Giving Grief Grace, a Grief Podcast for the Sandwich Generation
Loss changes everything. But it doesn't have to have the last word. Giving Grief Grace is a podcast dedicated to those in the throes of caregiving and loss with honest, compassionate conversations about grief, healing, and what it means to keep living after loss. Hosted by Lisa Hartung, a speaker, HR professional, and fellow griever, each episode creates space for the stories we don't always know how to tell.
From disenfranchised and hidden grief, to grieving while parenting, to the ways men experience loss differently, to the unexpected power of creativity and legacy, this show covers grief in all its forms. Featuring expert guests, real stories, and practical tools you can use right now.
If you've lost someone you love or are in the throes of caregiving, you belong here.
New episodes drop every Sunday. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
Giving Grief Grace, a Grief Podcast for the Sandwich Generation
Episode 41 - Ash Rose Project (Week 3): Finding Meaning in the Present Through Creativity & Connection
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
In Week 3 of the Ash Rose Project mini-series, host Lisa Hartung continues her 30-day grief journey with Ian McCartor of the Ash Rose Foundation.
This week centers on finding meaning in the present moment. Lisa and Ian discuss integrating remembrance and creative exploration from the first two weeks into a grounded sense of healing, hope, and transformation.
Lisa reflects on what it has felt like to send her mother’s ashes to be incorporated into a memorial portrait, and how the guided journaling and weekly conversations have helped her feel closer to her mom. Allowing her the opportunity to celebrate her mom's essence through storytelling, memory, and art.
Together, Lisa and Ian explore:
- How creativity opens new pathways in grief
- The role of journaling and expression in emotional healing
- Signs, symbols, and moments of connection with loved ones
- The beauty of nature as a mirror for life, death, and renewal
- Why “creating”, not just consuming, helps grief and energy move through the body
Lisa shares a story about her mother’s hibiscus plant blooming in the middle of winter which is a vivid reminder of presence, new life, and love that continues to surround and uplift.
This conversation is an invitation to slow down, embrace vulnerability, and witness how creative expression can transform grief into intimacy, meaning, and even joy.
If you are interested in working with Ian McCartor on your own Ash Rose Project, visit theashrose.org.
Thanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you!
Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.
Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week!
Special thanks to:
Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star Music
Podcast Music Good_B_Music
