When someone is deep in grief, the people closest to them often want to help — but don't know how. And the grieving person? They're often too exhausted to explain. In this episode, relationship coach and author Joelle Lydon breaks down what's really happening in relationships when grief enters the picture, how both partners can navigate it without losing each other, and what dating after loss actually looks like.

Joelle talks about the power of making clear and specific requests, why partners often inadvertently short-circuit the grief process by trying to fix things too quickly, and her concept of the sacred third — the relationship itself as something both people contribute to or take away from. She also dives into dating after loss — why transparency beats strategy, why dating is a sorting process not a search, and how companionship can look very different than you'd expect.

Plus: a beautiful in-the-moment insight about honoring a friend through daily "marquee moments" at the dinner table.

Guest Bio: Joëlle Lydon is a relationship coach, creativity facilitator, and the author of Unbreakable Us: Removing the Barriers to Love. For over 15 years, she has guided individuals and couples in understanding the deeper architecture of their relationships — helping them move beyond surface communication strategies into sustainable, embodied connection.

Her work integrates relational systems thinking, nervous system awareness, and creative process to illuminate the patterns that quietly shape intimacy. Known for her clarity, depth, and grounded presence, Joëlle brings both intellectual rigor and heartfelt wisdom to conversations about love.

Based in New York's Capital Region, she is passionate about reframing relationship education as a vital life skill — one that can be learned, practiced, and strengthened at any stage of life.

Connect with Joelle:

https://joellelydon.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joellelydon/

https://www.instagram.com/joellelydon/

GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next

If you're ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you.

🎧 Follow and connect: https://www.griefladies.com/

Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/
Karyn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/

Stay up to date with all the latest information about The GRIEF Ladies- Sign up for our newsletter at: www.griefladies.com

Join the FREE, Private Facebook GRIEF Ladies Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/

The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers education and support for people living with grief after someone they love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services.

Guest perspectives shared on this platform are their own and may not reflect the views or positions of The Grief Ladies.

What do you do with a loved one's belongings after they die? In this episode, certified grief coach and TEDx speaker Charlene Lam — founder of the Grief Gallery — shares her Curating Grief framework: Collect, Curate, and Create. Each C carries a powerful anchoring question that helps grievers move from overwhelm to intention.

Charlene and the GRIEF Ladies explore how to navigate the emotional weight of physical belongings, what to do when you have too much (or nothing at all), how grief changes the meaning of everyday objects over time, and how to reclaim your narrative — especially when relationships were complicated. Plus: the unforgettable story of commissioning, using, and ultimately smashing her mother's urn.

Whether you're standing in a room full of someone's things or grieving without a single object to hold onto, this conversation meets you where you are.

Guest Bio: Charlene Lam is a certified grief coach, TEDx speaker and the founder of The Grief Gallery. After her mother died suddenly in 2013, Charlene leaned into her creativity and instincts as a curator to guide herself through grief. Her Curating Grief® framework is a creative, accessible way grievers can navigate dealing with the physical stuff and the emotional stuff. Her first book, Curating Grief: A Creative Guide to Choosing What to Keep After a Loved One Dies, is out now.

Charlene's Website: https://curatinggrief.com

Curating Grief Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGLV7X7V

GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next

If you're ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you.

🎧 Follow and connect: https://www.griefladies.com/

Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/
Karyn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/

Stay up to date with all the latest information about The GRIEF Ladies- Sign up for our newsletter at: www.griefladies.com

Join the FREE, Private Facebook GRIEF Ladies Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/

The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers education and support for people living with grief after someone they love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services.

Guest perspectives shared on this platform are their own and may not reflect the views or positions of The Grief Ladies.

Polyvagal Theory & Grief: Grounding Tools to Calm Your Nervous System. Grief isn't just emotional — it's physiological.

In this episode (37) of the GRIEF Ladies Podcast, we explore how grief impacts the nervous system and why you may feel anxious, shut down, exhausted, or on edge. Joined by Gabrielle Juliano-Villani, we discuss polyvagal theory, grounding techniques, and practical tools to help regulate your body during grief.

You'll hear:

• How the nervous system responds to loss
• Why burnout and grief often overlap
• The role of self-compassion
• What "glimmers" are and why they matter
• Simple grounding practices you can try today

Grief can feel overwhelming — but small shifts in awareness can create meaningful change.

As always, we close with practical steps you can use this week.

Guest Bio: Gabrielle Juliano-Villani is a business mindset coach and consultant who helps therapy practice owners scale, sell, and thrive without burning out. After building and selling her own 7-figure group practice in 2021, she now combines her expertise as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Small Business Administration coach to help other entrepreneurs create sustainable, profitable businesses.

Specializing in supporting practice owners as they navigate Medicare/Medicaid billing, Gabrielle brings a unique blend of clinical expertise and business strategy to her work. She's been featured on NBC News, Spruce Health, and speaks internationally about preventing burnout while building successful practices.

Connect with Gabrielle:

medicareconsultingfortherapists.com

gabriellejulianovillani.com

instagram.com/gjvconsulting

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriellejulianovillani/

GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next

If you're ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you.

🎧 Follow and connect: https://www.griefladies.com/

Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/
Karyn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/

Stay up to date with all the latest information about The GRIEF Ladies- Sign up for our newsletter at: www.griefladies.com

Join the FREE, Private Facebook GRIEF Ladies Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/

The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers education and support for people living with grief after someone they love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services.

Guest perspectives shared on this platform are their own and may not reflect the views or positions of The Grief Ladies.