Episodes

  • Tatiana Banks on: being a young widow and finding love after loss
    Aug 8 2024

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    Hey griefsense familia! It's Mimi Gonzalez here, your host and the Zillennial Griever. In today’s episode, I’m joined by Tatiana Banks, a young widow who’s been finding her way through grief while raising her kids and falling in love again.

    Tatiana will share with us how she keeps the memory of her late husband alive, the day-to-day of dealing with grief, and how she’s connected with others through her stories after going viral on TikTok. It’s about the raw, unfiltered experiences that many of us go through but don’t always talk about.

    So make yourself comfy, like you’re in your living room—or as we say in Spanish, in the sala—but this is the grief sala. Whether you’ve got your tea or a cafecito in hand, I want you to feel like you’re just chatting with close friends or family who really understand what it’s like.

    We’re here to unpack all this together, explore what it means to support each other, and find those moments of joy amidst the pain. Let’s dive into this conversation with Tatiana be intentional as we sit with our grief, together.

    • Follow Tatiana on Tiktok
    • Donate to the grief sala conference

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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Mimi on: sometimes you have to breakdown to breakthrough
    Jul 5 2024

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    Have you ever felt like you just want to give up? Well, don't because we need you. Your breakthrough is right around the corner!

    Hey griefsense fam! Today, it’s just me sharing some big updates and life changes, and I’d love your thoughts. After wrestling with mental health challenges and nearly giving up, I’ve just won a startup pitch competition, which is a huge boost for our mission at griefsense. Amidst this, I've reconnected with my birth father's family, including meeting my grandfather who's now facing terminal illness. It's been a whirlwind of emotions, but these experiences are fueling my dedication to building griefsense and planning our largest event yet, the Grief Sala Fest. Stay tuned, and I hope to see you there!

    Donate to The Grief Sala Fest to help make it a reality!

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    17 mins
  • Jiggy Yoon on: becoming an orphan before 30, being Queer & Asian and challenging hustle culture
    Jun 21 2024

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    what's up griefsense familia? Come chill with me and motivational speaker, mental health advocate, combat sports athlete, and mindset and performance coach Na Eun "Jiggy" Yoon as we explore the deep connections between grief, identity, and resilience. Today, Jiggy opens up about her role as a leading voice in the LGBTQ+ community and the youth mental health space, sharing insights from her personal healing and grieving journey.

    Throughout the episode, Jiggy opens up about the painful loss of both her parents and how this profound grief influenced her life's path and her advocacy for youth mental health. We dive deep into the misconceptions surrounding hustle culture, emphasizing that true resilience often requires stepping back to embrace rest and self-compassion.

    The conversation also touches on #griefsense—a nuanced awareness born from deep loss, which can transform our appreciation for life. We also reflect on the power of 'glimmers,' those small yet impactful moments of positivity that can light up our day. Have you heard of glimmers before? How does this show up in your life?

    Tune in to hear how Jiggy navigates the complexities of loss and identity, finding peace and purpose in authenticity and the legacy left behind by her parents.

    Follow & Connect with Jiggy: "where hustle & grind meet healing & grieving"

    • website
    • instagram
    • listen to her podcast : SHIFT with Jiggy Yoon

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    1 hr and 39 mins
  • Kat Primeau on: growing up in hospice & finding your gifts in grief
    May 31 2024

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    Step into a space where grief meets creativity in this enlightening conversation with Kat Primeau, aka the Good Grief Doula. Host Mimi Gonzalez and Kat dive into what it means to be death positive and how embracing grief can unlock creative expression and personal growth.

    Kat opens up about growing up in hospice and how her own experiences with loss not only shaped her as an artist but also inspired her work in helping others navigate their grief. This episode explores the vital role of creativity—whether it's through music, art, or writing—in processing and honoring our deepest emotions.

    Learn about Swedish death cleaning and how mindful practices like this can help us cope with and prepare for loss. Discover the importance of community and curiosity in finding support and new perspectives as you move through grief.

    Whether you're a young artist struggling with loss or someone looking to understand grief’s impact on life and creativity, this episode offers insights and encouragement. Tune in to find out how embracing your grief can lead to unexpected gifts of inspiration and resilience.

