86 episodes

About Show
Grief is a Sneaky Bitch creator and host Lisa Keefauver brings her deep curiosity, love of conversation, and knowledge of how language and culture shapes our experiences of ourselves and our world (including our grief) to each unscripted conversation. From thought leaders, CEO's and social workers to authors, educators, researchers, filmmakers and stay-at-home moms, her guests open up about the complexity, confusion, and even confidence they have gained by navigating a grief journey of their own.
And in case you’re new to the show, yes this is a podcast all about grief. She and her guests explore the expansiveness and pervasiveness of grief in our lives, because let’s face it, 100% of us experience grief, multiple times in our lives. Lisa witnessed it time and time again in her career as a social worker and in her personal life too with the most significant loss being her husband in 2011. And yet, individually, and collectively, we’re so grief-illiterate and that is causing us all harm. So, she's on a mission to reimagine grief, one conversation at a time. So glad you’re joining us.

About Host
WATCH her TEDx talk, Why Knowing More About Grief Can Make it Suck Less
PRE-ORDER her book, Grief is a Sneaky Bitch: An Uncensored Guide to Navigating Loss
WATCH her Media Maker Profile to learn about her WHY
Learn more about working with Lisa Keefauver by visiting www.lisakeefauver.com and follow on social media @lisakeefauvermsw
 
If you like this series, please make sure to leave a rating and write a review TODAY on Apple Podcasts.
If you've found the show helpful, consider becoming a GSB Podcast Supporter here
 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grief is a Sneaky Bitch Lisa Keefauver, MSW

    • Health & Fitness
    • 4.7 • 256 Ratings

About Show
Grief is a Sneaky Bitch creator and host Lisa Keefauver brings her deep curiosity, love of conversation, and knowledge of how language and culture shapes our experiences of ourselves and our world (including our grief) to each unscripted conversation. From thought leaders, CEO's and social workers to authors, educators, researchers, filmmakers and stay-at-home moms, her guests open up about the complexity, confusion, and even confidence they have gained by navigating a grief journey of their own.
And in case you’re new to the show, yes this is a podcast all about grief. She and her guests explore the expansiveness and pervasiveness of grief in our lives, because let’s face it, 100% of us experience grief, multiple times in our lives. Lisa witnessed it time and time again in her career as a social worker and in her personal life too with the most significant loss being her husband in 2011. And yet, individually, and collectively, we’re so grief-illiterate and that is causing us all harm. So, she's on a mission to reimagine grief, one conversation at a time. So glad you’re joining us.

About Host
WATCH her TEDx talk, Why Knowing More About Grief Can Make it Suck Less
PRE-ORDER her book, Grief is a Sneaky Bitch: An Uncensored Guide to Navigating Loss
WATCH her Media Maker Profile to learn about her WHY
Learn more about working with Lisa Keefauver by visiting www.lisakeefauver.com and follow on social media @lisakeefauvermsw
 
If you like this series, please make sure to leave a rating and write a review TODAY on Apple Podcasts.
If you've found the show helpful, consider becoming a GSB Podcast Supporter here
 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Nikki Mark | Tommy's Field

    Nikki Mark | Tommy's Field

    5 years ago, while today’s guest, Nikki Mark, was driving her 12-year-old son, Tommy, to a soccer game, he turned to her and asked, “Mom, is it possible to go to sleep and not wake up?” Nikki told him that’s how one of his grandmothers passed away: “it’s the best way to go-no pain, no drama.” He surprised Nikki further by stating, “It must be hard for a parent to lose a child.” Something told her in that car ride to tell him all the things she loved about him. Three days later, Tommy passed away in his sleep. There's still no medical explanation.
     
    Since that day, Nikki says she surrendered and that act has taken her on a healing path unlike many others – one that has included psychics, mediums, psychadelics, astrologists, and more. Even more profoundly, she has brought her strength and sheer determination to fulfill the dreams of not just Tommy, but so many families, by fundraising and then donating public fields to create Tommy’s Field – an open-to-the-public athletic fields that keep Tommy’s love of soccer and community alive and well.
      
