New Wayz Podcast

Watching a Parent Die: A Raw Conversation About Grief, Love, Finding Strength, and Letting Go

Christina Pehr

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In this episode, I sit down with a dear friend of mine to talk about something most of us will face one day, but rarely feel prepared for — watching a parent die. She opens up about her experience with her dad’s decline, the complexities of hospice care, wishing he had been more honest about what was really happening, and the emotional rollercoaster of anticipatory grief.

We walk through the messy, very human parts of it: the fear, the confusion, the small moments of clarity, the tools that helped her cope, the books that offered comfort, and the reality of going from “he’s okay” to “he’s actually leaving.” It’s honest and raw, but we also find moments of lightness and reflection in the middle of something deeply painful.

We also touch on the bigger questions that grief tends to bring forward — finding meaning in death, what it means to live knowing one day we won’t, and whether or not we’re actually scared to die. It’s a conversation about loss, but also about perspective, humanity, and the strange ways grief makes you rethink everything.

This episode isn’t a guide — it’s a story. A conversation. A glimpse into what it means to love someone through their final chapter and still try to make sense of your own emotions along the way. If you’ve ever lost someone, are preparing to, or just want to understand the grief journey a little better… I hope this brings comfort, connection, and a reminder that you’re not alone in any of it.