Anger, Rage, Guilt, and Shame....all natural emotions that come with grief. However, society views these as negative and therefore, must be eradicated during th grieving process.

Learn more about these emotions, what to do with the energy they bring, and learn some re-channeling ideas.

Featured Music…
"I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You", Colin Hay

Discussed Links:
Read more about gratitude in Dr. Joanne's Blog
Kara and Hawk Jones and all their amazing displays of expressive art.

In this episode, Dr. Joanne and Katie discuss their first smiles and laughter after the death of their children. Their reactions, the feelings, how they reconciled and gave themselves permission to live and laugh again.

Please visit Dr. Joanne's Blog at www.drjoanne.blogspot.com

Featured music:

"Tonight, Tonight." Smashing Pumkins
"Not As We." Alanis Morissette.

Please send questions and comments to DeathTalk@MISSFoundation.org

Produced by Katie Dean

In this episode, Dr. J and Katie discuss what defines a competent first responder; What first responders can do when responding to a crisis and how to minimize further trauma.

George S. Everly and the definition of "Crisis".

Dr. Joanne's Blog

In this episode Dr. Joanne and Katie discuss a common found thread through the grieving process: narcissism.

And the antithesis: mindfulness.

Featured Music:

Intro: "Fly" - Nick Drake
End: "Silent World" - Donna Lewis

Questions? Comments?
DeathTalk@MISSFoundation.org

Produced by Katie Dean

Dr. Joanne reads "Your Questions" by Shelly Wagner, from The Andrew Poems. An amazing and powerful poem running the entire gamut of the grief process.

Katie reads her speech from a recent MISS Fund Raiser

And The Kindness Project is discussed.

Links discussed:
Home Funeral Movement
"A Family Undertaking"
"What Dreams May Come"
Dr. Joanne's Blog
Altruism and Brain Function
The Kindness Project


Featured Music:

"Not Enough Time", INXS

In this episode Katie and Joanne are joined by special guest, Anna Kennedy. Anna is the volunteer coordinator for MISS and is a long standing support group facilitator.

We discuss the upcoming holiday of Mother's Day. Tips on making it through the day and some ideas for survival.

The trio also discusses how to answer the anxiety-ridden question we face as bereaved parents: How many children do you have?

Questions you would like to see discussed? Comments about the show?

DeathTalk@MISSFoundation.org

Featured music: "Heal Over", KT Tunstall.

One day at a time
Is all I can bear
If I can make it through this day
Then I can look back tomorrow
And know that I am strong
Even in my weakness
And sometimes being weak
Is the only way I can be, at all...
© 1996 Dear Cheyenne

In this third episode of Death Talk, Dr. Joanne and Katie discuss complicated grief. While addressing a few more questions from the MISS forum boards, explanations of complicated grief and what it looks like are explained.

Featured Text:

The Last Dance: Encountering Death & Dying. Sixth Edition
Lynne Ann DeSpelder, Albert Lee Strickland
Readings from Pgs 231-232

Readings from Dear Cheyenne pg, 24 and 64

Featured Music:
Erik Satie
"Caresse"

"Fantasia in D Minor"

Beth Orton
"OK"

Submit your questions and comments to DeathTalk@MissFoundation.org

MISS Foundation

In Episode 2 of Death Talk, Dr. Joanne and Katie address some questions from the MISS forum boards.
Questions include:

"Am I focusing too much on my grief?"
"How long is too long to grieve?"
"Is my grief manifesting in a healthy or unhealthy way?"

Featured Quote:


Featured Music:

Erik Satie
"Six Gnossiennes"

When in Rome
"The Promise"

Featured Website:
Today I Vow

Please send your questions and comments to DeathTalk@MISSFoundation.org

When a Child Dies - MISS Foundation www.MISSFoundation.org

Katie drove to Sedona to meet with Joanne to record the first Death Talk podcast on Saturday, March 23. Katie has been frantically editing and learning about publishing a podcast.

We sat up in a tiny loft on a futon talking to a Powerbook. Not sure the sound would come out, but you can hear a tiny airplane overhead at one point so the sound worked a lot better than expected.

We had a rough outline of what we wanted to discuss. We knew the initial episode would be about the basics of grief. Katie brought a few books in case we wanted to reference something. In the end, Joanne read from the fundamental book of the MISS Foundation, Dear Cheyenne.

It was wonderful to hear Joanne reading her writing in her own words and I think our listeners will appreciate it.

We hope you like it and please email us with your comments and questions.

DeathTalk@MISSFoundation.org

From Joanne:
Katie and I have known each other since 2000. It was the tragic year when her beloved son, Blake, died. Katie's family contacted me while she was still in the hospital's intensive care unit. Our relationship, since that fateful day, has grown and evolved into a sisterhood. The first taping of Death Talk was just a conversation between Katie and me. It is not unlike the countless and boundless conversations we've shared over many cups of tea in the past nearly decade. Conversations that are authentic, exploratory, and heartfelt. Conversations wherein self-disclosure facilitates growth and shared compassion abounds. We want to invite you into our living room to talk with us, two dear friends who share a secret- a secret about life, death, and love.

From Katie:

It was amazing how smooth the conversation went. After a couple of rough starts, the dialogue came naturally and smoothly. It felt like so many conversations before that have occurred between me and Joanne. I felt I was trying a bit too hard, but I think I will relax more and more. No one should ever be allowed to edit his/her own voice recordings. I found myself editing more and more of myself out of the conversation. I recommend to everyone to record yourself having a conversation; you will quickly pick up on the nuances that most likely drive other people nuts.