Shows
The Selfish GrieverYoga Nidra A Gentle Practice To Support Your Grief | Kenna Cox 059Grieving takes so much energy, and sometimes even when we want a break we can't find a way to stop our brains from running a million miles. I remember when I couldn't sleep at night, or would finally manage to fall asleep only to wake with my mind thinking about Orion and the devastation I felt at his death. Today's guest, Kenna Cox, is a certified yoga instructor sharing a yoga technique that most haven't heard of Yoga Nidra, which has nothing to do with moving the body and everything to do with quieting the mind. She shares...
2023-11-171h 02The Selfish GrieverSigns From Orion & Unique Ways to Honor Your Loved One During The Holidays 058Being Spiritual, knowing your child is still with you in Spirit helps but it doesn't replace the feeling of holding them in your arms and the absence seems stronger over the holidays. Whitney shares ways that she honors Orion during the holidays, in ways you might not have thought of, and why it's important to her to do so. If you are doing acts in honor of your child during the holiday season and are sharing them on Instagram, please let Whitney know by tagging her @theselfishgriever or #selfishgriever. She will be sharing on her Instagram and would...
2023-11-1627 minThe Selfish GrieverUsing Breathwork to Release Trauma - Greg Moran 057If you have never heard of breathwork then this episode is for you. Whitney shares how she was first introduced to breathwork in an unexpected setting that did lead to a beautiful mystical experience but also caused some distress to her nervous system. Today's guest, Greg Moran, explains that there are different techniques to breathwork and he uses a more gentle approach so as not to cause the "fight or flight" response to the nervous system like Whitney did.Whitney and Greg also discuss how important is it to work with a certified practioner? How often should you do...
2023-11-101h 00The Selfish GrieverSelf-Care is Grief Support 056The holiday season is here and its a hard time of year for grieving parents. Whether its the first holiday season without your child or the 20th, their absence is always noticed. Whitney wants to remind you of something that can be so simple but it absolutely important: Self-Care. Self-care doesn't have to be complicated or expensive, but it can make a difference in how you move through the holiday season carrying your grief. For support with handling holiday invitations and some ideas for honoring your child during the holiday season register for the Healing Hearts...
2023-11-0819 minThe Selfish GrieverFree Grief Resources for Grieving Moms - Healing Hearts Bundle | Alex Suriano (Bonus Episode)Alex Suriano works to support grieving women after her son Phillip died at one month old. She has brought together 21 other grief support providers to contribute free resources you can download to support you on your grief journey, including a guide I created "How to Handle The Holidays While Grieving" and a "Guided Meditation For Connecting With Deceased Loved Ones" by Dr. Lenore Matthews who has been a guest on this podcast. This is a short bonus episode from The Selfish Griever podcast interviewing Alex about this amazing offer she has created. Contact Alex directly at support...
2023-11-0610 minThe Selfish GrieverSuicide Loss & Spirit Communication - Widow & Medium Dr. Lenore Matthew 055If you have been receiving messages from your deceased loved one but dismissing them because you think "I'm not a medium I can't be speaking with people on the Other Side," you might be surprised to learn communication with the Other Side isn't reserved only for mediums. Dr. Lenore Matthew has been using her background in social work to study grief and the effects of mediumship and afterlife communication since her husband Bruno died by suicide three years ago. Dr. Matthew shares about the detailed messages she started recieving from Bruno almost immediately after his death, her journey...
2023-11-041h 06The Selfish GrieverThe Healing Power of Sadness for Grieving Parents 054We all have ideas of how a grief journey should go, the consensus being that the grief gets smaller, easier to carry, as time goes on. In the beginning when everything feels so overwhelming and hopeless, we set our sights on working towards the day that we can make it through without breaking down in tears.But have we considered the ways our sadness and tears are helping us? Whitney shares in today’s episode that she hasn’t been giving herself space to feel her sadness, telling herself that she is far enough along on her grief journey that...
2023-11-0126 minThe Selfish GrieverGrieving Mom Turned Holistic Grief Coach Vanessa May 053After Vanessa's son died unexpectedly from an unexplained illness she found herself struggling to understand how this could happen. She used her experience as a nutritional coach to heal the grief in her mind, body and spirit and wrote a book about her first year after her son's death, Love Untethered. She has since become a certified grief coach and works with her clients to help them heal holistically. She shares her perspective on why grieving is so hard on your emotions as well as your body and how her spiritual awakening has supported her on her grief...
2023-10-281h 04The Selfish GrieverFinding Who You Are After Child Loss 052Since Orion's death Whitney has been asking herself, "who am I?" This drive to know the answer, to find a way to keep living her life now after traumatic loss and devastating changes, has taken her down a lot of paths and she is realizing now it's not just about whether you can recognize who you are, what truly makes you happy, but also can you embrace it no matter the self-judgment and fear? The best part of seeking the answer to "Who are you?" is that you're the only deciding authority, and finding that answer will be...
