ERP 491: Grief and Healing: Navigating Loss Together as a Couple — An Interview with Madeleine Garner

About this Episode

Grief can strike when we least expect it, turning our world upside down and reshaping the very foundation of our relationships. When couples encounter loss—whether through miscarriage, infertility, or unexpected life changes—the path to healing can feel lonely, uncharted, and overwhelming. Even the closest partnerships can struggle to find the words, understanding, or comfort needed to move forward together. How do we navigate personal pain while remaining present for each other? Can couples truly heal side by side, even when their experiences of grief are so different?

In this episode, listeners are invited into a heartfelt conversation exploring the realities of grief and healing within intimate relationships. Through personal storytelling and expert insight, the discussion dives deep into the complexity of navigating loss as a couple—highlighting the differences in individual grief experiences, the power of mutual support, and the importance of holding both sorrow and hope. Practical wisdom and lived experiences shed light on how couples can create space for each other’s emotions, foster resilience, and slowly rebuild a sense of connection and possibility. Whether you have faced loss yourself or support someone who has, this episode offers guidance and reassurance that, together, healing is possible.

Madeleine Garner is a New York-based writer. Her play, I Ragazzi, cowritten with her father, Broadway writer David Goldsmith, was published in 2023 by the Dramatists Play Service and is now available for licensing. She is the Head of Creative Services Operations, Americas at Sotheby’s Auction House, and she received her B.A. in Art History and Italian Studies from Wheaton College in Massachusetts. She resides in Queens with her husband, daughter, and cat. Recently, published “Your Baby Will Find You: A Story About Grief, Loss, and Healing.”

Check out the transcript of this episode on Dr. Jessica Higgin's website. Episode Highlights 

05:17 Madeleine recounts the shock and heartbreak of her miscarriage, revealing the profound emotional and physical challenges she faced in its aftermath.

09:52 The clinical steps following miscarriage, unhelpful care, and the early stages of coming to terms with profound grief.

12:01 From shared struggles to connection—turning grief into creativity.

23:16 The value of surrendering to the unpredictable process of grief, healing, and hope.

29:16 Madeleine reflects on “Your Baby” as a symbol of destiny, fulfillment, or creativity for anyone navigating loss or uncertainty.

31:10 The balance between striving and surrendering.

36:10 Grieving as a couple: Different paces, shared support.

40:02 How returning to one another after rupture and repair builds a secure partnership and deepens intimacy after loss.

43:58 Resources and ways to connect with Madeleine.

Mentioned

Your Baby Will Find You: A Story About Grief, Loss, and Healing (*Amazon Affiliate link) (book)

This is Me and Only Me (*Amazon Affiliate link) (book)

The Missing Piece (*Amazon Affiliate link) (book)

ERP 453: How To Navigate Grief In Long Term Relationship – An Interview With Christina Rasmussen

Relationship Map To Happy, Lasting Love

Connect with Madeleine Garner

Websites: maddydaragarner.com

Instagram: instagram.com/maddydaragarner

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*With Amazon Affiliate Links, I may earn a few cents from Amazon, if you purchase the book from this link.