The Silent Why: finding hope in grief and loss

#141. Struggling with the festive season? You're not alone. It's not an easy time of year, and it’s been a season of both highs and lows for us too over the years. 

This is The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to open up conversations around grief, to see if hope can be found in 101 different types of loss, and we're Chris & Claire Sandys, your childless hosts.

Each year, we share a Christmas ...

#140. How's our big trip 'Down Under' going? This is where you find out. Again.

Welcome to The Silent Why - usually a podcast with a mission to open-up honest conversations around grief and explore whether hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss. But right now, things are a little different!

Take a listen to the previous episode to get a better idea what this one is going to be all about. 

We (Chris &...

#139. How's our big trip going so far? This is where you find out.

Welcome to The Silent Why - usually a podcast on a mission to open up honest conversations around grief and explore whether hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss - but right now, things are a little different!

If you've heard the previous episode, you'll have a good idea what this one is going to be all about. 

We (Chris & Claire...

#138. We're off on an Ozzie adventure!

But, first things first, as promised, the all-important anonymous form: 👉 https://forms.gle/LmFrrd4xvvnEhG5R9  👈  (it'll make sense when you've listened to the episode!)

Welcome to The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to open up conversations around grief, exploring if hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss.

This episode is a little different, beca...

#137. Can losing a friend be overlooked in our culture? What happens when the friend who knew you best is gone? And why are there so few resources to help with this kind of grief?

This is The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to explore grief, asking if hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss.

Loss #65 of 101: Loss of a friend

In this episode, we meet Hannah Rumsey from Chicago. She's the f...

#136. (We'll... we've actually done 226 episodes in total. You'll hear me talk about the annoying decision around episode numbering in this 226th episode!)

This is The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to open up conversations around grief, asking if hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss.

This episode is a little different. No blog, no interview, no Chris, and no focus on loss. It’s just...

#135. How do we accept, and live with, a life we never really wanted?

Welcome to another My Why Blog episode - where I share the audio version of my latest blog post. But in this case, it’s actually a re-release of the most popular blog episode I’ve ever put out (to my surprise!).

If you’ve been listening a while, you’ll know I usually pause podcasting in August to focus on writing and other projects. But this August is a little diff...

#134. Let's chat... about finding hope after feeling hopeless as a young widow.

Welcome to another Let’s Chat episode, where instead of continuing our 101 Types of Loss list, I (Claire Sandys) sit down with guests who have expertise and personal insight into different aspects of loss.

In this episode, I have the pleasure of talking with Rachel Powell from Colorado. She’s a life coach, speaker, author, and fou...

#133. “Grief isn’t sad – because it reminds you to make the most of today.”  Curious about how Richard has reached this conclusion after losing his wife? Hit play and find out.

This is The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to explore grief, asking if hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss.

Loss #64 of 101: Loss of a wife

In this episode, we meet Richard Smith, whose wife Heather died...

#132. Life is hectic. Sometimes we simply need to stop for a moment. And that’s what this short episode is all about. 

Oh, and the beautiful sounds of the Mediterranean Sea that I recorded when we were in Cyprus. 

Welcome to The Silent Why podcast, here to help you navigate loss and grief, and possibly... find hope. 

These very short, episodes will pop up every now and then to help you take a moment to check in and...

#131. Let's chat... about where the love goes when someone dies. Can you still be 'in love' if it's not reciprocated? Does it eventually fade? Or die?

Welcome to another Let’s Chat episode, where instead of continuing our 101 Types of Loss list, I (Claire Sandys) sit down with guests who have expertise and personal insight into different aspects of loss.

In this episode, I have the pleasure of talking wi...

#130. Not all losses are bereavements. Sometimes they follow a diagnosis and impact someone for the rest of their life, like with our guest in this episode.

This is The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to explore grief, asking if hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss.

Loss #63 of 101: Loss through chronic illness - Lupus

In this episode, we meet Olivia Abousaid - a grief coach based...

#129. What are the most valuable things we've learnt - or think really matter - after 20 years of marriage?

This is The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to open up conversations around grief, exploring asking if hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss.

On 26 May 2025, we celebrated 20 years of marriage! It's a big deal for us as we love being married and find we don't have that much to ce...

#128. Did you know you can build mental muscles, as well as physical ones? And that you can start that any time - no matter how weak you might feel?

Welcome to another My Why from Claire Sandys (co-host of The Silent Why podcast). My Why episodes are audio versions of my latest blog post.

If you'd prefer to read it, you can find it here: https://www.thesilentwhy.com/post/how-to-build-mental-muscles-when-you-...

#127.  Think menopause is just a physical change?
What if we told you it can also bring grief, loss of identity, and a hit to your mental health?

This is The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to open up conversations around grief, exploring asking if hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss.

Loss #62 of 101: Loss through menopause

In this episode, we welcome Diane Danzebrink, advocate, educat...

#126. Let's Chat... about seeing grief as an adventure.

Welcome to another Let’s Chat episode, where instead of continuing our 101 Types of Loss list, I sit down with guests who have expertise and personal insight into different aspects of loss.

In this episode, I (Claire) have the pleasure of talking with Bianca Neumann, the Assistant Director of Bereavement at Sue Ryder – a charity dedicated to providing th...

#125. What impact can possessions have on grief? The lack of them, the loss of them, too many of them etc.

This is The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to open up conversations around grief, exploring asking if hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss.

Loss #61 of 101: Loss of possessions

In this episode we welcome Naomi Westerman, a playwright, screenwriter, and author from South East London. Naomi'...

#124. Let's Chat... about how writing and running can help us through grief.

Welcome to another Let’s Chat episode, where instead of continuing our 101 Types of Loss list, I sit down with guests who have personal insight into different aspects of loss.

In this episode, I (Claire) have the pleasure of talking with fellow podcaster and writer, Justin Creps. Justin is a teacher based in Ohio and co-hosts the pod...

#123. Can hope be found in 101 different types of loss? 

We're well on our way to finding out, as we reach another milestone! 

We've hit loss number 60 on our mission to explore 101 different types of permanent loss, meaning we only have 41 (!) to go. Now over halfway to our goal.

In this episode, we (Chris & Claire Sandys) pause briefly to discuss life in general (something new we thought we'd try!), the ...