Tendrils of Grief

In this episode of Tendrils of Grief, I sit down with Dr. Stephen Paul Edwards to explore how grief doesn't just affect our emotions—it shapes our relationships, our behaviors, and the patterns we carry forward in life. We talk about how loss can influence the way we connect with others, the unconscious patterns that show up after grief, and why so many of us find ourselves repeating the same emotional cycles without fully understanding why. Dr. Edwards brings a deeper psychological perspective to grief, helping unpack how our past experiences, attachments, and internal narratives influence the way we process loss and navigate relationships moving forward. This conversation goes beyond surface-level grief. It looks at what grief reveals about us—how it exposes patterns, challenges our identity, and pushes us to confront parts of ourselves we may not have fully seen before. We also explore how awareness is the first step toward change. Because when we begin to understand our patterns, we can start to shift them—and create healthier, more intentional relationships in our lives. This episode is about grief, self-awareness, and growth—and the opportunity to not just survive loss, but to understand what it's trying to teach us. 🔑 What We Talk About How grief impacts relationships Emotional patterns that emerge after loss Why we repeat certain relationship dynamics The psychology behind grief and attachment Self-awareness as a path to healing Moving forward with intention after loss 🔗 Links & Resources Dr. Stephen Paul Edwards 📖 Complimentary Chapters: The Venus Flytrap: Sex, Lies & Repercussion https://bit.ly/4tNJlBa 💬 Coaching & Counseling with Dr. Edwards https://vft23.com/coaching-and-counselling/?utm_source=Susan+Ways&utm_medium=Tendrils+of+Grief&utm_campaign=Podcast+Interview+-Susan+Ways 👉 Use code VFT23 for a discount 🌐 More Information: https://vft23.com New Ways Barre by Susan Ways Proudly serving the Kentlands, Gaithersburg, Maryland and surrounding Montgomery County 📅 https://classpass.com/studios/new-ways-barre-gaithersburg 📸 https://www.instagram.com/sueways 📘 https://www.facebook.com/p/New-Ways-Barre-61570706490968/ Please subscribe and leave a review. If you have questions, comments, or possible show topics, email [email protected] Don't forget to visit Tendrils Of Grief website and join for upcoming Webinars, Podcasts Updates and Group Coaching. Get involve and share your thoughts and experiences in our online community Tendrils of Grief-Survivor of Loss To subscribe and review use one links of the links below Amazon Apple Spotify Audacy Deezer Podcast Addict Pandora Rephonic Tune In Connect with me Instagram: @Sue_ways Facebook:@ susan.ways Email @[email protected] Let me hear your thoughts!

I sit down with Robin Swan, plant alchemist and founder of Swan Apothecary, to explore a different perspective on grief—one that looks at healing through the lens of plant medicine, holistic health, and whole-body integration. Robin brings over 30 years of experience in holistic healing and cannabinoid medicine, blending ancestral herbal wisdom with modern science. Her approach goes beyond just physical healing—she focuses on the connection between the body, mind, spirit, and emotional experience of grief. We talk about how grief lives in the body, how it can surface in unexpected ways, and why true healing requires more than just time—it requires intention, awareness, and support. Robin shares her perspective on how plant medicine can help regulate the nervous system, support emotional processing, and create space for deeper healing. This conversation also explores the importance of ethical use, education, and personal responsibility when it comes to integrating cannabis and plant-based healing into your life. At its core, this episode is about grief, healing, and reconnecting with yourself—and understanding that healing isn't just about moving on, but about integrating what you've been through. What We Talk About How grief affects the body, mind, and nervous system The role of plant medicine in emotional healing Cannabis and holistic health: what people misunderstand Integrating physical, emotional, and spiritual healing Ethical and intentional use of plant-based medicine Why healing from grief is not linear 🔗 Links & Resources Robin Swan Founder of Swan Apothecary Plant Alchemist & Holistic Health Practitioner https://swanapothecary.com/ New Ways Barre by Susan Ways Proudly serving the Kentlands, Gaithersburg, Maryland and surrounding Montgomery County 📅 https://classpass.com/studios/new-ways-barre-gaithersburg 📸 https://www.instagram.com/sueways 📘 https://www.facebook.com/p/New-Ways-Barre-61570706490968/ Please subscribe and leave a review. If you have questions, comments, or possible show topics, email [email protected] Don't forget to visit Tendrils Of Grief website and join for upcoming Webinars, Podcasts Updates and Group Coaching. Get involve and share your thoughts and experiences in our online community Tendrils of Grief-Survivor of Loss To subscribe and review use one links of the links below Amazon Apple Spotify Audacy Deezer Podcast Addict Pandora Rephonic Tune In Connect with me Instagram: @Sue_ways Facebook:@ susan.ways Email @[email protected] Let me hear your thoughts!

