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Grief is the New Normal is a podcast for anyone who has ever lost something that mattered. Hosted by Dr. Heather Taylor, licensed psychologist and grief specialist, the show brings honest, science-grounded grief education to everyday grievers and mental health professionals alike.
Most of us were never taught how to grieve. We were handed platitudes, timelines, and the message to move on. This podcast exists to replace all of that with something more useful: real information, clinical research, and conversations that actually reflect what grief looks like in real life.
Every episode covers the full spectrum of loss, not just death. Divorce, infertility, job loss, estrangement, identity loss, ambiguous loss, and disenfranchised grief all have a place here. Whether you are in the thick of it or trying to make sense of something you lost years ago, you will find episodes that meet you where you are.
Dr. Taylor brings both clinical expertise and personal experience to every conversation. Solo teaching episodes explore grief reactions, grief theory, and the STAY Framework, a clinically informed approach to grief integration developed by Dr. Taylor herself. Guest interviews feature clinicians, researchers, and advocates working at the intersection of grief, mental health, and human experience.
This is not a podcast about getting over it. It is a podcast about learning to carry it differently.
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episodes
May 5, 2026
May 5, 2026
14 min
What does it look like to build a sustainable, grief-informed clinical practice, not after grief ends, but while you are still living with it?
In this mini-series finale of Grief is the New Normal, Dr. Heather Taylor closes her four-part miniseries for clinicians, coaches, and helpers by tackling one of the most overlooked realities in the helping professions: grief does not end. It changes. And for clinicians who are grieving, that shift can reshape your professional identity, your clinical work, and the way you show up for the people you serve.
Drawing on her own experience of losing her brother nearly 17 years ago and completing her PsyD dissertation while actively grieving, Dr. Taylor challenges the narrative that you must wait for grief to resolve before you can thrive. You don't owe anyone a performance of healing.
In this episode, Dr. Taylor covers:
- Grief integration vs. acceptance, and why the distinction matters clinically
- The waves metaphor and how grief seasons shape your capacity over time
- Sustainable practice strategies for the long haul, including realistic scheduling, clinical variety, and preventing burnout
- Why clinician wellbeing is an ethical issue, not a personal luxury
- How grief can redefine professionalism rather than undermine it
- Reflection questions to help you examine how grief has reshaped your work and release "good enough" narratives that no longer serve you
Whether you are a therapist, counselor, coach, or helper who is personally navigating loss while supporting others, this episode meets you where you are.
Keywords this episode speaks to: grief-informed practice, clinician grief, therapist burnout, sustainable therapy practice, grief integration, disenfranchised grief, grief and professional identity, grief for helpers, grief-informed care, secondary grief, anticipatory grief, clinician wellbeing, ethics and self-care, grief literacy
Timestamps: 00:00 Thriving While Grieving 00:27 Welcome and Series Finale 01:42 Grief Changes the Clinician 02:52 My Brother and Becoming Grief Informed 04:16 Integration Over Acceptance 04:56 Sustainable Practice for the Long Haul 05:43 Waves and Seasonal Cadence 07:28 Scheduling Variety and Burnout Reset 09:29 Ethics Include Your Wellbeing 10:29 Redefining Professionalism Through Grief 11:04 Closing Takeaways and Reflections 13:22 Outro and Resources
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Grief is not a problem to solve. It is a human experience to move through, and most of us were never taught how.
Grief is the New Normal is hosted by Dr. Heather Taylor, licensed psychologist and grief specialist with over a decade of experience in grief, trauma, and reproductive psychology. This show exists to change the conversation around loss by expanding what grief looks like, who it belongs to, and what it actually means to integrate it into your life.
Whether you're grieving a death, a diagnosis, a relationship, an identity shift, or the world as you knew it, your grief is real, it deserves space, and you are not behind. And if you're a clinician, coach, or helper carrying your own grief while holding space for others, this show was built for you too.
Dr. Taylor brings research-informed frameworks, honest clinical perspective, and the STAY framework, a grief-informed approach to living with loss that goes far beyond the five stages. Expect nuance, depth, and conversations that take grief seriously.
