15. Get Griefy with Kera Sanchez: Life After Loss and Finding Your Spark Again

In this episode of The Great Detour™, Jess is joined by Kera Sanchez, a high school dean, mother of two, Navy wife, and the founder and editor-in-chief of Get Griefy Magazine. Together, they explore the complex terrain of grief — not just the heaviness, but also the creativity, community, and surprising ways we can carry loss without being consumed by it. 

Kera shares her deeply personal story of navigating profound grief after the sudden loss of her mother while in the midst of new motherhood, and how that experience inspired her to create a platform that helps others feel seen, supported, and a little less alone.

They talk about the realities of sudden loss, how grief reshapes our priorities, why joy and sorrow can coexist, and how creativity can become a lifeline in the healing process. Kera also shares practical insights for finding your footing when you're feeling stuck.

Known for her lighthearted and honest approach to grief, Kera talks about blending sorrow and joy, building community, and how we find our way forward when life gets a little griefy.

About Kera Sanchez

Kera Sanchez is a High School Dean of Students in the Chicagoland area, a mom of two, and the wife of a Naval Officer. In June 2022, just days after the birth of her youngest child, her mom unexpectedly passed away while on vacation in Italy. Navigating grief and postpartum at the same time reshaped Kera’s outlook on life and inspired her to create the Legacy Letters Guided Journal — a way for people to leave handwritten messages of love and advice for their families. She later published a Spanish edition, as well as a second journal, No Legacy Lost, for honoring loved ones who have passed.

As she documented her grief journey online, Kera found healing through connection with others who had turned loss into resilience and creativity. Moved by the power of these stories, she founded Get Griefy Magazine in November 2023, creating a platform that celebrates the many ways we carry loss and still choose joy. She now serves as Editor-in-Chief and is the face behind the brand.

Learn More about Kera Sanchez, Get Griefy Magazine, & Legacy Letters Guided Journals:

Get Griefy Magazine Website: https://www.getgriefymagazine.com/

Legacy Letters Journals: https://www.legacylettersjournal.com/

Get Griefy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getgriefymagazine/

Lemons to Legacies Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lemonstolegacies/

Learn more about The Great Detour™

Website: www.thegreatdetour.com
Instagram: @thegreatdetour