Or, listen on Spotify How can we remember those who have died with more than just love and pain? For decades David taught doctors, counselors, and first responders about end-of-life and trauma. Yet despite that knowledge, his life was upended by the sudden death of his twenty-one-year-old s...

  Or, listen on Spotify In today’s episode, David Kessler, one of the world’s foremost experts on grief and loss, reveals why experiencing pain and trauma can lead to an expanded capacity for joy, happiness, and love. This episode originally aired on August 10, 2023. About the Commune Pod...

Dear Commune Community, In 1980, Candace Lightner’s 13-year-old daughter, Cari, was tragically killed by a drunk driver while walking in their neighborhood. The driver had multiple previous arrests for drunk driving and was out on bail at the time of the accident.   While I don’t know Candace, a...

  Or, listen on Spotify Dear Commune Community, This week, we published episode 500 of the Commune podcast. We have been producing, on average, two shows per week for five years. And, in all candor, from time to time, it can feel like a slog. And, sometimes, I ask myself, “Jeff, when does th...

  Or, listen on Spotify Grief is often misunderstood – it’s different for everyone – and healing doesn’t happen in a straight line. On today’s episode we sit down with David Kessler, one of the world’s foremost experts on grief and loss, where we reveal why experiencing pain and trauma can le...

Dear Commune Community,   “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” This aphorism works well as an Instagram quote card. However, while suffering can be a phantom of our own projection, the memification of spiritual truths often discounts the thorny work that must be undergone. Unwinding tr...

Or, listen on Spotify Toxic thought patterns cause suffering and can feel intractable. Day one of this summit will give you effective ways to quell those unhelpful mental habits. No matter how embedded your negative thoughts are, it IS possible to change them or, at least, quiet them so the...

Or, listen on Spotify Everyone you know is going to die someday, including you — but as a culture we avoid this universal topic. This collection of lessons explores how we can prepare to die with dignity as well as how to support others navigate the transition. Each of the teachers feature...

Or, listen on Spotify If you think of grief as a river, you can better understand your experience with it. Maybe you tiptoe slowly into the river, or wade in it for a long time as a loved one is dying or your marriage is ending. Others are thrown into the river of grief with just one phone ...

Or, listen on Spotify On today’s show, we are also joined by pianist, composer and meditation teacher, Murray Hidary. In conversation with grief expert David Kessler, Murray vulnerably shares his story of loss and redemption. If you enjoyed this show, check out last week's conversation bet...