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 61 - Scriptotherapy: The Healing Power of Writing Through Grief
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Writing has been a thread running through Lisa's grief journey long before she had a name for it. In this mini-sode, she introduces "scriptotherapy" — a term coined by Suzette Henke, researched by James Pennebaker — and explores why putting pen (or pencil!) to paper is one of the most accessible, intimate tools we have for processing loss.
Lisa shares why writing is helpful because it externalizes feelings, reduces stress, and brings clarity. She reflects on journaling nightly while caring for her mom, and opens up a toolbox of ways writing can take shape: morning pages, letters, postcards, post-it notes, poems, and even prayers. She tells the story of a post-it note her father-in-law left before he died suddenly and now it is framed and seen every day.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- What "scriptotherapy" is and why it works for grief
- A dozen simple forms writing can take, from morning pages to postcards
- What to do with your writing once it's on the page such as keep it, burn it, mail it, or release it to the wild
- Why you don't need to be a "writer", all you need to do is write one sentence
Lisa closes by reading part of a letter she wrote to her mom this week, remembering their Fourth of July traditions together.
Writing Prompt: write one sentence to your loved one, starting with the best meal you ever shared together.
"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust" — sometimes healing isn't in keeping what you write. Sometimes it's in setting it free.
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.
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Special thanks to:
Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star Music
Podcast Music Good_B_Music
