The Currency of Grief

EP10: Amy D’Amico: Living After Cancer - Attitude, Strength, and a Community of Support

Most people plan for retirement… Amy D’Amico had to plan for her husband’s death, her own cancer diagnosis, and what came next.
 
When Ron was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Amy became a full-time caregiver, a reluctant household CFO, and eventually, a widow. Then came her own breast cancer diagnosis. How do you hold it all together when everything feels like it’s falling apart? And how will you navigate when you’re suddenly responsible for every financial decision, every legal document, every next step?
 
In this episode, Amy joins Justin to share what it was like to sit beside her husband through treatments while quietly learning how to manage their finances, pay the bills, and prepare for what was coming. She opens up about the reality of widowhood, how scammers targeted her weeks after the funeral, how she handled a surprising shortfall in Ron’s life insurance, and why she made the decision to plan her own funeral in advance.
 
There’s grief here, of course, but also structure, self-reliance, and a quiet sense of strength. If you’d like to find out what real financial preparation looks like in the face of cancer, loss, and everything that follows, Amy’s story offers a powerful and honest glimpse.
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Grief, Money, and the Story Behind the Podcast
02:59 Widowhood and Dual Cancer Diagnoses
21:25 How to Build a Support System During Illness
37:30 Financial Planning Before and After Loss
56:16 First Financial Steps After a Spouse’s Death
01:02:52 Medical Bills, Insurance, and the True Cost of Care
01:12:40 Scams That Target the Recently Widowed
01:17:49 Reclaiming Your Life and Reframing Retirement
 
Links
Canon-McMillan Horizon Foundation: http://www.cmhorizonfoundation.org/
 
Connect with Justin Weidenfeld:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-currency-of-grief-podcast/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecurrencyofgrief_podcast 
Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

EP09: Mary McDirmid: Grief Is a Companion of Mine

Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of suicide and may be difficult for some listeners.
 
Grief doesn’t follow a schedule, and when it crashes into family dynamics, legal paperwork, and financial loose ends, it can leave you reeling.
 
Justin Weidenfeld sits down with Mary McDirmid, who shares what it was like to lose her brother to suicide and suddenly become the one in charge of sorting it all out. From managing estate logistics to telling her young children the news, Mary speaks honestly about the weight of responsibility, the sting of unfinished conversations, and the moments when everyday tasks, like buying eggs, felt impossible.
 
How do you keep functioning when you’re barely holding it together? Who do you turn to when you’re expected to be the strong one? Mary offers a clear answer: you build a support system that actually works. For her, that meant leaning on her counselor, showing up for sessions with her trainer, and giving herself permission to take care of her own emotional health. She also shares the three questions she believes every adult child should ask their parents while there’s still time to plan.
 
Justin and Mary’s conversation is a reminder that self-care isn’t optional when you’re grieving, and that having honest conversations now can spare your loved ones a lot of heartache later.
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Introduction to Grief and Money
01:02 Mary’s Grief Journey
03:46 Coping with Suicide and Sudden Loss
07:10 Talking to Kids About Death
12:49 Everyday Life After Loss
24:10 The Burden of Responsibility
29:12 Managing an Estate Without a Plan
35:12 Legal Complications of Unmarried Partnerships
42:30 What Not to Say to Someone Grieving
45:18 Building a Support System
52:53 The Fragility of Life
56:58 Redefining Self-Care
01:00:58 Financial Planning Through Grief
01:04:58 Conversations About Legacy and Wishes
 
Links
Connect with Mary McDirmid:
Instagram: workingmommingitforward
All Needs Planning - https://allneedsplanning.com/
https://courageousparentsnetwork.org/
 
Connect with Justin Weidenfeld:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecurrencyofgrief_podcast 
Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

EP08: Rachel Farrell: “In the Wake of Sudden Loss: Grief and the Gift of Genetic Clarity”

Grief doesn’t require firsthand experience to be met with compassion and clinical care, and Rachel Farrell proves it.
 
Rachel is a pediatric genetic counselor who works with families facing the sudden death of a child or parent due to inherited cardiovascular diseases. Her role sits at the intersection of healthcare and heartbreak, offering genetic testing that may explain what happened, while providing the kind of emotional support that grieving families often don’t know they need until they have it.
 
