Where's The Grief?: Recent Episodes
Jordon Ferber
Death is an inevitable part of life, and yet it can be difficult and uncomfortable to talk about the process of grief amongst one's peers. In this podcast, comedian Jordon Ferber helps shine some light into the darkest parts of our own existence and encourage a more open discussion about the effects of grief, and offers coping mechanisms to those suffering.
In this episode I talk with comedian Keith Chase about the tumultuous year that saw him nearly lose his own life alongside dealing with the death of his grandmother as well as his father, all in a short span of time. Now 6 months later (This episode was recorded in Nov. 2024) Keith has started reflecting on all the issues that come out of loss, and how we think about our own mortality while still being responsible for someone elses paperwork.
We also talk about how hard it can be to transition back into regular life again when all you want to do is sit on your couch.
Follow Kieth on Instagram and TikTok @ChaseTheShortGuy
In this episode I talk with my good friend and fellow bereaved sibling, Earla Dawn Legault about her book, "Living With Sibliing Grief - Imagining a Way Forward."
After the death of her sister Leigh-Ann, Earla struggled to find support for her grief, finding very little in for those who had lost a sibling. Even her local grief support groups in Canada seemed too general to understand what she was going through.
Enter Monica Murphy, a fellow bereaved sibliing who was also struggling after the death of her sister Darcy. Together Monica and Earla wrote a book about their experiences and struggles that truly showcases the power of peer support, and all the connection that comes from putting ourselves out there.
Follow more of Earla at https://linktr.ee/siblinggrief Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sibling.grief.buds/
GET THE BOOK At Amazon
Grief Matters ‘guest’ cartoon - https://griefmatters.ca/cartoons/where-are-all-books-about-adult-sibling-grief
Grief Matters blog - https://griefmatters.ca/blog/drawing-through-the-grief-of-an-adult-sibling
In this episode I talk with author Jonathan Foster about his book
After the death of his daughter Quincy at the age of 20, Jonathan spent close to a decade processing how to grieve and continue to keep hope in his life.
Poetry allows for a dynamic and interesting way to weave a narrative, and the ways we experience grief can often be so difficult to express in a linear way. “Indigo” manages to capture a stream of consciousness quality to his story that draws the reader in both mentally as well as visually.
We talk about the ways that we adapt the permanence of absence as we process not just our grief, but how to bring love back to the forefront of our lives.
Follow Jonathan online at https://www.jonathanfosteronline.com
Learn more about Jonathan's charity for Haiti - LoveHaiti.org
(and GET THE BOOK - "indigo: the color of grief"
In this episode I talk with comedian Benny Blue about his recent one-man show, "Live From My Mother's Funeral."
After his mother Virginia passed away in 2021, Benny found talking about his experience of grief on stage to be one of the few things that allowed him to be honest while still looking for humor in an otherwise traumatising moment.
Comedy allows us to talk about such a wide variety of things that we don't often talk about in our regular lives, and while we all deal with grief, it's one of the few things we don't always acknowledge.
Benny's show combines aspects of stand up comedy along with some theatrical pieces that blend together in a reimagined version of his mothers funeral that allows both him and the audience to process things together.
We also talk about how the writing and performing of this kind of material is so different from the promotion and sharing of the show.
Follow Benny and all that he does at https://www.bennyblueeyes.net/
Check out the Special - LIVE FROM MY MOTHERS FUNERAL
In this episode, I talk with Author Chris Cochran about his book, "What's Good About Today? A Purpose Driven Life." After getting a terminal cancer diagnosis at the age of 21, Chris' son Christian managed to keep his own optimism and uplifting spirit about him, inspiring those around him to be mindful and grateful for the life they have, and to earnestly exclaim all that which is good about today.
We talk about just how important perspective is when dealing with such a devastating loss, and how much it helps to keep talking about our loved ones.
Follow Chris at https://www.chriscochranspeaks.com
Get the book, "What's Good About Today?" HERE
In this episode, I talk to author Annie Sklaver Orenstein about her new book, "Always A Sibling: The Forgotten Mourners Guide To Grief." After years of struggling with her own grief after the death of her brother Ben to a suicide bomber in Afghanistan, Annie began writing what ultimately became the book that she wished had existed when her loss was fresh.
As a skilled reasearcher, Annie surveyed and interviewed dozens of other bereaved siblings, weaving their stories together with her own, along with detailed references to so many of the resources and support that is out there.
We obviously talk (and bond) over the fact that bereaved siblings are often overlooked - hence the Forgotten Mourners moniker, and how impactful it is to finally have found a community and a vocaulary to talk about our siblings with. We also talk about the surreal expereince of having to sell and promote someting so deeply personal.
Get the book and find out more about Annie!
https://www.amazon.com/Always-Sibling-Forgotten-Mourners-Guide/dp/030683149X
https://www.annieorenstein.com
Follow Annie on Instagram @AnnieSklaverOrenstein
In this episode I talk with comedian Brian Rabadeau life before and after the death of his father, Joe. After several bouts with serious health issues, Brian's father started the pandemic fighting against the isolation and struggling with all the mandates, which ultimately led to him dying of Covid in 2022. Since then Brian has worked on finding ways to move forward and let go of his anger towards his father, and at society at large, reminding himself that optimism and hope are still possible despite what llife throws at us.
Follow Brian on IG @Brabs91
If you're in the New Orleans area when this episode drops, Brian will be performing in the Hell Yes Festival, November 12th, 13th and 14th! (GET TICKETS AND MORE INFO HERE!)
In this episode, I talk with Author and Sound Healer Jeralyn Glass about her book, "Sacred Vibrations - The Transformative Power of Crystalline Sound and Music," as well as her practice of creating unique sets of crystal singing bowls.
Already a musician and leader in the sound healing movement when her son Dylan died, Jeralyn focused her efforts on helping others tap into the various frequencies and vibrations of life.
We also talk about how helping others heal can be a source of healing for us as well, and how the intersection of science, spiritually and the healing power of music bring us all closer together.
Find out more about Jeralyn and what she does at https://crystalcadence.com/
Follow her on IG @crystalcadencela
GET THE BOOK - Sacred Vibrations!
Hooray! In this very special episode, I got to talk with Chef Dan Budd, owner of Taste Budd's Cafe, and former teacher at the Culinary Institute of America. As many listeners of the podcast know, my brother Russell was about to graduate from the CIA when he passed away in 2002. Dan Budd was more than one of Russell's professors, he was a mentor to him, and an early employer to take Russell under his wing.
No stranger to grief himself already, Dan's sister Laura died two years prior to Russell, oddly enough on the exact same day, July 6th. Laura's death to a rare brain tumor changed the way that Dan thought about his ability to harness his own energy in support of creating good in the world.
We talk about how family dynamics can change after the loss of a sibling, and the profound bonds we create when talking with others who have been through something similar. We also talk about the importance of gratitude, and the danger of bees!
Check out Taste Budd's in Red Hook, NY!
Taste Budd's
40 West Market Street
Red Hook, NY 12571 Follow Taste Budd's on Instagram!
In this episode, I talk with Dr. Sara Glass about her new memoir, "Kissing Girls on Shabbat."
Growing up in an extremely sheltered Orthodox Hassidic Jewish community, Sara decided to become a therapist and mental health professional partially because seeing how her sister Shani's mental health issues impacted her family. When Shani ultimately took her own life, Sara came out of the closet after years of struggling with her sexual identity and eventually wrote a memoir about her path towards self acceptance and an open life. We talk about the different ways that we interalize our own trauma, and how hard it can be to find ways to be honest with the people in our lives about what we are going through.
We also talk about the stigma that comes with suicide and mental health issues in general, and how important it is to recognise that we never have to do it alone.
As September is Suicide Awareness Month, This episode is a reminder that someone is always listening, and if you need help, reach out to a trusted friend or loved one, or you call 988 for the national suicide prevention line.
Get the book "Kissing Girls On Shabbat" On Amazon!
Follow Dr. Sara online at https://www.drsaraglass.com
Or follow her on social media @DrSaraGlass
You can always email ME at WheresTheGrief@gmail.com
Follow ME on Instagram @WheresTheGrief
In this episode, I talk with Tawnya Musser about her role and experiences in the world of Home Funerals. Already in school to become a funeral director when her brother Robert died, Tawnya found conventional funeral and death rituals to be lacking when it came to the way that her family wanted to celebrate Robert’s life and give family and friends an opportunity to grieve together in a safe and familiar environment. Since then she has worked to help people find the resources and avenues to hold their own home funerals, and connect them to individual more personalized memorials.
You can find out more about Tawnya and her work at https://deardepartures.com
Also, https://www.homefuneralalliance.org/home-funeral-guidebook.html provides step by step ideas on how to plan a home funeral.
In this episode, I talk with comedian Liz Glazer about her album, "A Very Particular Experience," recorded on the one year anniversary of Liz and her wife's first daughter’s Leo Pearl stillbirth. We talk about the difficulty of even making jokes about such a heavy topic, let alone putting together an entire album. However, we also highlight how important it is to laugh, and how much hope it can bring along with the perspective that keeps us connected to people.
Follow more about liz at https://www.dearlizglazer.com
In this episode, I talk with Author Joseph Alvaro about his book, "I'm One Of The Lucky Ones: Remembering A Soulmate." After Joseph's wife Francés died in 2009, followed by a brother in law, an uncle, his daughter and his father, as well as a handful of friends. "It seemed like all I did was go to funerals for 14 months."
In the wake of such traumatic events, Joseph began finding ways to talk about his lost loved ones by focusing on the precious memories and celebrating thier lives rather than dwell on the immense sadness that ultimatly comes with grief.
In addition to his book, Joseph is the creator and producer of The Lucky Ones, a community of shared stories by individuals about people they were lucky to have known who have passed away. Celebrating the lives of loved ones in a short video exposé, these life affirming stories reinforce our common humanity in wonderfully charming videos filled with love, humor, and memories.
Follow Joseph at https://luckyonestv.com for all the links to the videos.
Get the Book on Amazon!
In this episode I got to talk to Author Courtney Deane about her new book, "When Happily Ever After Fails."
