The Empowered Grief Journey

Reclaiming Purpose After Divorce: Healing on the Trail with Allen from Crooked Trail Coaching

In this inspiring episode of The Empowered Grief Journey, I’m joined by Allen, a divorce coach, educator, and outdoor adventurer who believes healing doesn’t always happen in therapy — sometimes, it happens on the trail, one heavy step at a time.
Allen shares his powerful story of grief through divorce, lost identity, and self-betrayal — and how returning to nature helped him rediscover purpose, honesty, and self-trust. Through Crooked Trail Coaching, he now guides others to reconnect with who they are through movement, reflection, and the wisdom of the wilderness.
We explore what it means to grieve the dreams you gave up, recognize that feeling “stuck” is a signal (not a failure), and embrace healing that’s loud, messy, and deeply human.

Grieving What Was Never Spoken: Adoption, Identity & Sacred Healing with Saidi Bess

In this soul-expanding episode of The Empowered Grief Journey, I sit down with Saidi Bess — energy healer, sacred sexual guide, and founder of Sacred Sensual Alchemy — for a raw and transformative conversation about non-death grief, adoption trauma, and spiritual reclamation.
Saidi shares how her grief journey began at birth, navigating the invisible losses of adoption — the separation from biological roots, early emotional bonds, and identity. Her story illuminates a form of grief rarely acknowledged yet deeply felt by many.
Together, we explore what it means to grieve a life never lived, heal inherited and unspoken trauma, and rediscover joy through embodied spirituality and sensual connection. “People think adoption is a happy story. But for the baby, it begins with loss.”

Beyond the Rupture: Healing Grief, Identity, and Self-Trust with Danielle Francine

In this powerful episode of The Empowered Grief Journey, I sit down with Danielle Francine, body transformation expert and coach, for an honest conversation about grief beyond death — the kind that comes from losing connection, identity, and the life you thought you’d have.
Danielle opens up about her own journey through spiritual questioning, emotional disconnection, and the unraveling of a marriage that no longer reflected who she was. Through courage and self-awareness, she rebuilt her life from the inside out, learning to listen to her body as a compass for healing and truth.
Together, we explore the grief that arises from emotional rupture, how endings can become invitations to wholeness, and what it means to finally come home to yourself.

Clearing the Mental Clutter: Healing Through Empowered Thinking with Richard D. Waldman

In this insightful episode of The Empowered Grief Journey, I sit down with Richard D. Waldman — retired Army veteran, clinical pastor, and creator of Order to Life — for a transformative conversation about the power of conscious thinking during life’s most difficult seasons.
Richard shares his journey from real estate and law to coaching and clinical ministry, revealing how a simple two-step process helped him and others manage mental chatter, reframe pain, and find purpose after trauma.
We explore how thoughts can keep you stuck in grief, the link between mental discipline and emotional healing, and the moment that sparked Richard’s passion for helping others think differently.

The Power of Release: Men, Grief, and the Journey to Emotional Freedom

In this powerful episode of The Empowered Grief Journey, I sit down with Dr. Brian Tierney, a somatic psychologist, neuroscience professor, and psychotherapist who helps men reconnect with their emotions and break free from patterns of suppression.
Dr. Tierney shares how an early experience with grief profoundly shaped his self-image and confidence, eventually leading him into a lifelong journey of studying the mind-body connection. We explore how men are often taught to express only anger while burying deeper emotions — and how somatic work, self-awareness, and community can help release what’s been held inside.
He also shares the powerful story of joining a men’s group that helped him rediscover vulnerability, brotherhood, and authentic emotional release.
 

Restoring Memories and Rebuilding Hope: A Photographer's Mission After The Storm

In this inspiring episode of The Empowered Grief Journey, photographer Krista Kowalczyk shares how a devastating natural disaster transformed her purpose and deepened her mission to help others preserve their memories.
With over 25 years behind the lens, Krista had captured countless milestones through her business, Impressions Photography. But after Hurricane Ian, she volunteered to salvage thousands of flood-damaged photos — a powerful experience that revealed how fragile and meaningful our memories truly are.
That moment inspired her to teach others how to protect what matters most. Through her upcoming book Beyond the Storm and accessible digitizing courses, Krista is helping families safeguard their stories for generations to come.

Six Hours That Changed Everything: A Survivor’s Story of Trauma and Healing

In this raw and courageous episode of The Empowered Grief Journey, a survivor shares the story of six hours that forever changed her life — an experience that left lasting emotional and physical scars but also became the catalyst for deep healing and transformation.
Through honesty and vulnerability, she opens up about the trauma she endured, the isolation that followed, and the long road toward reclaiming safety, self-trust, and purpose. We explore what it means to live with the invisible wounds of trauma — and how healing is not a single moment, but a lifelong journey of reclaiming your voice and power.

Pieces of Me: Adoption, Identity, and Healing Through Grief

In this powerful episode of The Empowered Grief Journey, Andrea Mason shares her deeply personal story of growing up with loss, identity struggles, and the grief of feeling abandoned. Adopted as a child, Andrea faced repeated losses throughout her youth — experiences that shaped her understanding of love, belonging, and self-worth.
Through her journey of healing, Andrea discovered how grief can become a catalyst for transformation. Today, as a Virtual Personal Accountability Coach, she helps others turn life’s adversities into empowerment and step into their most authentic selves.
This conversation is a reminder that identity is not something we inherit — it’s something we create through courage, reflection, and healing.