No toxic positivity. No fixing. Just honest conversation, real validation, and a community built around grief literacy, disenfranchised grief, anticipatory grief, collective grief, and the full spectrum of human loss.
grief support podcast · disenfranchised grief · anticipatory grief · grief after loss · grief for clinicians · grief-informed care · grief literacy · coping with grief · grief and identity · mental health and grief · reproductive grief · pet loss grief · collective trauma and grief · moral injury · grief integration · STAY framework
New episodes dropping regularly
Subscribe to the Bridging the Grief Gap newsletter on LinkedIn for deeper dives, resources, and grief-literate tools
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heather-taylor-psyd-licensed-psychologist
Grab the Authentically Unapologetic Grief Journal → https://a.co/d/4hbLtbX
www.thedrheathertaylor.com · hello@griefisthenewnormal.com
https://linktr.ee/griefisthenewnormal
Follow @grief_is_the_new_normal on Instagram for grief education, mental health content, and yes, a little sass and dark humor too.
-------------------------------------
Opening and closing music by The Dadicorns
Copyright 2026 Grief is the New Normal: A Podcast with Dr. Heather Taylor. All Rights Reserved.
This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy.
Apr 11, 2026
Apr 11, 2026
37 min
On Grief is the New Normal, host Dr. Heather Taylor interviews Long Island dentist and grief coach Dr. Parul Dua Makkar about sibling grief after her younger brother, Dr. Manu Dua, died from canver of the tongue in 2021 during COVID restrictions, leaving her to say goodbye by video call. They discuss how sibling loss can feel invisible and uniquely alters identity, future plans, and family dynamics, especially as Parul later lost her father suddenly. Parul shares Manu’s posthumously published book, Life Interrupted, and her tribute platform “Dua Good Job,” focused on doing good, oral cancer education, and grief support. They explore how grief shifts empathy in healthcare, the importance of boundaries and support, and why grieving people value others saying the sibling’s name and sharing memories.
00:00 Say Their Name
00:25 Podcast Welcome
00:48 Meet Dr Parul
01:18 Losing Manu in COVID
03:16 His Cancer Lessons
05:09 Life Interrupted
07:32 Why Sibling Grief Hurts
11:55 Talk About Our Siblings
13:17 Keeping Memories for Kids
14:27 Second Loss Losing Dad
18:22 Finding Peace After Loss
18:49 Grief Held in the Body
20:03 Micro Griefs in Dentistry
22:01 Empathy Gaps in Care
25:08 Choosing Meaning After Trauma
26:56 Do a Good Job Legacy
29:39 Identity and Boundaries
33:48 Advice for Sibling Grievers
35:35 Where to Connect
36:13 Closing and Resources
------------------------------------
Dr. Parul Dua Makkar is a general dentist, speaker, author, and grief coach for healthcare providers. After losing her only sibling, Dr. Manu Dua, to oral cancer, she turned her personal loss into a powerful mission. Through her initiative Dua Good Job, she educates healthcare professionals on early oral cancer detection, treatment navigation, and the emotional toll of caregiving and loss. Dr. Makkar is also dedicated to supporting clinicians facing burnout, grief, and moral injury, offering compassionate tools and coaching to help them heal while continuing to serve. Based in Long Island, NY, she blends clinical expertise with heartfelt advocacy to create space for wellness, awareness, and purpose in healthcare.
Guide to Oral Cancer Free eBook: https://www.duagoodjob.com/freeoralcancerguide
Books https://www.duagoodjob.com/offers/3oeb648R
Book a support call. https://www.duagoodjob.com/schedulecall
----------------------
Grief is not a problem to solve. It is a human experience to move through, and most of us were never taught how.
Grief is the New Normal is hosted by Dr. Heather Taylor, licensed psychologist and grief specialist with over a decade of experience in grief, trauma, and reproductive psychology. This show exists to change the conversation around loss by expanding what grief looks like, who it belongs to, and what it actually means to integrate it into your life.
