A farewell and a hello
2025 is bringing some big changes to Breathing Wind.
“To really allow ourselves to grieve is deeply vital, human work…
“We need to stay open to this very natural response to how we experience the big losses changes in our lives. And if we can do that — it doesn’t come at once, it doesn’t come in big ahas — but there there is transformation, and there’s healing and wisdom and creative inspiration and new perspectives. There’s so much that we have access to that we may never be moved by or never encounter if we avoid or shut down our grief.”
~ Naila Francis
In this episode, we (Sarah and Naila) sit down for our last conversation together as Breathing Wind transitions to a new chapter — which includes our appearance here on Substack, where you will find the podcast from now on.
From the podcast’s beginning with Sarah’s personal journey grieving the death of her dad to its growth during the pandemic, Sarah’s introduction to Naila, which ultimately led to her serving as co-host, and the show’s evolution from its focus primarily on parent loss to encompass more expansive experiences of grief, we reflect on coming to this moment of change.
After years of being a caregiver to her mom, Dr. Sandra Davis, while she suffered with Alzheimer’s disease, Sarah said goodbye to her in October of last year, not long after we recorded this episode. Her grief over that death surfaces in this episode, as has been our practice of making space for what’s on each other’s hearts in our conversations.
We also share what it was like to work together, what our plans are moving forward and our appreciation for this time with all of you who joined us here, whether as guests, newcomers or longtime listeners.
Breathing Wind has been such a remarkable space for both of us. The guests we’ve been so fortunate to interview — you’ll hear from several of them in this episode including co-founder of The Dinner Party Lennon Flowers, poet Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, and jazz vocalist, composer and playwright Nnenna Freelon — gifted us so much wisdom, encouragement and affirmation from their stories of grief and loss. We also look back on some special moments such as our virtual launch party to kick off Naila joining the podcast, sharing a powerful grief practice offered by Rev. Rhetta Morgan and a moving performance by singer-songwriter-pianist Julia Mark.
And speaking of Julia…it is such a joy to announce that while she may not be the podcast’s permanent new host, she will be taking over this project for us and already has some great ideas of her own moving forward. Julia brings her own experience with grief to the show, having lost her beloved husband, musician Bredon Jones, to cancer in early 2023. And we are so honored that she agreed to carry on, for however long she chooses, to nurture, as she put it, “this open arena to sit with grief.”
Julia joins us for this conversation to share some of her own thoughts about grief, ask us for our most helpful tips in hosting the podcast and also hints at what’s coming next, including her exploration of the intersection of art and grief. We hope you’ll welcome her with all the warmth and generosity you shared with us.
And if you’d like to keep up with us, you can follow both of us on Substack — Sarah at Warmly, Iowa and Naila at The Griefness — and Naila is also on Instagram.
Want to share your thoughts on this episode? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
Show notes
Mentioned in this episode:
Episode 2: Never Alone with Benjamin Gunning
Episode 13: The Space to Be Messy with Lennon Flowers
Naila’s first appearance on the podcast, interviewed by Deborah Szeto
Episode 77: Honoring the Full Range of Grief with Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
Episode 82: Surfer Dan Fischer is Shaping an Active Grief Memorial through One Last Wave Project
Episode 84: Love is the Mother of Grief with Nnenna Freelon
Episode 68: The Possibility of Pleasure with Oceana Sawyer
Season 2 Trailer: What is Healing?
Season 3 Trailer: What is Joy?
Throwing the Bones with Dr. JoAnne Dodgson
This Newsletter
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