Stillbirth grief is one of the most misunderstood and isolating experiences a Family can go through — and Vallen Webb knows this firsthand. After the stillbirth of her daughter Evelyn in 2019, Vallen navigated postpartum Depression, rage, isolation, a husband deployed overseas who never got to hold his daughter, and a cascade of secondary losses that took years to untangle.
In this episode, Vallen shares what she wishes society understood about stillbirth and infant loss, how disenfranchised grief shows up for bereaved families, and why routine became her survival tool when everything else felt out of control. She also offers four simple but powerful self-care anchors — sun, movement, water, and Sleep — and talks honestly about how she continues to honor Evelyn seven years later.
Her mission says it all: grief doesn’t need fixing. It needs witnessing.
Guest Bio: Vallen Webb is a bereaved mother, postpartum and bereavement doula, and founder of Evelyn James & Co. a grief-informed training and resource hub for loss families and the professionals who support them. After the stillbirth of her daughter Evelyn, Vallen experienced intense postpartum depression, rage, and isolation—experiences she now speaks about to bring voice to the often-hidden truths of loss and Motherhood. Through Education, storytelling, and advocacy, she helps families feel seen in their sorrow and trains providers to hold space with compassion. Her mission is clear: grief doesn’t need fixing—it needs witnessing.
Connect with Vallen:
www.evelynjamesandco.com
www.evelynjames.shop
@evelynjamesandco
GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next
If you’re ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you.
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Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/ Karyn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/
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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.