Courtney's father died when she was just 14, and her mother when she was just 28. In order to process her grief and make sense of her feelings about her own identity as a now parentless person, Courtney wrote a romantic comedy novel about a young woman going through similar difficult challenges.
We talk about how important it is to create our own narrative of our trauma, and how finding ways to honor our own journeys.
We also talk about how keeping our sense of humor and allowing ourselves to be a little silly sometimes goes a long way.
Follow Courtney at http://www.courtneydeane.com/
Courtney on IG - https://www.instagram.com/authorcourtneydeane/
Courtney on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@courtneydeane
Follow ME on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wheresthegrief
In this episode I talk with Author and fellow grief podcaster, Brooke Carlock!
After a two year span in which she lost both her parents, her stepmother AND her 10 year old daugher Libby, Brooke has found a miriad of ways to process her grief, as well as help others through thier own. Her podcast, "Mourning Coffee" is an open and honest discussion about the ups and downs of grief and loss that is unfiltered and refreshing in its approach. It reminds me just how helpful it is to validate our own feelings as normal despite how unfamiliar and scary they can be.
Brooke's new book, "Grief Sucks (But Your Life Doesn't Have To)" also pulls no punches as it highlights the ways we can laugh at the darkest parts of our lives.
Follow Brooke online at https://brookecarlock.org/
In this episode I talk to my good friend comedian John Moses! John's father Ken managed to live for 18 months after being given a terminal diagnosis that was much shorter. Now a year after his passing, John is starting to process his relationship with his dad, and finding ways to let his new perspective make him a better man and father. We also talk about how letting go of resentments and being present can be helpful in fostering family connections.
Follow john on Instagram @ComedianJohnMoses
In this episode, I talk with Author Deborah Kasdan about her book, "Roll Back The World - a sister's memoir." After being diagnosed with schizophrenia as a young adult, Deborah's sister Rachel lived most of her life in and out of hospitals and institutions. Now 20 years since her death, Deborah felt the need to tell Rachel's story, to honer her memory and her life, and to help erase the stigma and fear we have of mental illness.
We talk about the importance of community, as well as hightlight the fact that even though we've come pretty far from what mental health resembled in the 70's and 80's, we still have far to go.
Go to http://deborahkasdan.com to find out more, and to get the book!
Follow Deborah on IG @DebKasdan
In this episode I talk with comedian and fellow grief podcaster Micah Walsh! After his father Kevin died, Micah found an outlet for his feelings in starting his own podcast with comedians talking about grief and loss, "I'll Greive You With This."
We talk about how helpful it can be to talk about the hard topics with other people who understand, and who are not afraid to make jokes about an otherwise stressful and devastaing proceess.
Listen to "I'll Grieve You With this!"
@IllGrieveYouWithThisPodcast
@Micah_Walsh
Happy New Year!
In this episode, I had an incredible conversation with my good friend and comedian Ray Gootz! Ray was one of my very early guests on the show (Episode 11), just one month after both his mother and Aunt died. He was among the first people I knew who was doing comedy material about his losses right away, and I was in awe of how open and raw the jokes were. It's been 8 years since then and we talk about all the losses Ray has endured since then (His father, another aunt, his virginity, among others) as well as all the things he has gained.
We also talk about our love of movies, comic books, and how most Disney movies are about the grief over the death of a loved one.
Follow Ray Online!
Ray on TikTok
Ray on IG
Check out Gootz's Wrestling Pod!
In this episode I got to talk with Writer and Performer Colin Campbell about his Book, "Finding the Words," as well as his solo show, "Grief: A One Man Shtshow.*"
After both of his kids, Ruby and Hart were killed by a drunk driver, Colin had a deep need to express his grief, first by writing jokes about his grief and his loss, eventually turning it into a one man off-broadway production. A brutally honest approach to his pain, Colin manages to connect through his need to grieve publicly, with no punchlines pulled.
With nowhere to perform the show during the pandemic, Colin continued to find an outlet for his struggles, writing a book designed to share the amazing stories of Ruby and Hart, and the lessons they helped Colin and his wife learn in their lives moving forward. With writing prompts, as well as tips and ideas on how to create new rituals, each chapter of "Finding The Words" explores a different theme all too familiar to most grievers.
Learn more about Colin, as well as Ruby and Hart, and get the book at https://colincampbellauthor.com/
Watch Colin's solo show, "Grief: A One Man Sh*tShow" at https://vimeo.com/843242398
Follow Colin on Instagram @colincampbellwriter
In this episode I talk to Author James G. Robinson about his book, "More Than We Expected - Five Years With A Remarkable Child." When his son Nadav was born with a congenital heart defect, James and his wife understood that thier lives would be more difficult than most. When Nadav died at 5 years old after complications from heart surgery, James managed to focus on the stories of strength and resiliance that his son taught him.
In 2017, his article “Road to Recovery” was featured in the NYT Travel section. Detailing a road trip his family took after Nadav's death, it eventually inspired James to write "More Than We Expected", and allowed him to continue to talk about Nadav's life, and to share his story.
We talk about how important it is to keep memories alive, even when they can sometimes be painful. We also talk about how great it is to connect with others through shared trauma, and the flicker of recognition that embodies the human spirit.
Find out more about the James at https://morethanamemoir.com
GET the book on Amazon
Check out Jame's NYT Article, "Road To Recovery"
Follow James on Instagram @MoreThanAMemior
In this episode, I talk with comedian and sex worker rights advocate Kaytlin Bailey about life after the death of her father just over a year ago.
Already a performer and activist before her Father Joe developed dementia, and ultimately cancer, Kaytlin helped her father write his memiors about his life and career in the US Army, and spending as much time as she could before it was too late.
We talk about how having mutual respect for differing opinions and perspectives can help nurture a solid relationship, and allow us to stand up for ourselves even when going through an emotional time.
Kaytlin is the Founder & Executive Director of Old Pros, a non-profit media organization creating conditions to change the status of sex workers in society. Host of The Oldest Profession Podcast, she is also the creator of Whore’s Eye View, a 75-minute mad dash through 10,000 years of sex worker history.
Get Joseph Bailey's book "A Soldier's Story"
Follow Kaytlin:
Instagram: @oldprosonline | @kaytlinbailey
Twitter: @oldprosonline | @kaytlinbailey
In this episode, I got to talk with Author Alexandra Wyman about her book, "The Suicide Club: What To Do When Someone You Love Chooses Death." We talk about the importance of community and the various ways we can find support and create connection outside our immediate families. Alexandra has become an advocate for suicide prevention, helping to change the ways we talk aboout it, and how we can all instill love and hope to those around us before any suicidal ideation takes hold.
Learn more about Alexandra at https://www.forwardtojoy.com
Alexandra also has her own podcast called "The Widows Club" Listen here!
In this episode, I talk with clinical psychologist and author Dawn DiRaimondo about her book, "Surviving Sibling Loss: The Invisible Thread That Connects Us Through Life And Death." Dawn was already a therapist when her brother Michael was killed while deployed in Iraq. Finding few resources and liturature about sibling loss, Dawn decided to write the book that she had wished existed when she was newly bereaved, incorportating interviews and insights from interviews with other bereaved siblings alongside her own experience.
Follow Dawn and get her book at her website, https://drdawndiraimondo.com/
(or get the book directly from Amazon!)
In this episode, I got to talk to Comedian Christy Miller about how she's been faring after the death of her mother Shirley.
Christy has always been a comedian who pulls no punches in her act, and she came by her sense of humor from her mother, always pushing the bounderies of what was deemed appropriate. Having opened for Andrew "Dice" Clay as well as Paul Mooney, Christy has always been the type to not care what other people think, often using humor to process heavy topics.
We talk about how great it is to have family that embraces our career choices, and how important it is to surround ourselves with people who get us and let us make terrible jokes in the face of devastating events.
Get Christy's Album, "Brually Yours"
Follow Christy on IG @ChristyMillerComedy
Follow Christy's YouTube Page!
In this episode, I talk with Comedian Christopher Wagner about the different ways he dealt with the death of his parents. We reflect on how much more difficult of a time he had after his mother died than his dad. Chris was somewhat estranged from his father for a period before trying to mend the relationship as time ran out, and we talk about how hard it can be to lose someone just as you feel like you've re-gained them.
We also talk about alternative mental health therapies, including psychodelics and ayahuasca, and the perspective shifts that allow us to forgive and heal.
Follow Chirs on IG @ChrisWagnerd
In this episode I talk with author Kelly S. Thompson about her book, "Still, I Cannot Save You." Already an award winning non-fiction writer when her sister Meghan died, Kelly turned her story into a memoir about the difficult parts of sisterhood and family bonds that is both heartbreaking and uplifting. After battling childhood cancer, Meghan's adult life was fraught with drug addiction before motherhood pressed her to clean up and re-establish the sibling bond that she and Kelly shared before it was too late.
We talk about how not all sibling relationships are easy, and the different ways we can forgive ourselves and others for past resentments. We also talk about the healing power of writing and the strength it takes to ask for help.
Follow Kelly on Twitter @KellyS_Thompson
Learn more about Kelly and where to get the book at https://kellysthompson.com
After the death of his mother Phyllis, comedian Jason Roeder turned to what he knew best to help cope with the loss, along with the amount of free time he suddenly had due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
A comedy writer by trade who has been published by The New Yorker and The Onion (among others), Jason managed to write a parody grief book that turns many of the tropes and cliche's of grief and mourning on its head, helping to highlight the absurdity of the human existence.
Jason's book, "Griefstrike! The Ultimate Guide to Mourning" provides a number of ridiculous scenarios that poke fun at the structures and rituals we associate with death, alongside footnotes from his own life and experience that remind the reader that all good jokes come from real places, especially those about pain and suffereing.
Get the book and follow Jason online at https://www.jasonroeder.net and on Twitter @jasonroeder
In this episode I got to sit down with Comedian Adam Mitrani to talk about how he's been coping after the death of his brother Rueben to
We talk about how isolating greif and loss is, particularly for those who have lost siblings, as well as how difficult it can be to write comedy material about such a devastating and far reaching experience.
We also talk about the importance of community, connection and the power of music.