Whether you're grieving a death, a diagnosis, a relationship, an identity shift, or the world as you knew it, your grief is real, it deserves space, and you are not behind. And if you're a clinician, coach, or helper carrying your own grief while holding space for others, this show was built for you too.
Dr. Taylor brings research-informed frameworks, honest clinical perspective, and the STAY framework, a grief-informed approach to living with loss that goes far beyond the five stages. Expect nuance, depth, and conversations that take grief seriously.
No toxic positivity. No fixing. Just honest conversation, real validation, and a community built around grief literacy, disenfranchised grief, anticipatory grief, collective grief, and the full spectrum of human loss.
grief support podcast · disenfranchised grief · anticipatory grief · grief after loss · grief for clinicians · grief-informed care · grief literacy · coping with grief · grief and identity · mental health and grief · reproductive grief · pet loss grief · collective trauma and grief · moral injury · grief integration · STAY framework
New episodes dropping regularly
Subscribe to the Bridging the Grief Gap newsletter on LinkedIn for deeper dives, resources, and grief-literate tools
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heather-taylor-psyd-licensed-psychologist
Grab the Authentically Unapologetic Grief Journal → https://a.co/d/4hbLtbX
www.griefisthenewnormal.com · hello@griefisthenewnormal.com
Follow @grief_is_the_new_normal on Instagram for grief education, mental health content, and yes, a little sass and dark humor too.
-------------------------------------
Opening and closing music by The Dadicorns
Copyright 2026 Grief is the New Normal: A Podcast with Dr. Heather Taylor. All Rights Reserved.
This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy.
Apr 7, 2026
Apr 7, 2026
16 min
We’re Not Okay Either: Clinician Grief, Moral Injury, and Micro-Moves for Survival
Dr. Heather Taylor introduces part three of a series for clinicians, coaches, and helpers, addresses collective grief and the current political moment’s impact on helpers’ capacity, safety, and motivation. She names grief over broken systems, client and clinician safety, compassion fatigue, and working within structures that demand productivity and “move on,” framing much of this as moral injury and systemic grief that can feel like fog, apathy, and loss of meaning. Taylor emphasizes helpers are not machines, AI, or martyrs, and normalizes boundaries such as saying no to new clients, taking grief or political action days, and stepping back when needed. She recommends practical “micro moves” for nervous system regulation (brief grounding, cold air, water breaks, audiobooks, vagal holds) and intentional scheduling gaps. She closes with reflection questions and a call to seek community and support.
00:00 Collective Grief Reality
01:09 Series Intro And Focus
01:43 Clinician Grief Today
04:09 Burnout And Moral Injury
04:55 Permission For Boundaries
06:34 Micro Moves For Regulation
09:43 Green Yellow Zone Map
12:42 Wrap Up And Community
13:52 Reflection Questions Next Part
14:58 Outro And Resources
----------------------------
Grief is not a problem to solve. It is a human experience to move through, and most of us were never taught how.
Grief is the New Normal is hosted by Dr. Heather Taylor, licensed psychologist and grief specialist with over a decade of experience in grief, trauma, and reproductive psychology. This show exists to change the conversation around loss by expanding what grief looks like, who it belongs to, and what it actually means to integrate it into your life.
Whether you're grieving a death, a diagnosis, a relationship, an identity shift, or the world as you knew it, your grief is real, it deserves space, and you are not behind. And if you're a clinician, coach, or helper carrying your own grief while holding space for others, this show was built for you too.
Dr. Taylor brings research-informed frameworks, honest clinical perspective, and the STAY framework, a grief-informed approach to living with loss that goes far beyond the five stages. Expect nuance, depth, and conversations that take grief seriously.
