National Grief Awareness Week takes place at the end of January. It's an initiative run by the Irish Hospice Foundation to raise awareness and understanding about the complexities of grief, and to offer support to those going through it and to those trying to support a loved one, friend or colleague with their loss. 

In this first episode of The Grief Pod, Dr Amanda Roberts, Bereavement Development Officer, at The Irish Hospice Foundation talks about why we still find grief such a difficult subject to talk about, why everyone experiences grief in different ways, and how you can help someone you know that is struggling with their loss.

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick Let's Talk About Grief featuring Dr. Amanda Roberts

Three years ago, Broadcaster, Producer and Writer, Maia Dunphy, lost her Mum, Helen after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Maia has spoken openly about how overwhelming she has found it at times, navigating her loss.
 In this second episode of The Grief Pod, Maia discusses, the random triggers, which unexpectedly come out of nowhere, how important it is to say, that actually things are hard, and how looking after her young son Tom  has helped her cope.

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick Let's Talk About Grief featuring Maia Dunphy

On this episode of The Grief Pod, singer and songwriter Dr Brian Kennedy, talks about growing up in a violent home, during a violent time in Belfast. Brian discusses his sadness at never having a loving and stable childhood, his estrangement from his family, his grief at seeing friends die during the aids pandemic and his belief in hope and happiness.

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Brian Kennedy

On this episode of The Grief Pod, News Broadcaster and Journalist, Breffni Clack talks, for the first time, about her 6 late miscarriages, and her little boy, Noah, who was born sleeping just a week shy of being full term. Breffni discusses the silence of returning home from a maternity hospital without your much longed for baby and the silence that surrounded her in the months after.

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Breffni Clack

In December 2012, Sally Anne Parker Clarkes son Andrew, took his own life at aged 16. In this episode of The Grief Pod, Sally Anne, talks about the continuing stigma around suicide, the everyday grief that his her new normal and the importance of organ donation.

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Sallyanne Clarke

Actress, Comedian & Talk Show host, Rosie O’Donnell is my guest on this week’s episode of The Grief Pod. Rosie talks to me about losing her Mum, a few days before her 11th birthday, and how since moving to Ireland in January, she feels her presence more than ever. She also talks about her new documentary, highlighting the importance of service dogs for children with autism ‘Unleashing Hope’, her work with AsIam, the Menendez brothers, and her upcoming role in  ‘And just like that’.

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Rosie O Donnell

On this weeks episode, Life Celebrant Conor Clear talks about the alternative ways to celebrate the memory of a loved one, in a way that is fitting to them. Conor also talks about the need for us all to plan ahead, and let our loved ones know how we would like to be remembered, and how we all can create meaningful ceremonies to reflect our unique lives.

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Conor Clear

Victoria Mary Clarke, lost her husband Shane McGowan 18 months ago. After having been together for nearly 40 years, talks about the coping strategies that get her through the deep dark days, the importance of supporting people going through grief in your community and how Shane would like to be remembered

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Victoria Mary Clarke

On this episode of The Grief Pod, Life and Health Coach, Helen Walsh talks about how to find a ‘new kind of normal’ after a bereavement, how to start over when all you want is for things to stay the same, how grief affects the nervous system and the importance of self care.

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Helen Walsh

Ten years ago, Joanne Ryan returned one evening to find her partner, Killian had died suddenly at home. He was 31. In this weeks episode, Joanne talks about Killian’s death from sudden cardiac failure, the complexities of trying to move forward and the support she found through Cry Ireland

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Joanne Ryan

The senseless murder of Kathleen Chada’s two boys Eoghan 10, and Ruairi 5, at the hands of their father almost 12 years ago, is a story that still continues to shock and sadden. In this episode of The Grief Pod, Kathleen talks about her campaigning for victims, and the laws that need to change, her struggle during COVID and how her love for her two boys keeps her going

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Kathleen Chada

A few weeks ago broadcaster Nikki Hayes spoke openly and honestly about her struggles with addiction, homelessness and her recent journey of recovery. On this weeks episode, Nikki shares what the reaction has been like, the guilt and grief of the lost years with her daughter, the trauma of her Dads passing and the kindness of people she met whilst living on the streets.

