Tendrils of Grief

Grievers and grief professionals share their personal stories and describe what was helpful for them or their clients in working through grief. This podcast will outline steps to have hope and build meaning into your life.

Tendrils of Grief is a education podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 317 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts Tendrils of Grief, a education show with 317 episodes published.

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  Episode #1

  The Power Of An Inch

  Sep 28, 202620 minS2

  Welcome to New Ways, New You —a new chapter in my journey. I'm Susan Ways, host of Tendrils of Grief and owner of New Ways Barre, and I wanted to bring these two important parts of my life together. After years of conversations about grief, loss, healing, relationships, and finding our way forward, I've realized something: moving forward isn't always about making one giant change. Sometimes, it happens one inch at a time. That idea is at the heart of this new chapter. In this episode, I talk about the power of small, intentional movements—not just in our bodies, but in our lives. Whether you're grieving, rebuilding your career, healing a relationship, working on your health, or simply trying to become a healthier version of yourself, you don't have to figure out the entire journey today. You just need to find your next one-inch movement. Just like in barre, where tiny pulses, holds, and adjustments repeated consistently can create meaningful physical change, the small choices we make every day can create profound emotional and personal transformation. I also share some of my own experience with grief and how beginning a simple gratitude practice helped shift the way I saw the world. Healing didn't happen overnight. It happened through small decisions, repeated again and again. So this is an invitation to stop staring at the entire mountain. What's the one step you can take today? Maybe it's getting out of bed. Maybe it's taking a walk. Maybe it's having a difficult conversation. Maybe it's walking into a fitness class for the first time. Maybe it's simply taking your next breath. Whatever you're facing, your experience is real—and you don't have to compare it to anyone else's. This is New Ways, New You. A space for movement, healing, growth, and becoming the person you haven't met yet. And we're going to do it one inch at a time. Connect With Susan & New Ways Barre New Ways Barre Proudly serving the Kentlands, Gaithersburg, Maryland and surrounding Montgomery County. New Ways Barre is a boutique studio focused on low-impact, high-result movement and creating a supportive community for physical and emotional well-being. New Ways Barre Website Book a Barre Class New Ways Barre on Instagram New Ways Barre on Facebook ️ Connect With Susan Ways Susan Ways on Instagram Susan Ways on Facebook ✉️ Email: susan@tendrilsofgrief.com About New Ways, New You New Ways, New You is the next chapter of Susan's work—exploring what happens when life asks us to begin again. The show brings together movement, healing, grief, relationships, health, personal growth, and the small choices that help us move forward. You don't have to change your whole life today. Sometimes, you just need to take the next small step.

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  Episode #315

  Why Your Nervous System Holds Onto Grief

  Jul 27, 202636 min

  Healing isn't about forgetting. It's about helping your nervous system understand that what happened is in the past, while allowing your heart to remain open to love, connection, and hope. Sometimes the greatest freedom comes when we gently release what was never ours to carry. In this episode of Tendrils of Grief , I welcome Dr. Laurel Parnell, psychologist, internationally recognized trauma expert, and developer of Attachment-Focused EMDR , Resource Tapping , and Multidimensional Integrative Healing , for a deeply insightful conversation about healing after loss. For more than four decades, Dr. Parnell has helped people recover from trauma by integrating psychology, neuroscience, attachment theory, and spirituality. She has trained thousands of clinicians around the world and continues to advance the field of trauma healing through her clinical work, teaching, and writing. Together, we explore one of the most important questions in grief: What if some of the pain you're carrying was never yours to begin with? Drawing from her newest book, Releasing What Isn't Yours , Dr. Parnell explains how grief, trauma, inherited beliefs, and emotional burdens can become stored in the nervous system, affecting the way we think, feel, and respond to life's challenges. We also discuss how Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) helps the brain process painful experiences so they become memories of the past rather than experiences that continue to overwhelm the present. Rather than erasing grief, EMDR helps people remember with less emotional distress, allowing healing to unfold naturally. Throughout our conversation, Dr. Parnell offers a compassionate perspective on trauma, resilience, spirituality, and the remarkable capacity each of us has to heal. Whether you're grieving the loss of a loved one, working through childhood wounds, or simply longing to experience greater peace, this episode provides hope that healing is possible. What We Talk About What EMDR is and how it works Why trauma becomes stored in the nervous system Attachment-focused healing Releasing inherited emotional burdens The connection between grief and trauma Spirituality and psychological healing Living from your authentic self Finding peace after profound loss Resources Dr. Laurel Parnell Releasing What Isn't Yours: Living From Your True Self Through Multidimensional Integrative Healing Parnell Institute Learn more about Attachment-Focused EMDR and trauma healing Continue Your Healing Journey Healing doesn't happen only in our minds—it happens through movement, connection, and caring for our whole selves. If you're looking for another way to reconnect with yourself, I invite you to explore New Ways Barre . Proudly serving the Kentlands, Gaithersburg, Maryland, and surrounding Montgomery County. Book a class: https://classpass.com/studios/new-ways-barre-gaithersburg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sueways Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/New-Ways-Barre-61570706490968/ Join me on the path toward healing, hope, and moving forward—one breath, one step, and one day at a time.