    About the Guest & ResourcesNikki’s “inspirational debut memoir” (as lauded by Publisher’s Weekly) is entitled Tommy’s Field: Love, Loss and the Goal of a Lifetime. Prior to losing Tommy, Nikki released a children's book series - The MightyMom Series- which includes Mommy Brings Home the Bacon; Mommy's Got a Bun in the Oven; and MightyMom. All author’s profits from all book sales are being donated to the TM23 Foundation to build more athletic fields where they are most needed, and to brighten our world with the #powerofplay. Access Nikki’s free weekly articles, popular alternative healing toolkit, and other valuable resources at Nikkimark.com.
     
    Host Lisa Keefauver’s forthcoming book Grief is a Sneaky Bitch: An Uncensored Guide to Navigating Loss IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble or Bookshop.org. Drop her a DM on Instagram @lisakeefauvermsw to let her know you did and she’ll send you a party invite to her Book Launch Celebration
     
    Visit www.lisakeefauver.com to learn more about Lisa, sign up for her Not-So-Regular Newsletter, register for an upcoming online grief workshop or watch her TEDx talk, Why Knowing More About Grief Can Make it Suck Less.
     
    Oh, and this season, if you want to WATCH the show, you can now watch it on YouTube @lisakeefauvermsw
     
    Recorded March 16th, 2024.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 1 hr 12 min
    Peter Levine | Somatic Experiencing

    Peter Levine | Somatic Experiencing

    I’m thrilled to share my conversation with Peter A. Levine, the renowned developer of Somatic Experiencing - a naturalistic and neurobiological approach to healing trauma, which he has developed over the past 50 years. He holds a Medical and Biological Physics doctorate from the University of California at Berkeley and a doctorate in Psychology from International University. He is the recipient of four lifetime achievement awards and is the author of several books, including Waking the Tiger, which has now been printed in 33 countries and has sold over a million copies. His memoir, An Autobiography of Trauma: A Healing Journey will be published on April 9th,2024.
     
     
    ResourcesOrder An Autobiography of Trauma at https://books.innertraditions.com/autobiography-of-trauma/
    Dr. Levine is the author of several best-selling books on trauma, including Waking the Tiger, Healing Trauma (published in over 29 languages); In an Unspoken Voice,How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness; and Trauma and Memory,Brain and Body in a Search for the Living Past. Check out Peter Levine’s incredible resources on trauma and somatic experiencing (including videos, online courses, and his best-selling books) by visiting https://www.somaticexperiencing.com

     
    Host Lisa Keefauver’s forthcoming book Grief is a Sneaky Bitch: An Uncensored Guide to Navigating Loss IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble or Bookshop.org. Drop her a DM on Instagram @lisakeefauvermsw to let her know you did and she’ll send you a party invite to her Book Launch Celebration
     
    Visit www.lisakeefauver.com to learn more about Lisa, sign up for her Not-So-Regular Newsletter, register for an upcoming online grief workshop or watch her TEDx talk, Why Knowing More About Grief Can Make it Suck Less.
     
    Oh, and this season, if you want to WATCH the show, you can now watch it on YouTube @lisakeefauvermsw
     
    Recorded March 8th, 2024.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 1 hr 13 min
    Claire Bidwell Smith | Invitation to Conscious Grieving

    Claire Bidwell Smith | Invitation to Conscious Grieving

    In this episode, I bring you my conversation with the wise and warm grief therapist and author, Claire Bidwell Smith.
    There are some common themes most grievers experience, regardless of the source of their loss. These include things like a loss of self-identity, heightened feelings of guilt, time spent ruminating on the what ifs, and increased anxiety and fear. What makes these typical experiences even more challenging is that they are so rarely named by others, or shown in media, and so we often feel even further isolated from the world and uncertain how to get ourselves unstuck.
     
    That’s why I’m so grateful for Claire’s words and wisdom. In her recent book Conscious Grieving, and in our conversation, Claire opens up about her personal experiences with these themes in the wake of the death of both of her parents in her 20’s. Over the course of her career as a grief therapist both in private practice and hospice, she has gained such deep insight on how we move through various phases in grief, or orientations as she calls them. She helps us unpack what we might face in each and the roadblocks that can get in our way. From the insights she shares to her soft and warm voice, you are going to feel guided with care through today’s conversation.
     
