Join me as I reflect on season 1 of my podcast. It's been an incredible journey filled with growth and learning, and I've cherished every minute of it. Throughout this season, I've had the privilege of hosting some truly inspiring guests who have not only shared their stories but also helped me navigate my own grief journey.

I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to all of you who have been listening and supporting the podcast. Your feedback and encouragement have meant the world to me. Hearing how this podcast has resonated with you and aided you in your own healing process has been incredibly rewarding.

As I prepare for season two, I'm excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. While the core theme of grief will remain at the heart of this podcast, I'm open to exploring different angles and perspectives in order to provide a more comprehensive understanding of this complex topic.

This is where you come in. I value your input immensely, and I would love to hear your thoughts on what topics you would like me to focus on? What questions do you want me to ask? I appreciate any feedback. Thanks for listening.

Remember to check out The Twins Parable by Pablo J.Luis Molinero as discussed in this episode.

Louise xx

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My guest today is Sharon Luca-Chatha. She is an Author, Public Speaker, and Podcaster. Sharon’s life was turned upside down in 2012 when she lost her precious son Luca to stillbirth at 36 weeks. Sharon has a sad story - but since then she has gone on to give the ‘gift of time’ to thousands of grieving families through her award-winning Luca Foundation. Sharon is driven by her vision to fund enough cuddle cots to service every maternity unit throughout the UK, so no one else has to go through what she went through.

I actually cried during this episode as sharon talked about her experience. Her story is heart breaking, from the moment she found out her son’s heartbeat had stopped, to the way the hospital cared for her during and after the labour. Sharon could hear the cries of other babies being born, knowing her baby had died. After the birth, her son Luca was taken away and she didn’t get to see her son for nine hours. 

This is my longest episode to date and it’s a real tearjerker. Grab a cuppa and a box of tissues and find out how Sharon’s son Luca was born sleeping. Discover how she went from having a breakdown, to starting an award-winning charity in Luca’s name. This lady is incredible. If you would like to get in touch with Sharon or support her charity in any way, check out her website: (https://thelucafoundation.org.uk)

Sharon's podcast is called - Live the life you love

Other links and books we talked about today:

Mo Gawdat - Solve For Happy

Angel Warrior - Sharon Luca-Chatha

Why Did Grandad Die - Sharon Luca-Hatha

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How do you come to terms with sudden child loss? From being perfectly healthy to dead in twelve hours and only seven years old. Emily Graham is that bereaved parent. Her son Cameron died at Christmas 2015.

Child loss is one of the most excruciating experiences a parent can endure. However, within the midst of the overwhelming pain and confusion, lies an opportunity to transform this darkness into a beacon of light by offering support to others who are also grieving.

Eight years on and Emily is now a Certified Grief Coach and author of her published book called ‘Confessions of Child Loss’. She holds regular online workshops and webinars supporting others navigating the grief journey and she also has a beautiful blog called ‘Just Playing House’.

Links & books discussed in this episode include:

Grief Recovery Institute

Emily’s website - www.afterchildloss.com

Megan Devine - www.refugeingrief.com

Dr. Mary Neal - To Heaven and Back (near-death experiences)

Jeff Olsen - Knowing (near-death experiences)

Dr Joanne Cacciatore, Grief From Darkness To Light

Comforting Truths from Heaven by Jeff Jansen

Bearing the Unbearable by Dr. Jo Cacciatore

Signs by Laura Lynne Jackson

Grief Recovery Institute

Psychic Medium - Laura Lynne Jackson

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My guest today is Becci Willets. Becci is a GP and she has a beautiful blog called, Bereavement and Beyond. She set up this blog to not only remember her dad who sadly died last July, but also to share practical advice about death, dying and funerals. Becci’s experience of grief helps her to support her patients because she can speak about death, dying and bereavement not only from a professional angle but also a personal one.

Becci describes herself as an over sharer and she loves to talk but she admits that when her dad died, she found it hard to talk about her grief. Becci started writing and this gave her a way of processing her grief. Her dad’s death has been extremely difficult, but Becci recognises the gifts that have come from her experience, and she appreciates that she can now truly connect with her patients going through grief.

Sharing our grief stories with others reminds us that we are not alone in this journey. When we open up and let others in, we give them permission to do the same. Suddenly, we find ourselves surrounded by people who have walked similar paths and faced similar heartaches. And it's in these shared experiences that healing begins to take place. We learn from each other's stories, gain insight into new coping strategies, and find solace knowing that someone truly understands. These connections become a form of solidarity, creating a sense of community amidst the chaos of grief. So let's continue to share our stories because together, hand in hand, we can navigate this difficult terrain and emerge stronger on the other side.

