Episodios

  • Honoring a Beacon of Strength: Uri Lahav's Life and Legacy

    Honoring a Beacon of Strength: Uri Lahav's Life and Legacy
    Sep 5 2024
    How do you measure the impact of a life well-lived, especially when that life is cut short by illness? Join us as we uncover the incredible journey of Uri Lahav through the heartfelt stories of his parents, Elisheva and Michael. From their daring move from the United States to Israel to raising a family in a foreign land amid the backdrop of war, this episode paints a vivid picture of resilience, community, and the enduring power of a passionate spirit.

    In our conversation, we reflect on the profound experiences of the Lahav family, focusing on the remarkable life of their firstborn son, Uri. He wasn't just an athlete but a beacon of inspiration who found his calling in judo, teaching and mentoring others despite the physical pain he often endured. We recount the joys and challenges of Elisheva and Michael as new immigrants raising bilingual children and how Uri's social nature and dedication to judo created a ripple effect, fostering a sense of belonging and community involvement wherever he went.

    Finally, we tackle the harrowing battle Uri faced with multiple myeloma in his 40s. Through experimental treatments and unwavering support from his family, Uri's story is one of courage and relentless hope. Elisheva and Michael share their emotional journey of navigating grief while honoring their son's legacy through annual donation drives and the lasting connections Uri made. This episode is a poignant tribute to a life that continues to inspire, offering insights on resilience, love, and the ways we can honor our lost loved ones.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me--2108929/support.
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    30 m
  • Balancing Love and Reality in Dementia Caregiving: Insights from Karmon Hill

    Balancing Love and Reality in Dementia Caregiving: Insights from Karmon Hill
    Aug 1 2024
    Have you ever wondered how to navigate the emotional maze of caring for a parent with dementia? Join us as Karmon Hill opens her heart and shares her poignant journey of moving her mother across states and ultimately finding her a memory care facility. We discuss the delicate balance of respecting her mother’s past as an esteemed educator while confronting the painful realities of cognitive decline. Karmon’s story is a testament to the power of community support and the deep emotional resilience required in caregiving.

    In our conversation, Karmon emphasizes the critical steps needed to prepare for future caregiving, including the importance of legal documents like power of attorney and living revocable trusts. She offers practical advice on finding supportive healthcare professionals and resources, and shares her own strategies for maintaining family harmony amidst the challenges. Don't miss out on essential tips for remote caregiving, the value of open family dialogues, and Karmon's impactful lessons from her mother's dementia experience.

    Become a Spreaker Supporter: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me--2108929/support
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    30 m
  • Addressing an Emerging Need: The Autism and Grief Project

    Addressing an Emerging Need: The Autism and Grief Project
    Jul 4 2024
    Guests:
    • Dr. Ken Doka, Senior Vice President of Grief Programs at the Hospice Foundation of America
    • Amy Tucci, President and CEO of the Hospice Foundation of America
    • Alex LaMorie Advisory Board Member of the Autism and Grief Project
    Overview of the Autism and Grief Project:
    • Website launched in September 2022 to provide grief resources for autistic adults, their families, and professionals
    • Features testimonials, social stories, animations, and information on death and non-death losses
    • Goals are to help autistic individuals navigate complex emotions and contextualize grief
    Importance of addressing autism and grief:
    • Emerging area of focus as more autistic individuals reach adulthood
    • Opportunity to expand understanding of diversity in grief experiences
    Benefits of the project:
    • Provides support and validation for those grieving personal losses
    • Establishes baseline understanding while respecting the uniqueness of each experience
    • Spreads awareness of available resources for the autism community
    Links to “Bereaved But Still Me” Social Media and Podcast Pages:

    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me/id1333229173
    Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/heart-to-heart-with-michael

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HugPodcastNetwork
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGPKwIU5M_YOxvtWepFR5Zw
    Website: https://www.hug-podcastnetwork.com/Become a Patron: https://www.hug-podcastnetwork.com/patreon.html

    Link mentioned in the episode: https://www.autismandgrief.org/

    Become a Spreaker Supporter: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me--2108929/support
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    29 m
  • Honoring a Mother’s Strength and Love: The Liben Family Stories

    Honoring a Mother’s Strength and Love: The Liben Family Stories
    Jun 6 2024
    Can a mother’s love shape an entire family’s destiny? Join us for a deeply moving tribute to Zipporah Liben, the resilient mother of host Michael Liben and a beacon of strength for her family. Alongside Michael are his siblings, Shirah Ozery and Rabbi Dan Liben, and guest host Anna Jaworski. They come together to share intimate stories and memories that celebrate Zipporah’s life, her unique upbringing between New York and Tel Aviv, and her vital contributions to the Zionist movement. Journey with us as we hear about Zipporah’s unwavering love for Israel, her role as a devoted mother, and the indelible impact she left on her children and grandchildren.

    Explore the profound and often challenging experience of anticipatory grief as the Liben family recounts their mother’s strength and resilience during the decline of their father’s health. Shirah and Dan offer heartfelt insights into their mother's renewed connection to Israel post-Six-Day War and her inspiring feminist influence. Listen to stories of Zipporah’s courage, hospitality, and her involvement in pivotal social movements. Through the laughter and tears, Michael, Shirah, and Dan honor her legacy and share how her values continue to guide and inspire their lives. This episode is a touching homage to a remarkable woman whose spirit and teachings resonate through generations.

