Some holidays are just more loaded than others, depending on our individual experiences. When you’re grieving the loss of your mother — either because they’ve died or because you don’t have a relationship with them — what the heck are you supposed to do with a holiday like Mother’s Day? 

When a listener reached out to Nora after their mom died to ask for advice on moving forward, Nora decided to tap into the Terrible Rolodex of accidental grief experts … past TTFA guests and listeners and friends of the pod who have been there.

Special thanks to Kate Spencer, Jessica Pearce Rotondi, Kari Harbath, Megan Palmer, Danielle Henderson, Dani Shapiro, Dr. Anna Roth, and TTFA Listeners Jeremy, Shana, and Analisa.

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Author: American Public Media

You know how every day someone asks “how are you?” And even if you’re totally dying inside, you just say “fine,” so everyone can go about their day? This show is the opposite of that. Hosted by author (It’s Okay to Laugh (Crying Is Cool Too)) and notable widow (her words) Nora McInerny, this is a funny/sad/uncomfortable podcast about talking honestly about our pain, our awkwardness, and our humanness, which is not an actual word.