Links:

https://www.cruse.org.uk/

https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-bereavement-and-pet-loss

https://www.bereavementandbeyond.co.uk/

The End of the Line by The Traveling Wilburys https://youtu.be/UMVjToYOjbM?si=WCc8anKmi_XKAGqn

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My guest Gabriella Mitchell started Scattered Blooms in April 2023 creating bespoke seed hearts, providing a unique way to say goodbye to a loved one or beloved pet.

After experiencing loss herself, she became aware of what was available to those bereaved. Having had a tribute ring made from the ashes of her grandfather Pop’s to whom she was very close, she was also well aware of the financial implications of many of the options available.

Being a lover of nature, she enjoys getting out into the garden with her boys and her oldest especially loves to see when new flowers bloom and is fascinated by the insects and creatures that they bring into the garden.

In more recent times, Gabriella lost another grandfather and started looking for a way to also commemorate him, whilst being mindful of the environment, and trying to find something significant at a more modest cost, the idea of seed hearts came into being.

www.scatteredblooms.co.uk

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My guest today is Jane Duncan Rogers who helps people prepare well for a good end of life. Jane has been in the field of psychotherapy and personal growth for many years. She is the founder of, Before I Go Solutions, and she is dedicated to educating people about dying, death, and grief. She is also a published author, and she has an amazing TED talk which I highly recommend my listeners check out.

After the death of her husband, Jane discovered just how complex, confusing and challenging things can be for those left behind. She has used the pain of her own experience to help guide others.

Her book, Gifted By Grief, was published in 2015 followed by, Before I Go: The Essential Guide to Creating a Good End of Life Plan. It, along with the accompanying Workbook, is the basis for all her programmes.

For more information about Jane and her products, check out her website. https://beforeigosolutions.com/

References:

The Grief Recovery Method

Louise Hay – You Can Heal Your Life

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Grief is one of the most excruciating experiences a person can endure. However, within the midst of this overwhelming pain and confusion, lies an opportunity to transform this darkness into a beacon of light by offering support to others who are also grieving. My guest today Kelly Higgs is one of those people. She is a special needs teacher and the founder of Time To Heal Together.

Within her business, Time To Heal Together, Kelly uses her skills as a qualified Advanced Drawing and Talking Practitioner to support children, young people and adults to process their painful memories and emotions in a safe way. It can be particularly helpful for people who are experiencing anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, isolation, bereavement, trauma, family separation, the impact of special educational needs.

As a child Kelly witnessed her mum's mental health difficulties and then at the age of 15 her mum died from a brain tumour. These experiences created a passion in Kelly for supporting others with their emotional well-being.

Kelly has kindly offered half price sessions to anyone who has listened to this episode.

Email Kelly – kelly.higss84@gmail.com

Join her Facebook group Time to Heal Together https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=time%20to%20heal%20together

https://www.acorns.org.uk/

https://linktr.ee/louisebates

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Today I am talking to my husband Bill about his experience of grief after the death of our son Matthew. Bill admits that he doesn’t like to talk about grief usually, but he felt inspired to share on this occasion after listening to other guests on my podcast.

Bill has not had any therapy and has decided to bury his grief in a box, in a big hole, covered in a thick layer of concrete. Bill’s advice for others though is to not do it like him! He uses dark humour to deal with most of life’s experiences and grief is no exception. Burying grief is not a strategy I would recommend but it’s important to remember that we do not judge how other people grieve.

When it comes to grieving, men and women often exhibit different patterns of coping and expressing their emotions. While these differences are by no means universal, they do tend to reflect general societal expectations, conditioning and gender roles that have been ingrained over time. For example, men may feel pressured to adopt a stoic behaviour and suppress their feelings as a way of upholding traditional notions of masculinity. Consequently, they might be more inclined to isolate themselves or engage in activities that distract them from the pain. On the other hand, women are generally encouraged to be more openly emotional and seek support from others during times of grief. This can manifest in sharing their feelings with friends or family members, seeking therapy or counselling, or participating in support groups. It is important to remember, however, that these differences are not absolute, and individuals may vary greatly in their grieving styles regardless of gender.

Bottling up your feelings or burying emotions can lead to all sorts of anxiety, depression, and even physical health issues. Allow yourself the space and time to feel what you need to feel - cry if you want, punch a pillow if it helps! Find healthy outlets like talking to a friend or therapist. Feeling is healing.

Acknowledging your emotions is the first step towards healing and finding true emotional well-being.

Recommended reading:

Letters to Matthew by Louise Bates, which include the poems as discussed in this episode: Shipwreck by G. Snow & The Twins Parable by Pablo Molinero.

Matthew's albums:

Fightback by Matt Bates

Kaleidoscope by Matt Bates

Louise Bates Links

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