The Kindred & Brave Project

Claire Bidwell Smith is a licensed therapist, international speaker, and the best-selling author of five books on grief and loss, published in 22 countries. Widely recognized as a leading voice in contemporary grief work, she has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, CNN, MSNBC, Scientific American, Goop, and Oprah Daily, among many others.

Today, we have a conversation about w...

In today’s episode, I share with you the concept of Wintering, based on Katherine May’s book of the same title, as well as the feelings of sorrow many of us are experiencing not just due to the season, but because of the state of the world. 

Also, I share a bit about SAD, better known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, brought on in these cold, dark months, and ways to care for ourselves physically and emo...

In this first episode of 2026, Year of the Horse, I’m here to talk to you about the power of releasing expectations. I’m sharing the nitty-gritty details of why this practice matters and how it can help you build a new muscle and distress tolerance. With stories about motherhood and self-care, I hope you take what you need and know that you aren't alone.

A gentle reminder that it’s still winter, we can ...

October is ADHD awareness month, and in honor of that & my own kiddo today, I share some candid stories about what this journey has looked like for us as a family. It’s an episode that sheds light on how having a neurospicy kiddo impacts the family as a whole and flips the script on what we “typically” learn about parenting.

I leave you with some of our hardest moments and biggest wins, as well as how to think ab...

Hello - I’m back! Today, I talk about the summer I accidentally took off from here and what I’ve learned from falling apart. 

This episode isn’t about putting a pretty bow on the unraveling that is bound to happen in midlife; it’s about learning to turn within when your compass goes awry. 

It’s an honest chat about the inner work that never ends if we want to keep choosing ourselves. 

 

Today, I share all the things that have gone wrong in the last few months and how I realized that our lessons are in learning and that learning takes time, discomfort, and pushing against old ideas.   We have the opportunity to refuel - be it with grace, forgiveness, and the reminder that you know best how to fill your own tanks.    Welcome to a brand new half of 2025. I hope you can take what you need.  With Gratitude,   Mandy...

Does anyone else have some anxiety about how the first half of the year has gone? Maybe you aren’t “on track” with your goals, or life is "lifing" too hard that you feel stuck?

Today, I want to share some ideas about what happens when our brain tries to take control by using some of my own stories about the last 6 months. Spoiler: not a lot has gone as planned. 

I’ll leave you with some r...

In this episode, I talk with Carla Fernandez, author of Renegade Grief and co-founder of The Dinner Party. We share grief stories and the power of connection during times of grief and loss. Carla shares important insights for how to navigate the Mother's Day and Father's Day holidays and ways to be an ally for other grievers and create rituals.    https://www.carlafernandez.co/   https://www.thedinnerparty.org/   With Gratitude...

I’m sharing something special with you all today. After 5 years I finally got the courage to write a eulogy for my mom.

 

We never got to have a service and I was never able to honor her in this way; I’m sharing some of the stories that describe who she was as a person, a mother, colleague, and grandmother. 

 

My hope is that you can learn more about me by learning more about her - some might...

Grief Bombs. The reality is that no amount of time keeps them away. And that's ok. It's hard. And it's natural. 

 

In this episode, I share the story of the “biggest” grief bomb I’ve had in the almost 5 years since my mom has died, how I dealt with it, and how I’ve reflected on it. 

The idea in these moments is to pause and let it be. Give yourself a moment to recognize what yo...

I am honored to introduce you to today’s very special guest - my dear husband Andy Lundquist. Andy has spent 15 years as a high school educator focusing on social studies and religion, having taught in Washington, Indiana and Illinois. Following his masters in transformational leadership, Andy began his PhD in Bluey over a year ago alongside fellow student, our now four year old daughter Zoey.  

We talk...

Today I’m talking about what it felt like to have the most significant opportunity of my career by presenting at SXSW EDU and embracing the AND/BOTH of big feelings. 

There is so much we can learn when we have the courage to lean into the discomfort of being afraid and still work through it. I don’t believe the work removes the fear but it allows us to hold fear AND courage - that’s a powerful thing.

Today’s conversation features Brie Overton, the clinical director for Experience Camps, an award-winning national nonprofit that transforms the lives of grieving children through summer camp programs and innovative, year-round initiatives.

We dove into the ways that she was supported early in her grief journey and the class that changed how she thought about death and dying.

Brie shares t...

Welcome back for another Wellness Check episode; mini-episodes that serve as a quick reflective moment and opportunity for perspective.

Today’s episode is inspired by my amazing producer, John. I’m talking about how the wound is the way -  a simple phrase he handed to me after our last recording. 

I invite you to go for a quick walk or grab something warm to drink as I share some of the i...

This episode is all about grief. We need to understand that there are different types of grief and when we know more we can do better. Grief wasn’t meant to be done alone. 

 

I believe the first step in helping to build our grief literacy begins in our classrooms and is built on learning the language of grief. 

 

I’d love to hear from you all - I’ve created a short survey that asks about your experience with grief - whether you lea...

In this episode, I talk about the many ways that our world is experiencing collective grief. In honoring this difficult emotion I offer some ways to tend to yourselves during a time of fear and uncertainty. 

I share some of the ways that we can bring ourselves back to baseline so we can be present for our communities, families, and friends. 

We have to name it to tame it and feel it to he...

Welcome to the Wellness Check. These are mini-episodes that serve as a quick reflective moment and opportunity for perspective. Today I’m talking about Hope and the power of finding it, being it, and spreading it. 

Thank you for listening. Remember - your stories matter, your feelings are valid, and the universe has your back. 

Resources

Working Mom Notes // LA Wildfire Stu...

Happy 2025 & cheers to the kick-off of my 2nd season for the Kindred & Brave Project!

 

In today’s episode, I share a permission slip to enter into this new year just as you (hopefully) came out of last year - slowly & gently. 

 

While I no longer subscribe that we need to change our whole lives in the first 31 days of a new year I do believe in the power of self reflection.

 

We did it! One full season of a podcast! 

I talk about what I’ve learned in another year around the sun (Capricorn, baby) and share some ideas for ending 2024 with intention. Think about an anchor word for the new year, something you can return to for guidance and inspiration. 

Ponder what you’re leaving behind in 2024 - what are you ready to let go of thinking, being, doing?

I h...