x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast

Jake"s Help From Heaven

Grief is messy, complicated, and deeply personal — but you don’t have to go through it alone. On A Place of Yes, host Heather Straughter creates a safe, unfiltered space to talk about the realities of loss. Each episode dives into the tears, the laughter, the WTF moments, and the hope — all of it. Through candid personal stories and expert insights, Heather explores the pain, resilience, and unexpected moments of light that come with grieving.

society & culture personal journals

All Episodes

00:55:39

Brotherhood, Loss, and Giving Back in the Grief...

A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast ·

2025/10/22

Austin Wolfe lost his younger brother, Devin, in a car accident — a moment that changed everything. In this conversation, he reflects on that day, the strange quiet that followed, and how saying yes to volunteering at Experience Camps helped him begin to live with his grief instead of around it. Austin shares what it’s like to hold space for kids navigating the same kind of loss, the mix of heartbreak and joy that unfolds in a week of camp, and how that experience is shaping the way he wants to move

en

00:52:44

Grieving Through Song: A Musician’s Journey After...

A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast ·

2025/10/15

Grief is never simple, and for musician Jeff Brisbin, the loss of his son Josh continues to shape his life, his art, and his purpose. In this powerful conversation, Jeff shares what it means to carry his son’s memory forward—the hard days, the unexpected signs, and the music that keeps him connected. From navigating family milestones to finding healing on stage, Jeff’s story is both heartbreaking and hopeful.Jake’s Help from Heaven Website: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/APOY Instagram:

en

00:01:14

A Place of Yes - Season 3 Trailer

A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast ·

2025/10/13

Season 3 of A Place of Yes continues the conversations about grief that are honest, messy, and full of heart. Join Heather Straughter as she sits down with guests who show us that even in the hardest moments, there’s room for love, laughter, and saying yes to life again.

en

16:17

The Conversations That Changed Us | Season 2 Finale

A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast ·

2025/08/07

We’re closing out Season 2 with a collection of the most powerful, moving, and unforgettable moments from this season of A Place of Yes. From raw grief and resilience to unexpected wisdom and strength, this mashup honors the voices that made this season so impactful.We’ll be taking a short break and returning this fall with brand new episodes. In the meantime, follow us on Instagram to stay in the loo, and get behind-the-scenes updates on season 3!Find Heather and Jake's Help from Heaven: ❤️ APOY

en

27:31

Burying My Family One by One: Losing My Last 2 Living...

A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast ·

2025/07/31

She’s buried 4 members of her immediate family. Only she and her mom are left.In part 2 of this devastating conversation, Heather sits down with Kelly Talbot to talk about the most recent two losses—her brothers Jason & Sean. We thank Kelly for sharing her story, and being so deeply vulnerable with our audience. We hope her story has inspired you ❤️‍🩹 Find Heather and Jake's Help from Heaven: ❤️ APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast/ ❤️ Heather's Instagram:

en

28:32

Burying My Family One by One: Losing My Father & 3...

A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast ·

2025/07/24

She’s buried 4 members of her immediate family. Only she & her mom are left.In part one of this devastating conversation, Heather sits down with Kelly Talbot to talk about the first two losses—her brother Ryan, killed in a hit-and-run murder, and her father, who died after a long battle with cancer.This is just the beginning of a grief story that’s almost too much to comprehend. Find Heather and Jake's Help from Heaven: ❤️ APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast/ ❤️

en

29:24

I Lost My Dad to Brain Cancer—And I’m Learning to...

A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast ·

2025/07/17

Leah Stern was more than just a daughter—she was her dad’s best friend. When he died of glioblastoma, her world broke open.In this emotional and raw conversation, Leah shares how she’s navigating life without him, the jealousy she feels when others still have their dads, and how grief doesn’t always look like tears—it can show up as rage, loneliness, and quiet resentment. This episode explores what it really means to lose a parent before you’re ready. THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY SARATOGA CASINO

en

31:52

How 2 Families Found Hope in Adaptive Equipment

A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast ·

2025/07/10

This week’s episode is sponsored by Freedom Concepts, creators of custom adaptive tricycles, Chill-Out Chairs, and early intervention equipment that help individuals of all ages and abilities experience mobility, comfort, and dignity.Heather shares the powerful stories of two families whose children’s lives changed dramatically after being matched with Freedom Concepts equipment. From new levels of independence to moments of pure joy, this episode is about what happens when kids finally get the

en

33:17

The Full Catastrophe: Losing a Son and Learning How...

A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast ·

2025/07/03

This week’s episode is a special live recording from Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga Springs, where Heather sits down with author Casey Mulligan Walsh to talk about her deeply moving memoir, The Full Catastrophe.Orphaned by twelve, the only surviving sibling, and later a mother navigating divorce and the unraveling of her family, Casey opens up about the grief that shaped her life—and the unimaginable loss of her firstborn son, Eric, at age twenty. With raw honesty and powerful spiritual

en

36:32

A Late Diagnosis: Losing My Mom to Rare Disease

A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast ·

2025/06/26

At just 19 years old, she lost her mom to Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency—a rare genetic disorder that went undiagnosed until it was too late. In this episode, she shares what it was like to watch her mom suffer without answers, and how the grief of that experience changed everything: her family, her future, and her sense of self.She and Heather talk about the ripple effects of rare disease, the deep frustration of medical uncertainty, and how she’s turned her pain into purpose as a nurse. This

