In this episode, Judith and Alina are joined by memoirist and loss mama Katie Joy Duke. This is a thoughtful interview about the power of grief, healing, and connecting to our lost loved ones in the stars.
Her daughter Poppy was stillborn in 2015, and she turned straight to the page to process her grief and found solace and meaning in the community that followed her journey. Just as her dreams of becoming a published author were coming true, she was diagnosed with Stage IV, metastatic breast cancer on March 18, 2022. She is currently receiving chemotherapy and hopes to write her second memoir about her experience healing from yet another unexpected life challenge.
She lives north of Seattle with her husband, daughter Moxie, and scruffy dog Wilson. She accesses power with yoga, serenity through meditation, and joy through song and dance. She believes that laughter is the best medicine, and vulnerability is her superpower.
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We discuss suicide in this episode.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts and think you may be a danger to yourself, please reach out immediately to the National Suicide Prevention hotline (800-273-8255) in the U.S.
Linked here are additional resources in the United States. Linked here are resources for Canada. Linked here are resources for the U.K. Linked here are resources for Australia. Linked here are global resources.
You are not alone.
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Things we talk about in this episode:
- Signs
- Grief Needs a Witness, an Interview with Dr. Denise Mandel | As Long As I'm Living
- Breath | Radiolab
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Follow As Long As I'm Living on Instagram at @aslongasimlivingpodcast, send us an email at aslongasimlivingpodcast@gmail.com, or visit us at anchor.fm/aslongasimliving! We would love to hear from you!
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As Long As I'm Living is a podcast about life, love, and laughter after infant loss. Judith and Alina are rebuilding Happier Ever After one day at a time despite excruciating grief and trauma and offering support to grievers of all flavors, but especially those who have lost a baby to SIDS, infant death, birth accidents, stillbirth, TFMR, ectopic pregnancy, or miscarriage.