Explore every episode of the podcast The Currency of Grief
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP03: Sarah Grifferty: The Lessons of Living Learned from Her Parents Dying | 14 Mar 2025 | 01:39:14 | |
Grief doesn’t follow a timeline, and when it collides with financial and legal logistics, the weight of it can feel impossible to carry alone.
Justin Weidenfeld sits down with Sarah Grifferty, the founder of LooseEnds and a partner at BUILD Coalition, to talk about the intersection of loss, money, and the unseen burdens that come with both. After losing her father at 19 and her mother at 23, Sarah found herself not only grieving but also navigating the overwhelming task of settling an estate. How do you handle endless paperwork, hold times, and financial decisions while carrying the emotional weight of loss? And why does support often vanish just when grief feels the heaviest?
Sarah shares how she made sense of the chaos, why she believes grief isn’t something to “move on” from, and what she’s doing to make this process easier for others. She introduces the idea of a “grief team” and explains how having the right people around can make a difficult road more manageable. She also challenges the way society treats grief, urging more open conversations about death, legacy, and financial planning before the need becomes urgent.
This episode reminds us that grief and financial matters are deeply intertwined, and that navigating both with openness and support can make all the difference.
Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 03:12 Personal Grief Experiences: Losing Parents 05:46 Integrating Grief into Life and Work 07:03 The Practical Challenges of Managing an Estate 09:54 The Importance of Grieving and the Distractions 16:47 The Grief Cliff: Support Fades Over Time 18:59 The Role of Friends and Community in Grief 21:19 The Importance of Togetherness in Grief 25:51 Lessons on Living Through Dying 27:29 Building a Grief Support Team 31:49 Transitioning to Adulthood Without Parents 35:12 The Value of Sharing Grief Stories 38:10 Discussing Money and Logistics in Childhood 42:43 The Role of Executor and Co-Executor 52:48 The Taboo Topics: Death, Money, Religion, and Taxes
Links Connect with Sarah Grifferty: https://www.instagram.com/looseendsinc/ https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahatlooseends https://www.linkedin.com/company/looseendsinc/ https://www.thebuildcoalition.org/ https://instagram.com/buildcoalition
Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/ Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld Instagram: @thecurrencyofgrief_podcast
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| EP02: Justin Weidenfeld, Your Grief Financial Officer: My Story, My Why and My Mission for the Podcast | 14 Mar 2025 | 01:25:35 | |
Losing a loved one is heartbreaking. But how can you cope when you’re also the one left to handle everything they left behind?
At 21, Justin Weidenfeld’s world turned upside down when his father died suddenly from a heart attack. Overnight, he went from college student to personal representative of his father’s estate without a roadmap, without a will, and without time to grieve before stepping into the chaos of legal and financial logistics. In this episode, Justin sits down with his close friend Jeff Romer to unpack what that experience taught him about loss, responsibility, and the unexpected burden of navigating money and legacy in the wake of grief.
What do you do when accounts are frozen, medical insurance vanishes, and no one has the answers? How do you balance overwhelming emotions with the urgent need to take action? Justin shares the painful realities he faced, the support that got him through, and the lessons he wishes every family would talk about before it’s too late.
This conversation is raw, real, and deeply important. Whether you’ve experienced loss or want to prepare for the inevitable, Justin’s story will leave you thinking differently about what it means to plan for the future, and why those tough conversations matter more than we realize.
Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 08:10 Justin’s Childhood and Family Background 10:01 Support System in Sports 13:21 Relationship with Parents 15:06 Generosity and Community 17:31 High School and Parental Divorce 22:22 College Life and Achievements 26:09 Receiving the News of Dad’s Passing 29:26 Immediate Aftermath and Emotions 32:56 Support and Advice from Others 34:57 Funeral and Eulogy 39:13 Realization of New Normal 43:11 Role of Personal Representative 48:23 Financial and Legal Challenges 51:05 Navigating Health Insurance 53:41 Mindset Shift: Why is This Happening for Me?
