Grieving at 16: Losing a Best Friend (#126)

Grief doesn’t wait until adulthood. At just 16 years old, Whitney Hanson lost her best friend—and it changed her life forever. In this episode, she opens up about navigating grief as a teenager, the hardest parts of healing at such a young age, and how writing became her way through pain. Her journey offers powerful insight for anyone supporting a grieving child or facing loss too soon.. 

Whitney has a new book called Harmony: www.whitneyhansonpoetry.com 

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 DEAD Talks with David Ferrugio approaches death differently. Each guest shares raw stories of grief, loss, or unique perspectives that challenge the “don’t talk about death” taboo. Grief doesn’t end—it evolves. After losing his father on September 11th at just 12 years old, David discovered the power of conversation. Through laughter, tears, and honest dialogue, DEAD Talks helps make it a little easier to talk about death, mourning, trauma, and the life that continues beyond it.

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