Transforming Grief: Lessons from Losing a Child with Suzanne Jabour

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting (TAOIA), host Amy Stone chats with Suzanne Jabour about rebuilding life after the loss of her adult son. Suzanne shares her personal journey through grief, the practical and emotional realities of loss, and her mission to create space for more open and supportive conversations around grief and healing. Together, they explore not only the pain, but also the opportunities for connection, growth, and compassion that arise in the aftermath of tragedy.

About the Guest:

Suzanne is a grieving mom who has found meaning in her loss through providing grief education – sharing how grief really works and how we can support people experiencing it. She works with grievers to chart their own path through Conscious and Curious Grief Coaching. She offers a regular rotation of workshops and sessions for grievers and people supporting them to share the information, skills and tools so we can respond to grief in a more meaningful way. Her TEDx talk “Grief is Hard - Let’s do Better” will be released in 2025. She is available as a speaker to share her story and help normalize grief as a healthy response to losses big and small. She has a BA and B Ed and decades of experience as a trainer. She is a certified Grief Educator, a Transformational Coach and Workshop Leader.

Main Topics Covered:

• Suzanne’s life before and after her son’s passing
• How the COVID-19 pandemic shaped her family’s experience of loss
• The realities of grief, including its physical, emotional, and mental impact (“grief brain”)
• Why our society struggles to handle grief and what needs to change
• Honoring loved ones by sharing stories and memories
• Practical advice for supporting grievers and having better conversations about loss
• The importance of foundational well-being in facing life’s challenges
• Suzanne’s new grief workshops and available resources

Quote from the Episode:

“If we were having more conversations about it, about grief and loss and rebuilding, we would be much better adulting.” — Suzanne Jabour

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Introductions, Vancouver vs. Seattle, and Suzanne’s hobbies
• 02:04 – Discussing the loss of Suzanne’s adult son; the context of the pandemic
• 07:13 – Exposure to grief prior to Ben’s death; unique impact of losing a child
• 09:59 – How Ben passed away and reframing mental health loss
• 14:01 – Honoring and remembering Ben’s life
• 19:16 – The physical and mental impact of grief; normalizing the experience
• 22:05 – “Fork in the road” moments and puzzle pieces of identity
• 28:08 – Rebuilding life, shifting priorities and boundaries
• 38:18 – Supporting grievers: what helps, and what doesn’t
• 46:26 – Why we must get better at handling grief
• 47:00 – Suzanne’s workshops, resources, and special offer for listeners
• 49:15 – Rapid fire questions: fear, Mars, and beverages

Resources & Links:

• Special offer from Suzanne Jabour drop-in grief workshops (code “AIA” for 10% off) https://www.suzannejabour.com/
• Suzanne’s TEDx Talk: “Grief is Hard. Let’s Do Better.” https://youtu.be/3wRQTueKxJY?si=EaGmKD6jSrjqrZPx

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