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  Episode #314

  The Hidden Financial Challenges of Widowhood

  Jul 13, 202637 min

  Grief doesn't just change our hearts—it changes the way we see our future. Learning to navigate money after loss isn't about replacing the life you had. It's about building the confidence to care for yourself, honor your loved one, and move forward with hope, one decision at a time. In this episode of Tendrils of Grief , I sit down with Daniel Kopp, a fee-only financial planner, financial therapist, Air Force veteran, widower, and founder of Wise Stewardship Financial Planning, for a conversation that every grieving spouse needs to hear. After losing his wife, Sarah, Daniel experienced firsthand how grief can impact every financial decision. Simple tasks suddenly became overwhelming, and the emotional weight of loss made it difficult to think clearly about money, planning, and the future. That experience ultimately led him to combine financial planning with financial therapy, helping widows and widowers navigate not only the practical side of finances but also the emotional side of financial decision-making. Together, we explore why money is often one of the biggest sources of stress after the death of a spouse and why it's completely normal to feel anxious, overwhelmed, or afraid of making the "wrong" decision. Daniel explains how grief changes the way our brains process information, why it's important to slow down before making major financial choices, and how financial healing begins by addressing both our emotions and our financial reality. We also discuss financial therapy, survivor's guilt around money, creating a new financial identity, and practical steps widows and widowers can take to regain confidence while honoring their loved one's legacy. Whether you're newly widowed, supporting someone through loss, or simply looking to build a healthier relationship with money after a major life change, this conversation offers both practical guidance and compassionate encouragement. 🔑 What We Talk About Daniel's personal journey through widowhood How grief affects financial decision-making What financial therapy is—and why it matters Managing financial anxiety after losing a spouse Common financial mistakes people make while grieving Rebuilding confidence around money Creating a new financial identity after loss Practical guidance for widows and widowers Finding hope and stability one decision at a time 🔗 Resources Daniel Kopp Fee-Only Financial Planner | Financial Therapist | Founder, Wise Stewardship Financial Planning 🌐 https://wisestewardshipfp.com/ 🎙️ Widow Life and Money Podcast: https://widowlifemoney.libsyn.com/ 💜 Financial Therapy Association: https://financialtherapyassociation.org/ 💜 Wings for Widows: https://www.wingsforwidows.org/ 💜 Savvy Ladies: https://www.savvyladies.org/ 🌿 Continue Your Healing Journey Grief changes every part of life—including the relationship we have with our bodies, our minds, and ourselves. If you're looking for another way to reconnect through movement, mindfulness, and community, I invite you to explore New Ways Barre . Proudly serving the Kentlands, Gaithersburg, Maryland, and surrounding Montgomery County. 📅 Book a class: https://classpass.com/studios/new-ways-barre-gaithersburg 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sueways 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/New-Ways-Barre-61570706490968/ Join me on the path toward healing, hope, and moving forward—one breath, one step, and one day at a time.

