Welcome to the first episode of Crying Out Loud. I’m Dr. Laura Berman, and this podcast is for anyone who has lost someone, loves someone who’s grieving, or longing for support in carrying  the weight of their pain. It’s the grief companion I wish I had, where science, psychology, and spirituality meet, and where practical tools help you heal.

Five years ago, I never imagined I would be here. I was a well-known and busy  love and relationship expert. But on February 7, 2021, my 16-year-old son Sammy was sent a drug dealer by Snapchat who sold him counterfeit drugs laced with  fentanyl. I had experienced painful loss before,both my parents, my grandmothers and others close to me. But suffice it to say,  Sammy’s death showed me how much the heart can hold.

Grief can transform you. Not because it gets smaller, but because we grow bigger around it. In this episode, I share some of my grief journey and what I’ve learned is possible in healing. 

We explore: 

• The story of Sammy’s passing

• Why grief is not something to fix or finish

• The Six Pillars of Healing that changed my life and can change yours

• How to surf the waves of grief instead of drowning in them

• How grief can become a portal of transformation

• The concept of “getting bigger” around your grief

• Why it’s important to never  apologize for crying

• How loss reshapes friendships and relationships

• What it means to continue loving someone beyond form

This episode is about living your truth, feeling your feelings, and letting love continue beyond form. 

If you want to share your story or have questions, email me at cryingoutloudpod@gmail.com. Check out The Losing Sammy Diaries at your leisure to get a sense of how grief evolves over time, and if you want to get healing support and connect with others on the same path, visit the Grief Healing Collective. None of us were meant to grieve alone. Let’s cry out loud together.