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring  Nikki Hayes

Grief and loss run through the core of Author, Liz Nugent’s novels. In this episode of The Grief Pod, Liz talks about her own personal grief, how losing her Dad has impacted on her life, and the connection she has with the struggles of her characters.

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Liz Nugent

‘Ambiguous Loss’ refers to a loss that remains unclear, making it impossible to grieve in a ‘traditional’ way. This is the sort of grief, many experience when a loved one goes missing. On this weeks episode, Jean Mahon talks about her brother Richard Doolan, who has been missing for 24 years.

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Jean Mahon

Alan Fletcher played Dr Karl Kennedy in the iconic soap Neighbours for 30 years. In this weeks episode he talks about the challenges of acting out bereavement scenes and the impact the end of the series had for some viewers. Alan also talks about his late Mum’s spirituality, how she inspires his music, the loss of his two dogs Lola and Teddy and our need to be kinder. 

Alan will be performing with his band at The Sugar Club, Tuesday 12th August

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Alan Fletcher

In this episode of The Grief Pod, Businesswoman, Entrepreneur and Journalist Norah Casey talks about balancing life and loss, after the death of her husband Richard, the physical exhaustion of grief and the importance of looking forward and not back.

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Norah Casey

Tony Griffin, a GAA All Star in hurling, stepped aside from his career to cycle 7,000km across Canada, as he tried to come to terms with the death of his Dad, Jerome. In this episode of The Grief Pod, Tony openly  talks about the difficulty he had understanding his grief and expressing it, and how that period in his life inspired ‘Saying Goodbye’ a chapter in his new edition of ‘The Teenagers Book of Life’

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Tony Griffin

Dr Suzanne Crowe is a consultant in Paediatric Intensive Care, President of the Irish Medical Council, and Author of a new book ‘Intensive Care, True stories of healing, heartache and hope from inside Irish children’s medicine’ In this weeks episode of The Grief POD, Suzanne describes how the death of her baby daughter, Beatrice affected her, and changed her purpose as a doctor, the impact of losing a young patient in your care, and how she’s navigated life since the loss of her husband Barry, six years ago.

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Dr Suzanne Crowe

Author Julia Kelly’s Mum, Delphine passed away swimming in The Galápagos Islands in 2012. While her new book Still is a memoir of her Mum, it is also her way of saying, goodbye.

In this episode of The Grief Pod, Julia talks about her Mum and how she embraced life following the death of Julia’s Dad, John. She also talks about the trauma of giving birth to her baby, Lucia, 17 weeks into her pregnancy, and the inhumane way her late partner Charlie spent his last days with dementia, separated from his family during COVID.

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Julia Kelly

TV Presenter and Panto Star, Alan Hughes was just 10 years old, when he lost both his Mum and Dad within 6 months of each other. In this weeks episode of The Grief Pod, Alan talks about how he survived the trauma of losing both his parents at such a young age, his subsequent heartbreak at losing his sister Doreen and his brother David, his mission to make memories for families at the Panto and how proud his Mum and Dad would be.

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Alan Hughes

Jack Ebbs is running this years Dublin Marathon in memory of his cousin Jenny O’Riordan, who passed away aged just 26, to sudden cardiac death. In this  episode Jack talks about his passion for raising awareness to save others, the symptoms to look out for and the incredible work of CRY Ireland to help support those affected.

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Jack Ebbs

Emma Fogarty was baptised a few days after birth, as the doctor didn’t expect her to live for long, probably not even a week. Now at 41, Emma is the longest living person in Ireland with EB, or Butterfly Skin as it in better known.

