The Empowered Grief Journey Podcast

Episode 24: After Losing Dad: Grief, Family Struggles, and Finding My Way Forward

🎙️ Episode Title: Carrying Him With Me — Grief, Legacy, and Remembering My Father with Jasmine Bootle
In this touching episode of The Empowered Grief Journey, Jasmine Bootle shares the deeply personal story of losing her father—the man who was her anchor, her guide, and her greatest support. His passing left a profound void in her life, one that reshaped not just her heart, but also her family dynamics.
Jasmine opens up about the emotional weight of that loss and the unexpected toxicity that surfaced in some family relationships afterward. Through it all, she has found powerful and meaningful ways to stay connected to her father—carrying his ashes with her to places he would have loved to visit, and keeping his memory alive in the everyday moments of her life.
This conversation is a beautiful reminder that grief doesn’t end, but evolves—and that honoring someone we love can become a deeply personal act of healing and legacy.
🎧 Tune in to hear how Jasmine turns remembrance into ritual, and grief into love that still lives on.

Episode 23: Grieving Cory: A Caregiver’s Journey Through Love, Loss, and Advocacy

🎙️ Episode Title: Honoring Cory: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Better Care with Tara Kadlec
In this heartfelt episode of The Empowered Grief Journey, I sit down with Tara Kadlec as she shares the story of her beloved brother, Cory—a vibrant soul who lived with Down syndrome and dementia. Tara opens up about the deep bond they shared, the challenges of caregiving, and the heartbreak she experienced watching her brother endure inadequate healthcare support in Canada.
Through raw honesty and deep love, Tara reflects on the emotional toll of caregiving, the grief of losing Cory, and the frustration of navigating a system that didn’t give him the dignity and care he deserved. Yet through the pain, Tara continues to celebrate Cory’s life every day—keeping his spirit alive through advocacy, storytelling, and living in a way that honors his memory.
This conversation is a powerful tribute to unconditional love, sibling connection, and the call for compassionate change in how we care for those who need it most.
🎧 Listen in for a moving story about loss, love, and legacy.

Episode 22: Welcoming My Daughter, Losing My Mother: Navigating New Motherhood and Grieving from a Distance

🎙️ Episode Title: Between Hello and Goodbye: Navigating Birth and Loss with Carla Berbary
In this emotionally rich episode of The Empowered Grief Journey, I sit down with Carla Berbary, who shares the profound story of welcoming her daughter into the world just five days before losing her beloved mother.
While celebrating the joy of becoming a mother, Carla was simultaneously navigating the deep sorrow of saying goodbye to her own. From Australia, she grieved the loss of her mom who was in Lebanon—separated by oceans and overwhelmed by the emotional contrast of birth and death colliding in a single week.
Carla opens up about the tension of holding both joy and grief at the same time, the guilt and beauty of that experience, and how she now carries her mother’s memory forward through the way she’s raising her daughter. This conversation is a moving reminder that healing doesn’t mean choosing one emotion over another—it means making space for all of it.
🎧 Tune in for a powerful exploration of motherhood, memory, and honoring the people we carry with us.
 
Website: www.notalifesentence.com.au
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notalifesentence/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-berbary-08179015/
Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4HCClKa76fvZeiBiaoCoe3?si=v0CEEle4SZSb7IZJ9Rkzdw

Episode 21: Unchained: A Journey to Rise, Heal, and Reclaim Life After Narcissistic Abuse

In this eye-opening episode of The Empowered Grief Journey, I’m joined by Anni Neill—survivor, author, and advocate for women healing from narcissistic abuse. Anni bravely shares her personal story of escaping a toxic marriage entangled in control, manipulation, and financial abuse.
We explore how narcissists use gaslighting, shame, and power dynamics to keep their partners trapped, and how breaking free requires immense strength, self-trust, and support. Anni sheds light on the emotional toll of narcissistic abuse and the unique grief that comes from mourning both the relationship and the version of yourself that endured it.
Now an author and educator, Anni has turned her pain into purpose by writing a book that empowers women to recognize the red flags, reclaim their voice, and rise into a life of freedom and fulfillment.
This conversation is raw, powerful, and packed with wisdom for anyone healing from emotional abuse.
🎧 Tune in to learn, unlearn, and take your first step toward healing.
 