    Resources
    Check out Claire’s body of work, including Conscious Grieving (her 5th book), hitting bookstores March 12th. If you’re listening before then, you don’t have to wait, you can pre-order it today on your favorite online bookseller. Also, Claire offers a wide array of workshops, retreats, and more, so head over to clairebidwellsmith.com to learn more.
     
    Host Lisa Keefauver’s forthcoming book Grief is a Sneaky Bitch: An Uncensored Guide to Navigating Loss IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble or Bookshop.org. Drop her a DM on Instagram @lisakeefauvermsw to let her know you did and she’ll send you a party invite to her Book Launch Celebration
     
    Visit www.lisakeefauver.com to learn more about Lisa, sign up for her Not-So-Regular Newsletter, register for an upcoming online grief workshop or watch her TEDx talk, Why Knowing More About Grief Can Make it Suck Less.
     
    Oh, and this season, if you want to WATCH the show, you can now watch it on YouTube @lisakeefauvermsw
     
    Recorded December 1, 2023

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 1 hr 13 min
    Devin Moss | You Are Loved. You Are Not Alone

    Devin Moss | You Are Loved. You Are Not Alone

    My conversation with guest Devin Moss was so rich and expansive, from our shared passion for the big existential questions to his rich and complex podcast series, Momento Mori (that dives deep into mortality), to his unexpected journey to becoming a Humanist Chaplain. He shares one of the most unique experiences of a bedside death I’ve ever heard. Soon after becoming certified Devin said yes to a request from an inmate on death row to have a non-theist chaplain accompany him in his final months on earth.
     
    Devin Sean Moss is a Humanist (nontheist) Chaplain unwavering in his pursuit to relate stories that connect us to our humanity. A natural explorer, he uses playful inquisition to examine the complexity of the human condition and the intrinsic meaning of life. Moss maintains an interdisciplinary practice of storytelling, street philosophy, and practical altruism. 
    In 2015, Moss created The Adventures of Memento Mori podcast.. The consequence of this deep meditation on impermanence was life-changing. Uncertain of what happens after we die, Moss has dedicated his life to the positive changes that can happen while we’re still alive.
     Resources
    You can learn more about Devin’s podcast, Momento Mori, and his work by visiting dsmoss.com or following him on Instagram at ds_moss
     
    Host Lisa Keefauver’s forthcoming book Grief is a Sneaky Bitch: An Uncensored Guide to Navigating Loss IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble or Bookshop.org. Drop her a DM on Instagram @lisakeefauvermsw to let her know you did and she’ll send you a party invite to her Book Launch Celebration
     
    Visit www.lisakeefauver.com to learn more about Lisa, sign up for her Not-So-Regular Newsletter, register for an upcoming online grief workshop or watch her TEDx talk, Why Knowing More About Grief Can Make it Suck Less.
     
    Oh, and this season, if you want to WATCH the show, you can now watch it on YouTube @lisakeefauvermsw
     
    Recorded January 26,2024

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 1 hr 35 min
    Darnell Lamont Walker | Toward Healing & Happiness

    Darnell Lamont Walker | Toward Healing & Happiness

    Darnell Lamont Walker joined me for an expansive conversation in this episode - from the questions you might want to ask yourself and others in life instead of waiting until death’s door, to the complex and layered experiences of grief and loss in the Black community, to the power of creativity and play as a tool of healing.
     
    Darnell is an Emmy-Nominated children's television writer who understands the power of representation and joy, creating content in hopes that all children get the opportunity to not only see themselves, but see how incredible they are and can be. Darnell has written for outstanding shows, including PBS Kids’ Work It Out Wombats!, Netflix’s Karma’s World, and Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues & You.
     
    He’s a death doula, helping individuals and communities move through grief and toward healing and happiness. Darnell’s goal with his is to continue to support children, adults, and whole communities around the world through the building of safe and happy spaces.
     
