Episodes

  • How to Support Grieving Children and Teens

    How to Support Grieving Children and Teens
    Mar 31 2026
    Children experience grief differently from adults—yet their feelings are just as deep and real. In this episode of Lighting the Path, Melissa Lunardini, Chief Clinical Officer for Help Texts and nationally recognized expert in children's grief, explores how we can better support children and teens who are grieving. Drawing on her 20 years of experience, Melissa dispels common myths about how children understand and express loss. She shares practical ways adults can offer genuine help without unintentionally causing harm—highlighting specific words and phrases to avoid when comforting younger children. Melissa also offers two key insights for helping grieving teens, whose needs often differ from younger children and adults alike. While grief touches all ages, she reminds us that the way people need to grieve can differ significantly based on age, development, and emotional capacity. The episode concludes with a helpful tool Melissa recommends for anyone—parents, teachers, clinicians, or clergy—who walks alongside children and teens in grief. Key Discussion Points: Common misconceptions about how children grieve Why language matters: what not to say to grieving children Two practical ways to support grieving teens Understanding developmental differences in the grieving process A practical tool to help children and teens process loss Connect with Harbor Hospice & Beacon Hospice: Follow Harbor Hospice on Facebook. Follow Beacon Hospice on Facebook.For more information about Harbor Hospice, please visit harborhospice.comFor more information about Beacon Hospice, please visit beacon.lifeFor more information about HarborCare & BeaconCare Palliative Services, please visit myharborcare.comPlease send your questions or comments to the podcast host at jfenter@harborhcs.com.
    Show more Show less
    27 mins
  • Get Griefy is Helping the World Share Stories of Loss and Hope

    Get Griefy is Helping the World Share Stories of Loss and Hope
    Mar 17 2026
    In this follow-up episode of Lighting the Path, host Jerry Fenter continues the conversation with Kera Sanchez, founder and editor of Get Griefy magazine. Kera shares how the idea for the magazine first came to her—quite literally—in the shower. Though she had no formal background in journalism, her passion for helping others share their stories of grief and loss led her to create a publication that now reaches readers across the globe. Through Get Griefy, people from every walk of life have found a place to express their experiences with loss, healing, and transformation. Kera reflects on some of her favorite published stories and how they've connected a worldwide community of grievers and creatives alike. The upcoming issue of Get Griefy focuses on women's issues—honoring resilience, vulnerability, and empowerment through storytelling. Listeners can explore more or read the free digital edition at getgriefymagazine.com, with a print version also available for purchase. Key discussion points: The unexpected inspiration behind Get Griefy Turning passion into purpose without formal training Highlighting meaningful stories from around the world A preview of the next Get Griefy issue on women's issues Connect with Harbor Hospice & Beacon Hospice: Follow Harbor Hospice on Facebook. Follow Beacon Hospice on Facebook.For more information about Harbor Hospice, please visit harborhospice.comFor more information about Beacon Hospice, please visit beacon.lifeFor more information about HarborCare & BeaconCare Palliative Services, please visit myharborcare.comPlease send your questions or comments to the podcast host at jfenter@harborhcs.com.
    Show more Show less
    16 mins
  • How Kera Sanchez Turned Her Grief Into a Creative Purpose

    How Kera Sanchez Turned Her Grief Into a Creative Purpose
    Mar 3 2026
    When grief meets creativity, something powerful can emerge. In this episode of Lighting the Path, host Jerry Fenter talks with Kera Sanchez, founder and editor of Get Griefy—a heartfelt online and print magazine that explores grief, healing, and creative expression. Kera begins by sharing the deeply personal story of her mother's sudden death while traveling abroad. The timing and circumstances brought unique emotional challenges, leaving Kera searching for ways to process the loss. Through that pain, she discovered the healing potential of creative self-expression. Her first project—a guided grief journal—became a meaningful outlet for reflection and connection. That experience inspired her next endeavor: Get Griefy, a magazine dedicated to normalizing grief, amplifying voices of those in mourning, and creating community through storytelling and art. Listeners will come away inspired by Kera's courage, her creativity, and her commitment to opening new conversations about loss, resilience, and the many ways we find meaning after heartbreak. Key discussion points: The emotional challenges of losing a loved one abroad How creativity became part of Kera's healing journey The origins of Get Griefy magazine and its mission Why storytelling and creative community matter in grief work Connect with Harbor Hospice & Beacon Hospice: Follow Harbor Hospice on Facebook. Follow Beacon Hospice on Facebook.For more information about Harbor Hospice, please visit harborhospice.comFor more information about Beacon Hospice, please visit beacon.lifeFor more information about HarborCare & BeaconCare Palliative Services, please visit myharborcare.comPlease send your questions or comments to the podcast host at jfenter@harborhcs.com.
    Show more Show less
    19 mins
  • Finding Healing Through Grief Support

    Finding Healing Through Grief Support
    Feb 17 2026

    Licensed professional counselor and grief specialist Chuck Olliff returns to the podcast. Chuck has been leading bereavement support groups for more than 20 years, and in this episode he explains why grief support groups play such an important role in healing and connection after loss.

