A Place of Yes | A Grief Podcast

Chelsea Ohlemiller lost her mother in 2017, but the legacy of love, resilience, and truth she left behind continues to shape Chelsea’s life today. In this honest and heart-opening conversation, Chelsea reflects on the complicated emotions of grieving a parent while raising children of your own, the unexpected ways grief shows up years later, and the power of embracing imperfection — especially during the holidays. She shares how her blog, Happiness, Hope, and Harsh Realities, grew into a community of over 150,000 hearts, and why her new book, Now That She’s Gone, is meant to be a companion for grief — a gift to hold onto long after the flowers fade.
Heather and Chelsea talk about the loneliness of grief, what it means to carry a mother’s wisdom into motherhood, and why sometimes a simple family recipe like monkey bread can hold generations of meaning. They discuss the harshness of early grief, how we evolve into people we never expected to become, and the surprising moments when signs from loved ones appear — even if only for a moment. This conversation is full of tenderness, laughter, and deeply earned wisdom, and is a beautiful reminder that grief and love always live side by side.
Resources & Ways to Connect
Happiness, Hope & Harsh Realities Website: https://hopeandharshrealities.com/
Chelsea Ohlemiller on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeandharshrealities
APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast
Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter
Jake’s Help from Heaven Website: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/
Jake’s Help from Heaven Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp
Jake’s Help from Heaven Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelp
Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aplaceofyespodcast

After losing both her mother and her son within two years, Marie Crews found herself shattered—and searching for meaning in the wreckage. What began as journaling to survive became the foundation for a new purpose: helping others navigate the darkness of grief through writing, connection, and community.
In this episode, Marie shares how her own experience with sudden, traumatic loss reshaped her understanding of healing. She opens up about the complexity of compound grief, the doubts that haunt many bereaved parents, and how her spiritual connection with her son continues to guide her. Marie also reflects on building her journaling-based grief retreats, the importance of giving yourself permission to feel joy again, and why sharing stories helps us move forward without leaving our loved ones behind.
Resources & Ways to Connect
Marie’s Website: https://www.mariecrews.com
APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast
Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter
Jake’s Help from Heaven Website: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/
Jake’s Help from Heaven Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp
Jake’s Help from Heaven Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelp
Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aplaceofyespodcast

Carrie Pill is a Vermont-based oil painter, mountain athlete, and writer who experienced profound loss in a short span of time—losing both her mother and her stepmother within about a year. In this episode, Carrie reflects on what it means to grieve when relationships are layered and complicated, and how loss reshapes not just who we miss, but how we move through the world.
Carrie shares how trail running, skiing, and time in the mountains became essential outlets during her grief, offering moments of relief, grounding, and connection. She also talks about how writing has helped her process emotions she couldn’t always name, and how creativity—rather than fixing grief—creates space to live alongside it. Together, Heather and Carrie explore anticipatory grief, self‑compassion, and the quiet ways grief continues to influence identity, relationships, and joy.
Resources & Ways to Connect
Carrie’s Website: https://carriepill.com
Carrie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carriepillart
APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast
Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter
Jake’s Help from Heaven Website: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/
Jake’s Help from Heaven Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp
Jake’s Help from Heaven Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelpfromheaven
Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aplaceofyespodcast

Grief doesn’t disappear—it changes, evolves, and becomes part of how we move through the world. In this episode, grief counselor and thanatologist Kelly Daugherty shares what she’s learned from two decades of walking alongside people in mourning. Drawing on both professional expertise and her own personal losses, Kelly offers a compassionate, practical look at how grief lives in us over time—and how we can begin to support ourselves and each other through it.
Kelly and Heather explore the impact of early grief, the importance of community, and why schools and workplaces need to become more grief-informed. They also discuss trauma, brain-based therapies like brainspotting, and how Kelly helps clients reconnect to the lives and love behind the loss. Whether you're in the depths of it or walking beside someone who is, this conversation is honest, insightful, and deeply human.
Resources & Ways to Connect
Kelly’s Website: https://www.glgrief.com
APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast
Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughterJ
ake’s Help from Heaven Website: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/
Jake’s Help from Heaven Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp
Jake’s Help from Heaven Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelp
Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aplaceofyespodcast

Dr. Anja Wurm is a veterinarian who specializes in at-home euthanasia—helping families say goodbye to their beloved pets in the comfort of their own space. This conversation explores how grief, dignity, and compassion come together in those final moments, and why this work has become the most meaningful part of her career.
Topics include how to prepare for a pet’s death, how to support children through the process, and the importance of truly listening to animals when they can no longer speak for themselves. Dr. Wurm also shares her own relationship with grief, how boundaries help protect emotional presence, and why a “good death” is possible when we create the right conditions for it.
Resources & Ways to ConnectAPOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcastHeather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughterJake’s Help from Heaven Website: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/Jake’s Help from Heaven Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelpJake’s Help from Heaven Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelpYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aplaceofyespodcast