Episode 078: Creating Space for Grief with Rebecca Feinglos, Founder of Grieve Leave
Hey there, I'm Adrienne. Welcome back to Living with Loss.
In this episode, I’m joined by the amazing Rebecca Feinglos, founder of Grieve Leave, to discuss the power of creating intentional space for grief. Rebecca’s journey is one of profound loss, resilience, and transformation. After losing her mother during her teenage years, her father unexpectedly in 2020, and navigating the complexities of a divorce, Rebecca decided to take a year-long grief sabbatical, documenting her process and ultimately founding Grieve Leave in 2021.
Today, Grieve Leave has blossomed into a global community of over 30,000 individuals, with an online reach that spans millions. Rebecca’s message is one of not only acknowledging and honoring your grief but also finding tangible ways to navigate it with intentionality and even humor.
Through her own experiences and the resources she's cultivated, Rebecca has become a go-to voice on grief, inspiring individuals worldwide to take time to grieve and heal. Her work has been featured in LA Times, Fortune, TIME, HuffPost, Slate, ELLE, and more, making waves in the growing movement for a more grief-informed world.
In our conversation, Rebecca shares her personal insights on processing grief, how she’s built a supportive community around grief, and why it’s important to allow yourself the space to feel broken and still find lightness.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
How creating intentional space for grief can support your healing
Ways to navigate multiple types of loss—from the death of loved ones to the end of a marriage
The inspiring story behind Grieve Leave and how it became a global community
Insights on collective grief, including how major events like the COVID-19 pandemic shape the way we grieve
Tips on using humor and community to find light even in the darkest moments of grief
About Rebecca Feinglos:
Rebecca Feinglos (pronounced fine-gloss) is a certified grief support specialist, startup founder, and former state and local policy advisor. In 2021, Rebecca founded Grieve Leave as a way to document her experience on a year-long grief sabbatical, processing her losses of her mother, father, and marriage. Since then, Grieve Leave has grown into a global movement with over 30,000 community members, providing tangible takeaways, resources, and a healthy dose of humor to those navigating grief. Rebecca has been featured in major publications like TIME, LA Times, Fortune, HuffPost, Slate, and ELLE for her groundbreaking work, and she’s inspired a movement around taking intentional time to grieve.
Before Grieve Leave, Rebecca served as a senior advisor to Mandy Cohen in the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and worked in the Chicago Mayor’s Office. She currently splits her time between North Carolina and Montreal with her two beloved dogs, Daisy Duke and Ralphie.
Connect with Rebecca & Grieve Leave:
Journal Prompt:
Reflect on a loss you've experienced and write about how you've been creating space—or not—for your grief. What would it look like to intentionally give yourself time and permission to grieve, without judgment? What healing could come from this space?
Resources:
Living with Loss Grief Circle - Sign up and experience a supportive, healing community.
5 Essential Tools for Immediate Relief from Grief (download below!)