2023-10-2523 minThe Selfish GrieverGrieving Mom's Continued Connection With Her Stillborn Daughter 051It's hard to imagine that souls are ageless when your child has died before you even got to meet them. But today's guest, Fiona, has no doubt that her daughter who was stillborn is still around her and older than a newborn. She shares the incredible telepathic connection that she shares with her daughter now as her daily guide, which started with Fiona building through the Sign Game which any parent can play with their child on the Other Side. Fiona's story and experiences have brought so much hope to the grief community and Whitney is grateful that...
2023-10-201h 02The Selfish GrieverCould You Have Stopped Your Child's Death? 050Whitney always dreamed of being a mom. She knew she was going to be the best mom, keeping her kids safe and raising them to be amazing people. Until one night the unexpected happened and her twin son Orion died in an accident. Whitney started to ask herself, “Was this my fault?”Are you a huge fan of the show? Just 20 patrons sponsoring $4.99/month can cover our monthly production costs. Will you join this circle of support? Your gesture is more than monetary; it’s a commitment to helping others find strength in their grief journey. Click Here t...
2023-10-1823 minThe Selfish GrieverGrieving Dad Supported By His Community - Michael Liben 049A grieving father navigates the heartbreaking loss of his daughter, finding solace and strength through the support of his Jewish community and traditions in the ongoing journey of mourning, while embracing the power of memories to keep her spirit alive.Michael Liben is also the host of the podcast Bereaved But Still Me. Click Here to listen to Whitney's interview on his podcast. Click Here to watch the full episode on YouTube. Are you a huge fan of the show? Just 20 patrons sponsoring $4.99/month can cover our monthly production costs. Will you...
2023-10-1357 minThe Selfish GrieverGrief Journey: Making Hard Decisions To Let Go 048“Secondary loss” has become a common term in the grief community to refer to all the other things that change in addition to your loved one not being physically here anymore. A frequent secondary loss is of friends and family who disappear from your life. But what about if you're the one who decides to end the relationship? Click here for full show notes. Are you a huge fan of the show? Just 20 patrons sponsoring $4.99/month can cover our monthly production costs. Will you join this circle of support? Your gesture is more than monetary; it’s...
2023-10-1123 minThe Selfish GrieverWhat to Know About Grief Therapy - From My Grief Counselor 047Whitney had never been to therapy before Orion died. She felt overwhelmed trying to learn who she should talk to and where to find them, and ended up working with some of the wrong therapists before she found the right ones. Whitney asked her grief counselor to share what are some signs you should be considering therapy, what kind of therapies are there and how to know if your therapist is a good fit. We hope you enjoy and that this helps you on your grief journey. Watch this episode on YouTubeContact Carol ...
2023-10-061h 02The Selfish GrieverGrief Support: Always Trust Your Intuition 046Are you a huge fan of the show? Just 20 patrons sponsoring $4.99/month can cover our monthly production costs. Will you join this circle of support? Your gesture is more than monetary; it’s a commitment to helping others find strength in their grief journey. Click Here to supportCheck us out on YouTube to see videos of your favorite episodes! We hope you enjoyed this episode Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Let me know what you liked most about the episode and what you’d like to hear mor...
2023-10-0426 minThe Selfish GrieverSeason 2 Starts Tomorrow!I am now posting video on YouTube! Click here to see the video. Season 2 starts tomorrow and I am so excited to finally share all the episodes that I have been working on during the break. Please click here to leave a review and let me know if you like the new episodes.
2023-10-0406 min
Bereaved But Still MeThe Selfish Griever on Messages from Loved OnesWhen we grieve the loss of a loved one, we try our best to keep them with us, to hold them close in our hearts and to tell their stories to others. But can our loved ones reach out to us? Can we open our minds and our hearts to the possibility that they somehow need us as much as we still need them? Can they comfort us in our time of need?Whitney Samorano is the mom of twin boys, Orion and Maverick who were born in 2017. In 2020, when the boys were two-and-a-half...
2023-09-0732 min
Bereaved But Still MeThe Selfish Griever on Messages from Loved OnesSend us a textWhen we grieve the loss of a loved one, we try our best to keep them with us, to hold them close in our hearts and to tell their stories to others. But can our loved ones reach out to us? Can we open our minds and our hearts to the possibility that they somehow need us as much as we still need them? Can they comfort us in our time of need?Whitney Samorano is the mom of twin boys, Orion and Maverick who were born...
