Heart To Heart With Michael

This is the holiday season, usually a time when most people celebrate and find joy but for some of us who are bereaved, it’s difficult for us to experience joy especially when we see everyone around us in such a joyful mood. Our program today is called “Comfort During the Holidays for Bereaved Parents” and our Guest is Julia Wagner.Julia Wagner is the mother of six children, the oldest of whom died suddenly and unexpectedly after an unforeseeable accident at home. At the time, Lizy was just two weeks shy of her 13th birthday, which added an extra layer of poignancy to her loss. Not only did Julia and her husband have to learn to handle their own grief, but how to tenderly guide their remaining five children through the process of coping with their loss as a family and as individuals. Lizy’s parents have focused on remembering her with joy and preserving her place in their family by creating new traditions in her name, as well as maintaining old ones the family cherishes.Loyal Listeners might remember Julia fr

Kendra Rinaldi is a grief and life transitions coach who has experienced grief many times in her life. Some of the most poignant moments were the tragic and sudden death of her sister in 1996, a miscarriage during her first pregnancy in  2006, and her mother’s death to pancreatic cancer in 2016. From her experiences, she launched a podcast called Grief, Gratitude, and The Gray in Between in March of 2020. She invites guests to share their journey and how they grew from that experience, many sharing about their grief after the death of a loved one and the tools they used in their grief process. She is also a volunteer at Journey of Hope Grief Support Center and is passionate about helping others who feel alone in their grief and provides grief care and support to the participants.

Helpful Links:

Kendra Rinaldi's website: https://www.griefgratitudeandthegrayinbetween.com/ Kendra Rinaldi's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefgratitudepodcast 

Kendra Rinaldi's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/griefgrat

Silke Herwald worked for many years with the bereaved community but it went to a much deeper level when her only sister died of cancer. She supported her parents and brother-in-law through their loss and their shared grief brought them even closer together.When COVID started, Australia shut its borders and she couldn’t get to Germany to spend with her parents for about 2 years. Then one morning she got a call nobody wants to get, that her father had died. She then applied for a travel exemption to be allowed to leave Australia to go on a flight to Germany to be there for her mother after her father passed away without warning.Ten days before Silke’s father died, she had to put down her old, beautiful therapy dog – the mascot for her clinic. This dog had been able to intuitively determine when clients needed her near them to absorb their grief. Losing her was another tremendous loss for Silke.Today’s episode is entitled: “Grief to Love: A Blueprint for the Living ” and our guest is Silke Herwald. Today we’ll b

What?! A Circus of Grief? How can we take our grief in a new direction? Can we still enjoy life after the loss of a loved one?Sherry Walling is an author and clinical psychologist. She’s also an amateur circus artist and she pulled together a group of circus artists to create an original circus in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in May. Sherry lost her brother to suicide in 2019 (six months after their father died of cancer). Afterwards, Sherry struggled to take care of her children, to work, or even to get out of bed. One of the only things that helped her to feel alive was her aerial hobby.One of Sherry’s coaches, Lynn Lunny, of Stomping Ground Studio in Minneapolis, lost her brother to suicide in 2018. Together, they created the show, which they describe as a love letter in motion.The show is a fundraiser for the National Association on Mental Illness (NAMI MN) and the official launch of her new book about grief, Touching Two World (to be released in July 2022). The book is part memoir and part gu

What Jewish prayers deal specifically with mourning? How have prayers of mourning changed over time? How is this Jewish prayer surprisingly connected to Christian prayers?Rabbi Dalia Marx, Ph.D., is the Rabbi Aaron D. Panken Professor of Liturgy and Midrash at HUC-JIR's Taube Family Campus in Jerusalem, and teaches in various academic institutions in Israel and Europe.Rabbi Marx earned her doctorate at the Hebrew University and her rabbinic ordination at HUC-JIR in Jerusalem and Cincinnati in 2002. She is involved in various research projects and is active in promoting liberal Judaism in Israel. She writes for academic and popular journals and publications.Rabbi Dalia Marx is the author of When I Sleep and When I Wake: On Prayers between Dusk and Dawn (Yediot Sfarim, 2010, in Hebrew), A Feminist Commentary of the Babylonian Talmud (Mohr Siebeck, 2013, in English), About Time: Journeys in the Jewish-Israeli Calendar (Yediot Sfarim, 2018, in Hebrew) and the co-editor of a few books.She lives in Jerusalem with h