No toxic positivity. No fixing. Just honest conversation, real validation, and a community built around grief literacy, disenfranchised grief, anticipatory grief, collective grief, and the full spectrum of human loss.
grief support podcast · disenfranchised grief · anticipatory grief · grief after loss · grief for clinicians · grief-informed care · grief literacy · coping with grief · grief and identity · mental health and grief · reproductive grief · pet loss grief · collective trauma and grief · moral injury · grief integration · STAY framework
New episodes dropping regularly
Subscribe to the Bridging the Grief Gap newsletter on LinkedIn for deeper dives, resources, and grief-literate tools
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heather-taylor-psyd-licensed-psychologist
Grab the Authentically Unapologetic Grief Journal → https://a.co/d/4hbLtbX
www.griefisthenewnormal.com · hello@griefisthenewnormal.com
Follow @grief_is_the_new_normal on Instagram for grief education, mental health content, and yes, a little sass and dark humor too.
-------------------------------------
Opening and closing music by The Dadicorns
Copyright 2026 Grief is the New Normal: A Podcast with Dr. Heather Taylor. All Rights Reserved.
This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy.
Apr 2, 2026
Apr 2, 2026
35 min
Butterflies, Halos, and Carrying Their Light Forward: Angie Hanson on Compounding Grief, Parenting, and Creative Healing
Dr. Heather Taylor welcomes Angie Hanson (author, certified grief coach, and creator of Butterflies and Halos) to discuss layered loss, parenting through grief, and creative ways to support grievers. Angie shares losing her son Garrett (2006), husband Jack (stage four ocular melanoma; 2009), and brother Seth (brain tumor; 2009) within about two and a half years, while raising her daughter Gracie. They talk about compounding grief and practical coping, including journaling, naming what you’re carrying, grieving “one breath, one cry, one choice at a time,” and separating grief for each person. Angie explains her snarky, heartfelt grief cards that “speak to feel, not to fix,” plus boundaries and community support in grief work. She highlights storytelling and creativity as tools, her memoir Chapters of a Resilient Heart, and reframing loss as “carrying their light forward,” including acts of kindness in Garrett’s honor.
00:00 Grief Avalanche Wisdom
00:28 Podcast Welcome Guest
01:11 Angie Loss Story 03:04 Butterflies And Halos
04:24 Dark Humor Cards 07:00 Parenting Through Grief
09:45 Talking About Loss 10:58 Compounding Grief
11:46 Journaling To Untangle
14:28 Boundaries In Grief Work
16:17 Anniversary Season Planning
17:13 Grief Over Time
18:07 Milestones Hit Hard
18:18 Lois Tonkin Visual
19:01 Memoir and Storytelling
21:07 Creativity as Toolkit
23:38 Restarting Creativity
26:42 Carrying Their Light
29:18 Key Takeaways
30:37 Connect and Projects
31:41 Holiday Cards for Grievers
34:31 Closing and Resources
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Angie Hanson is a certified grief coach, author, and founder of Butterflies + Halos, a grief-centered stationery and support brand that helps people feel seen, supported, and a little less alone after loss. After losing her son, husband, and brother in a short span of time, Angie turned her pain into purpose—creating honest, hope-filled resources including empathy cards, her memoir Chapters of a Resilient Heart, and her grief coaching programs. Angie blends grace, grit, and even humor to reimagine the grief journey and empower others to heal with heart.
Follow her work at:
https://butterfliesandhalos.com Connect on Instagram: https://instagram.com/butterfliesandhalos Facebook: https://facebook.com/butterfliesandhalos Amazon Author Page: https://author.amazon.com/books Learn about coaching:https://butterfliesandhalos.com/pages/new-grief-coaching-with-angie
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Grief is the New Normal is the podcast that refuses to sugarcoat loss, because grief isn’t a problem to fix, it’s a reality to live with. Hosted by Dr. Heather Taylor, a licensed psychologist with over a decade of experience in grief, trauma, and reproductive psychology, this show dives deep into the messy, nonlinear, and very real ways grief impacts our lives.
Whether you're navigating the death of your person, wrestling with the weight of an invisible loss, or trying to figure out who you even are after everything changed, this podcast is here for you. With a mix of solo deep dives, expert interviews, and candid conversations, Dr. Taylor unpacks the emotions no one warns you about, challenges outdated grief narratives, and offers both practical tools and hard-earned wisdom to help you feel less alone.
