About Untethered: Healing the Pain from a Sudden Death
The experience of a sudden or unexpected death leaves us lost, without direction, and in unspeakable pain. Untethered: Healing the Pain from a Sudden Death is designed for those who are hurting and guides them along their journey in anchoring themselves, rebuilding, and moving forward in life. Listeners will be unique in their common experiences of trauma and loss. Early episodes of the show (podcasts 1-10) are foundational and educational in nature and focus on the realities of living with traumatic grief, as well as offering suggestions to decrease pain. Subsequent podcasts include interviews with professionals in the field and grieving individuals who will share their experiences, insights, and growth. Our goal is to give listeners knowledge and comfort, and to assure them they are not alone in this experience.
58 - When Traumatic Grief Is an Everyday Reality: An Interview With Big John
Today's episode explores what happens when traumatic loss isn't an isolated event, but something woven into the everyday reality of a community. Big John Harriel Jr. joins us to talk about repeated exposure to violence and loss, what it takes to process grief rather than go numb to it, and how self-esteem, accountability, and healing are connected. He also shares his own journey - from experiencing and causing harm in his community to dedicating his life to helping young people build healthier lives, find meaningful careers, and become builders of their own communities.
Key Points:
Grief in communities marked by repeated loss. When violence and loss show up again and again in a community, the pain doesn't disappear just because people become accustomed to it - repeated exposure can lead to numbness rather than resolution. Learning to process grief, not just survive it. A central theme of the conversation is the importance of actively learning how to process grief, rather than letting it go unaddressed or normalized.
Self-esteem, accountability, and healing are connected. Big John speaks to how a person's sense of self-worth and their willingness to take accountability for their actions are tied directly to their capacity to heal.
From causing harm to building others up. Big John shares his personal journey, including his own experience both experiencing and causing harm in his community, and how that history became the foundation for his current work helping young people find healthier paths, meaningful careers, and a sense of purpose as builders of their communities.
Healing begins with acknowledgment. A closing theme: healing isn't automatic just because a community has "gotten used to" loss - it starts with acknowledging what happened, doing the work to process it, and walking alongside one another rather than facing it alone.
To learn more, visit Big John’s website: BigJohnKares.com
29 Jul 2026
57 - Companioning Others Through Sudden Loss: An Interview With Caralee Hudson
In this episode I interviewed Caralee Hudson, a retired ICU and CCU nurse and volunteer grief group facilitator, about supporting individuals after sudden and unexpected loss.
Key Takeaways:
Sudden loss brings unique challenges, often including trauma, guilt, anger, and unanswered questions that can complicate the grieving process.
Healing happens in connection, and grief support groups provide a compassionate space where people feel seen, heard, and understood.
You don't have to fix grief to help - simply being present, listening, and bearing witness can be one of the greatest gifts you offer someone who is grieving.
17 Jun 2026
56 - Rebuilding Your Life After Sudden and Unexpected Loss: An Interview with Yvette Martinez-Rea
In this episode, I interview Yvette Marintez-Rea, a 52-year-old executive, mother, and widow, who shares what it has been like to rebuild her life after the sudden death of her husband, Andy. Four years into her grief journey, she reflects on loss while raising teenagers, having a full career, and the new financial circumstances she had to learn to navigate.
Together, we explore anticipatory grief, the practical realities of widowhood, milestones without a spouse, resilience, and the unexpected growth that can emerge after profound loss.
Key Takeaways:
Grief is not a linear process and continues to evolve over time.
Practical and financial realities can be as challenging as the emotional impact of loss.
Parenting through grief requires balancing one's own healing with supporting children.
Milestones and transitions often bring renewed waves of grief.
It is possible to experience joy, purpose, and growth alongside grief.
Resources:
Are You Financially and Legally Prepared for Loss?: Yvette Martinez-Rea (https://www.liberty-road.com/podcast/yvette-martinez-rea)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
18 ratings
Spotify
3.7 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 52 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
73
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
77
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