2023-09-0732 min
#ANGEL MOMS... "HOPES OF HEAVEN" A Mothers Grief Journey... Finding Our Purpose without our childrenHopes of Heaven with Whitney Samorano / The Selfish GrieverWhitney has been a grieving mom since June 2020 when her first-born twin son Orion died in a drowing accident during the night, while the family was sleeping, when they were visiting her mom’s house. Following Orion’s death Whitney went in search of answers which lead her to spirituality and a complete change in the way she lives her life now. Whitney believes that Orion’s death was always the plan for their lives and it has set Whitney on a path of helping other grieving parents find their way to move forward. She started her podcast The Selfish Grieve...
2023-08-0956 minThe Selfish GrieverBereaved, But Who Is Me? 045 (Last Episode Season 1)Are you a huge fan of the show? Just 20 patrons sponsoring $4.99/month can cover our monthly production costs. Will you join this circle of support? Your gesture is more than monetary; it’s a commitment to helping others find strength in their grief journey. Click Here to supportDo you know who you are? Have you been questioning that more since the passing of your child? Is there an "old you" that you miss? And maybe most importantly, are you creating the "new you" or is it just a product of your grief after your child's death?
2023-06-3018 minThe Selfish GrieverGrief Support: Meditating is Easier Than You Think 044Are you a huge fan of the show? Just 20 patrons sponsoring $4.99/month can cover our monthly production costs. Will you join this circle of support? Your gesture is more than monetary; it’s a commitment to helping others find strength in their grief journey. Click Here to supportIf you've been on the fence about mediation, or convinced yourself that its too hard, then today's episode is for you. Whitney shares 3 common misconceptions about meditation and why it's not as hard as you might think.We hope you enjoyed this episode and if the show resonates wi...
2023-06-2829 minThe Selfish GrieverDoes Your Personality Affect Your Grief? Chandel Beck 043Are you a huge fan of the show? Just 20 patrons sponsoring $4.99/month can cover our monthly production costs. Will you join this circle of support? Your gesture is more than monetary; it’s a commitment to helping others find strength in their grief journey. Click Here to supportHow aware are you of your own personality traits? Have you considered how those might be impacting the way that you grieve? What if more self-awareness could aid you in navigating your grief journey?Today's guest, Chandel Beck, is an enthusiast of the Enneagram and uses it in he...
2023-06-2353 minThe Selfish GrieverWhat My Child's Grave Means to Me 042**I'm not going to say trigger warning, because honestly thats every episode on this podcast. But today's episode is highly emotional, so please don't listen until you're in a safe space. This episode will always be here, so you can skip it and come back if necessary. Today marks the third year without Orion here to hug. Whitney shares a part of her grief journey that she doesn't see mentioned often, especially since it is something that everyone has to deal with - what to do with your loved ones remains? Whitney struggled not...
2023-06-2124 minThe Selfish GrieverGetting Thru Father's Day with Grieving Dad Jeff Cottrell 041Are you a huge fan of the show? Just 20 patrons sponsoring $4.99/month can cover our monthly production costs. Will you join this circle of support? Your gesture is more than monetary; it’s a commitment to helping others find strength in their grief journey. Click Here to supportThis is a special episode for all the grievers facing a hard holiday this weekend that reminds everyone of the ones we have lost, and for the non-grievers who are trying to support the grieving.Click here to download Tips for Supporting Grieving DadsFor complete sh...
2023-06-1656 minThe Selfish GrieverHandling the Hard Grief of Traumatic Loss 040Are you a huge fan of the show? Just 20 patrons sponsoring $4.99/month can cover our monthly production costs. Will you join this circle of support? Your gesture is more than monetary; it’s a commitment to helping others find strength in their grief journey. Click Here to supportThis episode is a follow-up to last week's Wednesday episode when Whitney shared that she was having a hard time. Now that Whitney has made it to the other side of that hard time she wanted to share 3 things that have helped her to make it through those hard times.
2023-06-1439 minThe Selfish GrieverBreaking Down the Signs: Spiritual Grief Counselor Christine Ryan 039Are you a huge fan of the show? Just 20 patrons sponsoring $4.99/month can cover our monthly production costs. Will you join this circle of support? Your gesture is more than monetary; it’s a commitment to helping others find strength in their grief journey. Click Here to supportNOTE: There were some technical difficulties with the recording of this episode in that none of Whitney's audio from the interview was recorded. We worked to still use the content from our guest Christine Ryan because Whitney felt her perspective was so great. So instead Whitney recorded some commentary that wa...
2023-06-1055 minThe Selfish GrieverConfessions of a Grieving Mom: I'm Sorry I'm Late, I've Been Struggling 038Are you a huge fan of the show? Just 20 patrons sponsoring $4.99/month can cover our monthly production costs. Will you join this circle of support? Your gesture is more than monetary; it’s a commitment to helping others find strength in their grief journey. Click Here to supportThere are no great insights to share today, just an honest account from Whitney of her current struggles with her grief as she approaches the third anniversary of Orion's death on June 21. Thank you for your patience as she worked to get this episode recorded and was a day late th...
