Pull Them Close: A Conversation about Grief
As we move into the holiday season—a time that can amplify both joy and tenderness—we’re revisiting one of our most meaningful conversations on the comfy chairs. In this encore episode, host Kate Johnson welcomes Justin Clifford, CEO of Bereave, for a heartfelt exploration of how workplaces can better support employees navigating grief and loss.
Together, Kate and Justin unpack the critical role of compassionate bereavement practices—especially during a season when grief can feel sharper, and the need for understanding grows. Justin shares actionable insights for managers and leaders, from building empathy through intentional training to crafting inclusive policies that honor the diverse realities of modern families.
This revisit also highlights the transformative power of vulnerability in leadership. Justin underscores the importance of modeling self-care and creating spaces where employees feel seen and supported through life’s hardest seasons. He offers tools and resources to help organizations build cultures of care—reminding us that supporting grief at work isn’t simply about resilience; it’s about honoring our shared humanity.
- Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinclifford2/
- Learn more about Bereave: https://www.bereave.io/
Additional resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Liesel Mertes, empathy coaching: https://www.lieselmertes.com/
- A single platform for practical support resources and tools: https://www.supportnow.org/
- Family support for estate and other matters after the death of a loved one: https://www.full-circlecare.com/
- Supporting employees after the loss of a child: https://www.hopeworkshere.com/
- Employee leave management platform: https://www.cocoon.com/
Got something on your mind? A tricky situation at work? A leadership topic you’re curious about? Share your questions here: https://www.one23ltd.com/comfyhq
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com