en

38:51

Losing my Partner to Addiction

A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast ·

2025/06/19

Tattoo artist Emma Rose opens up about the heartbreaking loss of her boyfriend, who died from an overdose after a long battle with addiction. In this raw and honest conversation, Emma shares what grief has looked like for her in the aftermath—how she’s navigated guilt, anger, and the complicated layers of loving someone who struggled.She and Heather also talk about addiction as a whole—how to support someone who’s struggling, the emotional toll it takes on those who love them, and what Emma wishes

en

21:43

Losing a Son to Rare Disease: Parental Isolation & Grief

A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast ·

2025/06/12

Dr. Al Freedman knows firsthand what it’s like to be a parent in the rare disease world—his son Jack lived with Spinal Muscular Atrophy for 26 years. In this conversation, he joins Heather to talk about the deep grief and isolation that comes with rare parenting, and what it means to lose a child to a disease no one else seems to understand.As both a psychologist and a rare disease dad, Dr. Freedman brings a unique perspective—sharing how his personal experience shaped the work he does to support

en

39:31

What It’s Like to Lose Your Best Friend at 18

A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast ·

2025/06/05

Aubrey Ide was only 18 when she lost her best friend Olivia Allen to cancer. In this episode, Aubrey sits down with Heather to share what it’s been like to grieve so young—how the loss changed her, what she misses most, and the milestones that feel so different without Olivia there.She talks about the things they didn’t get to do together, the deep loneliness of losing a friend at that age, and what healing looks like nearly a year later. This episode is a raw and honest look at a kind of grief

en

38:19

Why I Quit My Job to Grieve My Parents’ Deaths

A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast ·

2025/05/29

Grief doesn’t come with a roadmap—and it definitely doesn’t fit into a 3-day leave policy. In this episode, Heather sits down with Rebecca Feinglos, founder of Grieve Leave, to talk about what it really looks like to take time to mourn. After losing both of her parents and going through a divorce, Rebecca quit her job in 2021 to dedicate a full year to grieving—and she documented every step.That journey grew into Grieve Leave, a platform and movement that now supports over 25,000 people navigating

en

41:03

How Adaptive Equipment Changed My Son’s Life

A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast ·

2025/05/22

When Amelia Lawrence’s son Leo was born with limited mobility, she didn’t know if he’d ever experience the simple joys other kids take for granted—like riding a bike or sitting comfortably at school. But everything changed when Leo was introduced to adaptive equipment designed specifically for his needs.In this episode, Amelia shares how tools like a custom-built tricycle and Chill-Out Chair have transformed Leo’s daily life, giving him freedom, comfort, and the ability to participate in the world

en

35:51

What Life Looks Like After Losing My Husband to Brain...

A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast ·

2025/05/15

When Maria Quiban Whitesell’s husband, Sean, was diagnosed with glioblastoma—a deadly and aggressive brain cancer—her world fell apart. Eighteen months later, she found herself a widow and a solo parent to their young son, Gus. In this powerful conversation, Maria shares the raw truth about navigating her husband’s illness, the impossible grief that followed, and how she learned to keep moving forward when it felt impossible.Now an advocate for brain cancer awareness and the author of You Can’t

en

54:13

Gabby Petito’s Parents: What It’s Really Like to...

A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast ·

2025/05/08

Gabby Petito’s name is known around the world—but behind the headlines is a family still living with unimaginable grief. In this powerful conversation, Heather sits down with Gabby’s mother and stepmother to talk about what life has been like without her: the milestones she’s missed, the memories they hold close, and the heartbreak that lingers on birthdays, holidays, and especially Mother’s Day.They speak openly about their pain, their regrets, and what they want the world to understand about

en

20:39

How I Cope with My Son’s Birthday Now That He’s Gone

A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast ·

2025/05/01

Jake’s birthday is coming, and it still hurts just as much as it did that first year. In this solo episode, Heather opens up about what it really feels like to face another year without her son—the lead-up, the dread, the heartbreak that anniversaries bring when someone you love is gone.She shares how grief shows up in waves, especially on the dates that once meant celebration. If you’ve lost someone and find yourself holding your breath around birthdays or milestones, this is a space where you’ll

en

34:34

Self-Care Sounds Nice, But Who’s Watching My Kid?

A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast ·

2025/04/24

Jessica Patay is a full-time caregiver to her son with Prader-Willi syndrome—and the founder of We Are Brave Together, a global support network for caregiving moms. In this episode, she joins Heather to talk about the emotional toll of rare parenting, why self-care isn’t a luxury, and what it really takes to show up for yourself when you're constantly showing up for everyone else.They get honest about burnout, identity loss, and the power of community when you feel like you're running on empty. If

en

15:13

What I Did After My Daughter Died: Grief, Purpose &...

A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast ·

2025/04/17

After losing her daughter Kelsey, Debbie Waffle was left with a grief that didn’t fade—but she also felt a quiet pull toward purpose. In Part 2 of her conversation with Heather, Debbie shares how she began to live for Kelsey—writing her book My Grief Jar and training Kelsey’s beloved dog, Brody, to become a therapy dog, just as Kelsey had dreamed.This episode is about the healing that happens in motion, the love that continues long after loss, and the ways a mother keeps her daughter’s spirit

en

81 results

Similar Podcasts

The Daily Horoscope

The Daily Horoscope

The Michael Decon Program

Michael Decon

Kalimera Koveos

Andrea Koveos

The Documentary Podcast

BBC World Service

Smarter leben

DER SPIEGEL