Podcast

Grief doesn’t just break your heart — it takes a toll on your entire body. In this episode of Journey to Grateful, host Tim Bigonia explores the physical symptoms of grief that often go unspoken: the fatigue, the brain fog, the muscle aches, the anxiety, and the general feeling that something just isn’t right.

If you’ve recently experienced a loss, you may be wondering why your body feels so off. You’re not alone. Grief activates our stress responses, affects our sleep, and shows up in ways we never expected — and understanding these changes is an important part of healing.

This episode shares personal insight and gentle guidance to help you recognize your body’s signals and respond with compassion instead of frustration. Whether you’re early in your grief or walking alongside someone who is, this episode offers validation, understanding, and a reminder: your body remembers because your love was real.

Topics in this episode include:

• Why grief causes fatigue, brain fog, and body aches

• The link between grief and anxiety

• How trauma and loss affect your nervous system

• Gentle ways to listen to your body and support your healing

Not all grief is tied to a moment or memory. Sometimes, the deepest pain comes from what never happened — the words left unsaid, the milestones missed, and the future you thought you’d share with someone you loved.

In this episode of Journey to Grateful, we delve into the quiet, often unspoken aspect of grief: invisible losses. These are the “almosts,” the “what-ifs,” and the “we never got to…” moments that live in the background of our mourning.

If you’ve ever felt the ache of a missed goodbye or the emptiness of a dream unfulfilled, this conversation is for you.

In this episode of Journey to Grateful, I explore the powerful truth behind “It’s okay not to be okay.” I'll share why embracing your messy, honest feelings is not only normal but essential to healing. I'll also provide a heartfelt invitation to let go of the need to “be strong” and find real strength in simply being real. Today you will discover that it is truly okay not to be okay.

When a parent dies, teens face a unique, often silent struggle — and the surviving parent is left to guide them while carrying their own grief. In this heartfelt episode, Tim explores how parents can support their teen’s grief journey with compassion and patience, while helping them move forward in a healthy, authentic way. Learn how to hold space for your teen’s emotions, encourage an ongoing connection with their lost parent, and remind them that simply being themselves is enough. If you’re navigating life after loss with your child, this conversation offers gentle guidance and hope.

We’re taught that men should be strong, stoic, and unbreakable — especially after losing a spouse. But real strength isn’t about hiding your pain; it’s about having the courage to feel it. In this episode, we explore what it means for men to show up fully in their grief, why vulnerability is a true sign of strength, and how embracing your emotions can help you build a new, more authentic life. Real men grieve — and it’s time we talk about it.

Grief isn’t just about missing the person you lost — it’s about mourning the entire world you shared with them. In this episode, we explore how loss touches every corner of your life: the routines, the imagined future, and the version of yourself that existed with them. By recognizing the full scope of what you’re grieving, you can better understand your pain and learn to be gentler with yourself as you navigate this new reality. Let’s unpack what it truly means to grieve beyond missing them.

Grief often feels heavy and isolating, but talking about it can bring unexpected healing and connection. In this episode, inspired by writer Liz Newman, we explore why sharing our grief matters, how it helps us honor those we’ve lost, and the power of being truly seen and heard. You’re not alone on this journey.

Grief often feels isolating, even in a room full of people. But letting ourselves be seen—truly seen—in our grief can unlock unexpected healing. In this episode, we explore the role of community in navigating loss: how to access support that actually helps, why vulnerability matters, and the quiet strength found in not walking this path alone.

In this episode of Journey to Grateful, I confront a question that’s echoed in the back of my mind more than I care to admit: What more can I say about grief? It’s not something others have asked — it’s a doubt that creeps in on its own. Join me as I explore why this question lingers, how past comments can still influence the way I carry my grief, and why I believe continuing the conversation is one of the most healing choices we can make.

In this episode, I reflect on the approaching five-year mark since my loss—a milestone that still feels both distant and incredibly close. This time of year brings back the painful memories of those final weeks, filled with difficult truths and quiet goodbyes. I’m not sharing this to seek sympathy, but to shed light on the full arc of grief—the way it stretches far beyond the moment of loss. Through personal reflection, I hope to offer insight into why grief lingers, why it changes us, and why understanding it—whether you’re grieving or supporting someone who is—is so important.