Nobody tells you what the first year of grief is actually going to feel like. Not the forgetting. Not the exhaustion. Not the moment when the casseroles are gone, the phone stops ringing, and the full weight of it finally hits you. In this special bonus episode of the GRIEF Ladies Podcast, Kelly Daugherty and Karyn Arnold talk about their brand-new book — The First Year After Loss — the first in their Grief Brain Reader series, launching June 16th on Amazon.
They share: • Why they wrote this book — and who it’s really for • The grief reactions that feel terrifying but are completely normal • The grief box analogy: why your box gets bigger, not your ball smaller • What “grief brain” is and why it changes how you read, remember, and focus • Why the Grief Brain Reader series is intentionally short, digestible, and accessible • How Family and friends can use this book to better support the people they Love “Grief is not over after one year — it evolves.”
Whether you’re newly bereaved, supporting someone who is, or years into your grief journey, this episode will remind you that what you’re feeling is real, it’s valid, and you are not going crazy.
The First Year After Loss is available June 16th on Amazon.
As always, we close with an actionable step: find your support, tether yourself to something, and believe that help makes a difference.
GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next
If you’re ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you.
🎧 Follow and connect: https://www.griefladies.com/
Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/ Karyn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/
Stay up to date with all the latest information about The GRIEF Ladies- Sign up for our newsletter at: www.griefladies.com
Join the FREE, Private Facebook GRIEF Ladies Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/
The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers Education and support for people living with grief after someone they love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional Mental Health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services.
Guest perspectives shared on this platform are their own and may not reflect the views or positions of The Grief Ladies.
The GRIEF Ladies grew from decades of clinical work, community building, and lived experience. It isn’t a checklist to “get over it.” It’s a path you can re-enter on the hardest days and the ordinary ones.
Kelly Daugherty from Center for Informed Grief and Karyn Arnold of Grief in Common first connected when Kelly was leading a collaborative grief book project and posted in a Facebook group looking for authors. Karyn responded, and from their very first conversation, the connection was instant. They discovered a shared passion for supporting grieving individuals and striking similarities in their approaches and professional paths. Both had worked in hospice, and both believed that there are practical tools that can truly help support someone on their grief journey.
That first book became The Grief Experience: Tools for Acceptance, Resilience, and Connection. From there, their collaboration grew naturally. What began with one project has blossomed into an ongoing partnership including building frameworks, workshops, and now the GRIEF Ladies Podcast to help others navigate life after loss with honesty and hope. Sign up for their newsletter to stay informed about their future ventures!
Karyn Arnold has served grievers for 25+ years as a facilitator, educator, and the founder of Grief in Common, an online community that connects people by shared experiences of loss. With a background in psychology and mind–body work, Karyn blends evidence-informed practice with simple daily actions that help people steady themselves and find support. She has guided thousands of grievers through groups, workshops, and online programs, and partners with clinicians and organizations to make grief resources easier to find and use.
Kelly Daugherty, LCSW-R, FT, BCC, is a clinician, educator, board-certified coach, and founder of the Center for Informed Grief in Malta, NY. A Fellow in Thanatology, Kelly has worked with individuals and families across hospice, schools, and private practice for over two decades. Her commitment to grief work began after her mother’s death during Kelly’s teen years, shaping a career focused on practical, compassionate support. Kelly develops trainings for educators and mental-health professionals, consults with schools on grief-informed practices, and leads community programs that normalize grief while teaching concrete skills. She believes accessible, plain-language tools can change how communities show up for one another.