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  Episode #313

  How Faith Carried Us Through the Loss of Our Son

  Jul 6, 202643 min

  Sometimes the shortest lives leave the deepest footprints.Noah's story reminds us that a life isn't measured by its length, but by the love it gives, the lives it touches, and the hope it leaves behind.Even though we grieve… we can still choose love. Even though life changes… we can still choose hope. Even though loss hurts… we can still move forward. Today I'm with with Matthew Efird—author, entrepreneur, podcast host, and co-founder of Even Though, We Will —to share the deeply personal story of his son Noah and the journey that forever changed his family's life. When Matthew and his wife Hannah learned that their unborn son had Trisomy 13 , they were faced with heartbreaking decisions and unimaginable uncertainty. Instead of allowing fear to define their journey, they chose to embrace every moment they were given with Noah, celebrating his life while preparing for the grief they knew would come. Their son lived just 57½ hours , but his life continues to leave an extraordinary impact. Matthew shares what it was like to receive a terminal diagnosis during pregnancy, how his faith sustained him through profound loss, and why grief and hope can exist together. He speaks openly about the tension of weeping while worshiping, the beauty of loving fully despite knowing goodbye is coming, and the lessons Noah's life continues to teach their family. Together, Matthew and Hannah founded Even Though, We Will , a nonprofit organization that provides practical care packages—called "Arks"—to families walking through a terminal prenatal diagnosis. Their mission is to ensure that no family has to navigate this heartbreaking journey alone. This conversation is one of remarkable honesty, unwavering faith, and enduring love. Whether you've experienced the loss of a child, are supporting someone through unimaginable grief, or are searching for hope in your own difficult season, Matthew's story is a powerful reminder that even in our darkest moments, purpose can still emerge. 🔑 What We Talk About Receiving a Trisomy 13 diagnosis during pregnancy Navigating anticipatory grief as parents Cherishing every moment with a terminally ill child The role of faith during profound loss Weeping and worshiping through grief Finding purpose after child loss Supporting families facing terminal prenatal diagnoses Building hope through the ministry of Even Though, We Will 🔗 Resources Matthew Efird 🌐 https://matthewefird.com 🌐 https://eventhoughwewill.com 📖 Even Though, We Will (available on Amazon) 🌿 Continue Your Healing Journey Healing looks different for everyone, but none of us were meant to walk through grief alone. If you're looking for another way to reconnect with yourself through movement, mindfulness, and community, I invite you to explore New Ways Barre . Proudly serving the Kentlands, Gaithersburg, Maryland, and surrounding Montgomery County. 📅 Book a class: https://classpass.com/studios/new-ways-barre-gaithersburg 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sueways 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/New-Ways-Barre-61570706490968/ Join me on the path toward healing, hope, and moving forward—one breath, one step, and one day at a time.

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  Episode #312

  he Courage to Remember: A Story of Love, 9/11, and Healing

  Jun 29, 202634 min

  *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-69c9efce-aeb8-8324-a0d9-b00275256c28-0" data-turn-id-container= "request-69c9efce-aeb8-8324-a0d9-b00275256c28-0" data-testid= "conversation-turn-100" data-turn="assistant"> Our grief tells the story of our love. When we share our stories with people who truly listen, we keep that love alive—and remind one another that even after profound loss, hope is still possible. In this episode of Tendrils of Grief , I sit down with author Neil Adams for a moving conversation about love, courage, loss, and the lasting impact of sharing our stories. Neil shares the remarkable life of Michael Dorian—a veterinary technician, first responder during the September 11 attacks, and a man who chose to serve others despite living with HIV/AIDS. Knowing the risks to his own health, Michael entered Ground Zero to help firefighters and rescue workers, demonstrating extraordinary courage in one of America's darkest moments. As Michael's partner and later his biographer, Neil reflects on the privilege of preserving Michael's story and the profound grief that followed his passing. Together, we explore how storytelling becomes an act of remembrance, why sharing our grief can be a gift rather than a burden, and how honoring someone's life keeps their legacy alive. One of the most powerful moments in our conversation is the reminder that our stories are precious. They deserve to be shared with people who will receive them with compassion, respect, and care. In grief, telling our story isn't about reliving our pain—it's about allowing love to continue making an impact. Whether you've experienced the loss of a partner, a family member, or someone whose life changed yours forever, this episode offers hope that love continues through the stories we choose to tell. 🔑 What We Talk About Michael Dorian's courageous service during 9/11 Living with grief after the loss of a partner Why our stories deserve to be honored The healing power of sharing memories Love, legacy, and remembrance Finding meaning after traumatic loss Turning personal tragedy into hope for others 🔗 Resources Neil Adams 📖 Biography of Michael Dorian (discussed in this episode) New Ways Barre by Susan Ways Healing isn't only emotional—it can also happen through movement, connection, and community. If you're looking for a supportive place to reconnect with yourself, I invite you to explore New Ways Barre. Proudly serving the Kentlands, Gaithersburg, Maryland, and surrounding Montgomery County. 📅 Book a class: https://classpass.com/studios/new-ways-barre-gaithersburg 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sueways 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/New-Ways-Barre-61570706490968/ Join me on the path toward healing, hope, and moving forward—one step at a time.

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