Grief Out Loud | Podcast Interview

I recently had the chance to sit down with Jana DeCristofaro from the Grief Out Loud podcast to discuss the nature of grief and loss of a child as reflected in my forthcoming personal essay/book, To Lose the Madness: Field Notes on Trauma, Loss and Radical Authenticity. As I begin the book tour for To Lose the Madness, I find myself undergoing an acclimation of sorts. While I have been writing books for the better part of 18 years, I’ve never before shared such personal details about my life. This book, unlike the others in my life, was created without any real intention of being shared. I wrote the essay to survive, not to complete a book. The pen saved me, as it always does, from the dark, nest of confusion and despair the mind can go to during times of trauma and grief. Three years ago, when the events of the book took place, I could say the word “miscarriage” without breaking down and now I find myself giving speaking tours on the subject and I am struck by the strange ways in which life pulls us. Sitting down with Jana marked the first public interview I’ve given on the topic of the miscarriage, the other successive traumas and the subsequent breakdown to follow it all. I couldn’t have asked for a more mindful, understanding host…. More About Grief Out Loud: Remember the last time you tried to talk about grief and suddenly everyone left the room? Grief Out Loud is opening up this often avoided conversation because grief is hard enough without having to go through it alone. We bring you a mix of personal stories, tips for supporting children, teens, and yourself, and interviews with bereavement professionals. Platitude and cliché-free, we promise! Grief Out Loud is hosted by Jana DeCristofaro and produced by The Dougy Center for Grieving Children & Families in Portland, Oregon. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes or your favorite podcast platform. Have an idea for an episode? Send it our way at help@dougy.org, with the word ‘podcast’ somewhere in the subject line.