If you’ve ever felt trapped by stress or grief, episode 388 of Grief and Happiness offers a science-backed way out. Stanford physician Dr. Greg Hammer shares the four-step practice that helped him find peace after losing his son—and that can rewire your brain for calm and gratitude. Blending neuroscience, mindfulness, and lived experience, he proves that happiness isn’t luck—it’s something you can train.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

(01:01) Dr. Greg Hammer’s path from ICU medicine to mindfulness and wellness

(03:37) Why A Mindful Teen was written for parents, not teens

(04:32) The modern pressures today’s teens face—and how to help

(07:21) The GAIN method: Gratitude, Acceptance, Intention, Non-Judgment

(10:40) How acceptance helped Dr. Hammer heal after losing his son

(15:51) The science behind mindful breathing and calm

(19:47) How listing “three good things” boosts happiness and sleep

(22:50) Facing grief vs. suppressing it—how to tell the difference

(27:40) Healing through writing letters to lost loved ones

(29:44) Why parents must model gratitude and openness

(37:51) Forgiving yourself and letting go of judgment

(43:20) Why most of what we stress about doesn’t matter

Dr. Greg Hammer is a Stanford physician, wellness expert, and bestselling author devoted to helping people build happiness and resilience through mindfulness and science. After 35 years as a professor and pediatric intensive-care specialist at Stanford, he shifted his focus to stress reduction and well-being. His book Gain Without Pain introduced the GAIN method—Gratitude, Acceptance, Intention, and Non-Judgment—as a practical path to balance and fulfillment, followed by A Mindful Teen, guiding parents and educators to better support today’s youth.

In this episode, Dr. Hammer shares how his GAIN practice turns grief, stress, and self-criticism into calm and connection. Drawing on personal loss and decades of experience, he shows how gratitude and acceptance can rewire the brain toward positivity, and how mindful breathing resets the body by activating the vagus nerve. Addressing modern teen pressures—from social media to anxiety about the future—he urges adults to lead by example through compassion, presence, and forgiveness.

Connect with Dr. Greg Hammer:

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A Mindful Teen Website

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Book: Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief

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What are you holding on to? What can you let go?

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If you’ve ever been told to “stay strong” after loss, episode 386 will change how you see strength. Life coach Shruti Trivedi shares her journey through the loss of three babies and the 11 years she spent suppressing her pain. Through therapy and her “three A’s”—acknowledge, accept, and address—she discovered that true healing begins when you stop hiding your grief. Her story is a raw reminder that facing pain is often the first step toward peace.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

(00:53) Shruti’s introduction and the losses that changed her life

(02:04) The 11-year silence before seeking therapy—and how it transformed her healing

(05:01) Why pregnancy loss is so misunderstood and often dismissed

(08:35) Teaching children emotional honesty through shared grief

(10:37) How Shruti helped her daughters honor their twin brothers each year

(14:43) What to say—and what not to say—to someone grieving a loss

(18:41) How fathers grieve differently and why their pain is often invisible

(21:05) The danger of masking pain and the stigma around showing emotion

(25:47) The “mental tumor” effect of unspoken grief and how to cleanse it

(30:00) Finding peace through naming, remembering, and continuing bonds with lost babies

Shruti Trivedi is a Certified Life Coach, PMP®, and founder of Tulsi Heals Life Coaching, where she helps women and parents navigate grief and emotional healing with empathy and structure. After spending over 13 years in IT consulting and leadership, her own experience of losing three babies—one early miscarriage and identical twin boys at 23 weeks—transformed her life’s direction. That profound loss inspired her to become an advocate for mental health awareness, emotional resilience, and self-compassion, using both her professional background and personal story to guide others through recovery.

In this conversation, Shruti shares how she spent 11 years suppressing her grief before finally seeking therapy, a decision that became the foundation of her healing. She introduces her “three A’s” approach—acknowledge, accept, and address—as a framework for moving through pain rather than escaping it. With honesty and warmth, she discusses letting go of guilt, showing vulnerability to her children, and redefining strength as the ability to feel deeply. Her story reminds listeners that healing begins with allowing space for emotion—and that offering presence and compassion often means more than finding the perfect words.

Connect with Shruti Trivedi:

LinkedIn

Substack

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TikTok

Let's Connect:

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The Grief and Happiness Alliance

Book: Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.