#19 - Anonymous Calls (Carrying Loss and Finding Meaning)

Two anonymous callers, two very different life stories, but a shared thread of grief, reflection, and the search for meaning.

In this episode, one caller opens up about a decade marked by intense, sudden losses, including the murder of a close cousin, the death of her fiancé, and a period of time spent living in her car. Through it all, she has wrestled with the big questions of what happens when we die and found a kind of personal faith rooted in kindness, connection, and the love of a small dog named Henry.

The second caller grew up with death always lingering in the background. Her mom was diagnosed with cancer when she was ten and passed away when she was twenty-two. That experience shaped everything—her outlook on life, her fears around health, and even her sense of identity. We talk about the stories we carry, what happens when we finally let some of them go, and why grief can feel like a personality trait.

Both conversations dig into what happens when grief becomes part of your identity, and what it takes to start making sense of it all. Whether it’s finding faith in the eyes of a dog or learning to rewrite the story you’ve been telling yourself for decades, these calls offer a glimpse into how we keep going even when things fall apart.

Books mentioned in this episode:

• I Am Still the Greatest Says Johnny Angelo by Nik Cohn
• The Chronology of Water by Lidia Yuknavitch
• All Book Recommendations (So Far!)

This episode is sponsored by Amori.

Amori is a digital time capsule designed to help you reflect on mortality, process emotions, and leave meaningful messages for your loved ones. It’s a thoughtful way to ensure your presence is felt in life’s biggest moments, even after you're gone.

Learn more and get 50% off at amori.life with the code WHENWEDIE50.

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Want to share your thoughts?
We want to hear from you! Call our voicemail at 971-328-0864 and tell us what you believe happens when we die. Your message might be featured in a future episode and could help inspire someone else on their journey. Or, if you're interested in having a full conversation, you can apply to be an anonymous caller at whenwedietalks.com.

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