. Therapy paired with meetings with Father Pat...

In the third episode of Guide Through Grief,  Tom Van Ness and Father Patrick Smith talk through some of the spiritual challenges Tom has faced while processing Lesley's passing. Throughout Tom and Lesley's marriage, Father Patrick has played a large part in their story. He officiated their wedding, baptized their sons, and walked with Tom through the organizing of Lesley's funeral. Even since Lesley's passing, Tom and Father Patri...

In the second episode of Guide Through Grief, Tom Van Ness and Bob Woolsey talk through the weeks following Lesley's passing. Tom reflects on the difficult challenges that awaited him as he traveled back home to Illinois. Telling his seven and eight-year-old sons that their mother had passed, organizing the funeral, and writing his wife's obituary were only some of the daunting tasks that Tom had to wrestle through. Through tears a...

Welcome to Guide Through Grief, a podcast that explores the many ways grief can impact our lives. In the first episode of Guide Through Grief, host Tom Van Ness and co-host Bob Woolsey introduce listeners to Tom’s personal story of profound loss following the sudden death of his wife, Lesley, in April 2023. Tom recounts the shocking 12-day journey that began during a family vacation and ended with Lesley’s passing. Through vivid me...

Welcome to Guide Through Grief, a podcast that explores the many ways grief can impact our lives. In the first episode of Guide Through Grief, host Tom Van Ness and co-host Bob Woolsey introduce listeners to Tom’s personal story of profound loss following the sudden death of his wife, Lesley, in April 2023. Tom recounts the shocking 12-day journey that began during a family vacation and ended with Lesley’s passing. Through vivid me...