Another season has gone by, and it’s been another amazing opportunity to see how the episode topics and guests have woven organically into the theme of “positive reframing” over the last several months. Just like in Seasons 1 and 2, with the themes of “finding meaning” and “connections” respectively, it took looking back to see all the ways that this new theme continued to rise to the surface.

My amazing guests this season included sisters Kara Millerhagen & Kjersten Dysthe, Dr. Jane Oh, Wendy Benning Swanson, Dr. Joel Carter, Joy DiVincenzo, and Brian Muller returned to the studio for a second time. All of these conversations were unique, powerful, and thought-provoking.

As the show goes into a hiatus, I encourage you to take the time to listen to any shows you missed, or listen again to your favorites. If you haven’t listened to older shows, or if it’s been a while, here are the recaps of the previous two seasons, as promised on today’s episode:

This Side of the Grass: Reflections on Season 1 - on Spotify

This Side of the Grass: Reflections on Season 2 - on Spotify

Please be generous and share your favorite episode or two with a friend or loved one, and rate or review the show on your favorite podcast platform to help it grow. Thank you for listening!

If you have feedback or ideas, I’d love to hear from you as I plan what’s next for the show! To reach me, send me an email: val@thissidepodcast.com, or find me at “This Side of the Grass” on Facebook OR Instagram!

#season3episode12 #seasonfinale #reflections #positivereframe

#thisside #thissideofthegrass #thissidepodcast

#death #dying #grief #life #hope #passion #purpose #preparation

#devinefoxproductions

Today is a heartfelt and deep dive into complicated loss. Unresolved issues, being estranged, suddenness, guilt and anger are all examples of complications that could muddy the waters of grief when someone dies. On today’s episode, we hear a unique perspective from former ICU nurse, Joy DiVincenzo, who worked in the Intensive Care Unit during the Covid-19 pandemic. The fast pace of losing patients, the inability for families to be with their loved ones when they died, and the difficulty connecting and grieving with her fellow nurses because of social distancing are all pieces that Joy touches on during our conversation.

Joy’s positivity, heart, and motherly wisdom shine through in the lessons she shares with me from this time in her career that affected her on a deeply personal level. Listen with tissues handy, and maybe even a notebook and pen. There are so many thought-provoking nuggets in this episode that I know it’s one I’ll listen to again and again.

Please be generous and share this episode with a friend or loved one. I would also appreciate if you rate and review the show on your favorite podcast platform to help it grow. Thank you for listening!

If you have feedback or ideas, I’d love to hear from you! To reach me, send me an email: val@thissidepodcast.com, or find me at “This Side of the Grass” on Facebook OR Instagram!

#season3episode11 #complicatedloss #unresolvedissues #lifelessons

#thisside #thissideofthegrass #thissidepodcast

#death #dying #grief #life #hope #passion #purpose #preparation

#devinefoxproductions

‘Tis the season…. For graduations! Whether you are a graduate, have one in your family, or are just in a transition stage of life, today’s show is for you. As I was reflecting on all the graduations this time of year, I was thinking of new beginnings. And whenever something begins, something has come to an end. This season of life had me considering our ultimate endings, and how acknowledging our mortality as we move into a new chapter of life gives us the freedom to realize that we can always change our minds!

Whether you're watching your child walk across the stage, remembering your own graduation, or simply moving through a season of change, this episode invites you to think about what it really means to live fully on this side of the grass.

Please be generous to share this episode with a graduate that you love, and please also consider rating or reviewing the show to help it grow. Thank you for listening!

If you have feedback or ideas, I’d love to hear from you! To reach me, send me an email: val@thissidepodcast.com, or find me at “This Side of the Grass” on Facebook OR Instagram!

#season3episode10 #forthegraduates #graduations #newbeginnings #phasesoflife

#thisside #thissideofthegrass #thissidepodcast

#death #dying #grief #life #hope #passion #purpose #preparation

#devinefoxproductions

I am honored to have palliative care physician, Dr. Joel Carter, with me today. In addition to educating me on what this specialty is and how it differs from hospice, Dr. Carter delves into some incredibly powerful insights into just how powerful stories can be at the end of someone’s life, and shares several moving stories of his own.

Joel Carter is an accomplished Palliative Care specialist, author, storyteller and artist. Dr. Carter transitioned to Palliative Care in 2002 after being awarded a Bush Medical Fellowship by the Archibald Bush Foundation to pursue interests in End of Life Medicine and Physician Leadership. He completed his fellowship at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard University and training at the Physician Leadership College at the University of St. Thomas.

The quote Dr. Carter shared was by Leslie Marmon Silko, “I will tell you something about stories…”

References from today’s show:

• Dr. Carter’s TEDx Winnipeg talk, “Meaning, Purpose and Stories at the End of Life”: https://youtu.be/6inEsa7DCUM
• Dr. Carter’s books: Lava Lamp Lessons, by Joel Carter & Rockpeople: Beyond Chester Creek, by Joel Carter

If you have a topic or guest idea, I’d love to hear from you! To reach me, send me an email: val@thissidepodcast.com, or find me at “This Side of the Grass” on Facebook OR Instagram!

#season3episode9 #drjoelcarter #palliativecare #thepowerofstories

#thisside #thissideofthegrass #thissidepodcast

#death #dying #grief #life #hope #passion #purpose #preparation

#devinefoxproductions

Wendy Benning Swanson is my guest today! She is a spiritual guide, healer, and teacher in the mysteries of life. “Her purpose is to support people in finding their inner light which will allow them to align with their most powerful self.” (wendybenningswanson.com)

She found her purpose through a winding journey after significant loss in her life – not only her parents, but her first husband, Steve. This loss was significant and sudden, leaving Wendy as a widow in her early 30s with a 1-year-old son, and unending questions about why. After their son got a little older, he started to share with Wendy that he could see his dad. These observations, as well as other signs that seemed out of the ordinary, brought up more questions about what happens to us after we die. Wendy’s quest for knowledge took her on retreats and meditations, and eventually to the Modern Mystery School where she started to find answers to her questions.