How do you say "hello" to one child while you're saying "good-bye" to another? Why was going to sleep such a terrifying experience for Megan? What was the big lesson Megan and her family learned after Aria passed away?Megan Hillukka is a bereaved mother, with 7 children, 6 of who are still here. Megan encourages and supports grieving mothers that though the worst thing has happened to them, their life is not over. Through her experience of the death of her daughter, Aria, Megan has learned tools and ways of shifting grief so that it can become just a little bit lighter, and easier to live with. Because Megan has done the deep work of grief, made space for her grief, and time for her grief, she now has room for joy, laughter, hope, and so much fun in her life. She will never forget her daughter Aria and they talk about her often as a family. She helps the moms she works with learn how to process and move through the emotions of grief and provides a place of safety and compassion with grief so that they too can

Jordon Ferber is the Host of “Where’s the Grief?” Jordon Ferber’s only brother Russell was killed in a car accident in 2002 at the age of 21. He was just about to graduate from The Culinary Institute of America with a Pastry/Baking Arts degree. Jordon was 24, and just 2 years into his own career as a stand-up comedian.Jordon Ferber has also been running a local support group for siblings – The Compassionate Friends Sibling Support group – for a decade. He believes he has found his calling – that of finding ways to normalize the conversations we have about grief so we can talk about it the same way we talk about everything else; often with inappropriate humor. Jordon’s family created The Russell Ferber Foundation, which provides yearly scholarships at the Culinary Institute of America in their pastry/baking arts program in honor of Russell.Links for Jordon:Twitter - @WheresTheGrief and @JordonFerberIG - @WheresTheGrief @RussellFerberFoundation @BeatnikNudnikWheresTheGrief.comRussellFerberFoundation.orgWheresTh

How can a father deal with losing a son to cerebral palsy? What does it mean to have cerebral palsy? What advice does a father of two sets of twins have for others who have premature babies with severe birth defects?It’s extremely difficult to have a child with a chronic illness. It’s especially difficult when we lose a child, even when it is a child who was born with a chronic illness. It seems somehow unnatural for a parent to bury a child. So how do we, as parents, cope with that moment?This month's featured Guest is David Blier – the father of four; two sets of twins. David’s first set of twins were born at 31 ½ weeks – which is not actually considered premature for twins. One of the twins, Lucas, was born with cerebral palsy and his condition was very severe. Lucas couldn’t eat or speak but he could laugh and cry. He couldn’t sit up or walk, but he was able to move with the help of a wheelchair. He was totally dependent on others. For the last 13 years of his life he lived in Mercy Homes. Sadly, at 23

The loss of a spouse may be the hardest thing we can ever face. Lingering questions might haunt us seemingly forever. If I remarry, will I somehow diminish my first husband or wife? Must I, therefore, remain alone for the rest of my life? How can I possibly make room for someone new in my life? Not surprisingly these questions are faced every day by those around us. With us today are Jenny and Dan Muscatell. Jenny has faced these questions and is here today to talk about her answers. After losing her first husband, Thale, to a heart attack, she has remarried and begun life anew with Dan.Links mentioned in the show:Jenny and Dan Muscatell have their own podcast: And That's the #Truth: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChqkdrquJOuZMPRsCszwEqgJenny Muscatell's book: https://www.jennymuscatell.com/Links to “Bereaved But Still Me” Social Media and Podcast Pages:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me/id1333229173Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/heart-to-heart-with-michaelF

On August 15, 2018, while traveling to a minor league baseball game, the unthinkable happened. Marcy’s car was rear-ended and her 14-year-old son was killed instantly. Marcy’s world, and that of her family, was immediately crushed. Marcy, a pediatrician, struggled to help herself and her family.While looking for resources, Marcy was unable to find a podcast for bereaved parents. So she decided she needed to start a podcast to help parents who had lost a child of her own. As a pediatrician, she had dedicated her life to helping children but now she felt it was time for her to help parents whose children had died too young.Marcy Larson is the Host of Losing a Child: Always Andy’s Mom. She is also a pediatrician and the mother of three biological children and one foster son. For more information about her podcast, visit her website, Andy’s Mom.comLinks mentioned in this program include:Marcy’s blog and podcast: https://andysmom.com/Links to “Bereaved But Still Me” Social Media and Podcast Pages:Apple Podcasts:

