Tendrils of Grief

In today's episode with Karen Roldan, a licensed funeral director, embalmer, and the creator of Behind the Funeral, to pull back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood industries in our lives — death care.

With nearly twenty years of experience and a deep respect for the families she serves, Karen brings honesty, compassion, and clarity to conversations many of us avoid until we're forced to have the...

Today I sit down with Kyle Kittleson, the on-camera host for MedCircle, known for making complex mental health topics accessible through thoughtful, compassionate conversations. Kyle opens up about his personal grief journey after losing his mother as a teenager and how unprocessed loss shaped his emotional world for years.

Drawing from both lived experience and thousands of interviews with leading mental ...

In this episode of Tendrils of Grief, I sit down with Samina Bari—a corporate leader, author, and grief advocate whose life changed forever after the sudden loss of her husband. Known for advising CEOs and boards on over $40 billion in global M&A transactions, Samina brings that same clarity and strength to a deeply personal conversation about grief, widowhood, and rebuilding life after loss.

We talk openl...

In this episode, I'm joined by Marie Crews, a transformational coach, speaker, retreat facilitator, and best-selling author whose work is grounded in one core belief: your story can set you free. For over 15 years, Marie has helped women rewrite the narratives that limit them—guiding them through grief, trauma, and profound life transitions with compassion, courage, and clarity.

Marie's 25-year journey of ...

In today's episode Julie Fingersh, an accomplished writer and freelance journalist with a knack for exploring the intricacies of life. Through her essays, editorials, and reporting, Julie dives into topics like culture, wellness, relationships, and parenting adult children—all while offering insights on how to lead a better, more meaningful life.

Her work has graced the pages of The New York Times, Oprah M...

I sit down with Rev. Kate J. Meyer, LPC—an ordained minister, licensed professional counselor, hospice professional, and acclaimed author—whose life's work is dedicated to bringing grief out of the shadows and helping people move through loss with honesty, compassion, and faith.

Drawing from decades of experience in hospice care, private practice, and spiritual counseling, Kate offers deeply grounded insig...

We sit down with Zoilita Grant, a transformational mindset expert with over 50 years of experience in subconscious reprogramming, hypnosis, and personal development. Zoilita has helped thousands of people break free from old patterns, release fear, and step into a life of clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Known for her grounded, heart-centered approach, Zoilita blends science-backed techniques, hypnosis fo...

In this episode, we sit down with Andrea, an author, poet, artist, book illustrator, and yoga practitioner who writes under the pen name Cheydrea. Andrea's journey is one of brave authenticity, deep healing, and passionate storytelling. From her 15+ year journey of religious deconstruction to healing her inner child and navigating family estrangement, Andrea candidly shares her experiences and lessons learned along the...

In this deeply moving episode of Tendrils of Grief, host Susan Waze speaks with Jenny Brandemuehl, author of Forever Fly Free: A Memoir of Love, Trauma, and Resilience. Jenny opens her heart to share the incredible true story of how her husband survived — and ultimately succumbed to — a fiery plane crash that forever changed her life.

A former Silicon Valley executive turned author and mental health advoca...

We welcome Heather Hester — LGBTQ+ advocate, coach, author of Parenting with Pride, and host of More Human. More Kind. Together, they explore the intersection of grief, identity, parenting, and unconditional love, offering hope and understanding for families navigating similar journeys.

In this episode I open up about my own experience supporting my child, Max, who came out as transgender after the loss of...

We sit down with Misty Reshun — writer, speaker, and founder of Regal Crown Publishing — to explore how grief can become a powerful catalyst for healing, faith, and purpose. After the devastating loss of her son, Misty turned her pain into purpose through her book Sunflowers and Silence: Reflections from the Valley, a memoir and guided journal that offers comfort, reflection, and renewal for anyone walking through loss...

In this inspiring episode of The Tendrils of Grief Podcast, Edit B Kiss — a holistic mentor, success habit coach, #1 best-selling author, Humanitarian Award winner, and international speaker — to explore how true healing begins from within.

After a successful 15-year career in petroleum engineering, Edit took a leap of faith and transitioned into the world of holistic healing and mind-body transformation. ...

We sit down with Dr. Jerry Woodbridge — a Christian author, grief advocate, and lifelong educator whose mission is to bring comfort, understanding, and faith-based healing to grieving children and their caregivers.

With over 40 years of experience in education and a deeply personal connection to grief after losing her husband in 2004, Dr. Woodbridge has turned her sorrow into purpose. Through her writing a...

 We welcome Jill Amy Sager—an award-winning author, public speaker, intuitive Tarot reader, and spiritual channel whose story is as inspiring as it is transformative.

Jill's journey began in the late 1970s when she first studied Tarot, never imagining that it would lead her to channel wisdom from the Universe—what she lovingly calls "Guidance." Over time, her gift as a spiritual medium grew, and today she ...

In this episode, we sit down with Elliot Kallen, President of A Brighter Day, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing teen suicide and supporting families struggling with teen depression, stress, and mental health challenges. Founded in 2015 after the heartbreaking loss of his 19-year-old son Jake to suicide, Elliot transformed personal tragedy into a mission of hope.

Through A Brighter Day, Elliot and his tea...

In this episode, we sit down with Kathleen E. Judge, an accomplished Edward Jones financial advisor, community leader, and advocate for meaningful wealth management. With nearly three decades of experience in the financial services industry, Kathleen specializes in helping successful professionals, retirees, and business owners make smart decisions about their money—aligning their financial strategies with their values...

Jen Newberg, Founder of It's Lifey, knows firsthand that life doesn't come with a playbook. From navigating divorce, addiction, blending families, and widowhood, Jen has lived through life's most beautiful and heartbreaking transitions. Out of these experiences, she discovered one powerful truth: the antidote to loneliness is connection.

In this episode, Jen shares the story behind It's Lifey—a community-d...

In this episode of Tendrils of Grief, I welcome back Todd and Gina Goodwin, board-certified hypnotists who specialize in helping people overcome the emotional and behavioral challenges rooted in unresolved trauma and grief. Together, they have worked with thousands of clients, offering powerful, neuroscience-based tools to release unwanted thoughts, emotions, habits, and pain.

We dive deeper into the ways ...

In this episode, I'm joined by Tim Cummings—award-winning author, actor, and creative powerhouse—whose work bridges storytelling, performance, and imagination in extraordinary ways. Tim is the author of the newly released young adult novel The Lightning People Play (Black Rose Writing), as well as Alice the Cat (Fitzroy Books), which was named an American Book Awards Finalist and received multiple national literary hon...