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Hope after Loss... Gentle conversations for grieving hearts

Hope after Loss... Gentle conversations for grieving hearts

By: Marilyn Burns M.S. L.P.C.C. Author
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Hello, and welcome to Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief.


My name is Marilyn Burns. I’m a licensed mental health counselor with 48 years of experience, an author, and a mother.

I'm creating this podcast several years after losing my son, Chris, to addiction. Learning first hand how to grieve with grace and hope is what it took for me to help you on your journey.

Grief is something we don’t talk about enough… especially the kind of grief that begins long before a loss actually happens. As parents, we often live with the fear that something could happen at any moment. And when it does, life changes in ways we never imagined.

In this space, we will have gentle, honest conversations about grief… about love, about loss, and about what it means to keep living when your heart is broken.

I will share my personal journey, the lessons I’ve learned over time, and the experiences of others who are walking this path.

We will talk about the hard things—guilt, regret, trauma, and the feeling that you don’t recognize your life anymore.

But we will also talk about hope.

About how love does not end.

About how we carry our children with us in ways we may not fully understand.

And about how, even in the deepest pain, there are moments that begin to bring us back to ourselves.

If you are grieving… if you feel alone… or if you are trying to understand how to move forward…

This space is for you.

You are not alone.



If you have a question or a topic that you would like me to gently explore,
you’re welcome to email me at hopeafterlosspodcast@gmail.com.

While I’m not able to provide individual counseling through email,
I would be honored to hold your question and possibly share it in a future episode so others may feel less alone.


This podcast is dedicated to my son, Chris.

This is Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief with Marilyn Burns.

I’m so glad you’re here.


Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional counseling, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or need support, please contact a licensed professional or appropriate services in your area.© 2026 Hope after Loss... Gentle conversations for grieving hearts Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • Faith After Loss Finding Strength in Something Greater Than Your Pain

    Faith After Loss Finding Strength in Something Greater Than Your Pain
    May 23 2026

    Episode 6: Faith After Loss: Finding Strength in Something Greater Than Your Pain

    Grief has a way of shaking not only our hearts, but our beliefs.

    In this episode of Hope After Loss, Marilyn Burns, M.S., L.P.C.C., explores what happens when loss leaves us questioning faith, meaning, and the very things that once grounded us.

    Whether your comfort comes through God, prayer, spiritual connection, nature, the universe, or simply the hope that something greater exists beyond your pain, this conversation offers gentle encouragement for the grieving heart.

    If you’ve ever asked:
    Why did this happen?
    Where was God?
    How do I keep going when life no longer makes sense?

    This episode is for you.

    Healing does not require perfect faith—only a willingness to remain open to comfort, meaning, and light.

    💛 Questions around faith inspired Marilyn’s children’s book, Where Are You, God?

    Send us Fan Mail

    Thank you for listening to Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief.

    If this episode spoke to you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need support.

    This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.

    If you have a question or a topic that you would like me to gently explore,
    you’re welcome to email me at [your email].

    While I’m not able to provide individual counseling through email,
    I would be honored to hold your question and possibly share it in a future episode
    so others may feel less alone.
    Show More Show Less
    17 mins
  • Who Am I Now? Identity After Loss

    Who Am I Now? Identity After Loss
    May 15 2026

    Grief doesn't just change our lives--it can change our sense of self. In this episode of Hope After Loss, Marilyn Burns M.S., L.P.C.C. explores the deep sense of identity loss that often follows grief. When we lose someone we love, we don’t just lose the person — we also lose the parts of self connected to them, the roles we carried, and the life we once knew.

    Through compassionate reflection and emotional insight, Marilyn discusses the importance of embracing the changes happening within and around us. Although grief changes us forever, learning to walk through life without our loved one can slowly shape a new version of ourselves — one built from love, resilience, growth, and healing.

    This episode is a gentle reminder that becoming “someone new” after loss is not betrayal… it is part of surviving.

    grief may quietly reshape who we are becoming.

    Send us Fan Mail

    Thank you for listening to Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief.

    If this episode spoke to you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need support.

    This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.

    If you have a question or a topic that you would like me to gently explore,
    you’re welcome to email me at [your email].

    While I’m not able to provide individual counseling through email,
    I would be honored to hold your question and possibly share it in a future episode
    so others may feel less alone.
    Show More Show Less
    17 mins
  • Finding Your Way Through the Darkness of Grief

    Finding Your Way Through the Darkness of Grief
    Apr 26 2026

    Grief can feel like darkness—quiet, heavy, and hard to move through.

    In this episode, Marilyn gently explores what it means to live in that darkness, and how we begin, slowly and softly, to find our way again.

    When we are grieving, it’s common to feel lost, disconnected, and unsure of who we are or how to move forward. This isn’t weakness—it’s the mind and body trying to cope with something overwhelming.

    Through both personal experience and professional insight, Marilyn offers a compassionate perspective on grief and reminds us that we don’t have to find our way all at once.

    Sometimes… it begins with one small step.

    If you are moving through the darkness of grief, this episode is a gentle place to pause, breathe, and remember—you are not alone.

    This is Hope After Loss — gentle conversations for grieving hearts.

    Send us Fan Mail

    Thank you for listening to Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief.

    If this episode spoke to you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need support.

    This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.

    If you have a question or a topic that you would like me to gently explore,
    you’re welcome to email me at [your email].

    While I’m not able to provide individual counseling through email,
    I would be honored to hold your question and possibly share it in a future episode
    so others may feel less alone.
    Show More Show Less
    15 mins
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