This is a very special episode in which Michael talks with "Bereaved But Still Me" (BBSM) friends and family who have been with us during the last five years. Together we've learned that grief shared is divided while joy shared is multiplied. It is our hope that over the years we've been able to share some healing with our listeners. Guests include production staff and previous guests on BBSM. In addition, Michael was in the United States earlier this year where he interviewed BBSM creator and Executive Producer, Anna Jaworski of the Hearts Unite the Globe Podcast Network. Links mentioned in this program include:Anna Jaworski - “CHDs Around the Globe: Israel” — https://www.spreaker.com/user/7668348/chds-around-the-globe-israelMatt Creedon - "Remembering Chase” — https://www.spreaker.com/user/7668348/season-2-episode-9-matt-creedon-finalSheri Turner - "Living After Death: Rainbow Babies and Healing” — https://www.spreaker.com/user/7668348/living-after-death-rainbow-babies-and-heNancy Jensen —"The Last Days

In this episode, “A Duet of Joy and Sorrow with Alden Solovy” we’ll be taking a look at some of the issues surrounding that very challenge.Alden Solovy spreads joy and excitement for prayer. An American Israeli liturgist, poet, lyricist, author, and educator, Alden is the Liturgist-in-Residence for the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. His writing was transformed by multiple tragedies, marked in 2009 by the sudden death of his wife from a catastrophic brain injury. His teaching spans from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem to synagogues throughout North America, as well as Leo Baeck College in London and Limmud Conferences in the U.S., Canada, and the UK. He’s the author of five books of liturgy, including a trilogy of poetic prayer books from CCAR Press: most recently "This Precious Life: Encountering the Divine with Poetry and Prayer," along with "This Joyous Soul: A New Voice for Ancient Yearnings" and "This Grateful Heart: Psalms and

What can we learn from others who have lived through traumatic experiences? Why would someone bicycle almost 5000 miles across the country alone?By the time David Richman was in his late 30s, he knew he needed to make a change. Overweight, sedentary, in an abusive and unhealthy marriage, David realized that he wouldn’t have satisfaction in his life without zeroing in on what he wanted for himself. He began setting measurable, attainable, and meaningful goals -- to become healthy, to raise his young twins in a safe home environment, to become a top performer at work, and to seek out his own physical, mental and emotional limits. David is a businessman, corporate and motivational speaker, and personal consultant. He is also the author of “Cycle of Lives” and “Winning in the Middle of the Pack.” Links mentioned in this episode:David’s websites: https://david-richman.com/and http://cycleoflives.orgLinks to “Bereaved But Still Me” Social Media and Podcast Pages:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast

Can we talk to people who have a different faith than we do about grief and death? What can we learn from each other? What value is there in talking to people of different faiths when it comes to grief and grieving?Stacy Henagan is a co-pastor of Keypoint Church in northwest Arkansas — a multi-campus church she founded with her husband, Casey. She is also an author, speaker, and conference host. Stacy hosts an annual women’s conference and speaks at other events in the United States and overseas. Stacy and Casey are the parents of 4 children — Haven, who is waiting for them in heaven, and Holland, Hayes, and Hudson. Haven was diagnosed with brain cancer as an infant. Stacy is the author of “Breathe Again: Choosing to Believe There’s More When Life Has Left You Broken.” Link to Stacy's book on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/4jnp3hn6Links to “Bereaved But Still Me” Social Media and Podcast Pages:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me/id1333229173Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.c

Grief is a difficult topic to discuss but talking about loss by suicide seems to be even more challenging. How does losing a child by suicide affect your life? How can a person’s faith help them cope with the loss of a son by suicide? Faye and Carter Mayberry are the parents of Candace, Jordan, Jacob, and Ashton. Ashton died from suicide at age 21 on January 28, 2014. Since then, they have started a blog (ashtonslegacy.com), writing about what they have learned from their suicide journey.The Carters have tried to inform themselves on risk factors, preventions, post-vention, and supporting others who are suicide loss survivors. They participate in a monthly suicide loss survivor support group.In addition to their 3 living children, they have 8 grandchildren. They are trying to learn and grow together in love for God and for one another. They are here today to share their son’s situation with others, to promote understanding of suicide, and to provide support for others dealing with death by suicide by a loved