    ResourcesYou can learn more about the work Darnell offers from his courses at the Esalen Insitute, to writing projects, his work as a Death Doula and so much more by visiting www.darnellwalker.com or following him on Instagram at hello.darnell
     
    Host Lisa Keefauver’s forthcoming book Grief is a Sneaky Bitch: An Uncensored Guide to Navigating Loss IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble or Bookshop.org. Drop her a DM on Instagram @lisakeefauvermsw to let her know you did and she’ll send you a party invite to her Book Launch Celebration
     
    Visit www.lisakeefauver.com to learn more about Lisa, sign up for her Not-So-Regular Newsletter, register for an upcoming online grief workshop or watch her TEDx talk, Why Knowing More About Grief Can Make it Suck Less.
     
    Oh, and this season, if you want to WATCH the show, you can now watch it on YouTube @lisakeefauvermsw
     
    Recorded January 26,2024
     

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 1 hr 5 min
    Asa Merritt | Six Sermons

    Asa Merritt | Six Sermons

    As my guest, Asa Merritt knows, it's important that we see, hear, experience a wider expanse of grief stories that show the messy, beautiful, dynamic experience of a wide variety of losses.
    That’s why I’m thrilled to share my recent conversation with him. In his most recent project, Six Sermons, a new Audible Original series starring Stephanie Hsu from Everything Everywhere All At Once, Asa spent a month embedded with a team of pastors at a Lutheran church in Cincinnati, OH. Six Sermons is dedicated to the actor and musician Caz Liske, who died by suicide in Moscow in 2017. He weaves his own personal process of grappling with anger, frustration, sorrow, and confusion he experienced after the death of his friend into a powerful narrative that models for all of us the messy, vulnerable, and important conversations we need to have to move forward in our grief, particularly in the wake of a loss by suicide.
     
    Asa is a former international reporter for NPR, VICE Sports, The Guardian and ESPN’s 30 for 30 podcast. Asa brings a compassionate documentary eye to ambitious fictional projects.
     
    Resources 
    You can download Six Sermon’s, an audible original by visiting www.audible.com.
     
    If you’d like to learn more about the principles and practices of exploring your story in a healing way, I encourage you to check out my conversation with Dr. Annie Brewster entitled The Healing Power of Storytelling in Season 3 – 2022. I also HIGHLY recommend her book of the same title. You can find a link to her book and all those featured on this podcast at my Grief is a Sneaky Bitch podcast at lisakeefauver.com
     
    Host Lisa Keefauver’s forthcoming book Grief is a Sneaky Bitch: An Uncensored Guide to Navigating Loss IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble or Bookshop.org. Drop her a DM on Instagram @lisakeefauvermsw to let her know you did and she’ll send you a party invite to her Book Launch Celebration
     
    Visit www.lisakeefauver.com to learn more about Lisa, sign up for her Not-So-Regular Newsletter, register for an upcoming online grief workshop or watch her TEDx talk, Why Knowing More About Grief Can Make it Suck Less.
     
    Oh, and this season, if you want to WATCH the show, you can now watch it on YouTube @lisakeefauvermsw
     
    Recorded January 19, 2024
     

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 1 hr 9 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
256 Ratings

256 Ratings

Ali Moncrieff ,

Support in a wickedly challenging moment

I began by cherrypicking from these amazing podcast episodes—ones that seemed to fit with what I needed as I navigated traveling to see my gravely ill brother on the heels of losing our Dad and our family home. Then I just ended up listening to whichever one came next because they’re all so good. There are so many profound pearls of reality and wisdom in these conversations, and I am so grateful to have found Lisa’s podcast. As I travel this path, I honestly have a ton of fear. And I am in awe of the energy that has allowed me to be just where I am with my brother. Lisa‘s particular grace and communication around grief have really helped support me in this wickedly challenging moment. Thank you, thank you so much. 🙏🏼

Chelsea London Lloyd ,

What a great podcast!

So glad to have found Lisa’s content. My mom has been battling breast cancer so listening to this show has helped me learn more about the pov of someone with cancer who has also experienced loss, thanks Lisa for what you’re doing!

Iluvbug1 ,

Beautiful

I have so far lost my little sister to a drug in 2011, my dad to suicide in 2017, and my mom to dementia last month… I am no stranger to grief. This podcast helps me feel less alone. It’s just full of gorgeous conversations with amazing people…I’m in awe of these stories and with the host,
Lisa, as well, who walks the guests in a beautiful way through their stories… thank you Lisa!!

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