    Links to “Bereaved But Still Me” Social Media and Podcast Pages:

    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me/id1333229173

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HugPodcastNetwork
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGPKwIU5M_YOxvtWepFR5Zw
    Website: https://www.hug-podcastnetwork.com/Become a Patron: https://www.hug-podcastnetwork.com/patreon.html

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    https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me--2108929/support
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    38 m
  • A Parent’s Tale of Grief, Special Needs and the Healing Power of Writing

    A Parent’s Tale of Grief, Special Needs and the Healing Power of Writing
    May 2 2024
    Join us in this episode as our host Michael Liben opens up about the complexities of explaining death to his children and welcomes the insights of James Robinson who did likewise with his little ones. Together, they'll explore James' son Nadav's impactful life, marked by a congenital heart defect, and the unwavering spirit it revealed. His story, though filled with vulnerability, is a testament to the remarkable endurance of love and the human soul.

    Parenting children with special medical needs is unique, often requiring parents to balance transparency with the preservation of childhood innocence. In this heartfelt exchange, between bereaved fathers Michael and James, they recount the promises made to their children to be forthright in the face of life-altering medical conditions. Discover how their children surprised them with their remarkable adaptability, and how the definition of 'normal' was reshaped within the walls of a home where love and medical care were intertwined.

    They conclude this episode by traversing the path of healing that unfolds in the wake of profound loss. James shares his family's transformative road trip across America, an exploration of grief and remembrance following Nadav's passing. This moving experience culminates in the creation of "More Than We Expected: Five Years with a Remarkable Child," a memoir by James that seeks to offer comfort and connection to those on similar journeys. Through these stories, we honor the legacies of our loved ones and the infinite capacity of the human heart to heal and embrace resilience.

    To Order James' book, use this link: https://www.amazon.com/More-Than-We-Expected-Remarkable/dp/1637588224

    Or you can visit his website here: https://morethanamemoir.com/

    Links to “Bereaved But Still Me” Social Media and Podcast Pages:

    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me/id1333229173

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HugPodcastNetwork
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGPKwIU5M_YOxvtWepFR5Zw
    Website: https://www.hug-podcastnetwork.com/Become a Patron: https://www.hug-podcastnetwork.com/patreon.html

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    https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me--2108929/support
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    34 m
  • Toni Alexander: Taking Small Steps Through Grief's Passage of Time

    Toni Alexander: Taking Small Steps Through Grief's Passage of Time
    Apr 4 2024
    How can a person suffering tremendous loss get unstuck in grief? Have you ever felt as though you’re wearing cement boots of grief? How can we move forward in our grief?

    Join us in this fascinating episode with Toni Alexander. As a bereaved person herself, Toni Alexander attacks the grief process from within. As an author, she looks on grief from a more philosophical perspective. As a teacher, she has brought her lessons from loss forward to help guide others on their grief journey.

    Toni is no stranger to grief. She has lost both of her parents and a spouse. The death of her mother hit her particularly hard and inspired her book, Mom’s Dying? Encouragement for the Journey, and Embracing Life Changes: Praising Through Pain where she interviewed other people who had experienced losses to assist them with loss through suicide, illness, and other life-altering events. She is here today to give us guidance on how to navigate the difficult experiences of getting unstuck in grief and how to help us move forward in our grief.

    For More Information:
    Mom’s Dying? Encouragement for the Journey: https://tinyurl.com/MomsDying-AntoinetteMBaker

    Moving Forward: Taking Time to Love Yourself: https://www.amazon.com/MOVING-FORWARD-Taking-Time-Yourself-ebook/dp/B0973ZLJG8?ref_=ast_author_mpb
    Links to “Bereaved But Still Me” Social Media and Podcast Pages:

    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me/id1333229173
    Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/heart-to-heart-with-michael

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HugPodcastNetwork
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGPKwIU5M_YOxvtWepFR5Zw
    Website: https://www.hug-podcastnetwork.com/

    Become a Patron: https://www.hug-podcastnetwork.com/patreon.html
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    https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me--2108929/support
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    28 m
  • Melinda's Encore: Phil Proctor's Tribute to Life, Love, and Laughter

    Melinda's Encore: Phil Proctor's Tribute to Life, Love, and Laughter
    Mar 7 2024
    Returning guest, Phil Proctor, is a man who needs no introduction. An actor, voice actor, writer, producer, comedian, podcaster and founding member of the Firesign Theatre quartet. Phil has been in the entertainment industry for 50 years, and In this episode, he talks with host, Michael Liben about the love of his life -- his soulmate, Melinda Peterson, who died suddenly after more than thirty years of marriage. In this episode, Phil discusses his love, his loss and how he found, in his words, laugh after death.


    Links to “Bereaved But Still Me” Social Media and Podcast Pages:

    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me/id1333229173
    Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/heart-to-heart-with-michael

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HugPodcastNetwork
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGPKwIU5M_YOxvtWepFR5Zw
    Website: https://www.hug-podcastnetwork.com/
    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hearttoheart Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me--2108929/support.
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    49 m
  • Companion Pet Loss - From Grief to Inspiration with Erica Messer

    Companion Pet Loss - From Grief to Inspiration with Erica Messer
    Feb 1 2024
    Erica Messer talks with Bereaved But Still Me host Michael Liben about pet loss and how she wasn’t able to find resources to help her cope with her grief. After losing her beloved cat, Wolfgang, she discovered a need for pet-loss resources. With her mother’s encouragement, she started Wolfie’s Wish, a company providing resources for those who are grieving the loss of a pet.

    Erica’s website: https://wolfieswish.com/

    Links to “Bereaved But Still Me” Social Media and Podcast Pages:

    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me/id1333229173
    Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/heart-to-heart-with-michael

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HugPodcastNetwork
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGPKwIU5M_YOxvtWepFR5Zw
    Website: https://www.hug-podcastnetwork.com/
    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hearttoheart

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me--2108929/support.
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    32 m