The Grieving Journey Podcast
When people hear the word “grief,” it’s often associated with the loss of a loved one. But grief extends far beyond that. In fact, there are more than 40 different types of grief events. Grief is the emotional response to loss—whether that’s the end of a relationship, the loss of a job, a decline in health, or so many other life changes.
The mission of The Grieving Journey Podcast is to create a safe space where stories of grief can be shared openly and honestly. I hope that by listening, you’ll feel less alone and find comfort in the reminder that healing is possible, even in the midst of pain.
I’m Angel Morel Brown, and this podcast is especially close to my heart. It is dedicated to my mother, Angela Johnson, and my father, William Brown—whose lives and legacies continue to shape the way I walk through grief and healing. Through their memory, I hope to honor not only my own journey but also the journeys of so many others who have faced loss.
On this podcast, I’ll share my own experiences with grief while also inviting others to tell their stories—the struggles, the lessons, and the ways they’ve found healing. Together, we’ll uncover the many shapes grief can take and the different paths people walk toward wholeness.
So many people are experiencing grief without even realizing it. The first step to healing is simply acknowledging that grief exists. This podcast is here to encourage that acknowledgment and to remind you that you don’t have to walk this path alone.
✨ The goal is to empower others to face grief—whether from the loss of a loved one, a relationship, health, or other life changes—with honesty, to find meaning in their journey, and to discover life beyond loss.
Follow along on Instagram at @TheGrievingJourneyPodcast. And if you have a story you’d like to share, I’d love to hear from you—email me at thegrievingjourney@gmail.com
The Grieving Journey Podcast
Becoming Your Own Best Friend in Grief with Erika Duncan
In this powerful episode, Angel chats with Erika Duncan for an honest and deeply moving conversation about grief, faith, self-compassion, and what happens when life asks more of you than you feel able to give.
Erika shares the three defining “stops” of her grieving journey: surviving her husband’s life-altering stroke, navigating the sudden loss of her sister, and losing her father just years later. She opens up about caregiver grief, survivor’s guilt, and the moment when she realized she had been pushing through pain she never fully allowed herself to feel — until her body and spirit could no longer carry it.
Throughout the conversation, Erika reflects on how self-compassion became the turning point in her healing. Not self-care. Not pushing forward. But learning to slow down, trust God, and ask herself the grounding question: What do I need right now? She also shares how faith, therapy, and community support helped her rebuild when “the wheels fell off.”
Together, Angel and Erika explore the reality that grief is not linear, emotions need motion, and healing requires permission — permission to feel, to rest, to receive support, and to be human. As Angel reflects, Erika’s words echo a familiar truth: you need to feel to heal.
This episode is a reminder that strength doesn’t come from holding everything together, grief doesn’t follow a checklist, and self-compassion isn’t selfish — it’s sacred.
💛 Key Themes
Survivor and caregiver grief
Sudden and cumulative loss
Faith and trusting God through unanswered questions
Self-compassion as a healing practice
Therapy and mental health awareness
The importance of community and support
Why grief is not linear and emotions need motion
✨ Connect with Erika Duncan
Instagram: @statgirl97
LinkedIn: Erika Young Duncan
🎧 Connect with The Grieving Journey Podcast
Instagram + Facebook: @thegrievingjourneypodcast
📧 Share your story or inquire about being a guest: thegrievingjourney@gmail.com
Tune in to hear Erika’s story and the reminder we all need: slow down, feel what you feel, and give yourself grace.