A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast

Grief doesn’t always look the same—especially for fathers. In this powerful episode, Heather sits down with Chuck Allen, father of Olivia Allen, for a heartfelt conversation about what it means to grieve as a dad. Chuck opens up about the small rituals that still connect him to Liv, how he copes with the weight of loss, and why he's more comfortable with his own mortality since her passing. They talk about father-daughter bonds...

Grief changes, but it never disappears. For illustrator and author Jordan Sondler, losing her dad at 14 shaped both her art and her understanding of what it means to carry loss through life. In this conversation, she shares how creativity became a language for grief, how memory shifts over time, and why she co-founded Dead Parent Club, an audio-only community where people can show up just as they are. Jordan’s story is honest, thou...

Austin Wolfe lost his younger brother, Devin, in a car accident — a moment that changed everything. In this conversation, he reflects on that day, the strange quiet that followed, and how saying yes to volunteering at Experience Camps helped him begin to live with his grief instead of around it. Austin shares what it’s like to hold space for kids navigating the same kind of loss, the mix of heartbreak and joy that unfolds in a week...

Grief is never simple, and for musician Jeff Brisbin, the loss of his son Josh continues to shape his life, his art, and his purpose. In this powerful conversation, Jeff shares what it means to carry his son’s memory forward—the hard days, the unexpected signs, and the music that keeps him connected. From navigating family milestones to finding healing on stage, Jeff’s story is both heartbreaking and hopeful.

• Jake’s Help fro...

We’re closing out Season 2 with a collection of the most powerful, moving, and unforgettable moments from this season of A Place of Yes. From raw grief and resilience to unexpected wisdom and strength, this mashup honors the voices that made this season so impactful.We’ll be taking a short break and returning this fall with brand new episodes. In the meantime, follow us on Instagram to stay in the loo, and get behind-the-scenes upd...

She’s buried 4 members of her immediate family. Only she and her mom are left. In part 2 of this devastating conversation, Heather sits down with Kelly Talbot to talk about the most recent two losses—her brothers Jason & Sean. We thank Kelly for sharing her story, and being so deeply vulnerable with our audience. We hope her story has inspired you ❤️‍🩹 Find Heather and Jake's Help from Heaven: ❤️ APOY Instagram: htt...

She’s buried 4 members of her immediate family. Only she & her mom are left.

In part one of this devastating conversation, Heather sits down with Kelly Talbot to talk about the first two losses—her brother Ryan, killed in a hit-and-run murder, and her father, who died after a long battle with cancer.This is just the beginning of a grief story that’s almost too much to comprehend. Find Heather and Jake's Help from Heaven:

Leah Stern was more than just a daughter—she was her dad’s best friend. When he died of glioblastoma, her world broke open. In this emotional and raw conversation, Leah shares how she’s navigating life without him, the jealousy she feels when others still have their dads, and how grief doesn’t always look like tears—it can show up as rage, loneliness, and quiet resentment. This episode explores what it really means to lose a paren...

This week’s episode is sponsored by Freedom Concepts, creators of custom adaptive tricycles, Chill-Out Chairs, and early intervention equipment that help individuals of all ages and abilities experience mobility, comfort, and dignity. Heather shares the powerful stories of two families whose children’s lives changed dramatically after being matched with Freedom Concepts equipment. From new levels of independence to moments of pure...

This week’s episode is a special live recording from Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga Springs, where Heather sits down with author Casey Mulligan Walsh to talk about her deeply moving memoir, The Full Catastrophe. Orphaned by twelve, the only surviving sibling, and later a mother navigating divorce and the unraveling of her family, Casey opens up about the grief that shaped her life—and the unimaginable loss of her firstborn son, ...

At just 19 years old, she lost her mom to Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency—a rare genetic disorder that went undiagnosed until it was too late. In this episode, she shares what it was like to watch her mom suffer without answers, and how the grief of that experience changed everything: her family, her future, and her sense of self.

Dr. Al Freedman knows firsthand what it’s like to be a parent in the rare disease world—his son Jack lived with Spinal Muscular Atrophy for 26 years. In this conversation, he joins Heather to talk about the deep grief and isolation that comes with rare parenting, and what it means to lose a child to a disease no one else seems to understand. As both a psychologist and a rare disease dad, Dr. Freedman brings a unique perspective—sh...

Aubrey Ide was only 18 when she lost her best friend Olivia Allen to cancer. In this episode, Aubrey sits down with Heather to share what it’s been like to grieve so young—how the loss changed her, what she misses most, and the milestones that feel so different without Olivia there. She talks about the things they didn’t get to do together, the deep loneliness of losing a friend at that age, and what healing looks like nearly a ye...

Grief doesn’t come with a roadmap—and it definitely doesn’t fit into a 3-day leave policy. In this episode, Heather sits down with Rebecca Feinglos, founder of Grieve Leave, to talk about what it really looks like to take time to mourn. After losing both of her parents and going through a divorce, Rebecca quit her job in 2021 to dedicate a full year to grieving—and she documented every step. That journey grew into Grieve Leave, a ...

When Amelia Lawrence’s son Leo was born with limited mobility, she didn’t know if he’d ever experience the simple joys other kids take for granted—like riding a bike or sitting comfortably at school. But everything changed when Leo was introduced to adaptive equipment designed specifically for his needs.

When Maria Quiban Whitesell’s husband, Sean, was diagnosed with glioblastoma—a deadly and aggressive brain cancer—her world fell apart. Eighteen months later, she found herself a widow and a solo parent to their young son, Gus. In this powerful conversation, Maria shares the raw truth about navigating her husband’s illness, the impossible grief that followed, and how she learned to keep moving forward when it felt impossible.

Gabby Petito’s name is known around the world—but behind the headlines is a family still living with unimaginable grief. In this powerful conversation, Heather sits down with Gabby’s mother and stepmother to talk about what life has been like without her: the milestones she’s missed, the memories they hold close, and the heartbreak that lingers on birthdays, holidays, and especially Mother’s Day.

Jake’s birthday is coming, and it still hurts just as much as it did that first year. In this solo episode, Heather opens up about what it really feels like to face another year without her son—the lead-up, the dread, the heartbreak that anniversaries bring when someone you love is gone.