Episode #008 Living With Grief with Justine Monahan

In this soul-baring episode, Laura sits down with Justine Monahan — an Australian expat, mother, and widow — to unravel the brutal and beautiful aftermath of death. Justine’s story is shaped by love, loss, and choice. Her dad died when she was a teenager, and later her mom also died—giving Justine early experiences with grief that marked her path.

She and her husband, Bob, built a life together in motion, full of travel, shared dreams, and eventually a home in Portland, OR. When Bob received a terminal diagnosis, he eventually chose Death with Dignity—a decision Justine supported, even as it left her navigating the painful aftermath. Suddenly, she found herself moving from partner and caregiver to solo parent, and facing a new chapter that hadn't been a part of the original plan. This isn’t just a story about grief. It’s about survival. Choice. Reinvention. The messy, magnificent aftermath of being broken open and choosing to keep breathing anyway.

With unflinching honesty and tenderness, Justine speaks about the hollow nights, the sorrow, the rituals, and the everyday bravery of showing up for a life she didn’t expect or envision. She takes us inside the beauty of death, and the relentless, sacred work of healing while mothering. Laura and Justine don’t shy away from the hard stuff. Together, they hold space for the deep ache of grief. They talk about love after loss, rebuilding in ruins, and how to create a new rhythm when an old one vanishes.