How does a person react to having to give bad news day after day, even hour after hour? When COVID-19 news is what is being talked about around the clock for months, how does that affect a news correspondent? What feelings are evoked when doing stories about COVID-19?This episode features John Vause, a multi-award-winning journalist for CNN International (CNNI). John started out as a reporter in Australia and after a stint in Los Angeles as a correspondent, decided to stay in the United States. For the past twenty years, he has been a reporter and anchor with CNN. He covered 9/11 from New York, was in Kabul for the fall of the Taliban, was a unilateral reporter for the Iraq war, Jerusalem correspondent for 3 years, and a Beijing correspondent for 4 years.In 2010 he was ready for a change and returned to Atlanta for a new role as anchor, and for more than a decade, he’s fronted CNNI’s overnight programs from the United States which are targeted at European morning viewers.He currently co-anchors ‘CNN Newsroom’

What?! David Ossman again? No, you’re not insane. Welcome to Side 6 as Michael meets up one more time, here at Bob’s Berserko Lounge, with Firesign Theater’s David Ossman to talk about the life, times, and comedy of Peter Bergman.In this episode, Michael talks again with Firesign Theater’s David Ossman at the old Same place to talk about the life, times, and comedy of Peter Bergman.David Ossman is an American writer and performer, best known as a quarter of The Firesign Theatre, whose collective work includes comedy albums, plays, films, and radio shows. He’s best known for his role as George Leroy (“Porgie”) Tirebiter in Firesign’s LP “Don’t Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me The Pliers,” a hero of two mystery novels and hours of broadcasts. His Catherwood the Butler delivers the classic line, “What’s all this Brouhaha?” to Nick Danger. Ossman’s “solo” album, “How Time Flys” was nominated for a Nebula, and his 50th Anniversary version of “The War of The Worlds," produced by his wife, Judith Walcutt, was nominated

David Ossman is an American writer and performer, best known as a quarter of The Firesign Theatre, whose collective work includes comedy albums, plays, films, and radio shows. He’s best known for his role as George Leroy (“Porgie”) Tirebiter in Firesign’s LP “Don’t Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me The Pliers,” a hero of two mystery novels and hours of broadcasts. His Catherwood the Butler delivers the classic line, “What’s all this Brouhaha?” to Nick Danger. Ossman’s “solo” album, “How Time Flys” was nominated for a Nebula, and his 50th Anniversary version of “The War of The Worlds," produced by his wife, Judith Walcutt, was nominated for a Grammy. He can be seen (as Cornelius, the ant) in Pixar’s “A Bug’s Life."During the 1980s, Ossman returned to his “original” profession as a radio host, writer, and teacher, with historic broadcasts for NPR and WGBH, along with equally historic all-star-cast radio events like “Empire of the Air," “We Hold These Truths,” and “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," independently created

What happens when we lose our spouse unexpectedly? Why does it seem that sometimes, when it rains, it pours? How does a person recover when she’s facing trauma after trauma?Jenny Muscatell dealt with a faith-stretching kind of growth in 2013. In April her mother died. Two months later, her husband died unexpectedly of a heart attack at the age of 38. A few months later, her daughter, who had already had 6 open-heart surgeries, suffered a substantial decline requiring surgery number 7 which unfortunately failed, only to be followed by surgery number 8. It rained, and it poured, in the way storms often do. But that was the year Jenny learned to pick up the pieces she didn’t know could even be broken. It was the year she clung to a raw dependence on God. It was the year she found hope in the dark places. Jenny is a seasoned social worker, an author, and today she’s going to talk to us about The Legacy Project and how people can use writing to help them deal with life, death, and trauma.Here are some links to Jen

Who is Edy Nathan? Why would someone choose to use EMDR therapy to cope with grief? What is EMDR? Why would a therapist use hypnotherapy to help someone cope with grief? What is hypnotherapy? We’ll discover answers to these questions and more in this enlightening program.Our guest today is Edy Nathan, LCSW, MA. She is an experienced psychotherapist, best-selling author, and has been a guest on multiple national media programs, as well as a former guest of this podcast. She also hosts her own podcast, Empath to Power Podcast.Edy Nathan has worked as a grief expert for over 20 years. She offers helpful perspectives on coping with the losses in life. From the role of caregiver, to the loss of a child, there is an abundant amount of grief. There are also gifts, which Edy calls Unexpected Allies ™.Today Michael and Edy will talk about two different therapy techniques that Edy employs when helping patients learn how to cope with grief. We’ll be learning about hypnotherapy and EMDR.Links Relevant to Edy:Edy's Podca