    He walks listeners through the six key topics he covers in his six-week virtual grief groups, offering valuable insights for anyone navigating their own grief or supporting others who are. Chuck's compassionate and practical approach makes the process feel less daunting and more accessible to all.

    All of Chuck's groups meet virtually via Zoom, allowing participants to join from anywhere.

    To learn more about Chuck Olliff and to register for an upcoming grief group, visit chuckolliff.com.

    Chuck also mentions the resources of Alan Wolfelt in this episode. To see Alan's resources you can visit his website here.

    Connect with Harbor Hospice & Beacon Hospice:

    • Follow Harbor Hospice on Facebook. Follow Beacon Hospice on Facebook.
    • For more information about Harbor Hospice, please visit harborhospice.com
    • For more information about Beacon Hospice, please visit beacon.life
    • For more information about HarborCare & BeaconCare Palliative Services, please visit myharborcare.com
    • Please send your questions or comments to the podcast host at jfenter@harborhcs.com.
    Show more Show less
    21 mins
  • Understanding Grief and the Kübler‑Ross Model with Expert Chuck Olliff

    Understanding Grief and the Kübler‑Ross Model with Expert Chuck Olliff
    Feb 3 2026

    In this episode of Lighting the Path, host Jerry Fenter welcomes Chuck Olliff, a Licensed Professional Counselor and grief specialist with more than 25 years of experience leading grief support groups. Chuck shares the story of how his journey into grief counseling began unexpectedly — when a local funeral director asked him to facilitate a series of grief groups for families coping with loss.

    Together, Jerry and Chuck explore the origins and lasting influence of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's work on the five stages of grief — denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Chuck offers a thoughtful look at each stage, explaining how they appear in real-life experiences of grief and how understanding them can bring compassion and perspective to the grieving process.

    Listeners will gain valuable insights into the emotional landscape of bereavement, the evolving nature of grief support, and the deeply human connection that guides people through loss toward healing.

    Topics discussed include:

    • Chuck Olliff's personal path to becoming a grief specialist

    • Understanding Kübler-Ross's five stages of grief

    • How the stages appear in real-world experiences

    • The evolving understanding of grief and healing

    To learn more about Chuck Olliff and the services he offers, visit www.chuckolliff.com

    Connect with Harbor Hospice & Beacon Hospice:

    • Follow Harbor Hospice on Facebook. Follow Beacon Hospice on Facebook.
    • For more information about Harbor Hospice, please visit harborhospice.com
    • For more information about Beacon Hospice, please visit beacon.life
    • For more information about HarborCare & BeaconCare Palliative Services, please visit myharborcare.com
    • Please send your questions or comments to the podcast host at jfenter@harborhcs.com.
    Show more Show less
    28 mins
  • Dr. Emma Jones Offers a Proven Guide to Resilience for Caregivers

    Dr. Emma Jones Offers a Proven Guide to Resilience for Caregivers
    Jan 20 2026

    In this episode of Lighting the Path, Jerry sits down with Dr. Emma Jones, author of The Phoenix Blueprint, to talk about resilience, burnout, and the emotional tools needed to thrive as a caregiver. Dr. Jones shares what inspired her to write the book and opens up about the real causes of burnout among healthcare professionals—factors that reach far beyond workload and long hours.

    She introduces the concept of "emotional PPE," a metaphor she uses to describe the inner armor caregivers need to protect their emotional well-being—just as firefighters use physical protective equipment to face the dangers of their work. Dr. Jones walks listeners through her six-step model designed to help professionals prevent burnout, restore balance, and reconnect with meaning in their work.

    As the conversation unfolds, she offers practical wisdom drawn from her own experience and research, and finally shares the single takeaway she hopes readers and listeners will carry with them from The Phoenix Blueprint.

    Listeners who want to connect with Dr. Jones can visit her website or follow her on Instagram for more insights and resources.

