Life, Mastered with Molly Claire 198. A Conversation on Collective Grief and Grief Support with Margo Fordonski
For something that touches every one of us, many people still feel grief-illiterate. Whether it's impacting someone close to you or your entire community, it can be difficult to figure out what to say or how to offer support. In light of the recent flooding in Texas, I wanted to have a heartfelt conversation about collective grief, the grieving process, and what it truly means to show up for others in both the short and long term.
I’m honored to have my client and Master Coach, Margo Fordonski, join me to offer her wisdom surrounding the grieving process. Margo is a trained grief educator who brings her professional insight and her personal experience with grief to this topic. We discuss how grief affects us individually and collectively, and how we can support one another when the unexpected happens.
In this episode, you’ll hear about specific ways to support someone who is grieving, how to offer help in the midst of collective grief, and why it’s never too late to reach out—whether the loss happened recently or many years ago. Grief is hard, and many of us are afraid to say or do the wrong thing. Because of this, we often end up doing nothing at all. However, the more we normalize this universal, human experience, the more we can understand how to navigate grief and to support others.
What you’ll learn:
- The ripple effects of community tragedy and collective grief
- Why every grief experience looks different–and grieving never has a deadline
- Three specific tips for how to support someone who is grieving in the early stages
- How to be a steady presence for someone after a loss in the long-term
- Why small actions—a text, sharing a photo, using their loved one’s name—can help support someone who is grieving
You can read the full show notes here.
About Margo Fordonski
Margo Fordonski is a Master Certified Life Coach, Certified Grief Educator, and a twice-bereaved parent. After losing both of her children—most recently her son Andrew, who lived with brain cancer for 24 years—Margo has walked the long, complex path of grief firsthand. Her personal journey led her to a powerful calling: to support other mothers navigating life after the unthinkable. Margo helps grieving moms find peace, resilience, and renewed hope—not by “moving on,” but by learning how to carry their grief with love. Her 1:1 coaching approach is deeply personalized, meeting each mother where she is with compassionate guidance and tools that support nervous system regulation, emotional processing, and holistic healing. She guides her clients in healing at their own pace, rediscovering who they are now, and gently rebuilding a life that honors both their child and their continued growth. Her work is trauma-informed, heart-led, and rooted in the belief that grief is not something to fix—it’s something to tend to with care, courage, and support. Through her coaching, writing, and lived witness, Margo offers a safe and understanding space for grieving moms to feel less overwhelmed, more connected to themselves, and begin to rebuild a life that holds both sorrow and joy.
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Website: margofordonski.com
Free Guide: https://www.margofordonski.com/freeguide
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