The First Podcast I listened to Was About Grief… and It Changed Everything (No Seriously, EVERYTHING)

You never forget your first podcast. Some people discover them during long commutes, while pretending to jog, or when they’re trying to sound clever at dinner parties. Me? I found my first podcast while crying into my pillow and wanting to check out!

To set the scene: I was deep in grief. My 27 year old son Matthew had died so, Not “oh-I’m-a-bit-sad” grief! I’m talking full-on, can’t sleep, can’t eat, can’t wash or function in any way kind of grief.

I tried everything: meditation (fell asleep or cried, depending on the day), reading (couldn’t get past the first sentence), TV (even Bake Off couldn’t help me). Then, in a fog of desperation and caffeine, I stumbled across this thing called a podcast. I didn’t even know what it was. An audio blog? Radio for millennials? Witchcraft? Whatever it was, I clicked play and boom. A gentle voice came through my headphones, talking about grief. MY grief. Not literally mine (that would have been impressive and terrifying), but grief that sounded just like mine.

These weren’t experts in white coats or celebrities pretending to be relatable while sipping their sponsored smoothies. These were real, everyday humans, just like me. People who had lost someone they loved and were somehow still functioning, even laughing years later. At first I was suspicious. Were they faking it? But then I kept listening, and slowly I realised: they weren’t over it, they were just further down the road than me. Wobbling along, occasionally tripping, but moving forward. And that, strangely, was the most comforting thing I’d heard in months.

Over time, podcasts became my weird little lifeline. I listened in bed, on walks, while washing the dishes – and they became the best distraction. I started recognising voices, laughing at in-jokes, crying at stranger’s stories, and – dare I say it – healing!

Fast-forward eight years, and here I am, a fully functioning adult(ish) human who’s now hosting my very own podcast about grief. Wait – don’t run! Yes, I said the “G” word. But my podcast isn’t just about death and sadness. It’s about love. It’s about community. It’s about saying “you’re not weird or broken” to people who feel very, very broken. It’s about hearing someone say something that makes you go, “Yes! That’s EXACTLY how I feel but I didn’t know how to say it!”

Each episode will inspire you and remind you that, in time, you too will be further along on your journey.  And no, you won’t hear celebrities recounting how they mourned their pet iguana for two hours in a crystal cave in Malibu. You’ll hear from real people, everyday people, doing their best to crawl, walk, and occasionally dance through the messiness of grief.

So if you’ve never listened to a podcast before, maybe — just maybe — let this be your first. You don’t need to be tech savvy or commit to a subscription and it’s FREE! You just need a bit of time, an open heart, and possibly a cup of tea (and a biscuit – optional, but recommended). Because somewhere out there, someone is feeling like I did – alone, lost, and half-feral – and they need to hear that it can get better. Slowly. Weirdly. Beautifully. My podcast hasn’t broken the internet yet but watch out Joe Rogan!

And hey — if I can be even a flicker of that reassuring voice in your darkest hour, and help you to loosen your grief in some way, then all those soggy biscuit crying sessions were worth it.

Let’s grieve together. Let’s laugh together. Let’s travel through it together.

Here’s the link to my podcast: https://pod.link/1699741572

P.S. Listening to grief podcasts counts as self-care. Science probably says so.
P.P.S. Start with mine. It’s good. Promise. 🙂

Connect with me through my Linktree: https://linktr.ee/louisebates