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Getting Back Up: Finding Life After Death (Season 1)

Episode 20: Children and Grief with Kelly Medvin (LPC)

In this episode, Jamal and Dave sit down with Kelly Medvin, a licensed professional counselor from New Jersey whose work with grieving families began with her own story—losing her sister suddenly and stepping in to support her young nieces and nephews through unimaginable pain. That personal loss became the foundation for a career dedicated to helping children process grief in ways that are honest, age-appropriate, and rooted in emotional safety.

Together, they explore the most common signs of grief in children, how adults can create safe spaces for hard conversations, and what it means to guide a child through loss without rushing their healing. Kelly shares powerful tips for parents, teachers, and loved ones—reminding us that children don’t always grieve out loud, but they’re always feeling. If you’ve ever wondered how to show up for a child who’s hurting, this episode offers both heart and how-to.

Getting Back Up: Finding Life After Death is a podcast that explores the raw, unfiltered reality of surviving profound personal loss—and finding a way forward. The idea for the podcast was born after David and Jamal met in 2023. Both widowers, who had lost their wives to cancer, quickly found a deep connection through multiple conversations about pain, perseverance, and parenthood. They realized that while men often bond over music, sports, or TV, they rarely speak candidly about loss or emotional recovery. Getting Back Up was created to change that narrative—blending the everyday with the existential in a format that’s as relatable as it is real.

Thank you for your support!

Hosts: David McClain & Jamal Jones
Executive Directors: Marlon Jackson & Ted Winner (Like A Gazelle Productions)
Editing: Chris Gazzo (Reel Media)
Music:
- Grenada, "Treasure"
- McDonald, Otis, "Phife for Life", otismusic.com

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