Giving Grief Grace, a Grief Podcast for the Sandwich Generation
Loss changes everything. But it doesn't have to have the last word. Giving Grief Grace is a podcast dedicated to those in the throes of caregiving and loss with honest, compassionate conversations about grief, healing, and what it means to keep living after loss. Hosted by Lisa Hartung, a speaker, HR professional, and fellow griever, each episode creates space for the stories we don't always know how to tell.
From disenfranchised and hidden grief, to grieving while parenting, to the ways men experience loss differently, to the unexpected power of creativity and legacy, this show covers grief in all its forms. Featuring expert guests, real stories, and practical tools you can use right now.
If you've lost someone you love or are in the throes of caregiving, you belong here.
New episodes drop every Sunday. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
Giving Grief Grace, a Grief Podcast for the Sandwich Generation
Episode 60 - Vacation Starts Now: How to Stop Waiting to Really Live
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
What does a Zanzibar vacation have in common with a terminal diagnosis? More than you'd think.
In this solo episode, Lisa reflects on a pattern she noticed during her recent trip to Tanzania — every single day for five days, there was one more thing to finish before vacation could really begin. Sound familiar? That "one more thing" mindset doesn't just follow us on trips. It follows us through caregiving, grief, and even into our final days.
When a family friend recently received a difficult prognosis, it brought Lisa back to her mother Emily's stage four pancreatic cancer diagnosis — and the profound work of helping her unravel from daily life with intention and grace.
In this episode, Lisa explores three ways to embrace the truth that presence is a decision, not a destination:
1. Get Clear on What Matters
Who do you want to spend your time with? What actually fills your cup? Whether you're on vacation or navigating a terminal diagnosis, getting honest about your priorities is the first act of presence.
2. Prioritize and Delegate the Rest
There will always be a to-do list. The question is: which one thing on it truly matters today? Stepping back from boards, volunteer roles, and professional commitments isn't failure, it's freedom.
3. Have the Conversations You Keep Postponing
Tell people how they've impacted your life. Ask what they're most proud of. Share stories. Don't wait for the right moment, the right moment is now.
Lisa also shares a practical legacy tool: the list of 10 loves and 10 dislikes, and why it matters more than you might think. (And references the Mary McGreevy Tips from Dead People Episode 53 for more on that.)
Listener Challenge: Text or call one person today. Tell them one specific thing you're grateful for about them or how they have made a positive impact on your life. You never know how it will brighten their day!
🔗 More at podcast.lisahartung.com | hello@lisahartung.com | @GivingGriefGrace
Thanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you!
Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.
Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week!
Special thanks to:
Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star Music
Podcast Music Good_B_Music
