The Empowered Grief Journey

Shame, Resilience, and Radical Acceptance with Kyira Wackett: Reclaiming Your Narrative After Loss

In this powerful episode of The Empowered Grief Journey Podcast, host Chris Mamone welcomes Kyira Wackett — licensed mental health therapist, founder of Adversity Rising, and fierce advocate for healing through shame resilience and radical acceptance.
Kyira opens up about her personal experiences with grief and how they shaped her mission to help others face their pain without judgment. Through this deeply insightful conversation, she shares practical tools and empowering truths to help you rewrite the narratives you’ve been carrying — especially the ones rooted in guilt, silence, or self-blame.
Whether you’re navigating loss or learning to accept yourself more fully, this episode is a masterclass in finding strength through vulnerability and choosing your own version of freedom.

You Can’t Heal When You Hide: Serena Mastin on Grief, Survival, and Owning Your Story

In this raw and powerful episode of The Empowered Grief Journey Podcast, host Chris Mamone welcomes Serena Mastin — entrepreneur, speaker, and author of Exposed: You Can’t Heal When You Hide.
Serena’s story is one of profound resilience: from growing up in witness protection and foster care, to facing addiction, homelessness, corporate burnout, and the tragic suicide of her husband.
Despite unimaginable loss and adversity, Serena has emerged as a fierce advocate for healing, authenticity, and empowerment. Through her company, Pulse Marketing, and her advocacy work, she helps others reclaim their voice and live with unshakable purpose.

The Power of Holding Space: Aly Bird on Grief, Trauma, and Showing Up When It Matters Most

In this insightful and deeply compassionate episode of The Empowered Grief Journey Podcast, host Chris Mamone welcomes Aly Bird — grief and trauma therapist, author, and fierce advocate for having the hard conversations around death, dying, and loss.
Aly shares her unique perspective as both a professional and someone who has personally experienced life-altering grief. Her grounded approach offers clarity, validation, and practical tools for those walking through loss — and for those who want to support them.
As the author of Grief Ally: Helping People You Love Cope with Death, Loss, and Grief, Aly delivers a powerful message: being present — truly present — is one of the greatest gifts we can give.

Legacy After Loss: Debbie Simmons on Grief, Purpose, and Building What Lasts

In this transformative episode of The Empowered Grief Journey Podcast, host Chris Mamone welcomes Debbie Simmons — mother of nine, faith-driven nonprofit leader, and legacy coach whose life’s work was born from unimaginable loss.
After the heartbreaking death of her quadruplets, Debbie found herself at a crossroads. Instead of being consumed by grief, she chose to transform her pain into purpose. Her healing journey led to the founding of Anchor Point, a faith-based organization that supports women in crisis and equips families and leaders to navigate trauma with strength and clarity.
 

Love, Loss, and Legacy: Paula Hill’s Journey After Losing Her Son Austin

In this deeply moving episode of The Empowered Grief Journey, host Chris Mamone welcomes grief coach and bereaved mother Paula Hill. After the tragic loss of her son Austin in a motorcycle accident in 2022, Paula found herself grieving not only her child, but also the sudden disappearance of community and support.
Refusing to let grief isolate her, Paula chose to transform her pain into purpose — founding Austin’s Sunshine Foundation and a Zoom support group for bereaved parents, helping others navigate the heavy waves of loss.
Through vulnerability, advocacy, and unconditional love, Paula shares how she continues to honor Austin’s life by bringing light to others.

Healing the Healer: Burnout, Alignment, and Becoming Whole with Dr. Gayla Gates

In this eye-opening episode of The Empowered Grief Journey, host Chris Mamone sits down with Dr. Gayla Gates — former family physician, emotional empath, and now a powerful voice for healing beyond the exam room.
On paper, Gayla had it all: magna cum laude, a thriving medical career, a lifelong dream fulfilled. But beneath the surface she was absorbing her patients’ pain, burning out, and losing herself inside a system that didn’t honor her soul. After 10 years in clinical medicine, she made the courageous choice to step away — and toward her own healing.
Gayla shares how grief can come not only from loss, but from living out of alignment with your truth. Through radical self-honesty, emotional boundaries, and deep inner work, she reclaimed her power and purpose.

From Abandonment to Empowerment: A Grief Journey of Faith, Healing, and Purpose

In this inspiring episode of The Empowered Grief Journey, host Chris Mamone is joined by motivational speaker, master life coach, and author Dearice Spencer Shackelford.
Dearice’s grief journey began in childhood, when her father’s mental health crisis left her facing early abandonment. Years later, she endured the devastating loss of her husband, a U.S. Marine veteran — suddenly becoming a single mother to three children.
But Dearice refused to let grief define her story. Through faith, holistic healing, and powerful inner transformation, she rose from her pain and stepped into her purpose. Now the founder of Dearice Speaks Life LLC, she helps women and single mothers rise, heal, and lead with authenticity and courage.

Life, Death, and Lessons from the Cemetery with Sandy Doyle

In this insightful and unexpectedly uplifting episode of The Empowered Grief Journey, host Chris Mamone sits down with Sandy Doyle — author of My Life at the Cemetery: It’s Not As Dead As You Think. With years of experience in the funeral home and cemetery industry, Sandy offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at life, death, and everything in between.
She opens up about how her personal grief — including the loss of her husband — intersects with her professional experiences among the departed. Through humor, honesty, and heartfelt wisdom, Sandy reveals what the dead can teach us about truly living.