What to Say (and Not Say) to Some...

What to Say (and Not Say) to Someone Grieving: Expert Advice from a Grief Educator

AI
The Care Collective Podcast by Mikayla Cluxton
S1 · E36
May 5, 2026
52:36

Episode notes

Grief is something we will all experience, but most people don’t know what to say or how to show up when someone is hurting.

In this episode of The Care Collective Podcast, I’m joined by grief educator and registered nurse Jane Dye to talk about what grief really looks like, and how to support someone through it without causing more harm.

We dive into the difference between grief and mourning, why grief isn’t linear, and how anticipatory grief shows up for caregivers before a loss even happens. Jane shares powerful insights from both her professional experience and personal loss, helping you better understand what grieving people actually need.

We also talk about the most common things people say that can unintentionally hurt, and what to say instead if you truly want to support someone through loss.

Whether you’re navigating grief yourself or trying to support someone you love, this conversation will help you feel more grounded, more prepared, and less alone.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

  • What grief actually is (and why it’s more than just loss)
  • The difference between grief and mourning
  • What not to say to someone who is grieving
  • What grieving people truly need instead
  • How to support someone without trying to “fix” their pain
  • What anticipatory grief looks like for caregivers
  • Why grief isn’t linear—and never follows a timeline
  • How to communicate your needs when you’re the one grieving

Resources & Links:

Connect with Jane Dye: Website: jankdye.com

Listen to The Care Collective Podcast

Follow the podcast and find all episodes here: https://linktr.ee/Carecollectivepodcast

About The Care Collective Podcast

The Care Collective Podcast shares honest conversations about caregiving, aging, grief, resilience, and the emotional realities of supporting the people we love. Our goal is to help caregivers feel seen, supported, and less alone.

Keywords

Caregiving
death
grief
End of life
dementia care
Memory care
terminal illness