    Resources mentioned

    • The Phoenix Blueprint: Emerging Stronger from the Blaze of Healthcare by Emma Jones, MD

    • Emma Jones, MD – website and additional resources for healthcare professionals (speaking, workshops, and support offerings)

    Connect with Harbor Hospice & Beacon Hospice:

    • Follow Harbor Hospice on Facebook. Follow Beacon Hospice on Facebook.
    • For more information about Harbor Hospice, please visit harborhospice.com
    • For more information about Beacon Hospice, please visit beacon.life
    • For more information about HarborCare & BeaconCare Palliative Services, please visit myharborcare.com
    • Please send your questions or comments to the podcast host at jfenter@harborhcs.com.
    Show more Show less
    27 mins
  • How to Start Healing From Burnout as a Caregiver

    How to Start Healing From Burnout as a Caregiver
    Jan 6 2026

    In this episode of Lighting the Path, hospice and palliative care physician Dr. Emma Jones shares her personal experience of spiraling into burnout and the moment that forced her to confront the depth of her mental and emotional exhaustion. Drawing from her book, The Phoenix Blueprint: Emerging Stronger from the Blaze of Healthcare, she reflects on how perfectionism, overwork, and the culture of silence around clinician distress pushed her past her limits, and how stigma and fear made it difficult to admit she needed help.

    Emma also talks about early warning signs of burnout—emotional depletion, growing cynicism, and a loss of meaning in work—and shares statistics that reveal how widespread burnout and mental health struggles are among healthcare professionals. She then outlines key steps in her healing process, including setting boundaries, reconnecting with purpose, and finding support beyond traditional healthcare structures, emphasizing her belief that real change begins in communities and resources outside the system itself.

    Resources mentioned

    • The Phoenix Blueprint: Emerging Stronger from the Blaze of Healthcare by Emma Jones, MD

    • Emma Jones, MD – website and additional resources for healthcare professionals (speaking, workshops, and support offerings)

    Connect with Harbor Hospice & Beacon Hospice:

    • Follow Harbor Hospice on Facebook. Follow Beacon Hospice on Facebook.
    • For more information about Harbor Hospice, please visit harborhospice.com
    • For more information about Beacon Hospice, please visit beacon.life
    • For more information about HarborCare & BeaconCare Palliative Services, please visit myharborcare.com
    • Please send your questions or comments to the podcast host at jfenter@harborhcs.com.
    Show more Show less
    29 mins
  • How to Navigate Feelings of Guilt and Regret in Grief, Encore Episode

    How to Navigate Feelings of Guilt and Regret in Grief, Encore Episode
    Dec 23 2025

    In this encore episode, grief specialist Gary Roe discusses how survivors can manage feelings of guilt after the death of a loved one. Roe explores the difference between guilt and regret and offers methods for finding forgiveness and reducing emotional baggage.

    Guilt vs. Regret

    Roe explains that while often used interchangeably, guilt and regret are distinct emotions:

    - Guilt is the feeling we experience when we knowingly do something wrong, usually related to ethical, moral, or legal reasons.
    - Regret is the emotion we feel when looking back on past actions, realizing we could have handled situations differently.

    Strategies for Managing Guilt and Regret

    Roe shares several strategies for managing these difficult emotions:

    1. Release these feelings through talking, writing, or creative expression

    2. Seek support: Talk to someone who listens well and loves you[3].

    3. Practice self-compassion: Remember that you're doing the best you can with the information you had at the time.

    Reducing Emotional Baggage

    To lighten the load of guilt and regret, Roe suggests:

    - Accepting that you can't change the past: Focus on what you can control in the present.
    - Practicing forgiveness: Both for yourself and others involved in the situation.
    - Honoring the deceased: Find ways to celebrate their memory and continue their legacy.
    - Seeking professional help: If guilt or regret persist, consider talking to a grief counselor or therapist.

    You can visit Gary's website for free resources and contact information at www.garyroe.com.

    Connect with Harbor Hospice & Beacon Hospice:

    • Follow Harbor Hospice on Facebook. Follow Beacon Hospice on Facebook.
    • For more information about Harbor Hospice, please visit harborhospice.com
    • For more information about Beacon Hospice, please visit beacon.life
    • For more information about HarborCare & BeaconCare Palliative Services, please visit myharborcare.com
    • Please send your questions or comments to the podcast host at jfenter@harborhcs.com.
    Show more Show less
    22 mins