Links https://e.givesmart.com/s/:sNmMHNeJJS4/e/DxD/
Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/ Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld Instagram: @thecurrencyofgrief_podcast
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| EP01: Rob Royall: “There’s no substitute for enjoying life today.” | 14 Mar 2025 | 01:03:41 | |
Grief and money rarely get talked about in the same breath, but when they do, the conversations are often messy, emotional, and long overdue.
In this first episode of The Currency of Grief, host Justin Weidenfeld sits down with Rob Royall, a clinical researcher and philanthropist who lost both parents to cancer before he turned 30. Rob shares what it was like to navigate the hardest chapter of his life—watching his parents battle illness, managing their estate, and figuring out how to move forward while carrying their legacy with him. What happens when the money meant for retirement becomes an inheritance instead? How do you balance financial security with truly living?
Rob opens up about his parents’ mindset around money, their modest approach to saving, and how their passing changed the way he thinks about building a life. He talks through the logistics he had to handle as an only child—clearing out their home, settling finances, and handling legal red tape. His experience proves why proactive planning matters and why waiting to have those hard conversations can leave unanswered questions that linger for a lifetime.
But this isn’t just a story of loss. It’s about taking grief and turning it into something meaningful. Rob founded a nonprofit golf tournament to raise money for cancer research, blending his love for the game with a mission to help others. His journey is proof that honoring a legacy isn’t about grand gestures but about showing up, doing the work, and making sure the people we love are remembered in ways that truly matter.
The Currency of Grief is a reminder to have the conversations that feel uncomfortable, make the plans we don’t want to think about, and find ways to carry love and legacy forward even in the hardest moments.
Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 05:10 Personal Story: Rob’s Parents’ Cancer Diagnosis 08:12 Rob’s Family Life and Marriage Proposal 14:04 Impact of Father’s Cancer Diagnosis 21:31 Rob’s Relationship with His Mother 24:12 Coping with Loss and Finding Support 27:02 Founding Birdies and Brews Charity 29:08 Emotional Processing and Finding Joy 32:40 Transition to Financial and Logistical Responsibilities 41:01 Experience with Estate Attorney 46:23 Financial Planning for Rob’s Family 48:02 Impact of Parents’ Financial Philosophy 51:07 Balancing Work, Family, and Financial Planning 55:27 Celebrating Small Victories
Links Connect with Rob Royall: https://www.birdiesandbrewscharity.com/
Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/ Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld Instagram: @thecurrencyofgrief_podcast
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| The Currency of Grief - Trailer | 27 Feb 2025 | 00:02:13 | |
Death and money are two of the most taboo topics in our society yet they are inevitable for all of us. So why don’t we talk about death and money more? The fact is, we’re all going to have to face our mortality and the mortality of the people we love. During the toughest times in our life, we will also be faced with an overwhelming amount of financial and logistical decisions. These decisions have the power to bring people together or tear families apart. That’s why our mission is so important!
Here on The Currency of Grief, we bring death and money to the forefront of the conversation. We’ll feature real life stories from real life people who have navigated the intersection of grief and money. Our guests are not celebrities, they are normal people just like you and me.
My name is Justin Weidenfeld, and I’m going to serve as your Grief Financial Officer on the journey that is The Currency of Grief Podcast. My purpose for this podcast is to normalize conversations around death and money, inspire you to have deeper conversations with your loved ones (while you can), act as a resource for people currently navigating a grief and money journey, and encourage listeners to approach their own legacy head on.
Whether you’re in the midst of your own grief and money journey or need a reality check about planning for the inevitable, this podcast is for you. Each episode provides heartfelt insights, logistical nuances and practical advice that will help you navigate financial and emotional adversity WHEN you are faced with loss.
The Currency of Grief Podcast will air biweekly on Fridays and can be listened to on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. I am grateful that you’ve decided to join me on this journey!
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