Follow Adam online on IG @AMitrani
Follow him on Twitter @AMitrani717
In this episode, I talk with Author Donna Kendrick, about her book "A Guide to Widowhood – Navigating the First Three Years."
After her husband Greg died by suicide, Donna shifted her financial planning skills to help newly bereaved widows and widowers.
We talk about how important it is to integrate our loss so we can move forward, especially when we are literally integrating people in our lives.
Follow Donna online at Widow-wisdom.com
or on IG @widowandwisdom
In this episode, I talk with Michele Benyo, Founder of Good Grief Parenting. When Michele's son David died of cancer at just 6 years old, his sister Deanna, then 3 said, "Mommy, half of me is gone." Already a teacher of early childhood development, Michele shifted her focus. Realizing how much support her daughter was going to need after this loss, Michele began teaching and coaching other bereaved families how to best support thier surviving children.
We talk aboout how parallell set similar the journeys are for both parents as well as sibliings, and the unique challenges that losing a sibling brings.
As a bereaved sibling myself, I am so grateful that there are others out there who are advocating for us, and making sure we have the tools we need to manage our own grief.
Follow Michele and find out more at https://goodgriefparenting.com/
In this episode, I talk with author Mark Chesnut. Already a travel writer, after the death of his mother Eunice, Mark channeled his grief into a touching end-of-life memoir called "Prepare for Departure," emcompassing his relationship with his mother as well having to confront his own feelings about love and death.
We talk about how impactful it is to be able to be of service, but also how imortant it is to maintain our sense of humor when remembering the stories that shaped us.
Follow Mark online and get the book at https://www.markchesnut.com
Follow Mark on Instagram @Departure_Level
In this episode I talk with author and mental health advocate Sherry Walling! 6 months after the death of her father, Sherry's brother died by suicide. Already a mental health professional, Sherry found that her own need to express herself was through movement and connection. Her poetic book, "Touching Two Worlds" was also turned into a aerialst show focused on how we grieve with movement and performance.
Find out more and get the book at https://www.sherrywalling.com
Follow Sherry on Instagram @SherryWalling
I got to talk with Chelsey McHale, a fellow member of The Compassionate Friends (TCF) support group that I attend. After her brother Clint died while out mountain hiking, Chelsey actually started a TCF sibling support group in her town, AND managed to get new safety signage put up where Clint died in order to help make sure future accidents can be avoided, while also having a spot to visit and honer her brother.
We talk the stupid things people say, how to create healthy boundries with difficult family members, and the importance of staying true to ourselves when no one else seems to acknowledge the struggle that dealing with loss brings.
In this episode, I talk with interdisciplinary artist, documentary filmmaker, teacher, and arts therapist Adriana Marchione. Already a therapist and dancer when her husband died, she ultimately found ways of expressing her path towards healing by incorporating that which she was already involved in. Her film, When the Fall Comes, is about her process of grief using art and dance after the death of her husband Eddie. Her new documentary, The Creative High, shares compelling artist stories of addiction and recovery. We also talk about the importance of the creative process, and the healing that can come from letting oourselves feel the pain to move through it.
Follow Adriana at https://art-cures.com/
See the Film at https://whenthefallcomes.com/
I got to talk with comedian Erin Lok about how comedy helped her cope with all the anxiety and stress that the pandemic brought, as well as the larger difficulty of life after the death of her father. We talk about the importance of letting ourselves express our emotions, as well as the catharsis that a little bit of levity can bring.
Follow Erin online at https://linktr.ee/Erinlokcomedy or @erinlokcomedy on IG!
Follow ME @WheresTheGrief
Email me WheresTheGrief@gmail.com
In this episode, I talk with grief specialist and hypnotherapist Silke Herwald. Silke was already a therapist dealing with the ways our unconsious copes with grief and trauma when her sister died of cancer, giving her work new meaning. Silke created the Grief To Love program that helps women find hope after loss.
We talk about how important it is to find ways to speak out about how we're doing, to remember our loved ones, and to stay connected to the people around us.
Find out more about Silke and her work at https://www.grieftolove.com
Follow Silke on IG at https://www.instagram.com/grieftolove/
Follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SilkeHerwald
Don't forget to rate/review the show!
Oh Boy! Once again I got to attend The Compassionate Friends National Conference, this year in Houston Texas!
The Compassionate Friends is a self help support group that provides resoources to bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings.
In this episode, recorded in August 2022 at the TCF Conference in Houston, I sat down with Barbara Hopkinson to talk aboout her book "Faces of Resilience." Find out more about what Barbara does at https://abutterflysjourney.org
And of course, this years "blooper reel" of the madness that comes when we are getting our best work done.
To find out more about what TCF does, or to find a local chapter, visit https://www.compassionatefriends.org
Russell Ferber died in a car accident on July 6th, 2002, at the age of 21. This podcast was borne out of my need to continue talking about my brother and how I have managed to keep going without him.
In this episode, I (along with my parents) interview a number of people who actually KNEW Russell to share stories of his indominable spirit. We talk with Denise Fraser, who taught both Russell AND Jordon in elementary School; Steven Schnitzler and Betsy Becker - two people who worked at MSG and helped Russell gain access to the Knicks; Bobby Flay and George Morone, two world renowned chefs that Russell worked for along with Carolyn Beard, Russells baking partner while in culinary school; and we finish up talking with Morgan and Geoff, two of Russell's best friends.
I tell some incredible Russell stories on the podcast from time to time, and finally I get to share some from the people who were actually THERE!
(This episode is comprised of interviews that aired as part of the 15th Annual Russell Ferber Foundation FUN!draiser online in August of 2020)
Check out https://www.russellferberfoundation.org to find out more about what our foundation does, when our next FUN!draiser is, and how to donate!
Follow @RussellFerberFoundation on Facebook AND IG.
Follow @WheresTheGrief on IG and Twitter
In this episode I talk with author Edy Nathan about her book, "It's Greif - The Dance of Self Discovery Through Trauma and Loss."
We talk about how she has found comfort and purpose in confronting her grief. After the death of her partner and then her mother, Edy has learned how to help others navigate the difficult new roles we find ourselves in our new normal. We talk about the importance of community, and the power of a good pair of matchiing shoes.
Get the Book, and Follow Edy online at https://edynathan.com
Follow her on Twitter @EdyNathan1 and Instagram @EdyNathan
Follow ME on social media across all platforms @WheresTheGrief
In this episode I talk with Author Jane Enright about her new book "Butter Side Up, How I Survived My Most Terrible Year & Created My Super Awesome Life." We talk about how important it is to recognise when things go our way, and how to maintain a positive outlook in the face of traumatic events.
After a year in which both she and her partner suffered traumatic brain injuries, Jane lost her best friend to cancer, and amazingly turned her story into one of inspiration. In sharing her story of how she's managed to shift her perspective over time, she's created opportunites to connect with herself and others.
Follow Jane at https://www.mysuperawesomelife.com/ and https://www.janeenrightauthor.com/
Get the book wherever books are sold, or through https://shewritespress.com/
Follow ME @WheresTheGrief on TWITTER and IG!
In this episode I talk with Comedian Glen Tickle (his real name!) about his comedy special, "Good Grief; A Comedy About Loss And Being Bad At It."
After the death of his brother Mark, Glen started writing jokes about his grief as a way of processing his own emotions, and ultimately turned it into a full hour of comedy. We talk about the importance of leaning into our grief, and how cathartic is is to expose our rawness to an audience.
Follow Glen across all platforms @GlenTickle (on IG and Twitter)
Find all his standup clips and dates at https://www.glentickle.com
Follow ME @WheresTheGrief on IG and Twitter!
In this episode, I talk with comedian and yarn artist Angela Eh who runs the Comedy Crafting Cart, as well as a weekly streaming series called "Crafts and Laughs" on her IG and YouTube channels. After the death of her partner, who was also a comedian, Angela has relied heavily on her ability to connect and create. We talk about the importance of having places and people to vent to, and the power that comedy brings in helping make sense of the unimaginable.
Follow Angela on Instagram and elsewhere at @craftingcomedycart
In this episode, I talked to Author Allison Ballenger, whose book "One More Year" is a childrens book inspired by her own childhood. After the death of her brother Scott, Alliison was inspired to write a book that helped to keep Scotts essence a part of her life, as what she describes as a "story-telling, song-singing, life-loving, magic-maker. "
Go to https://www.aiballenger.com/ to follow Allison, or to get the book!
In this episode I talk with Author Judy Lipson about her book "Celebation of Sisters - It Is Never Too Late To Greive." Judy lost her younger sister Jane to a car accident at 22 and nine years later her older sister Margie at 35 to a twenty year battle with anorexia and bulimia.
Realizing that Siblings are often the forgotten mourners, Judy began finding ways to keep her sisters memories alive.
Get the book and find out more about Judy at http://www.judylipson.org/
Hooray! It's hard to beliieve that I've been doing this show long enough to rack up 150 episodes, but here we are! This episode features a whole lot of Jordon! I was lucky enough to have two gigs last month that fit pretty well together - I was a Key Note speaker at a TCF Regional Conference in Hawaii, followed the very next day by being on a virtual comedy show focused on death and grief. You can watch my Key Note Address at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixy1GDyaMRc&t=159s
Find out more about the Death is Hilarious Podcast at https://deathishilarious.com
Find a TCF Group in your area, as well as info on this years National Conference here: https://www.compassionatefriends.org
Get tickets to The Russell Ferber Foundation Comedy FUN!draiser!
https://www.russellferberfoundation.org/this-years-fundraiser
In this episode, I talk with Author Deena Goldstein about her book, "Ok, Little Bird," about the life and death of her father, and her process of navigating the world without him. We talk about the importance of finding humor even in our darkest moments, and how important it is to let ourselves feel all the feels.
Follow Deena and get the book at https://OkLittleBird.com
While most people were working from home, if at all, during the pandemic, Lauryn Petrie got a job working in the NYC morgue, spending 11 months hauling bodies and assisting on autopsies (despite having no prior medical experience.) In this very frank discussion, we talk about how humor is necessary in the face of devestation, and how quickly we can become numb to every day death. We also talk about the importance of empathy and how much we need to take better care of ourselves.
