Good Grief: Life After Loss

In this episode, Skylar reflects on how the holidays change after a loved one is gone. She shares personal memories of Christmas with her brother Sam, from playful childhood moments to the magic of traditions that can’t be recreated. Skylar explores the challenges of navigating family celebrations as an only child, the awkwardness and pressures that come with gift-giving, and the bittersweet process of honoring old traditions while...

This week, we’re talking about why social media hits so much harder during the holiday season. From the matching pajamas and “best Christmas ever!” captions… to the TikTok gift guides for moms, brothers, and partners you may no longer have… scrolling can feel like walking through a minefield when you’re grieving.

In this episode, Skylar breaks down:

• Why holiday comparison hurts more than ordinary d...

Not sure what to get someone who’s grieving this holiday season? This episode walks through meaningful and gentle gift ideas for anyone missing someone — whether their loss was recent or decades ago. Skylar shares thoughtful categories, what to avoid, and simple ways to give a gift that truly supports a grieving heart.

Links to buy the gifts mentioned in this episode 

Memory Gifts

• Custom watercolor house sketch
• Handwriting nec...

In this episode, Skylar talks about what Thanksgiving feels like when someone you love is missing. The pressure to be “grateful,” the empty-chair moments, and the weird mix of emotions that hit on a holiday like this. She also shares a few simple things that can help you get through the day and ways to quietly honor your person. It’s a soft, supportive episode for anyone who needs a little company today.

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In last week’s episode, we talked all about signs from the other side — and this week, Skylar finally had the chance to experience one up close. She went to see Maureen Hancock, a well-known medium, hoping (and honestly begging) to hear from her brother Sam.

What happened that night surprised her, overwhelmed her, and cracked something open in her grief that she didn’t expect. In this episode, Skylar shares the full story: the mome...

Everyone talks about signs, but no one talks about how personal, confusing, comforting, and sometimes painful they can be. This week, Skylar shares the signs she’s gotten from her brother Sam, dives into the science behind why they hit so hard, and opens up about what it feels like when they don’t come at all. Plus, she’s gearing up to see a medium—and spiraling (in the best way). Comment below if you’ve ever received a sign from t...

In this quick episode, Skylar gets honest about what it’s like to love her podcast, and still feel exhausted by the constant weight of grief. She talks about the pressure of always being the “grieving one,” the emotional fatigue that comes with sharing her story, and the guilt of sometimes wanting a break from it all. It’s a candid, unfiltered reflection on how healing can coexist with burnout, and why it’s okay to not have the ene...

Skylar opens up about how losing someone suddenly changed the way she sees safety and love. In this episode, she talks about the quiet fear grief leaves behind — the way she catastrophizes everything, from panicking when someone doesn’t text back to imagining what she’d do if the people she loves most suddenly died. She shares how this fear shows up in her daily life and what she’s noticed in others who have experienced loss as wel...

Ten years after losing her brother Sam, Skylar can finally see how her grief showed up in ways she never recognized at the time. From shopping sprees and impulsive haircuts to quitting everything she once loved, this episode dives into all the weird, messy, and very human ways she coped after loss — the kind that didn’t feel like grief back then, but absolutely were.

If your coping has ever looked “unhealthy” or confusing, this one...

Emma lost her dad to suicide at just 13. In this episode, she shares her personal grief journey and how she was able to help young grievers heal through her work at Experience Camps. We also talk about the power of community and why there’s no right or wrong way to grieve, as long as you’re not hurting yourself or others.

Connect & Resources:

• Learn more about Experience Camps

In this episode, Skylar recaps an emotional week back home — from walking the blue carpet at the Live Like Sam Gala, the foundation’s most successful event ever, to honoring her brother Sam’s 10-year anniversary with her yearly balloon release. A week filled with celebration, signs, and love that keeps his legacy alive. 

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In this episode, host Skylar Jackenthal speaks directly to her 14-year-old self, the girl who had just lost her brother, Sam. Ten years later, Skylar shares the lessons she wishes she could have whispered to that younger version of herself: reminders about grief, guilt, milestones, and the ways love continues forward.

This episode is both a reflection on the past decade and a message of hope for anyone navigating loss.

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In this episode, host Skylar Jackenthal shares, for the first time, the full story of losing her brother, Sam. From her family’s time in Australia to the heartbreaking realization that Sam wasn’t coming home, Skylar reflects on the moments that still live vividly in her memory ten years later.

This raw and deeply personal episode isn’t easy, but it’s an important one. By finally sharing her story, Skylar hopes to remind listeners t...

In this episode, host Skylar Jackenthal reflects on the parts of grief that haven’t softened, even ten years after losing her brother, Sam. From everyday reminders like ski edits and songs, to future milestones he’ll never see, Skylar shares the places where grief still aches deeply. She reminds listeners that it’s okay if some wounds never fully heal - sometimes, the ache is just another form of love.

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In this episode, Skylar reflects on the ten lessons she has learned in the ten years since losing her brother, Sam. From the weight of anniversaries to the importance of relationships, and from finding compassion to discovering her own strength, Skylar shares the truths grief has taught her over the past decade.

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Fo...

In the third episode of the 3-part series, What to Do With What’s Left, Skylar opens up her memory box for her brother Sam. From cologne and baby blankets to poems and even hospital utensils, each item tells a story of love, loss, and connection. Skylar explores why memory boxes matter, how to create one, and the comfort they can bring in grief.

What about you? Share the most strange or unexpected item you’ve kept in your memory bo...

In the second episode of this 3-part series, Skylar dives into the everyday belongings our loved ones leave behind, from clothes hanging in the closet, bedrooms frozen in time, and even the phones that still hold their texts, photos, and memories.

Skylar shares her own story of facing these moments after losing her brother Sam, and explores the mix of emotions they bring - comfort, heartbreak, and the impossible question of what to...

In this deeply moving episode, Skylar sits down with Linh Luu, who survived a tragic and preventable car accident that took the lives of her boyfriend, Misha Romanenko, and her beloved dog, Keeper. Linh shares her journey of living again after profound loss, and coping with the waves of grief, navigating painful words from others, and finding healing through advocacy.

From her brave decision to share her story openly on TikTok, to ...

In the first episode of this 3-part series, What to Do With What’s Left, Skylar explores one of the most surreal and emotional parts of early grief: ashes.

She shares personal stories from losing her brother Sam, the strange reality of receiving his ashes, and the quiet, often unspoken decisions families face around burial vs. cremation and how that choice can shape how we grieve.

Skylar walks listeners through some of the awkward,...