No toxic positivity. No “fixing” your grief. Just honest talk, validation, and the reminder that you don’t have to do this alone. Because in a world that wants you to move on, Grief is the New Normal is here to help you move through.
https://www.griefisthenewnormal.com
www.linkedin.com/in/heather-taylor-psyd-licensed-psychologist
Follow @dr.heathertaylor on Instagram for grief podcast, mental health, self-care, sass, and dark humor content whether you’re grieving or you’re a mental health professional needing more modern grief language.
Wanting more grief specific support? Check out my grief journal, Authentically Unapologetic: A Grief Journal available for purchase thru this link: https://a.co/d/4hbLtbX
Opening & Closing Music by The Dadicorns
Copyright 2026 Grief is the New Normal: A podcast with Dr. Heather Taylor
All Rights Reserved.
This podcast is meant for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information discussed in this podcast is not a replacement or substitute for therapy.
Mar 30, 2026
Mar 30, 2026
11 min
When a Client Dies: Grief, Ethics, and Practical Next Steps for Helping Professionals
Dr. Heather Taylor continues her “Grief in the Helping Professions” series by addressing what happens when a client dies, covering emotional, logistical, legal, and relational concerns that clinicians are often not trained to navigate. She emphasizes that the death is a personal loss regardless of length of treatment or cause of death, and that grief does not make a clinician unprofessional. Key guidance includes seeking supervision/consultation, remembering HIPAA protections continue after death, considering whether and how to contact family, navigating funeral attendance with clear boundaries, and documenting the death and related communications appropriately. She outlines common reactions such as shock, guilt, anger, numbness, relief, compassion fatigue, and resurfaced prior grief, and recommends supports like telling trusted colleagues, taking time off when possible, avoiding isolation, creating a goodbye ritual, and assessing capacity with the rest of one’s caseload. She closes with reflection questions and previews an upcoming episode on burnout and the emotional toll of current realities.
00:00 Welcome and Topic Setup
01:51 Why Client Death Hits Hard
02:56 HIPAA and Practical Logistics
04:39 Emotional Aftermath and Reactions
05:47 Support and Time Off
07:18 Rituals and Caseload Check-In
08:59 Closing Thoughts and Reflections
10:05 Next Episode Burnout Preview
10:25 Final Sendoff
-------------------------
Grief is not a problem to solve. It is a human experience to move through, and most of us were never taught how.
Grief is the New Normal is hosted by Dr. Heather Taylor, licensed psychologist and grief specialist with over a decade of experience in grief, trauma, and reproductive psychology. This show exists to change the conversation around loss by expanding what grief looks like, who it belongs to, and what it actually means to integrate it into your life.
Whether you're grieving a death, a diagnosis, a relationship, an identity shift, or the world as you knew it, your grief is real, it deserves space, and you are not behind. And if you're a clinician, coach, or helper carrying your own grief while holding space for others, this show was built for you too.
Dr. Taylor brings research-informed frameworks, honest clinical perspective, and the STAY framework, a grief-informed approach to living with loss that goes far beyond the five stages. Expect nuance, depth, and conversations that take grief seriously.
No toxic positivity. No fixing. Just honest conversation, real validation, and a community built around grief literacy, disenfranchised grief, anticipatory grief, collective grief, and the full spectrum of human loss.
grief support podcast · disenfranchised grief · anticipatory grief · grief after loss · grief for clinicians · grief-informed care · grief literacy · coping with grief · grief and identity · mental health and grief · reproductive grief · pet loss grief · collective trauma and grief · moral injury · grief integration · STAY framework
New episodes dropping regularly
Subscribe to the Bridging the Grief Gap newsletter on LinkedIn for deeper dives, resources, and grief-literate tools
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heather-taylor-psyd-licensed-psychologist
Grab the Authentically Unapologetic Grief Journal → https://a.co/d/4hbLtbX
www.griefisthenewnormal.com · hello@griefisthenewnormal.com
Follow @grief_is_the_new_normal on Instagram for grief education, mental health content, and yes, a little sass and dark humor too.