Follow Lauryn on Twitter And IG @TheLaurynPetrie and check out https://www.laurynpetriecomedy.com/
Follow ME on Twitter and IG @WheresTheGrief
After the death of her partner, Janine Kwoh began transforing her greeting card business "Kwohtations" to include condolance cards. What followed was the writing of "Welcome To The Grief Club," a book of brief observations, illustrations and diagrams that capture the absurditiy and isolating experience of grief. Janine's ability to share the hardest parts of her own process of grief with both humor and devastating truths really brings people together to help remember the good times as well as the universal nature of what it is to lose a loved one.
Get the book and follow Janine at https://kwohtations.com
Follow her on IG at @kwohtations and @Welcometothegriefclub
Follow ME on IG and Twitter @WheresTheGrief
I got to talk with New Yorker staff writer and Pulitzer Prize winning author Kathryn Schulz about her new book, "Lost and Found." After the death of her father Kathryn found ways to incorporate her grief with her gratitude in also finding love. We talk about the importance of sharing our selves, and the difficulty these past two years have been to connect with people.
Get the book and follow Kathryn at https://www.kathrynschulz.com/
Follow ME @WheresTheGrief on both IG and Twitter
In this episode I talk with comedian Rob Montemarano! We talk about a number of losses that Rob has had over the years, and his relationship with death and funerals. We also talk about his new live comedy venture "Last Laugh Comedy" at an actual funeral home in Brooklyn.
After the death of his father followed by a string of traumatic losses, comedian Ben Wasserman began exploring ways of expressing his grief on stage as a way to relate to a world that keeps moving forward regardless of what we've been through. We talk about the importance of community as well as the difference between catharsis and active coping, and the ways in which we can connect with an audience even when dealing with difficult topics.
In this episode I talked with Female Empowerment Coach and Podcaster Eleanor Beaton! After the death of her father, Eleanor struggled with her own identity, which led to her starting SAFI Media, an education company for women Entrepreneurs, as well as hosting the "Power + Presence + Position Podcast."
We talk about the importance of acknowledging our own story and identity, the changing family dynamics after a loss, and the positive impact helping others can bring to our own lives.
Follow Eleanor and learn more about her and the podcast at https://eleanorbeaton.com/
In this episode I talk to singer/songwriter Gina Harris! After the death of her parents, Gina began writing songs to help her process the emotions. Eventually the songs themselves began to take on their own form, telling Gina, "we're a one-person show now." Her show, which then became a podcast, "The Magic of Ordinary Things" is a 7 part audio drama that weaves together stories and songs that have helped Gina own her own story in a way that is relatable and inviting.
Follow all things Gina, including the podcast at http://GinaHarris.com
In this episode I got to talk to comedian Jason Salmon about his experience taking care of his dad after 10 years of living with Alzheimers disease. As our parents get older, we often find ourselves in the Care-giver role that they played for us for so long. We talk about how important communication is, as well as the ability to enjoy a cupcake even on our hardest days.
Follow all things Jason at https://jason-salmon.com
Follow him on IG @JSalmonComedy
Here's my conversation with Brennan Wood, executive director of The Dougy Center, an org that provides grief peer support to children and families dealing with loss and illness.
Brennan walked through the doors of Dougy Center for the first time in 1987 at the age of 12 just three days after her mother died. At 14, she was a featured speaker at many Dougy Center events, and was so inspired by the then executive director, dr. Donna Schuurman, that she dreamed of becoming ED herself one day.
Brennan continues the mission of Dougy Center and would love to connect with you anytime about how you can support children and families who are grieving.
Follow Dougy.org to find support in your area!
Get "A Kids Book About Grief" Here!
In this episode I got to talk to my good friend and comedian Leighann Lord, who found herself to be the primary care taker for both of her parents prior to their deaths. We talk about the difficulty of watching our parents deteriorate in front of us, and how it can feel like we end up losing them twice. We also talk about how acknowledging our feelings and letting our emotions out when they strike can help us keep it together when we are falling apart.
Follow all things Leighann at http://www.veryfunnylady.com
Make sure you check her out on Showtime's "Even More Women Of A Certain Age," now streaming!
After becoming an "adult orphan" in her formative years, Alexandra Locker channeled her grief into cooking, going on to create The Grief Kitchen as a way to bring people together in times of isolation and loss. Her Instagram and FB pages provide a grief-positive community to share memories and recipes with others struggling with life after loss. We talk about how much food plays a factor in every stage of the grieving process, and the ways in which the kitchen itself can be a haven from the world.
Follow @TheGriefKitchen on IG and on Facebook!
Email me at WheresTheGrief@gmail.com to let me know what you think!
In this episode, I talk with Comedian Shawn Hitchins about his new book, "The Light Streamed Beneath It" - a memoir of grief and celebration of the two loves of his life after they both died unexpectedly within a short period of time. We talk about the importance of having a community to hold us up, finding humor in the darkest parts of our lives, and the power of gratitude in the face of devastating loss.
Follow all things Shawn at https://shawnhitchins.com
Get the Book On Amazon!
In this episode, I got to talk to Hip-Hop Artist Kursive, who has dealt with a fair amount of loss all while battling his own demons as well. Having lost his brother as well as a number of friends to addiction and other mental health issues, Kursive has used these tragedy's to propel himself forward. We talk about the importance of gratitude, and the value of being present and truly listening.
Follow Kursive on IG @KURSIVE
Check out "Reminds Me Of You" on Soundcloud
In this episode, I talk with men's mental heath advocate, Addison Brasil! After a string of devastating losses, including his brother to cancer, his father to suicide and a friend in a car accident, Addison struggled with his own mental health, and found that men in general are not always encouraged to be as open with their feelings as he needed. He has gone on to create Tethr, a mobile app focused on peer-enabled emotional fitness and wellbeing for men.
Follow Addison on IG @AddisonBrasil
Learn more about Tethr and get involved at https://www.tethr.men
In this episode I talk with my good friend and comedian Mark Anthony Ramirez about a wide range of topics, including the death of both his parents, and the ways in which he has coped with life and death after the fact. We talk about the importance of leaning into your grief, and how cathartic it can be to process some of the hard feelings through humor with an audience that really gets it.
Follow Mark on Twitter and IG @MarkARamirez
In this episode I talk with author David Richman, about his new book "Cycle of Lives," an incredible look at 15 different stories of dealing with cancer, interwoven with David's own literal journey across the country to connect with his interviewees. We talk about just how powerful and healing it can be to show our vulnerabilities and actively listen to those whose paths we cross.
Find out more and get the book at http://CycleOfLives.org
In this episode I talk with Author Emma G Rose about her new book "Assembling Ella," a contemporary fantasy novel that incorporates Emma's own feelings about loss and life into the story. After the death of her cousin, Emma moved halfway across the world, and began to write as a way to cope and entertain at the same time. We talk about the importance of family support, as well as the isolation we all feel individually after a major loss.
Follow Emma @EmmaGWriter
Get the book at https://www.emmagauthor.com/
In this episode I talk to author Kathy Benjamin about her new book, "It's Your Funeral! Plan The Celebration of a Lifetime Before it's too Late!" Part instructional guide, and part workbook, Kathy manages to tackle a difficult topic with equal amounts of seriousness and whimsey. When people die, very often the task of figuring out what one's final wishes were and how to carry them out falls to the family left behind. This book helps start the conversation about how we want to be remembered, and that we should be at least as prepared as Nicholas Cage.
Get the book at Quirk Books!
Follow Kathy @KathyBenjamin
In this episode, I talk with Comedian Stuart Preston about his new book, "The Grief Trip; Learning to Heal WITH Grief and Psychedelics." After his son Ian died by suicide, Stuart began an unorthodox journey of self discovery and has continued to find ways to express his feelings through comedy and performance. It's important to note that the use of drugs to cope, even when done for medicinal purposes, can still be dangerous, and should always be done responsibly, supervised by an expert. Stuart himself is quick to point out his unique process, and uses it as a way to start some interesting conversations with his community.
Get the book and find out more at http://TheGriefTrip.com
Here's my conversation with Author Autumn Toelle Jackson, whose new book, "Boldly Into The Darkness; Living with Loss, Growing with Grief & Holding on to Happiness" provides insight into her process of healing after the loss of her husband, a cousin and a child in the span of just a few years. We talk about how important community is, and why having a bouncy-castle makes any event more fun, even a funeral.
Get the book and follow Autumn at https://growingwithgrief.com/
Hooray! After a much needed month off for my own sake and sanity, I am back with more grief! I talked with Michael Lalor, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Trellis Hospice and Palliative Care about the difficulties this past year and half have brought in being able to properly grieve. Already a difficult topic to tackle without a pandemic, we talk about how important it is to understand the human element and bring some normalcy to an otherwise unspoken yet expected life event.
Find out more about Michael on his LinkedIn Page!
In this special SOLO episode, I check in with you guys regarding why there aren't as many new episodes this month. July 6th marked 19 years since the death of my brother Russell, and as such I tend to take July off of doing too much.
Also, This Wednesday, July 14th is the 16th Annual Russell Ferber Foundation Comedy FUN!draiser!
Tickets for our IN PERSON or our VIRTUAL LIVE STREAM are both available! CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS!
In this episode, I sat down with ANOTHER fellow grief podcaster, Dr. Joshua Black, from the Grief Dreams Podcast!
After dreaming about his late father, Joshua began studying the effects of dreams on healing trauma and moving through loss. Through his work and his podcast he is able to connect with people on a deep level about understanding the nature of life and death.
Follow Joshua's podcast and learn more at https://www.griefdreams.ca
In this episode I talk with fellow grief podcaster Tawny Platis! Before Tawny's husband George passed away in their home in November 2019, the two had a popular podcast together. After his untimely death, Tawny coped with the trauma by turning the podcast into the show now known as Death Is Hilarious. Her show features conversations with other creative types who use dark humor and jokes to combat their grief. We talk about the difficulties of being widowed at 29, and finding ways to give ourselves permission to laugh at the absurdity of it all.
