Show Notes
Today’s topic is a bit emotionally heavy and difficult, but it’s nonetheless incredibly important. I am joined by Jodi Snowdon, author of Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength, and she joins me for a very vulnerable conversation to reflect on how grief shows up in many forms of life - miscarriage, divorce, loss of loved ones - and how often people feel unsure of how to support someone in those moments. Listen in as she shares her own experiences of devastating loss and how they helped reshape her faith, emotional resilience, and understanding of God’s presence in suffering. Together, the two of us discuss the importance of allowing space for grief instead of avoiding it and how honest emotional processing, support from your community, and spiritual struggle can become a part of healing over time. Jodi also explains the STRENGTH acrostic from her book and offers some practical ways to walk through heartbreak by seeking God in the middle of pain, allowing yourself to fully grieve, and resisting the urge to numb or suppress emotions. She speaks openly about how healing is not linear and how counseling, community, and even simple daily practices such as prayer and journaling helped her begin to heal. We also discuss how suffering can shape character in unexpected ways, deepening empathy and even becoming a place where purpose can grow. A big part of our conversation focuses on how to support others who are grieving, especially in moments when people often feel afraid to say or do the wrong thing. Jodi and I talk through miscarriage, divorce, and other griefs, highlighting the importance of directly acknowledging loss, avoiding well meaning but ultimately minimizing and unhelpful language, and showing up with acts of care rather than silence. We also touch upon the power of remembering important dates, checking in long after the initial loss, and recognizing that grief doesn’t follow a timeline that others can see or understand, especially since everyone grieves differently. By the end of my conversation with Jodi, I truly hope that listeners will walk away after listening with both compassion for those in pain as well as a clearer sense of how to show up in small, meaningful ways that remind someone that they are not forgotten. I hope that you enjoy and get some insight from my conversation with Jodi, and, as always, please feel free to reach out with your thoughts! I would love to hear from you!
In This Episode [0:35] - Welcome Jodi Snowdon to the podcast! [2:08] - Through some truly devastating losses, Jodi discovered healing, deeper faith, and purpose in helping others. [4:32] - Jodi believes that suffering can deepen faith when people honestly seek God instead of withdrawing from Him. [6:40] - Jodi explains grieving honestly, seeking God, and processing emotions instead of numbing pain. [9:08] - Learn how support groups can transform pain into meaningful purpose and connection. [11:08] - Jodi has come to believe that heartbreak can build empathy, self-awareness, and freedom from shame. [13:36] - Hear how gratitude, forgiveness, and sharing personal pain can help others heal through their own grief. [16:01] - Hear how supporting miscarriage grief requires validating the loss and offering compassionate, thoughtful, and practical care. [19:13] - Jodi explains how compassion, acknowledgment, and presence help validate miscarriage grief and prevent isolation. [22:03] - Memorializing miscarriage through rituals and naming can help parents process enduring grief and loss. [24:40] - Jodi asserts that nonjudgmental support and inclusion reduce divorce-related shame, rejection, and loneliness. [27:11] - Jodi believes that intentional boundaries, support, and truth help divorced parents deal with loneliness and family transitions. [30:48] - I point out that clear, specific offers of help make it easier for grieving people to accept support. [31:51] - We talk about how divorce brings layered grief, rejection, and ongoing emotiona
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