-------------------------------------
Opening and closing music by The Dadicorns
Copyright 2026 Grief is the New Normal: A Podcast with Dr. Heather Taylor. All Rights Reserved.
This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy.
Mar 26, 2026
Mar 26, 2026
47 min
Dr. Heather Taylor hosts Wendy Stern, founder of the Center for Somatic Grieving, to discuss how grief lives in the body and why somatic approaches can help people metabolize what can’t be fully processed in the moment of loss. Wendy shares how losing her son Noah at nine months old led her and her husband to seek grief-supportive cultures abroad, and how yoga, breath, and mindfulness became a container for feeling and healing. They explore capacity, numbness as protection, and practices like timed “containers” to safely feel grief followed by a planned reorientation activity. Wendy explains how yoga supports regulation, embodiment, resilience, and connection to inner wisdom, and why being witnessed—especially in groups with clear guidelines like no crosstalk—reduces “shoulds,” validates grief, and keeps loved ones remembered. Wendy offers a gentle starting point: grounded posture and intentional breathing.
00:00 Show Intro
00:25 Meet Wendy Stern
01:24 Loss And Pilgrimage
04:06 Yoga As Healing
06:55 Somatic Grief Explained
10:15 Metabolizing Grief Safely
14:17 Timer Container Practice
17:43 Yoga Therapy Benefits
23:51 EMDR And Beliefs
24:48 Grief Illuminates Self Love
26:42 Loss as Growth Catalyst
28:36 What You Do With Time
29:15 Healing Through Witnessing
34:02 Remembering Their Names
37:16 Training Grief Facilitators
41:03 Breath to Reconnect
43:33 Key Takeaways and Closing
46:05 Episode Outro Resources
--------------------------------
Wendy Black Stern is a pioneer in the field of somatic grief work and the founder of the Center for Somatic Grieving. She came to this work after the heartbreaking loss of her son, Noah, and has spent over 25 years as a yoga therapist, grief guide, group facilitator and educator supporting individuals and professionals to meet loss with compassion, presence, and embodied wisdom. Through her Mindful Grieving Yoga Teacher Training, she has helped cultivate a growing community of nearly 100 Mindful Grieving Facilitators across 9 countries who now share this work in their own communities. Wendy offers Mindful Grieving Programs, individual Somatic Grieving Sessions, and somatic grief retreats — including upcoming retreats on Maui (April 2026) and Bali (May 2026). Her next Mindful Grieving Yoga Teacher Training begins February 2026, and The Art of Sacred Listening Professional Training launches November 2025.
Learn more at www.somaticgrieving.org
Follow @somaticgrieving on Instagram and Facebook
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Grief is the New Normal is the podcast that refuses to sugarcoat loss, because grief isn’t a problem to fix, it’s a reality to live with. Hosted by Dr. Heather Taylor, a licensed psychologist with over a decade of experience in grief, trauma, and reproductive psychology, this show dives deep into the messy, nonlinear, and very real ways grief impacts our lives.
Whether you're navigating the death of your person, wrestling with the weight of an invisible loss, or trying to figure out who you even are after everything changed, this podcast is here for you. With a mix of solo deep dives, expert interviews, and candid conversations, Dr. Taylor unpacks the emotions no one warns you about, challenges outdated grief narratives, and offers both practical tools and hard-earned wisdom to help you feel less alone.
No toxic positivity. No “fixing” your grief. Just honest talk, validation, and the reminder that you don’t have to do this alone. Because in a world that wants you to move on, Grief is the New Normal is here to help you move through.
https://www.griefisthenewnormal.com
www.linkedin.com/in/heather-taylor-psyd-licensed-psychologist
Follow @grief_is_the_new_normal on Instagram for grief podcast, mental health, self-care, sass, and dark humor content whether you’re grieving or you’re a mental health professional needing more modern grief language.
