Good Grief: Life After Loss

Linh’s Story: Living Again After Loss and Seeking Justice

In this deeply moving episode, Skylar sits down with Linh Luu, who survived a tragic and preventable car accident that took the lives of her boyfriend, Misha Romanenko, and her beloved dog, Keeper. Linh shares her journey of living again after profound loss, and coping with the waves of grief, navigating painful words from others, and finding healing through advocacy.
From her brave decision to share her story openly on TikTok, to the unexpected moments that have shaped her path, Linh’s story is one of resilience, love, and the fight for justice. Whether you’re grieving yourself or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers hope, compassion, and a reminder that even in the darkest times, healing is possible.
Links: • Linh’s TikTok
• ABC 7 News Article
• SFDA’s email: districtattorney@sfgov.org 
• DA Brooke Jenkins X profile: https://x.com/brookejenkinssf?s=21
 
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If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal atskylar@livelikesam.org

What to Do With What’s Left, Part 1: Ashes

In the first episode of this 3-part series, What to Do With What’s Left, Skylar explores one of the most surreal and emotional parts of early grief: ashes.
She shares personal stories from losing her brother Sam, the strange reality of receiving his ashes, and the quiet, often unspoken decisions families face around burial vs. cremation and how that choice can shape how we grieve.
Skylar walks listeners through some of the awkward, beautiful, and deeply human moments that come with deciding what to do with what’s left.
She also offers thoughtful suggestions for others navigating this stage of grief, from meaningful places to scatter ashes to the unconventional ways people carry their loved ones with them.
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If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal atskylar@livelikesam.org

Coming Home, Again: Where Grief Still Lives and Love Still Grows

What happens when you return - year after year - to the place where your person lived, and where their presence still lingers? In this episode, Skylar shares what it’s like to be home in Park City, almost ten years after losing her brother Sam. She reflects on the comfort of being surrounded by people who knew him, the power of talking about loss openly, and how grief and love can continue to live side by side, long after the world moves on.
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If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal atskylar@livelikesam.org

I’m Not Going to Break: The Assumptions People Make About Grievers

In this episode, Skylar opens up about the quiet assumptions people make about grievers, and why those assumptions often miss the mark. After losing her brother Sam, some people held back from sharing their own struggles, believing nothing could compare to her loss. Others saw her as fragile or defined entirely by her grief. Skylar shares her personal experience navigating these perceptions and offers honest insight into what grieving people really wish others understood. Whether you’re grieving yourself or supporting someone who is, this conversation is for you.
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Follow Good Grief: Life After Loss on Instagram @goodgrief.pod
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If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal atskylar@livelikesam.org

When Fireworks Ruin the Party: The Loneliness of Grief in Happy Moments

What happens when your grief ruins a good time? Skylar shares the story of how a backyard Fourth of July party - and one unexpected Katy Perry song - triggered a tidal wave of emotion. She opens up about the invisible ache of grieving in public, the mental gymnastics of pretending you’re fine, and the isolation that lingers years after a loss.
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Follow Good Grief: Life After Loss on Instagram @goodgrief.pod
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If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal atskylar@livelikesam.org 

Audrey’s Story: Early Grief After Losing Her Mom to Suicide

Audrey shares her experience of losing her mom unexpectedly to suicide. She discusses the shock of sudden loss, the guilt and “what ifs” that followed, and the steps that helped her begin to heal. This episode offers an honest and tender conversation about life after unimaginable loss.
**This podcast is marked "explicit" due to the sensitive nature of the topic of suicide. There is no profanity or inappropriate content in this podcast episode.**
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Follow Good Grief: Life After Loss on Instagram @goodgrief.pod
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If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal atskylar@livelikesam.org 

What Not to Say to Someone Who Is Grieving

People mean well, but sometimes the things they say after a loss hurt more than they help. In this episode, Skylar shares the most common phrases not to say to someone who is grieving, why they can be harmful, and what to say instead. Whether you’re grieving or supporting someone who is, this is a must listen.
Whats something someone said to you after loss that hurt or helped? Comment down below!
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If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal at skylar@livelikesam.org

The Guilt of Growth: When Good Things Come from Loss

Skylar opens up about the guilt of growing after loss - wondering if the best things in her life, like her TEDx Talk, getting into her dream college, and this podcast, only happened because her brother Sam died. Skylar asks the hard questions many grievers are afraid to voice: Would I be who I am if my brother hadn’t died? Do I only stand out because of my grief?
 If you’ve ever felt guilt for growing after loss, or wondered whether it’s okay to thrive in the aftermath of tragedy, this episode is for you. 
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Follow Good Grief: Life After Loss on Instagram: @goodgrief.pod
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If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal at skylar@livelikesam.org
 

Finding Your Ritual: Honoring the Ones We Lost

In this episode, Skylar reflects on what would’ve been her brother Sam’s 26th birthday and the upcoming Father’s Day—two reminders of love and loss. She shares why honoring the people we’ve lost still matters, even as the years go on, and explores the pressure to “feel it” in a certain way. From lighting candles to making their favorite meal, Skylar offers gentle ideas for creating personal rituals that keep their memory alive.
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Follow Good Grief: Life After Loss on Instagram: @goodgrief.pod
Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork
If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal at skylar@livelikesam.org

Sam Walsh on the Inspiration Behind Grief Group

In this heartfelt episode, Skylar sits down with Sam Walsh, the founder of the Grief Group at Park City High School and a key figure in her own grief journey. Sam shares how the group began, what it’s been like to support grieving teens over the years, and the lessons she’s learned about holding space for young people navigating loss.
With warmth, wisdom, and deep compassion, Sam offers thoughtful insights for anyone grieving or supporting someone who is. This conversation is a powerful reminder that healing often begins when someone simply shows up.
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Follow Good Grief: Life After Loss on Instagram: @goodgrief.pod
Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork
If you have any questions please email Skylar Jackenthal at skylar@livelikesam.org