Part 5 of The Journey Beyond Death marks a turning point in our series. It’s the first episode fully devoted to what we can do for others in the midst of grief—not just how we process it ourselves. This installment is about showing up, staying present, and avoiding the well-meaning but empty gestures that often surround loss. It’s also the final part of our three-part arc on Mental Health Resiliency.
Featuring grief educator Elreacy Dock, author Carole Brody Fleet, psychologist Joyce Hocker, social worker Jill Johnson-Young, and evidential medium Suzanne Giesemann, this episode offers a toolkit of compassionate responses that can make a real difference. Instead of defaulting to “thoughts and prayers,” you’ll hear about proactive, specific ways to help—whether it’s cooking a meal, sitting silently with someone, or offering to hear a story about the person they lost.
Our guests also explore what not to say: why “call me if you need anything” and “everything happens for a reason” are often more damaging than helpful. You’ll hear heartfelt stories of what comfort truly looks like—and what it doesn’t. Whether you’re supporting a friend, a partner, or a stranger, this episode gives you the language and mindset to meet grief with integrity and presence.
At its core, Part 5 is about turning empathy into action. When someone loses a loved one, your presence can be more healing than any advice.
Featuring in order of appearance:
01:36 – Certified Grief Educator Elreacy Dock
06:00 – Carole Brody Fleet
13:57 – Psychologist Dr. Joyce Hocker
17:43 – Jill Johnson-Young
25:53 – Suzanne Giesemann
Elreacy Dock
Elreacy Dock is a certified grief educator, thanatologist, behavioral health consultant, and death educator. She serves as Chair of the Thanatology Department at Capstone University, where she designed a graduate-level program in grief studies. Trained by renowned grief expert David Kessler, Elreacy combines academic depth with compassionate support for those experiencing loss. She is also a published co-author of Integrated Healthcare: Applications for Social Work, and her work has been featured in major outlets such as Vogue, Newsweek, and Harper’s Bazaar Arabia.
website: www.elreacydock.com.
Carole Brody Fleet
Carole Brody Fleet is the multi-award winning author of the forthcoming book, “Loss is a Four-Letter Word…” (HCI Books, September, 2018); as well as the #1 release in its genre, “When Bad Things Happen to Good Women…” (Viva Editions). She is also the author of “Happily EVEN After… “(Viva Editions); winner of the prestigious Books for a Better Life Award, one of the top national awards in publishing; as well as the critically praised, national bestseller, “Widows Wear Stilettos…” (New Horizon Press). Carole is additionally the author and executive producer of the best selling spoken-word CD, entitled, “Widows Wear Stilettos: What Now?”.
Website: http://www.widowswearstilettos.com/
Joyce Hocker
Joyce Hocker, Ph.D., a former professor at the University of Montana, is the author of Interpersonal Conflict, used in more than 250 colleges and universities and now in its 10th edition. Now semi-retired, Hocker teaches in the Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Montana, and at Red Willow Learning Center, a nonprofit in Missoula, which supports resilience in people who suffer difficult life experiences. Her latest book is The Trail to Tincup.
Website: http://www.redwillowlearning.org/
Jill Johnson-Young, MSW, LCSW, Founder/Owner
As a therapist and a social worker I work from your strengths to enhance the skills you already have and to address the issues holding you back or disrupting your life. My goal is to assist you in reaching a more satisfying state in your life, to reduce your stress, and to make home a better place to be. My specialties include working through grief and loss (including children’s grief and anticipatory grief), chronic illness issues, depression and mood disorders, trauma recovery, adoption and infertility issues, and geriatric and aging issues.
Website: http://www.centralcounselingservices.net
Suzanne Giesemann
Suzanne Giesemann is the author of twelve books, a metaphysical teacher, and an evidential medium. She captivates audiences as she brings hope, healing, and comfort through her work. Suzanne’s gift of communication with those on the other side provides stunning evidence of life after death. Touted as “a breath of fresh air” with “a quality that is so different from others that it is difficult to describe,” she brings messages of hope and love that go straight to the heart.
Website: https://www.suzannegiesemann.com/
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