Rebekah Van Pelt Dons A Cape Each Day To Redefine Herself

Rebekah Van Pelt — or The Brave One, as her cape reads — is a mother of 4 children who transformed the birthday gift of a cape into a daily uniform. She redefines herself with this comforting cloak, countering her childhood trauma. Sarah speaks with Rebekah about her unusual childhood and how she embraces a path to healing.

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Sarah Shaoul
Marne Lucas Helps Dying Artists Cement Their Legacy

Met with the losses of her father and a number of peers in the art community, contemporary artist Marne Lucas shifted her focus from sexuality to death. Working as a death doula, she emphasizes art's importance to our humanity. Sarah speaks with Marne about her Bardo ∞ Project, where she works with dying artists to help them complete their legacy projects.

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Sarah Shaoul
Kimberely Dixon Embraces Advocacy After Her Son's Murder

Our guest has experienced a great deal of loss, including her husband's unexpected death and the murder of her son. Raising a large family as a single mother, Kimberely Dixon perseveres with her naturally warm and engaging personality. Sarah speaks with Kim about her experiences and her choice to forgive.

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Sarah Shaoul
David F. Walker Tells Stories For Ghosts

David Walker overcame the early loss of his father and activated his love of comics to become a successful comic book writer, filmmaker and publisher. Sarah speaks with David about his experiences with grief and how it has informed his storytelling.

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Sarah Shaoul
Lori Mason Crafts Memorial Quilts

There are artists who address our grief with their talents; Lori Mason is one of those people. She creates memorial quilts assembled from the ephemera of those who have died. Sarah speaks with Lori about her inspiration and process, and about her own experiences with grief.

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Sarah Shaoul
Tommy Habetz Embraced Addiction Recovery In The Face Of Loss

As a chef and restaurant owner, Tommy learned his trade working with some of the most recognizable names in the culinary world. His industry is only now coming to terms with its prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse. Sarah speaks with Tommy about grief and learns that much of his healing has come from addressing his own addiction.

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Sarah Shaoul
Beth Haworth-Kaufka On Incomplete Grief As An Adoptee

As a Korean-born adoptee, Beth grew up in a predominantly white, Christian community. Her middle-American childhood was one where she never really fit in. Sarah speaks with Beth about the complexities of incomplete grief as an adoptee and a woman of color.

Beth Haworth-Kaufka is a writer and researcher. She has published in various journals and magazines and is currently working on a novel.

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Sarah Shaoul
12: Rashida

When you meet Rashida, it's surprising to learn that she's a police officer. Her unique position with the Portland Police Bureau allows her to serve as a community organizer and healer for families struggling through traumatic events. Sarah speaks with Rashida about her assignment and what it looks like when the police serve as social workers.

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Sarah Shaoul
11: Alden

Alden knows how to make a funny and bold first impression, and is forthcoming and full of levity while describing his deeply personal experience with grief. Sarah speaks to Alden about how he is able to connect, heal and experience joy after losing his son.

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Sarah Shaoul
10: Marci

As a young woman, Marci experienced some bizarre and painful physical sensations, which turned out to be symptoms of two different auto-immune diseases. She didn't allow her diagnosis to change her life, even as it posed great challenges. Sarah speaks to Marci about the stress of living with her condition and finding solace in her creative process.

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Sarah Shaoul
09: Seth

Sometimes the stories we learn about our families are revised to spare survivors the mental wounds of the past. Seth is working on a memoir to fill in the missing emotional depth of his stoic family's story. Sarah speaks to Seth about the unexpected triggers of grief and the complexities of generational trauma.

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Sarah Shaoul
08: Jamie

As a writer, and as someone who has experienced loss herself, Jamie recognized an opportunity to create a new business. She writes interesting, compelling obituaries that more fully memorialize deceased individuals. Sarah speaks to Jamie about her essays, her interesting childhood, and the similarities between grief and mental illness.

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Sarah Shaoul
07: Rozzell

As a young boy, Rozzell experienced the loss of two family members in a very unusual way. Sarah speaks to him about living with the unknown, how his instinct for survival exists in tandem with his grief, and the way his art brings him closer to those taken from him.

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Sarah Shaoul
06: Sally

Sally shares her remarkable story of love and loss while navigating solo motherhood. Sarah speaks to her about the halcyon days of her youthful romance with her first husband, single parenting and finding new love.

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Sarah Shaoul