Grief As Medicine

Michelle brings a beautiful perspective on the role of grieving - grounded in community, embodiment and ritual. All dedicated to our personal and collective wellbeing.

In this episode, Josh Schrei shares personal and mythical stories to remind us of the hidden treasures to be found in times of sorrow - articulating grief as part of the cycle of shedding, releasing, and returning to what he calls the “meadows of joy”.

Today’s conversation is with Shauna Janz. Shauna offers a beautiful invitation into what she calls the “larger currents of resiliency” - which includes the wisdom of our bodies, our hearts, our ancestors, the natural world, ritual healing, imagination and altered states of consciousness.

I’m honored to be in conversation with the distinguished business professor George Kohlrieser - who is one of the world leaders incorporating grief into Executive Education.

In today’s episode, Rosemary Wanganeen shares her personal story of being part of the stolen generation, reconnecting with her ancestry, going through a deep grieving process - and ultimately forgiving the atrocities committed on her people.

Like many of you, sorrow has entered my life in a myriad of ways - and it wasn't until I read Francis Weller's book, The Wild Edge of Sorrow, that I began a soulful relationship with grief.

This episode is an insight into my grief work, and how I arrived here. My dance partner in this conversation is my friend, and previous therapist, Kate Marie Mutsaers.

This trailer offers my prayer for this podcast - while introducing grief as a gateway into depth and aliveness. We will explore intimate conversations about grief with somatic practitioners and leaders in business, indigenous wisdom and mythology.

Many of us have been raised to think that men have to act in a certain way. You know the story — be tough, invulnerable, in control, unemotional etc.

How modern science all points to human beings being wired for compassion and connection. “Biologically, we’re built to dedicate ourselves to each other.”

I share some recent experiences of sadness and death. From these experiences, three valuable insights have emerged for me.

We explore topics such as discipline as a path to liberation, how the “lie of inadequacy” drives so many poor decisions and how softness and tenderness could be one of the signs of genuine spiritual maturity.

Fascinating story from childhood to living in a Zen centre, founding a multi-million dollar publishing company and then teaming up with a Google engineer to create the hugely successful Search Inside Yourself Program.

She shares how for a long time, she wasn’t proud of who she was. In fact she felt a discrepancy between her public and private life that led her to carry around the weight of shame. It was her journey to sobriety and telling the truth that allowed her life to more fully open up.

Shares the practice of “loving kindness”. This practice is thousands of years old and more recently scientists are discovering its observable impact on emotional, physical and social wellbeing.

Marianne discusses the power of love, how to deal with fear - and how forgiveness is one of our most important contributions to the world.

He shares an experience that reminded him of our basic goodness and our connection with one another.

One of Australia’s most courageous leaders who believes in the power of our everyday choices to create a kinder world.

She shares her personal journey beginning with attending meditation retreats through to bringing these learnings into her work environment.

He shares how kindness towards yourself can transform how you live, love and show up in the world. It’s an ongoing practice, but it’s the one that makes all the difference.

His very personal journey as a young boy, through to scaling mindfulness at Google, hanging out with Eckhart Tolle and the moment he took a leap from his dream job to move from a “career to a calling”.

He recently met Dr. Dan Siegel at one of the Wake Up events and he shared what he is believes is one of the most profound experiences a human being can have.

In this conversation she explores deep and sometimes difficult topics with tremendous honesty, warmth and humour. She shared about her upbringing, how she found yoga and how this relates to spirituality, activism and personal transformation.

He shakes up how we see religion and spirituality. Rather than focusing on dogma or beliefs, Rob prefers the world of mystery, art, wonder and living in the moment. “Often times when I meet atheists and we talk about the god they don’t believe in, we quickly discover that I don’t believe in that god, either.”

He believes a great team is made up of different types of characters — lovers, fighters, jokers, hard men, quiet types and bookworms.

A ‘good life’ as being determined by generosity, caring for one another and acknowledging our shared frailty as humans.

We hear about his experience doing rites of passages with his sons, taking family sabbaticals and how he naturally gravitates to people who are open, emotionally available and vulnerable.

The nature of masculinity is in great transition — and many men aren’t coping well. Men are scoring higher on the markers of ‘emotional distress’ including suicide, substance abuse, online addiction, violence — and even eating disorders.

Graham Long wears two watches. The second belonged to his son, James. It stopped at one minute to midnight during the first year of James’ death — a reminder to live in the present moment.