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Grief arrives in countless forms—sometimes through death, other times through separation, and often through the quiet evolution of our own identities. In this vulnerable conversation, Vanessa opens up about losing her father suddenly at 19, while Kayla shares her experience of being torn from her mother at age 9 when her mom went to prison.

The raw emotion is palpable as Vanessa recalls walking into her childhood home after her father's passing and feeling that unmistakable ”cold breeze” of absence. She shares beautiful memories of her quiet, kind father who always made her mom's morning coffee and taught her the value of truly listening to others. Meanwhile, Kayla recounts the confusion and heartbreak of being placed in foster care without understanding why, screaming for her mother through the windows of a van as they were driven away.

Both hosts explore how these profound losses shaped their adult relationships and perspectives. Vanessa wonders how different her romantic relationships might have been with her father's protective guidance, while Kayla reveals how foster care taught her to build emotional walls that she's still working to dismantle in therapy. They share the uncomfortable truth that grief doesn't simply fade with time—it becomes part of who we are, appearing in unexpected waves throughout our lives.

Perhaps most valuable is their discussion about what not to say to someone who's grieving. Phrases like ”time heals all wounds,” ”they'd want you to be strong,” or commenting on someone's funeral attire (yes, this actually happened to Vanessa) miss the mark entirely. Instead, they suggest simple presence, practical support, and the freedom to express grief without timeline or expectation.

Listen in as we explore how loss, in all its forms, becomes absorbed into our story—not as an ending, but as an ongoing conversation with our past, present, and future selves. And if you're grieving anything right now, we see you and we've got you.