Grief is unavoidable—but it does not have to have the last word.
In this episode, Erick sits down with grief, trauma, and mental health coach Marcia Earhart, founder of The Sterling Rose Sanctuary.
Marcia shares her deeply personal story—including multiple significant losses—and the practical tools she uses to help people move from being "stuck" in grief to breathing, moving, and living again.
Together, they unpack what it means to give yourself permission to grieve, why "time heals all wounds" is a myth, how boundaries protect the grieving process, and what healthy support looks like for friends and family who want to help.
In this episode, you'll discover:
- Why permission to grieve is often the first breakthrough
- How to "schedule grieving" so emotions can be released without derailing daily life
- Simple practices that support healing: gratitude journaling, nature walks, and clean nutrition
- How internal vs. external grievers process loss differently—and how families can avoid fracturing
- Why the second year after a major loss is often the hardest, and how to prepare for "the firsts"
- What to say (and not say) to someone who is grieving—and why platitudes can be harmful
- How to set boundaries that protect your grief story, even with well-meaning people
- How grief can become a teacher that shapes purpose without defining your future
Marcia Earhart
Marcia Earhart is a certified life, trauma, grief, brain, and mental health coach, mediator, author, and HeartSync minister. Her guidance is both professional and personal.
Having navigated the deaths of two sons within the last eleven years—one tragically murdered—she stands as a testament to God's faithfulness in the deepest valleys of grief, and now leads others in healing.
Her powerful new book, "Gripping Grace in the Garden of Grief," is a raw and vulnerable chronicle of devastating loss. More than a memoir, it is a lifeline, exploring the fragile threads of love and pain that hold us together and revealing the God-given hope that can rebuild a shattered life.
Marcia's mission extends beyond the page. As the co-founder of The Sterling Rose Sanctuary, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, she is boots-on-the-ground in the mental health crisis. She creates a safe, haven for the grieving to release their trauma and pain so they can Breathe again, Move again, and Live again. Her ministry reaches a diverse community across the United States and six other countries, standing as a powerful reminder that in deep sorrow, no one has to walk alone.
Marcia has been married to her best friend, Scott, for thirty-five years, and together they homeschooled and enjoyed raising their four boys and daughter. Marcia, Scott, and two of their adult children, who live nearby, love spending time together—whether it's making memories at the beach, traveling, playing games, having deep conversations, cooking, supporting their daughter's businesses, or supporting and listening to their son's music Rise Above Everything on Apple and Spotify.
Resources Mentioned
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Rise Above Chaos book
- Work with Erick
- Connect with Erick: erickrheam.com
- Get the Rise Above Chaos Planner
- The Sterling Rose Sanctuary
- Book: Gripping Grace and the Garden of Grief
Action Step
- Give Yourself Permission to Grieve