Wanting more grief specific support? Check out my grief journal, Authentically Unapologetic: A Grief Journal available for purchase thru this link: https://a.co/d/4hbLtbX
Opening & Closing Music by The Dadicorns
Copyright 2026 Grief is the New Normal: A podcast with Dr. Heather Taylor
All Rights Reserved.
This podcast is meant for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information discussed in this podcast is not a replacement or substitute for therapy.
Mar 23, 2026
Mar 23, 2026
16 min
Holding Space for Client Grief While Grieving Yourself (Front-Line Helpers Mini Series, Part 1)
Dr. Heather Taylor introduces a four-part mini series for front-line helpers (therapists, coaches, clinicians, social workers, birth workers) and addresses how to hold space for client grief while grieving personally. She challenges the myth that professionals should be “grief proof,” emphasizing that attunement doesn’t require detachment and containment doesn’t mean absence, while also avoiding overdisclosure, enmeshment, or “trauma dumping.” She describes how nervous system activation can affect energy and emotional availability, and shares in-session micro-regulation strategies such as using a fidget, grounding feet, vagal holds with clients, TIPP skills (e.g., cold water), note-taking or doodling, and tracking themes to process later in therapy or consultation. She highlights supervision, boundaries, self-compassion, rest, and community as essential for sustainability, offers reflection questions, and previews part two on what happens when a client dies, including HIPAA, memorials, funerals, and emotional impact.
00:00 Grounding In Session
00:33 Podcast Welcome
00:59 Mini Series Overview
02:38 We Are Not Grief Proof
03:44 When Client Grief Hits Home
05:04 Attunement Not Detachment
06:50 Micro Regulation Tools
09:50 Supervision And Community
11:27 Real And Responsible
13:27 Closing Reflections
15:09 Next Episode Preview
15:34 Outro And Resources
-----------------------------------------
Grief is the New Normal is the podcast that refuses to sugarcoat loss, because grief isn’t a problem to fix, it’s a reality to live with. Hosted by Dr. Heather Taylor, a licensed psychologist with over a decade of experience in grief, trauma, and reproductive psychology, this show dives deep into the messy, nonlinear, and very real ways grief impacts our lives.
Whether you're navigating the death of your person, wrestling with the weight of an invisible loss, or trying to figure out who you even are after everything changed, this podcast is here for you. With a mix of solo deep dives, expert interviews, and candid conversations, Dr. Taylor unpacks the emotions no one warns you about, challenges outdated grief narratives, and offers both practical tools and hard-earned wisdom to help you feel less alone.
No toxic positivity. No “fixing” your grief. Just honest talk, validation, and the reminder that you don’t have to do this alone. Because in a world that wants you to move on, Grief is the New Normal is here to help you move through.
https://www.griefisthenewnormal.com
www.linkedin.com/in/heather-taylor-psyd-licensed-psychologist
Follow @grief_is_the_new_normal on Instagram for grief podcast, mental health, self-care, sass, and dark humor content whether you’re grieving or you’re a mental health professional needing more modern grief language.
Wanting more grief specific support? Check out my grief journal, Authentically Unapologetic: A Grief Journal available for purchase thru this link: https://a.co/d/4hbLtbX
-------------------------------------
Opening & Closing Music by The Dadicorns
Copyright 2026 Grief is the New Normal: A podcast with Dr. Heather Taylor
All Rights Reserved.
This podcast is meant for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information discussed in this podcast is not a replacement or substitute for therapy.
Sep 25, 2025
Sep 25, 2025
50 min
Navigating Life with Grief: An Interview with Tara Accardo
In this episode of 'Grief is the New Normal,' Dr. Heather Taylor welcomes Tara Accardo, a grief and transformational life coach and host of the 'Life with Grief' podcast. Tara shares her deeply personal journey of loss, including the deaths of both parents and her beloved dog, and how these experiences inspired her to help others navigate their grief. The conversation covers the impact of grieving on mental health, the importance of rituals and self-care, and how Tara channels her experiences into her work as a grief coach. The episode also emphasizes the significance of normalizing and discussing grief, providing listeners with insights and tools for healing and transformation.
