Grief is a Sneaky Bitch

Lisa Pahl | Talking About Death

Grief is a Sneaky Bitch

Show Notes

Lisa Pahl joins host Lisa Keefauver to explore themes they're both passionate about—the sacred thresholds of life: dying, dementia, death, and grief. As a deeply experienced hospice social worker, she shares her wisdom on creating lasting memories with loved ones facing end-of-life, the role of hospice in grief support, and the dynamics that influence decision-making around hospice care. She discusses the importance of centering the wishes of the dying and offers tools to help us have the meaningful conversations we're often too afraid to start.

KEY MOMENTS: 06:29 Understanding Grief Through Family Stories 11:56 Cultural Beliefs About Grief 14:33 Professional Insights on Grief and Loss 17:00 The Role of Hospice in Grief Support 20:01 Navigating Myths About Hospice Care 23:49 Personal Stories of Caregiving and Loss 34:51 Navigating End-of-Life Conversations 37:48 The Importance of Being Present 40:13 The Delicate Dance of Grief 44:43 Tools for Meaningful Conversations 53:47 Introducing the Dementia Deck 01:00:53 Right-Sizing Our Relationship with Death 01:05:55 Introduction to Grief Conversations 01:06:49 Exploring the Death Deck and Conversation Starters

ABOUT GUEST: Lisa Pahl is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Advanced Practice Hospice and Palliative Social Worker, with over eighteen years in hospice and seven in emergency medicine. She’s passionate about increasing death literacy and helping people face illness, dying, and grief with courage and clarity. Whether it’s hosting a Death Deck Game Night or speaking to a community or professional group, she guides individuals and families to engage in meaningful conversations about end-of-life preferences—so that when the time comes, they are prepared and empowered. LEARN MORE ABOUT LISA: https://thedeathdeck.com/ FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/thedeathdeck/?hl=en GET DECKS AT A DISCOUNT: Lisa is offering our listeners a special discount code, so visit thedeathdeck.com and enter GSB20 at checkout to get 20% off your order. That's GSB20 when you visit thedeathdeck.com.

ABOUT THE SHOW & HOST Lisa Keefauver is an author, keynote speaker, social worker, widow, assault & cancer survivor turned grief activist on a mission to help us center aliveness in a world full of loss by reimagining the narratives of grief, one conversation at a time. LEARN MORE ABOUT LISA: at https://lisakeefauver.com/ ACCESS GRIEF SUPPORT: https://lisakeefauver.com/support READ BOOK: Grief is a Sneaky Bitch: An Uncensored Guide to Navigating Loss. https://bookshop.org/p/books/grief-is-a-sneaky-bitch-an-uncensored-guide-to-navigating-loss-lisa-keefauver/ffd73d6b6921e6b5?ean=9781477329306&next=t& READ ESSAYS: AFGO with Lisa Keefauver on Substack - https://afgowithlisakeefauver.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips

EPISODE THEMES: grief, grief support, legacy, connection, family, communication, intentions, emotional support, death, dying, dementia, hospice, social worker, Lisa Pahl, The Death Deck, Lisa Keefauver, Grief is a Sneaky Bitch, podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More from Grief is a Sneaky Bitch

Oct 20, 2026

Shannon Watts is fired up. She’s sharing her wisdom on intuition, “shoulds,” and building a life of aliveness The incredible Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, and author of New York Times Bestselling book, Fired Up, joined host Lisa Keefauver for the first episode of Season 8 of Grief is a Sneaky Bitch where this season the show is focusing more deeply on what it means to center aliveness in a world full of loss. They dig into the cultural stories that pressure women to be perfect, selfless, and always certain, and offer a more humane alternative built on values, abilities, desires, and practice. In this conversation, Shannon shares how intuition shaped major turning points in her life, from starting Moms Demand Action to stepping away when it was time. Lisa and Shannon also explore embodiment, mindfulness, community, wonder, and play as essential tools for navigating change without losing sight of what feels most alive.

Oct 13, 2026

This special episode is a reminder of where we’ve been, what we’ve learned, and where we’re going next season! Host Lisa Keefauver closes out Season 7 of the show by reflecting on the conversations, guests, and lessons that shaped the year. She reminded us of the wisdom guests Marisa Renee Lee, Michelle Hord, Sandi Serling, and Angela Schellenberg offered on navigating complex losses and emotions. Guests Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, Naila Francis, and Sara Rian taught us about the power of poetry, metaphor, and creativity. You’ll get a sense (or be reminded) of the topics and wisdom offered by the other incredible 13 guests as well. In a preview of what’s coming next, Lisa also explores the story behind her decision to have a theme for the first time in the show’s history. Launching later this month, listeners will get a glimpse of some of the special guests and topics coming next, with a strong focus on aliveness, the narratives that keep us stuck, and the power of curiosity for navigating seasons of uncertainty.

Jul 21, 2026

J.S. Park returns to Grief is a Sneaky Bitch for a deeply moving conversation about the themes in his forthcoming book, We Are Made of Us. Together, we explore what it means to contend with family-of-origin, family dynamics, and inherited trauma. This episode may change how you see your family, your grief, and your own capacity to heal.

Jun 9, 2026

Casey Mulligan Walsh, author of The Full Catastrophe, joined host Lisa Keefauver for a profound conversation on how much loss shapes us more deeply than we realize—especially when it's modeled by those we'd turn to for guidance. In this raw and insightful conversation, Casey reveals how early trauma and unspoken grief patterns silently influence our lives. From surviving the sudden death of her parents as a child to navigating the chaos of divorce and the heartbreak of losing her son, Casey shares her journey toward reclaiming agency, understanding her parts, and finding peace in the liminal spaces of life.

Jun 2, 2026

Mae Yoshikawa, author, TEDx speaker, and the creator of Kizuki Journaling, joins host Lisa Keefauver to explore her profound journey through grief, culture, and embodiment. Her reflections challenge us to see grief not as a problem to fix, but as an integral part of human experience that deepens our capacity to love and live fully.

See all episodes →