TW: mentions of bodily functions

In this episode, I sit down with Mark Porro, author of A Cup of Tea on the Commode, to talk about his experience giving up his bachelor lifestyle to care for his mother during her final months.

Mark shares the raw, unfiltered reality of stepping into the role of caregiver with no experience outside of a sense of humor.

This conversation is for anyone who has ever found themselves exhausted, overwhelmed, or quietly wondering if they’re doing any of this “right.” (Spoiler: there is no perfect way to do this.)

Mark brings honesty, vulnerability, and a surprising amount of wit to a topic that can feel incredibly heavy. His story is a reminder that even in the messiest, most human moments, there can be connection, meaning, and even a little laughter.

You can find mark at:

https://acupofteaonthecommode.org/

and

https://www.youtube.com/@acupofteaonthecommode

Want to Join the Good Grief Society? Join today!

https://www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/the-good-grief-society

Have a burning question for Nikki the Death Doula? Leave me a message here: https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/458190/1/9pa2xynf4iwbj6p1

Support me on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠

Get merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music: Cherry Monday by Kevin MacLeod - licensing info can be found at filmmusic .io

What if talking about death didn’t feel so… heavy?

In this episode, I sit down with the hosts of End of Life Conversations to explore what happens when we stop avoiding the topic we’re all quietly thinking about. (You know, the one we tend to shove into the emotional junk drawer labeled “deal with later.”)

We talk about why these conversations matter more than we think, how they can actually bring connection instead of discomfort, and what it looks like to approach them with honesty, curiosity, and a little more courage than we feel ready for.

You can find Wakil and Annalouiza here; https://www.endoflifeconvos.com/

Want to Join the Good Grief Society? Join today!

https://www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/the-good-grief-society

Have a burning question for Nikki the Death Doula? Leave me a message here: https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/458190/1/9pa2xynf4iwbj6p1

Support me on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠

You can find me here:

https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoula

Get merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday

In this episode I sit down with Sarah Baldwin, co-founder and CEO of Restfully, to explore a concept that can change the way we understand grief: grief personas.

We often expect grief to look a certain way. Lots of tears, deep sadness, and a clear emotional timeline. But anyone who has experienced loss (or supported someone through it) knows that grief doesn’t follow a script.

Sarah shares how the idea of grief personas helps explain these differences and why recognizing them can reduce conflict, increase empathy, and help us support each other better after loss.

If you’ve ever wondered why your sibling, partner, or friend seems to grieve so differently than you do, this conversation will help you understand what’s really going on and how to meet each other with more compassion.

You can find Sarah at: https://restfullycare.com

Want to Join the Good Grief Society? Join the Waitlist now! https://www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/good-grief-waitlist

Have a burning question for Nikki the Death Doula? Leave me a message here: https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/458190/1/9pa2xynf4iwbj6p1

Support me on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠

You can find me here:

https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoula

Get merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday

TW: Some discussions of addiction

What happens when someone you’re not close to dies… and you’re the one legally responsible?

In this episode, I sit down with Cat, host of Call Her Cat, to talk about the death of her father—whom she was estranged from at the time of his passing. Despite the distance in their relationship, Cat stepped in as his Medical Power of Attorney, made end-of-life decisions, and arranged his funeral.

We explore what it’s like to grieve someone you had a complicated history with. The love that may have existed. The hurt that definitely did. The expectations from others. And the internal tug-of-war between duty, resentment, tenderness, and relief.

You can find Cat’s podcast here: https://unityyork.podbean.com/

Want to Join the Good Grief Society? Join the Waitlist now! https://www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/good-grief-waitlist

Have a burning question for Nikki the Death Doula? Leave me a message here: https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/458190/1/9pa2xynf4iwbj6p1

Support me on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠

You can find me here: https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoula

Get merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday

TW: mass casualty events, pandemic, light political topics

A lot of people are asking the same quiet question: Why do I feel so heavy right now?

In this episode, I unpack the concept of collective grief and why so many of us feel exhausted, anxious, numb, or on edge. You are not weak. You are not broken. You are responding to brokenness.

We explore what grief actually is beyond death loss, and the kind of sorrow that never gets acknowledged publicly.

If you have felt “off” for years, this conversation might connect some dots.

We also look at historical patterns of collective grief, including moments like September 11 attacks, the Vietnam War, etc. Some grief was repressed. Some was transformed into movements. Where do we see those echoes now?

Let’s talk honestly about why navigating grief feels harder today.

Want to Join the Good Grief Society? Join the Waitlist now! https://www.nikkithedeathdoula.com/good-grief-waitlist

Have a burning question for Nikki the Death Doula? Leave me a message here: https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/458190/1/9pa2xynf4iwbj6p1

Support me on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠

You can find me here:

https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoula

Get merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday

Content warning: Some cursing.

What happens when you lose your mother… and still have to show up to work on Monday?

In this deeply honest conversation, I sit down with Sarah Kagan of Keriah Coaching to talk about something we do not address nearly enough: grief in the workplace. Together, we explore how losing our mothers shaped not only our personal lives, but also how we experienced professional environments during one of the most vulnerable seasons of our lives.

You can find Sarah here: https://www.keriahcoaching.com/

Support me on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠

You can find me here:

https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoula

Get merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday

Hospice care is one of the most misunderstood parts of end-of-life support. And that misunderstanding often keeps people from getting the comfort, care, and dignity they deserve.

In this episode I’m joined by members of the team from Caring House, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing compassionate, holistic hospice care and end-of-life support. We talk honestly about what hospice care actually is (and what it is not), when it’s appropriate, and how compassionate care can transform the final chapter of life for both patients and their loved ones.

We also explore how hospice isn’t about “giving up,” but about shifting the focus from cure to comfort, from fear to presence, and from doing everything to doing what truly matters.

Whether you’re caring for someone with a terminal illness, navigating difficult decisions, or simply want to be better informed before a crisis hits, this conversation offers clarity, reassurance, and a whole lot of humanity.

https://www.yourcaringhouse.org/

https://www.yourcaringhouse.org/support-us

https://www.yourcaringhouse.org/coffee-event-2026

Support me on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/nikkithedeathdoula⁠

You can find me here:

https://linktr.ee/nikkithedeathdoula

Get merch! https://good-grief-podcast.printify.me/ Music:https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3495-cheery-monday