All of us will experience some form of grief throughout our lives. Grief can feel isolating and lonely. However, it is important to remember that grief is a universal emotion felt by many. Grief podcasts are a relatively new concept and can be a great resource for many people. Whether you are looking for ways to cope, practical advice, or even unique and humorous perspectives on grief – you might find grief podcasts helpful. Here is a list of 10 grief podcasts we recommend:
1. Death: Love, Grief and Hope
New Zealander Mark Longley launched this podcast in 2019 after the death of his daughter Emily. This podcast is all about the intense journey that people go on after the loss of a loved one. As a journalist, Mark has a unique perspective to share regarding the media’s representation of death. Mark is a firm believer in the phrase “don’t die with the dead” which is indicative of the podcast’s hopeful tone.
2. Griefcast: Funny People Talking About Death
The tagline says it all – this podcast features funny people talking about death. The host Cariad Lloyd is a comedian whose father passed away due to cancer when she was a teenager. Each week she is joined by comedic guests to have conversations that are often funny, but also poignant and moving. Cariad’s website describes the podcast as people sharing their “views on the pain, loss and the weirdness that happens when someone dies”. This podcast also won Podcast of the Year at the British Podcast Awards.
3. Grief Dreams
This is the perfect podcast for those who have dreams of their loved ones who have passed on. Hosted by “dream expert” Dr. Joshua Black, this podcast is all about his personal experiences with “grief dreams” and the dreams of his guests. If you are looking to understand this phenomenon, this is the one for you.
4. At A Loss
Another podcast hosted by a New Zealander, Timothy Giles is a funeral celebrant based in Auckland. Timothy’s unique position as a funeral celebrant means he has plenty of personal anecdotes and stories to share. This grief podcast discusses some topics that have historically been considered taboo. A few examples include the loss of an infant, suicide, and life as a widow. With a lot of Kiwi guests, this is one worth checking out.
5. Mindfulness and Grief
Hosted by Heather Stang of the Mindfulness and Grief Institute, this is the perfect podcast for those of us who are in touch with their spirituality. With over 30 episodes, this podcast explores a wide range of topics from the loss of a pet, to coping with grief on special occasions such as Valentine’s Day. This podcast has a unique perspective compared to most others, with an emphasis on emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
6. Faith and Grief
The Faith and Grief podcast is a great listen for the religious listener. This podcast discusses several aspects of grief, however each episode “explores the intersection of faith and grief”. If you are wanting to listen to the stories of some religious figures, and every day people trying to deal with their grief and faith, this one could be for you.
7. What’s Your Grief
This podcast is hosted by two female mental health professionals, Eleanor Haley and Litsa Williams. As health professionals, the hosts offer practical advice and suggestions for how to take care of your mental health when dealing with grief. There are also episodes focused around pop-culture. Discussions of grief in “Gilmore Girls”, “This Is Us”, and Pixar movie “Coco” are featured on this podcast amongst others.
8. Terrible, Thanks For Asking
This grief podcast is brutally honest and aims to openly discuss the many aspects of grief. From the sad, to the funny, and the uncomfortable. The host, Nora McInery describes herself as a “notable widow” and aims for the podcast to be a place where people can be honest with each other, and themselves.
9. The Ted Interview: Elizabeth Gilbert
The Ted Interview features many prominent guests discussing a variety of subjects, but Elizabeth Gilbert’s episode focuses on grief. The author of Eat, Pray, Love lost her partner to cancer, and the host lost his daughter. Their conversation is moving, insightful, and a great listen.
10. Grief Out Loud
Hosted by a licensed social worker, Grief Out Loud “seeks to open up the avoided conversations about grief”. With practical advice for supporting children through grief, suggestions about how to preserve precious memories with your loved one, and how to care for a parent with Alzheimer’s. These are just some of the many discussions had on this podcast that is perfect for those who want a “platitude free” experience.
Everybody experiences grief differently and these podcasts reflect those differences. If you are grieving, we encourage you to explore the grief podcasts available to find something you resonate with. You may find that simply listening to a conversation may help to remind you that you are not alone, and offer some new perspectives.