Follow https://deathishilarious.com @ThatDeathPod
Follow Tawny @TawnysVoice
In this episode I sat down IN PERSON! with my friend Tim Lavigne, whose band ToshioBand new album, Lock Your Doors, comes out June 25th. The album was partially inspired by the Tim's mother who instilled a love of music in him, and who continues to inspire years after her untimely passing. We talk about how freeing it can be to own who we are and find ways not to let our past dictate our future.
Find out more about Tim and GET THE ABLUM at https://toshioband.com/ and follow them @ToshioBand
In this episode, I interview author Eric Hodgdon about his book, A Sherpa Named Zoi, about his journey back into the light after the death of his daughter, Zoi. In the years since her passing Eric has managed to find more meaning in her life than in her death, and helps others to harness their inner strengths to overcome adversity.
We talk about the importance of moving forward while continuing to embrace the suck.
Check out https://erichodgdon.com for info on his seminars, or to get the book!
Follow ME across all social media @WheresTheGrief or email me at WheresTheGrief@gmail.com
In this episode I interview writer Briana Lawrence! When she was just 13, Briana's brother Glenn died at 26, and since then she has found a lot of impactful ways to honor him and her grief. As a writer for The Mary Sue on pop culture, she was able to write about the ways that WandaVision on Disney + tackled grief head on. (spoiler alert - the whole season is about her grief!) We also talk about how proud our 13 year old selves would be of the crazy adults we turned out to be!
Follow Briana @BrichibiTweets
Follow ME across all platforms @WheresTheGrief
Email me at WheresTheGrief@gmail.com
In this episode, I interview comedian Rich Kiamco, whose partner Sandy died from Covid just 3 weeks before we recorded this. Having spent years already working on himself and finding mens groups to tackle his feelings head-on, I was incredibly impressed by just how articulate Rich was about his grief so early in the process. We talk about how loss of the people in our lives upend the very structures that keep us grounded.
Follow Rich @RichKiamco on Twitter and IG
Check out http://www.richkiamco.com/ for more!
Follow ME online @WheresTheGrief
This episode is Exta-Jordanary! This first in-person interview I did in over a year is with my good friend Jordan Hawkes, who lost both of her parents in a car accident when she was just 3 years old. We talk about what it was like to grow up in the shadow of grief that permeated the rest of the family that helped raise her. We also talk about how we find our identities after trauma.
Follow Jordan on IG @JordanANoel
Check out http://www.streetheroinesfilm.com/ to learn more about her upcoming documentary and follow @StreetHeroines
Follow ME across all social media @WheresTheGrief
WheresTheGrief@gmail.com
This interview was a long time coming! After several years of talking about having him on, comedian James Alexander finally had time to talk with me about a variety of losses, including one of his best friends years ago, as well as his father and other family members over the past year. We talk about how different each loss hits us, and the importance of staying true to ones self in spite of circumstances.
Follow James on Twitter @JamesAlexander1
Follow me on Twitter and IG @WheresTheGrief
WheresTheGrief@gmail.com
In this episode, I talk with Author Dawn Newton about her new book, "The Remnants Of Summer," a coming of age novel about a young Michigan girl who loses her brother in a tragic drowning accident. Beginning this book before the death of both of her parents, Dawn put it on the back burner while working on other projects, including "Winded: A Memoir in 4 Stages." We talk about the different ways we create narrative out of the chaos of our circumstances, and how important it is to give ourselves the time to process our grief.
Learn more about Dawn and get the book at https://dawnmarienewton.com
Follow me @WheresTheGrief
In this episode I talk with NYTimes bestselling author Adam Mansbach about his new book, "I Had A Brother Once. A Poem. A Memoir." Shortly after Adam's brother died by suicide, his first book became number one in the world, creating something of a double life - One who was mourning the loss of his brother and another whose public persona was on a global media tour. We also talk about how artists find ways to filter their grief through their work.
Find out more about Adam and ALL his books at http://www.adammansbach.com
Follow me across social media @WheresTheGrief
WheresTheGrief@gmail.com
In this episode I interview comedian and writer Genevieve Joy! We talk about a diverse number of friends that she has lost over the years, and how our relationship to our own mortality changes over time. We also talk about how important it is to give ourselves permission to actively deal with our emotional hurdles.
Follow Genevieve on IG @CatFightJoy
Check out http://www.genevievejoy.com/ to learn more about her Podcasts and upcoming events!
Follow ME across all social media @WheresTheGrief
Email me at WheresTheGrief@gmail.com
In this episode I talk with comedian Mick Diflo about a number of losses he has experienced over the years, including both his parents, two siblings, a niece and a nephew. Coming from a family that didn't always express their feelings to one another, Mick has managed to find new ways to acknowledge the difficulties and use humor to negotiate an ever adapting approach to life and death.
Follow Mick online at https://mickdiflo.com
Follow ME online @WheresTheGrief on twitter and IG
Email me at WheresTheGrief@gmail.com
In this episode I talk with comedian and fellow podcaster Andrew Steiner! We talk the difficulty we can have in feeling as though we are properly expressing our grief, and how to deal with our struggles when everyone we know only shares their successes. We also talk about the ways in which we prioritize content creation versus promotion, and the power of passion projects.
Check out Andrews podcast Knowledge Daddies!
Watch the show on YouTube!
Follow me @WheresTheGrief on twitter and IG
WheresTheGrief@gmail.com
Huzzah! This is the first episode I actually recorded after a 3 month hiatus, and also the first episode I've done where we don't deal with the loss of a person, but rather the loss of a whole way of life, of BEING. It felt appropriate to start up again by talking with my good friend Michael Wasserman, a teacher (among other things) who had already been trying to put his life back together when the pandemic hit. We talk about the nature of grief itself, and the different ways that we are all experiencing a sense of loss over the past year.
Follow me @WheresTheGrief on twitter and IG
WheresTheGrief@gmail.com
In this episode I interview comedian and fellow podcaster Jenn Welch! After the death of her father, Jenn found her own ways of coping by being open and creative about her loss. We talk about her Dead Dad Tinder account, and the impact it can have when we take ownership of our own issues. We also talk about how great it is to have a community that welcomes expression, even when it's not funny.
Check out Jenn's podcast LadyHD - A Podcast for distractable women!
Follow her @JennWelchNow and @LadyHDPod
Follow ME on IG and Twitter @WheresTheGrief
Email me anytime at WheresTheGrief@gmail.com
In this episode, I interview Author and fellow bereavement speaker Allison Gilbert! After losing both of her parents at a young age, Allison found solace in being able to tell her story of overcoming the depths of her grief, and in helping others find their own path as well. We talk about the importance of community, and how just being genuine with people, even when dealing with them on a professional level, can create lasting bonds and new perspectives.
Follow all things Allison at AllisonGilbert.com!
Additionally, Allison has offered listeners of WTG an exclusive discount on her online courses - Use Promo Code EARLYBIRD !
Hello to 2021! What a crazy year it has been for all of us. In addition to the pandemic fatigue we are all collectively feeling, life and death continue to go on. I wanted to take this opportunity to check in on myself and bring you up to speed on how the podcast is going, and the resources that are out there should you need more.
After a brief hiatus, and dealing with some fresh personal grief of my own, I am back at it with new episodes!
PLEASE RATE/REVIEW THE SHOW!
If you have ANY questions or concerns, or you just want to send me a nice personal note, feel free to reach out at WheresTheGrief@gmail.com
Thank you all for listening!
Jordon Ferber
Huzzah! In this episode, I finally sat down for a full hour with my good friend Luciana Rossi! A registered nurse, and a fellow bereaved sibling, Luci and I met over a decade ago at The Compassionate Friends (TCF) national conference. Luci lost her brother Doug when she was a baby, and her other brother Tony in 2009. She has become a much needed voice in the bereavement community, a leader in the TCF world, and a trusted friend and confidant to me over the years. I am very honored to have her in my life!
Follow Luci on IG @CrafyLulu
Check out https://www.compassionatefriends.org for find TCF in your area and online.
In this episode, I interview comedian and improv performer Ronny Pasquale! It's been 15 years since Ronny's mother died at the age of 39, when Ronny himself was just 20. He has since managed to combine parts of his pain with his love of dead-mother jokes as a way to cope with the difficult parts of life without her.
We talk about how important being about to have tough conversations can be, as well as just how tough it can be to write jokes about topics the audience might be trying NOT to think about.
Follow Ronny on Twitter and IG @RonnyPascale
I don't know who NEEDS to hear this episode right now, but I hope it's a lot! Here's my interview with comedian Myq Kaplan, who manages to create humor out of the intersection of wordplay and philosophy. Enjoy an in depth discussion about the ways that human nature has us alternately hide/express our true feelings, and the power of truly connecting with other humans.
Follow Myq at @myqkaplan across social media, or HERE!
Check out his podcast Broccoli and Ice Cream!
Get Myq's Album AKA here!
In this episode, I sat down to talk with Ken Levy and Sam Feldman, two of the founders of The National Widowers Organization. Having each lost their wives, both Sam and Ken struggled to find a place where widowers (and men in general) were allowed to be vulnerable and open about their feelings, leading to them stepping up to help others while helping themselves.
Check out the National Widowers Organization here!
In this episode, I welcome fellow grief podcaster, Jayme Ails!
After the death of her mother to cancer 4 years ago, Jayme struggled to find her way, and ultimately started a podcast about grief (and how the fuck to deal with it) called Grief Unfiltered! We talk about the importance of semantics, and of cutting through the BS to get to a real conversation, especially about difficult topics.
Follow Jayme on IG @GriefUnfiltered!
Jason Rosenthal is a widower who became nationally known after his wife wrote a heart-wrenching column days before her death. He is now sharing his insight about love, loss and living again in his new memoir, "My Wife Said You May Want To Marry Me." We talk about the importance of family support, and the need to connect with people, as well as how to carry someones legacy forward while also creating a legacy of ones own.
Go to jasonbrosenthal.com to find out more about Jason, and where to get the book!
Follow him on IG @JasonBRosenthal
In this episode, I interview comedian AMarie Castillo to talk about the difficulties of losing her best friend. After her best friend Bex was murdered last year, AMarie struggled to make sense of not just what happened, but how to find a peaceful way forward. We talk about the importance of the family we choose and the community we have to support us.