    Follow Kat on instagram
    Visit her website
    Listen to her music

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    1 hr and 17 mins
  • Serge Nkusi on: remembering SteveO & advice for young creatives facing grief
    May 16 2024

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    Join us as Serge Nkusi, a young stand-up comedian from Rwanda, discusses how he channels his grief into creativity. Serge opens up about the loss of his brother Steve, a renowned track athlete, and how this tragedy has shaped his approach to life and mental health. He shares his journey of dealing with grief through humor, the role of authenticity in his work, and the practices that bring him peace and clarity. Serge’s story is not just about coping with loss but about using it as a spark for creativity and a way to honor those we love. He's making waves on social media with his content and inspiring people to tell their loved ones "I love you" before it's too late.

    Follow his content & journey on Instagram & Tiktok

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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • Gabrielle Perez on the Cannes do spirit: channeling grief into creativity
    May 2 2024

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    Dive into this inspiring episode where Mimi Gonzalez sits down with Gabrielle Perez, Senior Partnerships Manager at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, often described as the Oscars of the advertising and media world. This conversation explores the deep impact of experiencing serial grief at a young age and how it intertwines with pursuing creative careers. Gabrielle shares her journey from California to Cannes, detailing how her creative role and the support of her community have been her anchors through back to back losses.

    The episode offers guidance for young creatives and anyone dealing with grief, emphasizing the importance of honoring those we’ve lost while pursuing our dreams. With the Cannes Festival just around the corner, Gabrielle discusses the festival’s role in championing diversity and the Jodi Harris Scholarship, highlighting the power of legacy in shaping future generations.

    Tune in for a heartfelt discussion on building supportive work environments, on challenging the urge to "qualify losses," and the resilience required to integrate your passions with work and everything you do. This episode is a must-listen for those seeking to understand how even in times of deep loss, our dreams and creative spirits can thrive— and that anything is possible.

    Connect with Gabby to learn more about her work and/or get advice on navigating a career in the creative industry!


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    1 hr and 28 mins
  • Melanie Wilson on: being the 'death of the party' & finding community in grief
    Apr 4 2024

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    If you've ever felt like the "Death of the Party" because grief is part of your story, then this episode is for you.

    I had the pleasure of interviewing Melanie Wilson, the founder of Death of the Party, a community where the conversation on creating spaces for those touched by loss—especially within the LGBTQ+ community and those in solidarity—can transform the experience of grief.

    Melanie and I discuss how critical it is to have a community when facing grief, something that’s often overlooked in our day-to-day environments, especially at work. We also discuss what workplaces can do to better support employees when this happens.

    Melanie shares insights from her own journey of loss, highlighting how the pandemic has reshaped our need for connection and the unique role that online platforms and in person events can play in bridging the gap. Tune in and you'll hear firsthand her experience on experiencing two deaths in public, one of a stranger & the other, her coworker, and how she navigated that! You also don't want to miss the once in a lifetime full circle moment she experienced after her father passed away.

    In this episode, we also shout out our friends at Reimagine and The Dinner Party. If you're looking for community specifically in NY, then please connect with Melanie and Death of the Party and follow them on Instagram.

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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Kheyra Horton on: how grief inspired a soft life with intention, empathy, & creativity
    Mar 21 2024

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    Have you ever stopped to think about how the content you post or your online interactions, are the sum of your digital legacy? What will your friends, family members, and followers remember about the legacy you leave behind? Is it all the likes or followers you got, or will it be the impact you had on them?

    Kheyra and I, drawing from our backgrounds as creatives and content creators, delve into the importance of mindful storytelling and the impact our digital footprints have on the legacy we leave behind. In a world where our online presence is an extension of our real lives, we explore how a soft life philosophy - emphasizing gentleness, empathy, and intentional living - can guide us in creating a digital legacy that not only reflects who we are, but also reflects ways in how we connect with loved ones after we die.

    Kheyra opens up about the deep impact of the loss of her grandmother as well as surviving her brother's suicide and how these experiences steered her towards a softer, more intentional way of living. Kheyra invites listeners into her world, making you feel like you're right there with her, experiencing the profound moments that reshaped her life.

    Resources shared in this episode:

    • Connect with Kheyra on LinkedIn
    • Subscribe to the Social Media Memo where Kheyra shares social media jobs and career resources sent directly to your inbox every Sunday for free.


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    1 hr and 38 mins