00:00 Introduction to Grief is the New Normal
00:26 Meet Tara Accardo: Grief and Transformational Life Coach
00:48 Tara's Personal Journey with Grief
01:30 Losing Both Parents: A Deep Dive into Tara's Story
04:31 Navigating Life After Loss
07:18 Rekindling Relationships Amidst Grief
12:23 From Personal Loss to Professional Calling
12:52 The Work of a Grief and Transformational Life Coach
19:41 Compounding Grief: Coping Mechanisms and Healing
25:54 The Importance of Daily Rituals
26:58 Finding Comfort in Predictability
29:20 Living with Grief: A Personal Journey
31:16 The Power of Sharing Stories
42:56 Micro Moments for Transformation
47:47 Final Thoughts and Resources
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Tara Accardo is a Grief and Transformational life Coach and host of the Life With Grief Podcast. After losing her parents to cancer within six months of each other and a traumatic birth experience, her journey of grieving led her to create Losses Become Gains—a community for fellow grievers that serves tools, resources, inspiration, and guidance on how to navigate grief, loss, and moving forward in life with both in tow. Through her podcast, one-on-one coaching and other modalities of support, Tara’s passion, calling, and commitment to uplifting and empowering fellow grievers runs deep.
https://lossesbecomegains.com/
https://lossesbecomegains.com/work-with-tara
https://lossesbecomegains.com/free-tools
https://lossesbecomegains.com/journal
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-with-grief-podcast/id1688812587
https://www.instagram.com/lossesbecomegains
https://www.instagram.com/lifewithgriefpodcast/
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Grief is the New Normal is the podcast that refuses to sugarcoat loss, because grief isn’t a problem to fix, it’s a reality to live with. Hosted by Dr. Heather Taylor, a licensed psychologist with over a decade of experience in grief, trauma, and reproductive psychology, this show dives deep into the messy, nonlinear, and very real ways grief impacts our lives.
Whether you're navigating the death of your person, wrestling with the weight of an invisible loss, or trying to figure out who you even are after everything changed, this podcast is here for you. With a mix of solo deep dives, expert interviews, and candid conversations, Dr. Taylor unpacks the emotions no one warns you about, challenges outdated grief narratives, and offers both practical tools and hard-earned wisdom to help you feel less alone.
No toxic positivity. No “fixing” your grief. Just honest talk, validation, and the reminder that you don’t have to do this alone. Because in a world that wants you to move on, Grief is the New Normal is here to help you move through.
https://www.griefisthenewnormal.com
www.linkedin.com/in/heather-taylor-psyd-licensed-psychologist
Follow @grief_is_the_new_normal on Instagram for grief podcast, mental health, self-care, sass, and dark humor content whether you’re grieving or you’re a mental health professional needing more modern grief language.
Wanting more grief specific support? Check out my grief journal, Authentically Unapologetic: A Grief Journal available for purchase thru this link: https://a.co/d/4hbLtbX
Dive deeper into your grief support skills with the Professional Grief Collective. This exclusive membership offers targeted training and resources for clinicians and coaches who are ready to elevate their practice. Don’t miss out! Join our community today and start transforming the way you support those in grief. Check out the details in our show notes or visit https://clinicians.griefisthenewnormal.com/privategriefcoaching
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Opening & Closing Music by The Dadicorns
Copyright 2025 Grief is the New Normal: A podcast with Dr. Heather Taylor
All Rights Reserved.
This podcast is meant for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information discussed in this podcast is not a replacement or substitute for therapy.
Hey! I'm Dr. Heather Taylor
I'm a griever, just like you. I've experienced life altering loss, just like you. And I decided I wanted to do something to start changing the narrative of grief because as a society, we need to do it better. There needs to be better language, better tools, better willingness to talk about our loss and not leave us feeling alone in our grief. That's where this podcast comes in. I'm a licensed psychologist and have spent the last 14 years working to understand grief, it's complexities, the different ways it can impact us and the different types of loss and how we grieve. My heart is to build community so that we can feel more connected thru this universal lived experience. I'm glad you're here.