She shares with me today how she now helps others to find their healing and align with their Divine Potential. As she states so beautifully during our conversation, “This is just one stop on our journey, but an important one.”

References from today’s show:

• Learn more about Wendy and her healing practice here: wendybenningswanson.com
• Wendy's first book, "Finding Joy After Loss; My Journey Through Grief" on Amazon

Be sure to search “Wendy Benning Swanson” on Amazon in the Summer of 2025 (and beyond!) for her new book about her spiritual journey.

If you have a topic or guest idea, I’d love to hear from you! To reach me, send me an email: val@thissidepodcast.com, or find me at “This Side of the Grass” on Facebook OR Instagram!

#season3episode8 #wendybenningswanson #mystical #findingjoyafterloss

#thisside #thissideofthegrass #thissidepodcast

#death #dying #grief #life #hope #passion #purpose #preparation

#devinefoxproductions

I’m so honored to have Brian Muller back with me today! If you have not heard our first conversation from about a year ago, please listen here first: Putting Pain Into Purpose: A Conversation with Brian Muller - This Side of the Grass. His story is incredibly powerful and moving – and since our last episode together, he has finished writing a book that he started 15 years ago.

In his professional life as a financial advisor, Brian owns Momentous Wealth Advisors. His podcast, called Wealth Decisions by Brian, can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Listen here: Wealth Decisions by Brian podcast, on Spotify

But Brian is more than a financial advisor, business owner and podcast host. He’s a dad, partner, son, friend, musician, pickle-ball enthusiast, and intentional human who has developed the M.A.D.E. Life framework to help others to live more intentionally, meaningfully and in a purpose-driven way. His book is sure to help many, many people! “Momentous Decisions” will be out in August of 2025. Pre-order here: Momentous Decisions: 7 Steps to Better Health, More Wealth and a Richer Life by Brian D. Muller, Hardcover | Barnes & Noble®

If you have a topic or guest idea, I’d love to hear from you! To reach me, send me an email: val@thissidepodcast.com, or find me at “This Side of the Grass” on Facebook OR Instagram!

#season3episode7 #momentousdecisions #wealthdecisions #MADELife #healthiswealth

#thisside #thissideofthegrass #thissidepodcast

#death #dying #grief #life #hope #passion #purpose #preparation

#devinefoxproductions

Today’s amazing guest is Dr. Jane Oh. After practicing internal medicine for 30 years, Dr. Oh was looking for a new challenge, while also watching her patients age. Transitioning to hospice care seemed a natural next step to help provide comfort and support for her patients. This conversation provides clarity in a field that many perceive and assume to be just a death sentence. There is so much more to this alternative, and Dr. Oh has such a beautiful perspective.

Because physicians are trained to heal and fix, educating more physicians about this as an option sooner is another challenge that Dr. Oh faces in her field. She speaks to how the hospice team is not just there for the patient, but also for the family of the individual that is looking for healing beyond the physical. And the options go beyond just keeping someone comfortable at the very end of life!

“What’s most important to you if something happens?” is a great question to start this conversation while you have the opportunity. Please share this important episode with your loved ones!

Podcast episodes mentioned in the show:

Healthcare Documentation - This Side of the Grass episode with Katie Novak, R.N.

A Process for Finding Purpose: Do THIS to Build the Life You Want - Mel Robbins

A Perspective on Death at the End of Life - This Side of the Grass episode with Val's Grandmother

Books mentioned in the show:

The Four Things That Matter Most – Ira Byock, MD

Being Mortal - Atul Gawande

If you have a topic or guest idea, I’d love to hear from you! To reach me, send me an email: val@thissidepodcast.com, or find me at “This Side of the Grass” on Facebook OR Instagram!

#season3episode6 #hospice #endoflifecare #comfort #options #beingmortal

#thisside #thissideofthegrass #thissidepodcast

#death #dying #grief #life #hope #passion #purpose #preparation

#devinefoxproductions

Today’s episode features musical sisters Kjersten Dysthe and Kara Millerhagen, from the Minnesota musical group, Sister. Through their beautiful words, songs and stories, they have shared their gifts with one another and their audiences going back to childhood. Starting as a trio, with their sister Alisa, they evolved from young women into mothers who bonded in this shared human experience that inspired original music, poetry and shows.

After losing Alisa to a brief and tragic battle with cancer in 2018, these remaining two sisters were in a holding pattern with their remaining family, ultimately also losing their dad to cancer in late 2024. In the wake of these losses, this talented duo has found their new voices in helping others going through grief. Be sure to listen until the very end, as they sing a live version of their original song, “Windflower.”

Links mentioned in the show:

Blaze Orange is the New Black, by Sister - Highlights on YouTube

Sister’s album, “Child” on Spotify

Consistency vs. Motivation

If you have a topic or guest idea, I’d love to hear from you! To reach me, send me an email: val@thissidepodcast.com, or find me at “This Side of the Grass” on Facebook OR Instagram!

#season3episode5 #sisters #music #windflower #waterinminnesota

#thisside #thissideofthegrass #thissidepodcast

#death #dying #grief #life #hope #passion #purpose #preparation

#devinefoxproductions