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Episode 20: From Heartbreak to Hope: A Mother’s Journey Through Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Healing

In this heartfelt episode of The Empowered Grief Journey, I’m joined by Kaitlin Parsons, a mother, coach, and advocate who opens up about her personal experiences with miscarriage and stillbirth. Together, we explore the deep and often unspoken grief that comes with losing a child and the emotional toll it takes on individuals, marriages, and families.
We dive into the complexities of how men and women grieve differently, the challenges couples face in the aftermath of loss, and the importance of creating space for raw, honest emotion. Kaitlin shares how finding safe people to talk to—and giving herself permission to feel—helped her begin to heal.
We also discuss what it means to honor and celebrate the lives of the children we’ve lost, even as we continue to move forward in life.
Whether you’ve experienced loss yourself or are supporting someone who has, this episode is a reminder that grief deserves space, love, and community.
🎧 Tune in for a tender, empowering conversation on healing after unimaginable loss.
 
Connect with Kaitlin Here: https://linktr.ee/Kaitlinparsons6

Episode 19: The Healing Power of Presence: A Chaplain’s Perspective on Grief

In this deeply grounding episode of The Empowered Grief Journey, I’m joined by The Rev. Christine Vaughan Davies, an ordained Presbyterian minister, spiritual director, seminary professor, and head of hospital chaplaincy at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.
Christine shares powerful stories and insights from her years of chaplaincy work, offering a refreshing perspective on how we can begin to normalize grief, honor the process of loss, and be fully present with those who are hurting.
We explore the power of presence, the art of holding space, and why listening—not fixing—is one of the most healing gifts we can offer someone in grief. Christine also shares helpful guidance around what to say (and what not to say) to those grieving.
This episode is a compassionate invitation to meet grief with reverence, honesty, and deep human connection.
🎧 Tune in and rediscover the sacredness of simply being with one another in life’s most tender moments.
 
Connect with Christine Here:
My website - www.christinevdavies.com
My newsletter - https://journeyingalongside.substack.com/
Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rev-christine-davies/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cvdavies/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/christine.davies

Episode 18: Decoding Narcissism: Recognize the Patterns, Reclaim Your Power

In this eye-opening episode of The Empowered Grief Journey, we dive deep into the world of narcissistic abuse, trauma, and the path to healing with a guest who brings both personal experience and professional wisdom.
Together, we unpack the key signs of narcissistic behavior—gaslighting, manipulation, love bombing—and how these tactics can silently damage your self-worth, sense of reality, and emotional safety. We explore how to recognize these red flags and, more importantly, how to navigate and protect yourself in relationships affected by narcissistic dynamics.
We also discuss the power of somatic healing and hypnosis in trauma recovery, and guide listeners through a live hypnosis session during the episode to begin releasing emotional residue stored in the body.
Whether you’re currently in a toxic relationship or healing from one, this episode offers insight, tools, and embodied practices to support your journey back to clarity, safety, and self-trust.
🎧 Tune in now to reclaim your peace, power, and presence.
 
Connect with Russell Here:
https://www.facebook.com/rtellup
https://russtellup.thementalwellbeingcompany.com/
https://brainspottingcs.com/

Episode 17: A Survivors Journey: Rising from the wounds of trauma to triumph and purpose

In this powerful episode of The Empowered Grief Journey, I sit down with a courageous guest whose healing journey began in childhood and continues to evolve today.
She opens up about the layers of trauma that shaped her early life—from parental divorce and childhood sexual abuse to sexual assault in her early twenties—and how these experiences led her to develop binge eating as a way to cope, protect, and survive.
Now a Hope*Author, she’s writing her first book to share her story and help other women heal their relationships with food, their bodies, and their past. With vulnerability and strength, she speaks to the emotional and spiritual malnourishment so many trauma survivors face, and how intentional healing can help break the cycle.
✨ This episode is a reminder that healing is not about perfection—it’s about progress, faith, and reclaiming your power. 🎧 Tune in for this deeply inspiring conversation.
Connect with Geena Here:
Website: https://geenahymer.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/geena.hymer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geena.hymer