2023-06-0821 minThe Selfish GrieverYour Intuition is a Gift: Spiritual Holistic Guide Jess Holzworth 037Are you a huge fan of the show? Just 20 patrons sponsoring $4.99/month can cover our monthly production costs. Will you join this circle of support? Your gesture is more than monetary; it’s a commitment to helping others find strength in their grief journey. Click Here to supportSo much wisdom shared in this episode with Spiritual Holistic Guide and Sacred Facilitator Jess Holzworth. Jess is a friend of Whitney's and their frank conversation about all the ways they each identify their intution and follow it throughout their lives is intended to break down the barriers so you ca...
2023-06-0355 minThe Selfish GrieverWhy You're Not Getting Signs From Your Child in Spirit 036Are you a huge fan of the show? Just 20 patrons sponsoring $4.99/month can cover our monthly production costs. Will you join this circle of support? Your gesture is more than monetary; it’s a commitment to helping others find strength in their grief journey. Click Here to supportWhitney delves into an important lesson she recently learned and one that many people struggle with: validating our own experiences. Whitney recounts her experience at a spiritual conference. How she discovered the importance of recognizing her own psychic capabilities when she channeled a stranger's relative and reminding others th...
2023-06-0139 minThe Selfish GrieverFrom Skeptic to Spiritual - Grieving Father Jeff Hollahan 035Are you a huge fan of the show? Just 20 patrons sponsoring $4.99/month can cover our monthly production costs. Will you join this circle of support? Your gesture is more than monetary; it’s a commitment to helping others find strength in their grief journey. Click Here to supportLosing a child changes a lot of things. Jeff believes that the death of his son Devon, at the age of 22 while traveling abroad in 2009, has changed him in a way you might not expect - he says it has made him a better person. Jeff shares his hi...
2023-05-271h 04The Selfish GrieverGrief Support: Changing a Thought 034Are you a huge fan of the show? Just 20 patrons sponsoring $4.99/month can cover our monthly production costs. Will you join this circle of support? Your gesture is more than monetary; it’s a commitment to helping others find strength in their grief journey. Click Here to supportOne of Louise Hays' many famous quotes is, "It’s only a thought, and a thought can be changed." But is it really that simple when your thoughts center around grief of a lost child? Whitney recorded this episode as she was having an emotionally hard day with her...
2023-05-2532 minThe Selfish GrieverHolding Space & Releasing Judgement: Grieving Mom Kristine Jackson 033Our guest today is Kristine Jackson and if you listened to the previous episode with Ernie Jackson then you are familiar with some of her story and the passing of their son Quinton. Kristine's journey was different from her husband's, starting with the traumatic injuries she sustained in the car accident that took her son's life and kept her in the hospital for 6 days. Kristine was on heavy narcotics and anti-depressants for the first two years while she worked through the pain and physical therapy to regain her mobility. After a dream visitation from her son she quit the medication...
2023-05-191h 04The Selfish GrieverThe Magic of Signs From A Stranger 032Are you a huge fan of the show? Just 20 patrons sponsoring $4.99/month can cover our monthly production costs. Will you join this circle of support? Your gesture is more than monetary; it’s a commitment to helping others find strength in their grief journey. Click Here to supportLately we have been discussing so much about grief and support it almost got easy to forget that this podcast started as a place to share signs. And this week Whitney got an incredible one that she is excited to tell you about. Yes, there is room for skepticism with th...
2023-05-1727 minThe Selfish GrieverWhat It Takes To Support A Griever - From Whitney's Sister 031Are you a huge fan of the show? Just 20 patrons sponsoring $4.99/month can cover our monthly production costs. Will you join this circle of support? Your gesture is more than monetary; it’s a commitment to helping others find strength in their grief journey. Click Here to supportThis episode is special to Whitney because her younger sister, who is three years younger and Whitney's only sibling, agreed to come on the podcast to discuss witnessing Whitney's grief and her struggle to support Whitney. Whitney asked her sister to come with the difficult questions no one wants to as...
2023-05-1356 minThe Selfish GrieverProud To Be A Selfish Griever 030TRIGGER WARNING: Whitney does share thoughts about suicide in today's episode. She shares this from her private journal to be transparent in speaking to other grievers about where she has been on her journey and what she's done to get through those hard days. Why is Whitney proud to be a selfish griever? Because putting her needs first on her grief journey is what supported her, and she believes all grievers should be doing the same. Because what helped her may not help you, but that doesn't mean you can't find what does help you. Soliciting...
2023-05-1033 min