Explore how the art of poetry transforms pain into resilience and helps navigate life’s toughest moments.

In today’s episode, I’m joined by the renowned voice actor, author, and poetry Therapy facilitator Bill Ratner. Bill brings a deeply personal and insightful perspective to the episode, sharing the profound impact of early losses on his emotional and creative development. He reveals intimate stories from his life, delving into themes of grief, healing, and personal growth. 

Throughout this episode, Bill reflects on his mother’s remarkable approach to discussing her terminal illness with him as a child, the role of therapy in his life, and the complex dynamics of his family after tragedy. Bill’s stories are rich with introspection, exploring how grief influenced his Relationships, career, and eventual passion for writing.

Highlighting his work as a poetry therapy facilitator, Bill explains how writing provides a safe outlet for emotional expression, both for himself and for those he teaches. He discusses the process behind his poetry and the intention behind his new book, which blends dark humor and grief into a reflective narrative. His contributions offer a message of hope, emphasizing the value of creativity and connection in navigating loss.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• A life shaped by loss (0:59)
• The power of early emotional support (6:14)
• A second mom and her struggles (15:31)
• Adolescence, anger, and diverging paths (20:44)
•  The healing power of poetry therapy (29:15)
• The creation of Lamenting While Doing Laps in the Lake (31:10)
• A journey from estrangement to connection (34:11)
• Closing Reflections: Embracing Creativity for Healing (37:30)

Connect with Bill Ratner:

• Website
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• X
• Get Bill’s books!

Let’s Connect:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Pinterest
• The Grief and Happiness Alliance
• Book: Emily Thiroux Threatt – Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief

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Emily Thiroux Threatt Podcast Host, Facilitator, Author

Having gone through the experience of the deaths of so many loved ones, I have learned to face life with love, optimism, and joy.

I have kept journals and written to express myself most of my life which led me to a career of teaching writing and writing books. I naturally turned to writing to help deal with my grief, then I discovered I could use writing to help friends deal with grief, too.

In contemplating how I could best help the grieving people I was working with, my Ignite moment came when realized the importance of helping people understand the importance of happiness and how they could grieve and be happy at the same time.

To share my message, I host the Grief and Happiness podcast, I wrote the book Loving and Living Your Way Though Grief, I facilitate weekly meetings of the Grief and Happiness Alliance, I founded the Grief and Happiness nonprofit foundation, I publish a weekly newsletter and blog, and my new book, The Grief and Happiness Handbook is coming out soon.