The Grief Pod

Tanya Chomyk is the author of ‘Bringing Light to Loss’ a book which aims to help people redefine their grief, and reclaim hope and meaning.

Having just lost her Father, Tanya found herself in the throes of grief once again, when her little boy Danilo died at just six months old. Taking hope and resilience from her 5 year old daughter, Larissa, Tanya learned how to cope with life again, manage the inevitable triggers and rebuild her future.

At just 29, Jenny Eastwood, has experienced multiple family bereavements in very quick succession, losing her Mum and Dad less than four years apart, as well as her cousin, Julianne in the middle of both her parents deaths.

On this episode of The Grief Pod, Jenny discusses the magnitude of such loss at such a young age, and in such a short space of time, how she’s coping with her grief and how she remains optimistic for the future.

Writer, Producer and Composer, Karl Broderick brings joy to thousands of people every year with The Stadium Panto, alongside his husband and partner of over 33 years, Alan. However, behind the smiles, Karl has struggled with depression, losing both of his parents, and granny and the grief of losing his childhood friend to suicide.

In this episode of The Grief Pod, Karl talks openly about his mental health, his extraordinarily close relationship with his Granny, how his best friends suicide impacted how he views life, his Mums views on his engagement, and the support he continues to feel from his marriage.

Joe Supple, also known by his alter ego Miss Candy, lost his brother Robbie tragically by drowning. A fisherman, Robbie had just started a new life in Castletownbere aged 29. Joe then lost both his Mum and Dad in the same 5 years.

In this episode of The Grief Pod, Joe talks about how he’s kept going after such huge loss in such a short space of time, his brother who ‘everybody loved’ and the small but significant ways he keeps his parents and Robbie close.

Michelle Cullen lost her husband John in 2015, when he was just 52, following a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Her brother, David died aged 10, two days before her ninth birthday.

In this episode of The Grief Pod, Michelle talks about sibling loss, and how our attitudes to grief have changed over the years, how Johns death prompted a 360 career change and how 11 years on she’s navigated her grief