In this deeply personal episode of the Sandwich Years Podcast, Chantel sits down with Melanie and Erica, co-founders of Normalizing Grief, for an honest conversation about loss, boundaries, self-care and learning to live alongside grief.

Melanie shares her experience of losing her 23-year-old son, Troy, to cancer after years of illness, anticipatory grief and medical advocacy. Erica shares the sudden loss of her 18-year-old son, Kai, to accidental drug poisoning in 2021.

Together, we discuss:

Why self-care is more than spa days and appointments
Learning to say “no” without guilt
Setting boundaries based on your own capacity
Allowing yourself to truly feel your feelings
Practical ways to support someone who is grieving
Why saying the names of loved ones who have died matters
Finding ways to remember how they lived—not only how they died

They also share information about the Voluma Conference 2026, taking place October 24, 2026, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Ajax, created to support bereaved parents and their allies.

Watch or listen to this powerful conversation about grief, love, boundaries and finding ways to continue forward after unimaginable loss.

You don’t have to do this alone. We see you.

Studio Credit: Perspective Studio Productions

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