In her first ever podcast interview, Emma talks about the life she would have had without EB, and while it may have robbed her of a future it’s given her things she would have never had without it. Never asking ‘why me’, Emma talks about the psychological pain of Secondary school, her thoughts on dying, and her work with Debra Ireland.

Emma’s new book ‘Being Emma, Living my Best Life with Butterfly Skin’ is out now!

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Emma Fogarty

Gina Daly became a household name during COVID, thanks to her daily instagram posts about her weight struggles and her evening cook-a-longs with her husband, Karol. Four cookery books then followed, in a success achieved against a background of loss, both through miscarriage and the death of her Dad. 

In this episode of The Grief Pod, Gina tells me about this life of parallels, the heartbreak of being told her baby was gone, whilst alone in the hospital, her immense sadness losing her Dad, having already lost her Mum in her teens, and the joy and hope her rainbow baby, Gene has brought into her life.

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Gina Daly

Living with Dementia is a process of continuous loss, described by many as a ‘living grief’. The Forget Me Nots Choir, offers sanctuary and support to those living with or affected by Dementia, whereby members can share happy moments with their loved ones or find comfort alongside those who share the same experience.

In this episode of The Grief Pod, Orla Orna Founder of the choir and Gerry O’Halloran, share their stories of supporting their mum Kathleen and wife Mary through their journeys with Dementia and the huge impact the choir has had in coping with their grief

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Orla Horn and Gerry O Halloran

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Suzy Byrne

Actor, Director & Writer Kevin J Ryan, lost his beloved dog Copper and his good friend, the actor, Julian Sands, within months of each other in 2023.

In this episode of The Grief Pod Kevin talks about the pain of navigating that period of his life, the often unspoken heartbreak of losing a pet, coping with the ambiguous loss of grieving a friend while they were still missing and our need to talk more openly about our grief.

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Kevin J Ryan

In 2015 Eugene Maher was going for his daily cycle, when he was mowed down in a hit and run, dying just a few later in hospital. The driver came forward six days later. 

In her first podcast interview, Eugenes daughter Lisa talks about that day, the anger and confusion that ensued before and after the court case, her decision to take part in the restorative justice programme, at the end of which she met an forgave her Dad’s killer, and how being able to forgive has helped her find peace.

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Lisa Marie Maher

In 2014 Katherine Martin opened her beauty business, Lash Envy and was looking forward to the future ahead. Just two years later her Dad passed away suddenly, and she subsequently lost her Mum and her brother, all 3 within four years.

In this episode of The Grief Pod, Katherine discusses the magnitude of loss in such a short space of time, the difficulty in grieving each of her loved ones individually, the importance of knowing what to say when someone dies and how lockdown, despite running a small business, offered her relief.

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Katherine Martin

Christmas for kids, should be the most wonderful time of the year, however for children who are grieving it can be one of the most difficult.

In this special Christmas episode of The Grief POD, Child Psychotherapist and Columnist with The Irish Examiner, Colman Noctor, offers advice on how we can help young people navigate their grief against the backdrop of Christmas, what words we can use to support them in the difficult run up and the importance of talking with them and including them in how they’d like to continue Christmas traditions without their loved one.

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Coleman Noctor

In July 2018 Zoe Holohan’s husband, Brian died tragically in the wildfires that engulfed Mati in Athens - they’d been married just 4 days. 
In this episode of The Grief Pod, Zoe talks about what happened that day, her own very long physical and emotional journey since, the dark times, and the sign from Brian, that has allowed her to find happiness with her new partner Mark.

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick - Lets Talk About Grief featuring Zoe Holohan

Anthony Whelan worked for over 20 years, until struggling with the death of his partner, Anne-Marie he decided to completely change his life, and retrain as a Clinical Psychotherapist.

In this special Christmas episode of The Grief Pod, Anthony tells  of the impact of this change on his life, and how it has helped him cope with his grief and bereavement, and at the most difficult time of the year for so many, how we can mind ourselves and help others

The Grief Pod with Venetia Quick

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