⚠️ CONTENT WARNING ⚠️

This episode contains discussion of suicide and grief related to suicide loss. We share personal stories about losing loved ones to suicide, which may be difficult or triggering for some listeners.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out for help:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (available 24/7 in the U.S.)

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

International Association for Suicide Prevention: https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/

You are not alone, and there is always help available. Your life matters.

We approach this topic with care and respect, but we understand it may not be appropriate for everyone at this time. Please prioritize your mental health and well-being.

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We're talking about death today - not in a morbid way, but in the honest, vulnerable way most people avoid their entire lives. Despite being friends for nearly 40 years, Jolene and I (Nicole) realized we'd never actually discussed death, dying, and what we believe comes after. So we decided to have that conversation. The one that makes most people uncomfortable but that everyone needs to have at some point.

Jolene's first confrontation with death came at 16 when her friend Stacy died by suicide - a traumatic event that shattered her worldview and taught her about grief's unexpected manifestations. My wake-up call was losing a college boyfriend, which propelled me to cherish life more acutely and ignited my awareness of life's fragility. Later, watching my mother disappear to dementia taught me that you can grieve someone long before their actual death. These experiences shaped how we each understand mortality and what matters most.

Our beliefs about what happens after death are different but lead to similar conclusions. Jolene, as a Catholic Christian, believes in heaven and eternal life - finding comfort in the idea that death is a transition, not an ending, and that even tragedy is part of God's plan. I don't subscribe to traditional heaven or hell, but I'm fascinated by the energy and signs that seem to accompany those who've passed. Whether those signs are real or just comfort my brain creates doesn't matter, they connect me to people I've lost and remind me that love endures.

Despite our different frameworks, we agree on what's fundamental: death is both universal and deeply personal. Talking about it openly diminishes fear's hold and brings us closer. We're urging you to have these conversations with people you love - discuss what you believe, what you fear, what you hope. Don't wait for the "right time" because there isn't one. The right time is now, before you're forced to have the conversation in a crisis.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Good for the Soul

Mo News

https://www.youtube.com/moshehnews

https://www.instagram.com/mosheh/?hl=en

LINKS:

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk

How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/

How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/