Today with Julie Ryan, psychic medium, medical intuitive, and host of the Ask Julie Ryan podcast, to explore the connection between grief, spirituality, and the unseen world around us. Julie shares how intuitive and healing abilities aren't just gifts—they're skills that can be developed. We talk about what it means to connect with loved ones who have passed, how spirit communication works, and why so many of us feel the need for "one more conversation" after loss. This conversation became especially personal for me. I share my recent experience of losing my dog and the grief that followed—how loss doesn't happen in isolation, but often brings up layers of past grief all at once. We talk about pet loss, signs from loved ones, and the deep emotional bond we share with animals, and how that connection can continue even after they're gone. Julie explains how communication with spirit can be simpler than we think, how intuition works, and why we often block ourselves from receiving signs. She also offers insight into what happens as someone transitions, and how both people and pets remain connected to us in ways we may not always recognize. This episode is a blend of grief, hope, spirituality, and healing—and a reminder that even in loss, we are not as disconnected as we feel. Connect with Julie Ryan ✨ Guest: Julie Ryan 🌐 Website: https://askjulieryan.com 🎙️ Podcast: Ask Julie Ryan (available on all major platforms) 🎁 Free Book: Angelic Attendants (download on her website) 🩰 New Ways Barre by Susan Ways Proudly serving the Kentlands, Gaithersburg, Maryland and surrounding Montgomery County 📍 Boutique Barre Studio (Strength • Movement • Healing) 📅 Book a Class: https://classpass.com/studios/new-ways-barre-gaithersburg 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sueways 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/New-Ways-Barre-61570706490968/ https://newwaysbarre.com/ Please subscribe and leave a review. If you have questions, comments, or possible show topics, email [email protected] Don't forget to visit Tendrils Of Grief website and join for upcoming Webinars, Podcasts Updates and Group Coaching. Get involve and share your thoughts and experiences in our online community Tendrils of Grief-Survivor of Loss To subscribe and review use one links of the links below Amazon Apple Spotify Audacy Deezer Podcast Addict Pandora Rephonic Tune In Connect with me Instagram: @Sue_ways Facebook:@ susan.ways Email @[email protected] Let me hear your thoughts!

I'm sharing something deeply personal. This is a solo episode, and honestly—it's a hard one. On Monday, I had to say goodbye to my 16-year-old dog, Joven. And while I expected to feel sadness, I didn't expect the depth of grief that followed. This loss didn't just stand on its own—it opened the door to so many other layers of grief I've been carrying. Joven was a complicated, deeply loving presence in my life. He wasn't the easiest dog—he was anxious, dependent, and at times overwhelming—but he loved me in a way that was completely unconditional. No expectations. No conditions. Just love. In this episode, I share the story of his life, the difficult decision to let him go, and the emotional aftermath that I'm still moving through. I talk about the weight of "what ifs," the illusion that one more day would somehow make it easier, and the truth that no amount of extra time is ever enough when we lose someone we love. This loss also brought up something deeper—the way grief compounds. How losing one thing can reopen the pain of everything else: the loss of my husband, shifts in my family, changes in my life, and the quiet realization that nothing stays the same forever. But within all of this, I'm also reflecting on what Joven gave me. The lessons. The love. The reminder to be present, to show up fully for the people and pets in my life, and to not take any moment for granted. This episode is raw, real, and unfiltered. If you've ever experienced pet loss, grief after loss, or the feeling that grief comes in waves, I hope this reminds you that you're not alone—and that what you're feeling is valid. Interested with my studio? 📍 Class Booking / Studio Page: https://classpass.com/studios/new-ways-barre-gaithersburg 📸 Instagram (Brand Presence): https://www.instagram.com/sueways 📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/p/New-Ways-Barre-61570706490968/ Welcome to New Ways Barre. We are so glad you are here. Get ready to transform your body, mind and life. At New Ways Barre, we are dedicated to fostering a supportive community where individuals can achieve holistic well-being. https://newwaysbarre.com/ Please subscribe and leave a review. If you have questions, comments, or possible show topics, email [email protected] Don't forget to visit Tendrils Of Grief website and join for upcoming Webinars, Podcasts Updates and Group Coaching. Get involve and share your thoughts and experiences in our online community Tendrils of Grief-Survivor of Loss To subscribe and review use one links of the links below Amazon Apple Spotify Audacy Deezer Podcast Addict Pandora Rephonic Tune In Connect with me Instagram: @Sue_ways Facebook:@ susan.ways Email @[email protected] Let me hear your thoughts!

Today with Steve Beal Sr., author of Generation Jumping: Losing Those Who Are Not Lost, to explore a perspective on grief that is both deeply personal and rooted in hope. Steve shares how a lifetime of loss—especially the passing of his father—shaped the way he understands grief today. We talk about the moments that stay with us, the memories that resurface when we least expect them, and why grief is not something we simply "get over," but something we learn to carry. One of the most powerful parts of our conversation is the role of hope. Not as something that replaces grief, but something that exists alongside it. Steve opens up about how hope can give meaning to sorrow, and how even in the hardest moments, there can be something to hold onto. We also talk about legacy—how the people we love continue to live on through our stories, our actions, and the way we choose to show up in the world. And how sometimes, without even realizing it, we become a source of hope for others walking through their own grief. This episode is a reminder that grief is real, necessary, and deeply human. But within it, there is also connection, purpose, and the opportunity to honor those we've lost in how we continue to live. Check Steve Beal Sr 🌐 Official Website: https://www.stevebealsr.com 📖 Book: Generation Jumping: Losing Those Who Are Not Lost https://www.amazon.com/Generation-Jumping-Losing-Those-Lost/dp/B0FXBMG7WT Welcome to New Ways Barre. We are so glad you are here. Get ready to transform your body, mind and life. At New Ways Barre, we are dedicated to fostering a supportive community where individuals can achieve holistic well-being. https://newwaysbarre.com/ Please subscribe and leave a review. If you have questions, comments, or possible show topics, email [email protected] Don't forget to visit Tendrils Of Grief website and join for upcoming Webinars, Podcasts Updates and Group Coaching. Get involve and share your thoughts and experiences in our online community Tendrils of Grief-Survivor of Loss To subscribe and review use one links of the links below Amazon Apple Spotify Audacy Deezer Podcast Addict Pandora Rephonic Tune In Connect with me Instagram: @Sue_ways Facebook:@ susan.ways Email @[email protected] Let me hear your thoughts!