Podcast Episode 341: 3 Things You Need to Know to Heal Your Grief After a Loss with Krista St-Germain
Have you ever struggled with what to say to a grieving friend? Maybe you wanted to support them but felt afraid of saying the wrong thing. Or worse—you said nothing at all. You’re not alone. Most of us were never taught how to handle grief, and much of what we believe is wrong.
When Krista St-Germain’s husband was killed on the roadside by a drunk driver, her life shattered in an instant. All the well-meaning words of support she received often felt dismissive, and she felt alone. Now, as a Certified Life Coach, grief and post-traumatic growth expert, widow, mom, and host of The Widowed Mom Podcast, Krista helps others process loss in a way that honors their emotions.
One of the biggest myths about grief is the idea that it follows five predictable stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. However, most people don’t realize that this model wasn’t created for coping with loss—it was developed to help terminally ill patients come to terms with their own mortality. Because of this misunderstanding, many believe they should be grieving in a “correct” way, making it even harder to heal. Additionally, this mindset pressures those experiencing grief to “move on” when, in reality, loss is something we integrate into our lives, not something we leave behind.
This conversation is especially relevant now as the nation mourns the tragic mid-air collision over the Potomac River on January 29, 2025. The accident, involving American Eagle Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, claimed the lives of all 67 individuals on board. Families, friends, and communities are now facing unimaginable grief and loss, struggling to find ways of coping with a sudden and devastating tragedy. As we process this heartbreak together, Krista’s insights remind us that sometimes the most powerful way to support someone is simply to acknowledge their pain—without rushing them to heal, without trying to explain why it happened, but by standing beside them in their grief.
If you’ve ever felt unsure about how to support a grieving friend or wondered how to navigate your own loss, this conversation will change the way you think about grief and coping. Krista’s journey from unimaginable heartbreak to a mission of helping others find post-traumatic growth is not just inspiring—it’s essential listening for anyone who wants to truly show up for the people they love.
In this episode of the No Guilt Mom podcast you’ll learn:
- How the “five stages of grief” were originally about terminal illness, not loss, and why that’s a very important fact.
- 3 tips for the best way to support someone is to witness their grief.
- How grief often doesn’t follow a straight, linear path.
- What is Post-traumatic growth and how someone can find it.
Resources We Shared In This Episode:
Dougy.org- Grief resources for children
Get on the email list for the 2025 virtual Happy Mom Summit happening March 3rd-7th to get more strategies on finding your mom-life balance.
Join our FREE No Guilt Mom Podcast group
No Guilt Mom YouTube Channel Check us out and subscribe to be notified every week when we have new videos added for parents and kids!
Read the transcripts HERE
Check out our favorite deals and discounts from our amazing sponsors here!
Interested in podcast sponsorship? Contact Adalysit Media.
#parentingpodcast, #parentingtips, #selfcare, #mentalload, #kids, #teenager, #toddler, #preschooler, #baby, #grief, #griefsupport, #loss, #coping, #posttraumaticgrowth, #copingstrategies, #trauma
Don’t forget to Rate & Review the podcast!
We’d love to hear your thoughts on the podcast! If you could take a moment to Rate & Review the No Guilt Mom Podcast on Apple here we’d be so grateful! Not sure how to do it? We got you covered! Check out this short video we made to show you how to leave a review.
Listen on Spotify? You can rate us there too!
Check out our latest podcast episodes:
- Podcast Episode 341: 3 Things You Need to Know to Heal Your Grief After a Loss Transcripts
- Podcast Episode 341: 3 Things You Need to Know to Heal Your Grief After a Loss with Krista St-Germain
- Podcast Episode 340: It’s Not You, It’s ADHD: From Squirrels and Decision Fatigue and How to Thrive Transcripts
- Podcast Episode 340: It’s Not You, It’s ADHD (From Squirrels and Decision Fatigue to Thriving) with Patricia Sung
- Podcast Episode 339: Why Finding Balance Isn’t 50/50—and What It Really Looks Like Transcripts
Brie Tucker
COO/ Podcast Producer at No Guilt Mom
- Podcast Episode 341: 3 Things You Need to Know to Heal Your Grief After a Loss Transcripts
- Podcast Episode 340: It’s Not You, It’s ADHD: From Squirrels and Decision Fatigue and How to Thrive Transcripts
- Podcast Episode 340: It’s Not You, It’s ADHD (From Squirrels and Decision Fatigue to Thriving) with Patricia Sung
- Podcast Episode #146: How to Parent Like a Spy with Christina Hillsberg
- Podcast Episode 119: Finding your Authentic Self with Ryan Haddon
- Podcast Episode 116: Six Coping Skills That Will Change Your Kids Lives
- Podcast Episode 86: Parenting on the Same Page with Amy McCready
- Podcast Episode 72: How to Reclaim Your Joy as a Mom
- How to Calm Down When Stressed
- One Simple Skill Your Kids Should Master to Deal with Mean Kids
- Podcast Episode 028: Why Don’t Our Kids Listen Anymore?
- 5 Tips to Calm Your Anxiety