Follow Amarie on all social media @Part_Time_Bro
In this episode, I interview comedian Sharon Simon! A veteran of the NYC standup community, Sharon has dealt with a number of losses, including her mother 10 years ago, and more recently an aunt and her cousin. We talk about how important it is to have a space to speak your truth and claim ownership of your story. We also talk about the difficulties of having to grieve during quarantine.
Follow Sharon's YouTube page Simon Says Laugh!
Follow her online at SimonSaysLaugh.com
In this episode, I interview Mary FitzGerald, CEO of the Eluna Network, a non-profit that supports children and families impacted by grief or addiction. No stranger to loss herself, Mary’s brother Dennis died not too long before she became a mother, as well as beginning to find her reluctant calling in the field of grief and mental health support. We talk about how important having peer support can be, and how much kids AND adults benefit just from having their issues acknowledged.
Go to https://elunanetwork.org/ to find out more about support in your area.
Follow Eluna on FB!
In this episode, I talk with Good Day LA's on air meteorologist and author Maria Quiban Whitesell about her new book, "You Can't Do It Alone; A Widow's Journey Through Loss, Grief and Life After." After the death of her husband Sean to brain cancer, Maria has managed to cultivate the community she needed to help her cope with life after loss, and how to keep Sean's memory and legacy alive, as well as how to talk to their son about what happened.
Find out where to get the book at https://YouCantDoItAloneBook.com
Follow all things Maria at https://mariaquiban.com
In this episode, my first in the quarantine era, I interview comedian Jim Mendrinos! A veteran of the stand up comedy scene (his is Mr. Comedy 101 as far as I'm concerned), Jim has suffered through a number of losses, including his sister Mary in 1992 to the Aids epidemic. We also talk about the loss of his parents as well as parts of himself. A truly enlightening conversation with a guy I already thought I knew pretty well!
Follow Jim online at http://worldsbestcomic.com
Get his book, The Complete Idiots Guide To Comedy Writing
Hooray! I made it to 100 episodes!
In this milestone episode, I interview Dr. Heidi Horsley (episode 29) and Author Elizabeth Devita-Raeburn. (episode 27)
Heidi's brother Scott died at 17 and altered the course of her life, as she currently keeps his memory alive in many ways including running the Open to Hope Foundation, a non-profit helping people find hope after loss. She also is recovering from having contracted Covid-19.
Elizabeth's is the author of "The Empty Room," which is widely considered THE book on sibling grief, which she wrote in dealing with the loss of her brother Ted, who died from an auto-immune disease that kept him quarantined in a hospital room for 8 years before taking his life.
https://www.opentohope.com
In this episode, I had my first interview with more than one person! I sat down with Harry Terjanian and Stephanie Sottile, who have lived together for many years and have dealt with many of the ups and downs of comedy tragedy and life together. We talk about our late friend Joseph Rocha as well as a number of other comedy losses. We also talk about the loss of their dog Chubby, and how we are seemingly allowed to grieve the loss of a pet more openly than a person.
Harry Co-Hosts the podcast Man School 202 w Dante Nero!
Make sure and follow Harry and Steph's show, The Unwanted!
In this episode I interview comedian Jessica Rotondi! Jessica's good childhood friend Amy died while they were in college, of still unknown reasons. We talk about how to navigate the difficulties of grieving someone who isn't still a fixture in your life, as well as how to give yourself permission to grieve at all.
Follow Jessica @jessieroro13 on Twitter AND Instagram!
In this episode, I interviewed author John Sardella to talk about his newly published book, "A Journey Without A Map," about his wife Margaret's battle and ultimate death from cancer. He has stayed connected to people by sharing personal stories of life after loss.
Follow John and get the book at https://www.johnsardella.com
In this episode, I interview Canadian radio personality Erin Davis! As one of Canada's most recognizable and beloved voices, the birth and life of Erin's daughter Lauren unfolded in real time with her listeners. After Laurens untimely death in May of 2015, Erin's own journey of grief and loss similarly took place somewhat publicly. In her new book, "Mourning has Broken," Erin details her experiences to bring hope and healing to the rest of us.
Follow all thins Erin Davis at www.erindavis.com
Get "Mourning Has Broken" on Amazon
In This episode, I interviewed Sarah Illiatovitch-Goldman, director of the Hearts to Art Summer Camp - a summer camp experience for kids aged 7-14 who have unfortunately lost their parents. Being a kid is hard enough, but being a kid with adult problems can be even tougher.
"The loss is what unites us, but it is not what defines us."
-Sarah Goldman
Find out more about the Hearts to Art Summer camp, which is in association with Chicago's Auditorium Theater
Follow Hearts to Art on Facebook!
In this episode, I sat down with writer Emily Carrus. Emily's husband Daniel died by suicide 5 years ago, at the age of 36. Suddenly finding herself to be a single mother while grieving the death of her husband, Emily takes us through the process by which she has managed not just to survive but to thrive despite the inherent difficulties of having to do it all on her own.
Once again, sadly, another friend who I had the honor of interviewing on this podcast has passed away. On March 18th, 2020, Brian Baron died from cancer that seemingly came out of nowhere and took him from us in just a month from diagnosis to death.
I'm grateful to have had this conversation with him, and his message to make the most of the time we have left and to cherish those we love is as apt as ever right now.
RIP Brian Baron... May his spirit live on.
In this episode, Jordon talks with author and funeral director Chris Meyer!
After years toiling in the entertainment industry as an underpaid screenwriter, Chris fell into the funeral industry somewhat by accident, and has since made it his calling, learning about how to live a complete life from the ways that people talk about death.
His book "Life in 20 Lessons; What a Funeral Guy Discovered About Life, From Death" is available wherever books are sold!
Find out how to get the book here!
In this episode, Jordon talk with comedian Rob Ryan! Rob's mother died when he was 19 after many years of alcohol abuse, and his brother Tim died by suicide a few years later. We talk about the difficulty that just talking about suicide brings, as well as the different ways in which we push ourselves to deal with the realities. We also have a discussion on how to write jokes about seemingly unfunny topics.
Follow Rob on social media @RobRyanRocks
Check out his website RobRyanRocks.com
Get Rob's Ablum, "Non-Alcoholic" Here!
In this episode, I sat down with comedian Kirk Smith to talk about the difficulties of being a single father, trying to raise an autistic son after the death of his wife 5 years ago. We talk about the importance of being vulnerable onstage when discussing difficult topics, and the value of really connecting with an audience when doing so.
Go to https://www.kirksmithcomedian.com to follow all thinks Kirk and find out when and where he's performing near you!
Kirk wrote a book called "Rice Krispies and Ketchup" about dealing with the issues that come with raising an autistic child.
Kirk has a podcast about Autism called Autistic: A Comedians Guide to Autism. Listen here!
Follow Kirk on social media @KirkSmithComedy
In this episode, I talk to comedian and storyteller Sharon Spell! Sharon's parents died just 18 days apart in 2011. As a comedian Sharon almost immediately began talking about her loss onstage, and has since gone on to share stories on the RISK podcast, on her own show Gens Stories, and is a Moth StorySLAM winner.
We talk about the importance of community, and of the difficulty in doing jokes about hard topics.
Follow Sharon at SharonSpell.com!
In this episode, Jordon talks to author Andrea Wilson Woods! Andrea's sister Adrienne (Andrea was also her legal guardian who raised her) died at the age of 15 after a devastating battle with liver cancer. Her newly published book, "Better Off Bald" is a journal-styled memoir that chronicles the 147 from diagnosis to death.
A story that is equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking, Andrea and Adrienne teach us the value of living life to the fullest, even in the face of harsh realities.
Go to BetterOffBald.com to get the book wherever books are sold!
Additionally, Andrea runs a non-profit to help treat and cure liver cancer. Find out more about Blue Faery here!
Andrea also runs Cancer.University - a platform designed to help patients currently undergoing treatment for Cancer. Where's The Grief listeners can gain free lifetime membership with the Promo Code GRIEFPODCAST on the sign up page!
It was bound to happen sooner or later . . . Angelo Lozada, comedian, father, friend, has passed away. A pillar of the comedy community, Angelo succumbed to stomach cancer on December 17th, 2019. While the world is a little darker, I take solace in the fact that I knew him, and that I got the chance to sit down with him and talk about what it's like to lose someone you love.
In my first re-posting (Angelo was Episode 12 of the podcast - recorded in 2015.) I am honored to be able to share this conversation. RIP too Angelo. May his spirit continue to make us all better comedians and people.
Woot woot! In this episode, I sat down with my good friend Jess Wood! Born and raised in LA, Jess had a tumultuous upbringing that had her familiar with loss from an early age. After spending nearly 20 years in NYC Jess moved back to LA shortly after the death of the first love of her life, and has since also lost her mother and several other friends. She recently put her one person show, "It's A Lot" up in LA, and is working on a book of the same title.
Jess is a podcaster as well, with a weekly show called Get Wood!
Listen and subscribe!
Follow Jess on all the social medias - http://www.thejesswood.com
In this episode, Jordon interviews author Shelby Forsythia, author of Permission to Grieve and host of her own podcast, Coming Back: Conversations on Life After Loss. After the unexpected death of her mother in 2013, Shelby became what she calls a “student of grief” as she helps others on the path back into the light.
Huzzah! In this episode, I interviewed comedian Barry Ribs! A fixture of the NYC comedy scene for over 20 years, Barry is known for his unique style of storytelling, and a no punches pulled approach to life in general. An orphan at this point in his life, we talk about the issues we deal with in childhood, and the difficulty of being a father to an addict.
Check out Barry on IG and Twitter @Barry_Ribs
In this special episode, comedian Jay Nog returns to the podcast to talk about his upcoming one man show, "Goody." Jay was among the first guests on the podcast (Episode 4!) to talk about the death of his best friend to suicide in 1999. Even in the 4 years since we first spoke, Jay has gotten married and had a son, as well as continuing to raise awareness about suicide prevention and mental health issues.
His one man show, "Goody" is a deeply personal story of love and friendship, and an honest and vulnerable look at the journey he has taken back into the light.
