Grief doesn’t always look like tears and silence — sometimes it looks like dark humor.

In this episode, Skylar explores why joking after loss feels healing for some people and deeply uncomfortable for others. Through personal reflection and psychology, she breaks down dark humor as a coping mechanism, why some grievers lean into laughter, and why others avoid it altogether.

Whether you cope with loss through laughter, tears, or both, this episode reminds you there’s no right way to grieve.

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If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal at skylar@livelikesam.org

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The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

In this episode of Good Grief: Life After Loss, Skylar explores what it means to live with personal grief in a moment of collective national pain. As political unrest, violence, and injustice continue to shape life in America, many people are feeling overwhelmed, distracted, numb, or emotionally exhausted.

This episode discusses collective grief, desensitization, numbness as a survival response, and the balance between protecting your heart and staying engaged with the world. Tune in to talk about grief, mental health, emotional overwhelm, and how to keep living — and caring — during a time that feels heavy for so many.

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Follow Good Grief: Life After Loss on Instagram @goodgrief.pod

If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal at skylar@livelikesam.org

Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram @bethechangemedianetwork

The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

In this special Christmas episode, Skylar reflects on holding both grief and joy during the holidays. She shares a heartwarming moment when she and her mom discovered a mysterious origami rabbit under the dining room table, a small, unexpected sign from Sam.

This episode is for anyone missing someone, celebrating someone, or navigating the mix of emotions the holidays can bring. It’s a gentle reminder that however you feel today, it’s okay.

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Follow Good Grief: Life After Loss on Instagram @goodgrief.pod

If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal at skylar@livelikesam.org

Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram @bethechangemedianetwork

The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

In this episode, Skylar reflects on how the holidays change after a loved one is gone. She shares personal memories of Christmas with her brother Sam, from playful childhood moments to the magic of traditions that can’t be recreated. Skylar explores the challenges of navigating family celebrations as an only child, the awkwardness and pressures that come with gift-giving, and the bittersweet process of honoring old traditions while creating new ones. Through candid stories and reflections, she invites listeners to sit with their own experiences of loss and the ways the holiday season can feel both familiar and profoundly different.

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Follow Good Grief: Life After Loss on Instagram @goodgrief.pod

If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal at skylar@livelikesam.org

Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram @bethechangemedianetwork

The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

This week, we’re talking about why social media hits so much harder during the holiday season. From the matching pajamas and “best Christmas ever!” captions… to the TikTok gift guides for moms, brothers, and partners you may no longer have… scrolling can feel like walking through a minefield when you’re grieving.

In this episode, Skylar breaks down:

• Why holiday comparison hurts more than ordinary days
• How the highlight reel can steal joy from even the strongest people
• How grief gets amplified by TikTok, Instagram, and the algorithm
• Practical boundaries that protect your heart without deleting everything
• How to stop doom-scrolling before it starts

If you’re grieving and struggling with social media this December, this episode will help you feel seen, grounded, and less alone.

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Follow Good Grief: Life After Loss on Instagram @goodgrief.pod

If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal at skylar@livelikesam.org

Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram @bethechangemedianetwork

The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

Not sure what to get someone who’s grieving this holiday season? This episode walks through meaningful and gentle gift ideas for anyone missing someone — whether their loss was recent or decades ago. Skylar shares thoughtful categories, what to avoid, and simple ways to give a gift that truly supports a grieving heart.

Links to buy the gifts mentioned in this episode

Memory Gifts

• Custom watercolor house sketch
• Handwriting necklace
• Framed recipe with photo

Symbolic Gifts

• Butterfly ornament
• Ski pole wind chime
• Remembrance candle

Cozy Gifts

• Project Repat blanket
• Comfrt sweat set
• Weighted blanket

Grief-Journey Gifts

• Grief…Reminders for Healing book
• Memory box

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Follow Good Grief: Life After Loss on Instagram @goodgrief.pod

If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal at skylar@livelikesam.org

Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram @bethechangemedianetwork

The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

In this episode, Skylar talks about what Thanksgiving feels like when someone you love is missing. The pressure to be “grateful,” the empty-chair moments, and the weird mix of emotions that hit on a holiday like this. She also shares a few simple things that can help you get through the day and ways to quietly honor your person. It’s a soft, supportive episode for anyone who needs a little company today.

Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!

Follow Good Grief: Life After Loss on Instagram @goodgrief.pod

If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal at skylar@livelikesam.org

Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram @bethechangemedianetwork

The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network or its partners.

In last week’s episode, we talked all about signs from the other side — and this week, Skylar finally had the chance to experience one up close. She went to see Maureen Hancock, a well-known medium, hoping (and honestly begging) to hear from her brother Sam.

What happened that night surprised her, overwhelmed her, and cracked something open in her grief that she didn’t expect. In this episode, Skylar shares the full story: the moment Sam came through, the messages he gave, the things that lined up in ways she can’t explain, and the lessons she walked away with.

Whether you believe in mediums or are just curious, this is the story of what it feels like when love, loss, and hope collide in one room

Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!

Follow Good Grief: Life After Loss on Instagram @goodgrief.pod

If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal at skylar@livelikesam.org

Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram @bethechangemedianetwork

Learn more about Maureen Hancock and find a show near you!

https://linktr.ee/maureenhancock