"Goody" runs Oct. 16th, 23rd and 30th at the Under St. Marks Theater in NYC - Get Tickets here!
Follow Jay Nog online to find out more about what he's doing.
Listen to Episode 4!
In this episode, comedian Kristy Belich talks about the untimely death of her good friend and mentor, fellow comedian Joseph Rocha. A good friend of Jordon's as well as the Podcast, Joseph was a pillar and a staple of both the NYC and San Fransisco comedy scenes, which made the impact of his loss be felt on every level, and by so many people. We discuss how to allow ourselves to be sad regardless of our relationship to the deceased, and the importance of gratitude in a life when we truly don't know what tomorrow may bring.
Check out some of Joseph's Stand-Up!
Here's a great interview With Joseph!
Follow Kristy Belich @TrustYourGlitter
In this episode, I sat down with Yogi and Essential Oils specialist Jason Wendroff to talk about sibling grief! I met Jason on an episode of Open to Hope and subsequently got to hang out with him at this years TCF conference in Philadelphia. It's been 21 years since the death of his sister Lauren, and its taken time for Jason to find the right balance to help others along with himself. We talk about the importance of having peer support, gratitude, and the understanding that we all need to find our own path back into the light.
Follow Jason on FB (and make sure to tell him you heard him on WTG!)
Check out Jason's Essential Oils page: http://my.doterra.com//shineyogacenter
Here is part 2 my interviews LIVE from the 42nd Annual Compassionate Friends National Conference. This episode features conversations with a number of parents in my TCF Family!
I checked in with Alan Pedersen (Episode 14), musician and former director of TCF, as well as Gloria Horsely, who runs the Open To Hope Foundation with her daughter Heidi Horsely (Episode 29). Check out OpentoHope.com for more info
I got a chance to talk to Alison Rosen, who runs the MVRP foundation in honor of her son Michael. Follow what they do at MVRP.org
Finally, I had an extended conversation with Glenn Lord, TCF national board member, and Noah's dad.
The Compassionate Friends has local chapters all over the country. If you've suffered the loss of a child, a grandchild or a sibling, they can help.
Once again, Jordon is LIVE from the Annual Compassionate Friends National Conference! In this all Siblings episode, we have the Sunday closing ceremony Key Note, delivered by Katelyn and Dylan Stoskus, followed by brief interviews with each of them after the fact. We also hear from TCF Director Allie Sims-Franklin, and Peter Pajitnov.
And of course, no conference episode would be complete without a glimpse into the madness that happens in-between the tears.
The Compassionate Friends is a self help support group for families grieving the death of a child, a grandchild, or a sibling. Find out if there's a chapter near you!
COMPASSIONATEFRIENDS.ORG
In this episode, Jordon talks to author Kelly Carlin, about the ups and downs of dealing with life and loss. Her book, "A Carlin Home Companion; Growing up with George," details her upbringing and the ever evolving relationship we have with our parents and ourselves. After losing her mother rather privately, and then her father so publicly, Kelly has found a refreshing and honest outlook on how to move forward despite adversity. We also talk about the importance of community and how much it matters that we give ourselves permission to go through it however we go through it.
Follow all things Kelly at http://thekellycarlinsite.com
In this episode, Jordon welcomes comedian and author Tom Nemic. Tom's father died when he was in High School, and his mother in 2000, but the biggest loss we focus on his that of his childhood, and the adulthood of a girlfriends son. We talk about the importance of having a community, and the difficulty we all have in being honest with ourselves.
In this episode, I talked with comedian and podcaster Phil Causey, who lost one of his best childhood friends to suicide a few years ago. We talk about the difficulty of being outside the immediate friends/family dynamic and how one is allowed to grieve. We also talk about how many unanswered questions come up after a suicide, and how we can combat the thoughts that often crop up.
Phil also hosts his own podcast called The Fake OutRage Report!
Listen here!
Email me with any questions! WheresTheGrief@gmail.com
In this episode, Jordon talks with Author Marisa Bardach Ramel about her newly published book, "The Goodbye Diaries: A Mother Daughter Memoir"
Marisa's mother Sally was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer and given a grim prognosis - she likely only had months to live. Instead, she managed to survive and thrive for over 2 years, which allowed Marisa to rekindle their relationship and write the genesis for this book while she went from high school to college.
While it took a number of years to finish, Marisa shares her journey into the grey area of grief.
Follow Marisa across all platforms and order her book by checking out her website for The Goodbye Diaries.
Order it from Amazon here!
In this episode I sat down with comedian Bobby Lockwood to talk about life after the death of his father to pancreatic cancer. We talk about how men are taught to grieve, and how using distractions for your grief as a coping mechanism can only work for so long.
Bobby has his own podcast called Mooncamp - Check it out here!
Follow him on Instagram at @BobbyDankwood and @WelcomeToMoonCamp
Huzzah! At long last I got to sit down with comedian Wendi Starling to talk about a wide range of comedy and grief related issues, not the least of which is our shifting and tumultuous relationship with sobriety and how it can feel just as destructive as the alternative. The importance of self-care as well as having a community of support is invaluable in rolling with the punches life deals out.
Wendi has a podcast of her own, Follow them at @pfg
Follow Wendi at @wendibird82
As always, follow me on Where's The Grief? FB Page
Follow me on Twitter @WheresTheGrief
Email me with any questions! WheresTheGrief@gmail.com
In this episode, I sat down with Rabbi Anne Brener to discuss the new updated and expanded version of her book, "Mourning and Mitzvah," now celebrating its 25th year in publication.
Anne became a Rabbi who deals with mourning after her mother and sister both died within a few months of each other. She continues to be a source of hope, enriched by her own experiences with loss and personal growth and her belief in the healing power of ritual, communication, and community organization. We discuss the importance of having a community to grieve with, as well as how we interpret the many signs that our lost loved ones send us.
Follow her on Facebook for more info on what she does.
BUY HER BOOK! Check out "Mourning and Mitzvah" on Amazon!
As always, feel free to Email Me at WheresTheGrief@gmail.com
Follow me on Twitter @WheresThe Grief
In this episode, I sat down with comedian Samantha Bednarz to talk about a wide array of losses, from godparents to siblings, Samatha has been through the wringer. We talk about what it's like to be a reluctant death-whisperer, and how cathartic it can be to deal with dark issues on-stage.
Follow all things Samantha Here!
Follow her on Twitter @TheOGSammaJamma
Follow her on Instagram @Samantha_Bednarz
In this episode I sat down with comedian and fellow podcaster Alex Pischera, who lost his father at a young age to Melanoma Cancer.
In addition to dealing with the ups and downs of coping with the loss, Alex has also had a strained relationship with his brother, who has ultimately dealt with it in a much different way.
We talk about a number of issues related to mental health and addiction, and how you can lose a person while they're still alive.
Follow Alex's podcast, "Kill you Last"
See Alex Live at The V-Spot monthly in Aggressively Chill!
Follow Alex on Instagram at @KillYouLastPod @AlexPischera
In this episode, I sat down with comedian Paul Oddo! We talk about a variety of types of loss, as well as touching on different approaches to mental health. We talk about the importance of community, and how social stigmas and norms often shape the way we talk about trauma to begin with. Follow all things Paul at http://www.pauloddo.com/
In this first Skype interview for the podcast, I had a lengthly conversation with ER nurse Haley Harris-Bloom about her development of a new app to help individuals navigate their own unique grief processes.
After the death of two of her cousins and her best friend in a short span, Haley began to research the different methods of coping with grief and loss only to find a dearth in literature and support that was specific to her needs, which ultimately lead to her deciding to collect all the helpful elements into one interactive App that helps one deal with the day to day self-care that is essential in the face of a loss.
The App itself, GriefGuide, is still in it's initial KickStarter Phase.
Click here to donate now, or to find out more about the GriefGuide App!
In this long awaited episode, I finally got a chance to interview Comedian and AUTHOR Laurie Kilmartin!
Laurie's father had terminal cancer, and she dealt with part of it by live-tweeting her father’s time in hospice and her grieving process after his passing. She ultimately turned those tweets into a special entitled "45 Jokes About My Dead Dad." She then subsequently wrote a book about the same experience, called "Dead People Suck," which is equally as amazing as her special, and perhaps the first ever Comedy-Grief book on the market.
Get her book, "Dead People Suck" Right now!
Subscribe to Laurie's own podcast here!
In this episode, I sat down with Author Daniel Kenner to talk about his new book, "Room for Grace," an oral history that deals with the life of his mother as she battled stage 4 cancer for her and a debilitating disease for her husband: life crashed down in an instant. Maureen Kenner found resilience, however, in the lessons she learned from her Special Ed students in Providence, RI. Her students lived with their hearts opened despite struggles of the highest magnitude. Through these students, Maureen gains courage, humor, and the strength of spirit to face her devastating realities, head on. Maureen’s oral history was captured by her son Daniel who tenderly wrought this book out of their recorded conversations. Through anecdotes and hard-earned lessons, Maureen tackles challenge after challenge and reframes daily struggles with a positive outlook allowing her to transcend and conquer mortal fears with dignity and room for grace.
Check out RoomForGrace.org to learn more about the book!
Also make sure to follow CaringBridge.org to find further support in the face of adversity.
In this episode I sat down with comedian Dara Jemmott to talk about the death of her mother nearly 8 years ago to ALS. We talk about moms, dads, putting the "FUN" in funeral, as well as how long it takes to really accept the realities. We touch on aspects of grief that inform how important it is to understand the length of the journey we are on, and about how family dynamics impact who ends up becoming a caregiver without much choice.
Dara Hosts at Urban Vegan Kitchen Every Monday! Click here for tix to the next one!
Follow Dara on Instagram @ChocolateJem
Keep an eye out for her new podcast dropping soon, "Comedians for Hire."
In this episode, I sat down with comedian Lori Sommer! Lori initially reached out to me to talk about the loss of the love of her life, and as life would have it, just two weeks prior to our interview the comedy world lost one of our own -- Poppi Kramer died unexpectedly and left so many of us wondering how to move forward.
Lori and I talk about the importance of community, of looking for silver linings, and how much it means to be able to have a place to express one's feelings.
Lori performs regularly all over the city, but can often be found at the new Westside Comedy Club - Check out their upcoming events to see her.
She also performs regularly with Bon Bon Burlesque! Follow them on FB to find out more!
In this episode recorded at the 2018 Compassionate Friends National Conference in St. Louis, MO, Jordon sits down with Mitch Carmody, a writer, artist, grief educator and a nationally recognized motivational speaker. He is the author of several books, and hosts his own Radio Show “Grief Chat”. He is a Grief Facilitator for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (T.A.P.S) of military loss, member of The Association of Death Education and Counseling (A.D.E.C.) and has served on the National Board of Directors for The Compassionate Friends, the largest grief support organization in the world.
After losing his twin sister in an accident in 1985 and then his son to cancer in 1987 Mitch has dedicated his life to serving the bereaved in any way he can.
His is truly a story of hope and perseverance.
Follow all the good that he does at http://heartlightstudios.net
In this special episode, I report from the 41st National Compassionate Friends Conference in St. Louis, Missouri.
The Compassionate Friends is an international self-help support group that provides resources and to families who have lost a child, a grandchild or a sibling. As a bereaved sibling myself, it is the national conference and my local meetings that were the most helpful part of my healing process, and ultimately spurred me to do this podcast in the first place.
This episode features conversations with Zander Sprague, Garrett McCormick and Heather Horsely.
Zander has a podcast of his own focused on sibling grief called The Lemonade Stand, as well as a book about sibling loss called "Making Lemonade." Find his podcast and his book at ZanderSprague.com
Heather Horsely runs the Open To Hope Foundation with her family. Her sister Heidi and her mother Gloria are the faces of Open to Hope, but Heather also plays an integral role in producing a TV and Radio show, as well as countless articles and other resources for people dealing with loss. Go to OpenToHope.com to get the Hope YOU need.
The Compassionate Friends has local chapters all over the country, as well as a number of closed Facebook groups dedicated to specific types of loss. Go to CompassionateFriends.org to see if there's a chapter near you!
In this episode, Jordon sits down with comedian Keenan Steiner to talk about life after the death of his mother nearly 2 years ago to breast cancer.
We talk about the different coping mechanisms we use to deal with the myriad of feelings that come up after a loss, and how to ultimately be functional without being insensitive to what we conceive as minor grievances.
Follow Keenan on IG @keenstartrillionaire
Check out all other things Keenan at his website HERE.
In this episode, I sat down with comedian and recent author Kelly Lynn! Kelly's husband Don died of a sudden heart attack 7 years ago, and over the last 5 years, Kelly has been working on her newly published book about her loss, "My Husband is Not a Rainbow," Now available on Amazon and Kindle.
We talk about the importance of community, and how refreshing it is to normalize the ways we talk about grief and loss so that we can move forward. We also talk about how much humor there is in the process of grieving, and how laughing at the darkest parts of ourselves helps guide us back into the light.
Follow Kelly online at http://www.ripthelifeiknew.com
Buy her book on Amazon!
Here's a link to Camp Widow
In this episode, I sat down with comedian, actor and fellow podcaster Dante Nero!
Dante has his own podcast, The Beige Phillip Show, focused on dating and relationships, but Dante and his crew talk about all aspects of life, and all types of relationships, including familial.
6 years after the death of his father and two years after the death of his mother, Dante shares his thoughts about how to reconcile his love for his parents with his animosity towards how they treated him. We talk about finding ways to be the best version of ourselves, and how important forgiveness is, even when you just give it to yourself.
Follow Dante on Instagram @TheDanteNero
Check out his podcast here!
For everything else Dante related, check his website! DanteNero.com
In this episode, Jordon sits down with veteran comedian Ross Bennett to talk about the death of his first wife, over 30 years ago. We talk about how men are taught to deal with grief, as well as how performers harness their truths to create connections and find ways to move forward in both their lives and careers.
Ross just released his second album via Stand Up Records, "Not if You Were The Last Man on Earth." https://standuprecords.com/products/ross-bennett
It's also available on iTunes - Buy it on iTunes here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/not-if-you-were-the-last-man-on-earth/1363295638
Stand Up Records produces some of the best comedy albums in the biz, including several former podcast guests. Check out their whole catalogue at https://standuprecords.com
Find out more about all that Ross does at RossBennett.com
In this episode, I sat down with my good friend and comedian Danny Lobell! Danny is unquestionably one of the the original comedy podcasters, and quite possibly the reason I have this podcast myself. We talk about the loss of Danny's first love to a rare form of cancer, and the trials and tribulations that come with having to say goodbye to someone who is desperately trying to hang on. We also talk about the loss of one of Danny's best friends and mentor's, the late comedian Ralphie May.
Check out Danny's own podcast, "Modern Day Philosophers" and make sure you check out his recently released comic book, "Fair Enough."
Follow all things Danny at DannyLobell.com
In this episode, Jordon talks with comedian and podcaster Dan Lamorte! In advance of this taping, Dan felt that he may not have had the amount of loss usually featured on this show, but upon sitting down it seemed as though he actually had quite a bit of personal loss, despite some of it being other than close loved ones. We talk about a multitude of types of loss, from friends to extended family members, to careers, relationships, and ultimately about the loss of ones self.
Follow Dan and all that he does at http://www.danlamorte.com
In this episode, I sat down to talk with comedian Stacy Kendro about the various losses that she has had in her life, and the ways in which they have brought her appreciate the life that she has.
Stacy has lost both of her parents to cancer, and both of them went out of their ways to shield her from their illnesses, giving her less than a week to process the diagnosis before they were gone.
Since then, Stacy has found ways to acknowledge their absence while still being acutely aware of their respective impacts on her life moving forward.
Follow Stacy and find out more about what shes up to at http://stacykendro.blogspot.com/
In this episode, I sat down with comedian Harris Stanton. Despite dealing with a number of losses, the greatest one was that of his friend and mentor Patrice. We talk about how to move on after losing one's guide, as well as how to carry the lessons we've learned forward with us.
Additionally, we touch briefly on the car accident that Harris was involved in that left Tracy Morgan and Ardie Fuqua in coma's and Jimmy Mack dead. Harris may have walked away with but a few scratches, but he also has vivid memories of the accident and it's aftermath that have stayed with him.
Check out what Harris is up to at https://www.facebook.com/harris.stanton
Get his album "Naive Innocence" from Itunes!
In this episode, Jordon sits down with one of his good friends from college, Kendra, who lost her brother Scott to suicide nearly 6 years ago, while Kendra herself was 7 months pregnant with her second child.
We talk about the difficulty of overcoming the stigma in talking about suicide and mental health, and the importance of understanding that depression is a disease that we ought to stop sweeping under the rug.
We also talk about the importance of gratitude, and how appreciating what we have in front of us can help gain a perspective on what we've been through.
Kendra hosts a yearly Fundraiser called "Stand Up for Scott" to raise money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Ali Forney Center.
Happy New Year to everyone, I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2018 . . .
In this episode I sat down with Harriet Cabelly, author of the book, "Living Well Despite Adversity."
In her book, Harriet has compiled 36 separate interviews with people from all walks of life, each of whom has been dealt an otherwise unwinnable hand and turned it into a opportunity to serve as an example to others that we can always triumph over our situation with strong choices and unwavering followthrough.
We talk about the importance of acceptance, and giving ones self permission to feel, be it joy or despair.
Find out more about Harriet at her website Rebuild Life Now
Jordon sits down with voice over artist Bill Ratner, known for dozens of voices you've heard before on TV and radio, yet most famous (at least to Jordon) as the voice of Flint on the popular cartoon G.I. Joe.
Before finding success as an artist and a storyteller, Bill essentially became an orphan at an early age, losing his mother at 7, his brother at 13, and his father just 3 months after that.
For over 50 years, Bill has found ways to continually strive to bask in the light, driven by the loving and supportive environment he enjoyed for far too little time.
We talk about the helpful nature of various forms of therapy, and how our loved ones find ways to reach out and continue to be a force in our lives.
Follow Bill on Twitter @BillRatner
Check him out online and find out where you can see him live! http://billratner.com/
In this episode, Jordon sits down with comedian Jonas Barnes, who has dealt with multiple losses over the course of his life, but can track most of his ways of coping with life to the death of his father when he was just 13 years old. Now having outlived his dad (who died of a possible drug overdose) Jonas has a unique perspective on addiction and depression that have helped shape his view of both himself and the struggles we all face as we move through different phases of living. We talk about how to learn from our pasts in taking ownership of our futures, as well as the importance of being able to say Fuck when it really matters.
Jonas is also about to start his own podcast focused on addiction and mental health at large called The Process (keep an eye out as it's not been released yet)
Follow him on Twitter or Facebook @JonasBarnes
Follow him on Instagram at @JonasBarnesComedy
In this episode, Jordon sits down with comedian Doug Hildemann, who lost his wife Kelly a little over a year ago. We talk about how difficult it is to find places to work towards moving forward, while still carrying our past with us.
To find out more about where Doug is performing, check out his FB comedy page, entitled, "Not Doug Hildemann's Comedy Page or Anything."
Episode 50 is here!
I'm so excited that I made it to 50 episodes, and I commemorated it by recording this show LIVE at the Zinc Bar in the West Village in NYC!
I changed up the format of the show a little bit to showcase some of my favorite prior guests who actually have material in their acts about loss, followed by a panel discussion on what it's like to do that type of material, and where the desire to connect with an audience can lead you!
Featuring comedy from Janice Messitte, who lost her husband two weeks after their wedding. Follow her on FB to find out where she's performing next!
Evan Williams lost his brother when he was 19, and his mother just a year later. Check him out online and follow him on twitter and instagram! https://evanwilliamscomedy.com/
Frank Liotti, in addition to his many live performances around the city (which can be found at his website - FrankLiotti.com ) also has a podcast of his own called FAT PIG, which he co-hosts with Jessica Kirson. Listen and subscribe here!
Follow him on Twitter @Frank_Liotti
Also, many thanks to Alex and the Staff at ZINC BAR for hosting us, and to Monica from Grandaisy Bakery for feeding us!