What does it look like to guide a family through genetic testing after tragedy? How do you deliver answers that bring both clarity and more questions? And what happens when there is no clear answer at all?
 
Rachel shares how her work goes far beyond lab results. She talks about the quiet moments with parents, the clinical decisions that carry emotional weight, and the importance of listening more than speaking. She also reflects on what she’s learned from families, about love, about legacy, and about the small moments that matter most.
 
This conversation is a moving reminder of what healthcare can be when emotional presence is treated as essential, and why family guidance matters just as much as medical expertise when everything else has fallen apart.
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Rachel Farrell
04:04 Grief and Genetic Counseling
06:01 What Genetic Testing Can Reveal
12:57 Cost and Access in Genetic Healthcare
16:42 Rachel’s Personal Relationship with Grief
33:58 What Chaplaincy Taught Her About Dying
39:06 Why Small Moments Matter
42:14 How to Support the Bereaved
 
Links
SADS: https://sads.org/get-involved/awareness/sudden-death-response-plan/
 
Connect with Rachel Farrell:
https://www.ucsfhealth.org/providers/rachel-farrell
 
Connect with Justin Weidenfeld:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecurrencyofgrief_podcast 
Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

EP07: Michelle Swanson: Stamp Your Soul Moments

Becoming a widow at 44 forced Michelle Swanson to confront everything she had been avoiding… grief, money, motherhood, and mortality, with no plan and no pause.
 
Just seven months after marrying her husband Bill, Michelle was faced with the unimaginable: a sudden decline from colon cancer, a life-changing loss, and the emotional and financial chaos that followed. As she joins host Justin Weidenfeld, Michelle reflects on the caregiving decisions she made alone, the late-night Google searches, the resentment she carried, and the strength she didn’t realize she had.
 
What happens when you never talk about end-of-life wishes? What if no one ever taught you how to manage money, but now you’re responsible for everything? Michelle opens up about the structure Bill brought into their lives, the silence around his illness, and the hard lessons she learned about credit, independence, and starting over. She shares how grief rewired her relationship with money, how caregiving left her emotionally exhausted, and why she’s committed to helping others get comfortable with the uncomfortable.
 
From raising college-aged sons through the fog of loss to advocating for colorectal cancer awareness and teaching kids at Experience Camps, Michelle’s story is a reminder that love leaves a legacy, and so does planning ahead.
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Introduction
01:45 Meet Michelle Swanson
03:06 Becoming a Widow at 44
07:09 Bill’s Colon Cancer Diagnosis
09:05 Losing a Spouse and the Aftermath
13:42 Who Bill Was Before the Diagnosis
18:07 Why Colonoscopies Matter
21:07 Delayed Health Decisions and Regrets
26:07 Caregiving and Emotional Strain
30:10 Support Systems and Survival Mode
33:00 Healing, Therapy, and Self-Discovery
38:40 How Money Was Talked About Growing Up
42:09 Financial Stability and Structure with Bill
45:25 Grieving the Loss of Routine
48:25 Life Insurance and Financial Planning After Death
 
Links
Colon Cancer Coalition: https://coloncancercoalition.org/
 
Connect with Michelle Swanson:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-swanson-b2476347/
 
Connect with Justin Weidenfeld:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/
Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

EP06: Ethan Blauner: Breaking the Cycle of Pain by Embracing Emotions

Grief cracked Ethan Blauner wide open, and instead of running from the pain, he built a life around feeling every part of it.
 
When his father died just days before they were set to open a gym together, Ethan found himself grieving while launching a business, managing chaos, and facing decades of generational trauma. As he joins Justin Weidenfeld on this episode, Ethan reflects on the intensity of that time and what it taught him about vulnerability, identity, and the cost of silence.
 
What happens when you grow up with a parent who never learned to process their own pain? And how do you begin to break a cycle that’s been running for generations? Ethan shares the reality of losing his dad in the middle of a mental health crisis, the impact of being raised by the child of Holocaust survivors, and why he believes emotional expression is a form of strength. He talks about the gym they built, the grief it holds, and the unexpected clarity that came from choosing to feel instead of numb.
 
From building community through fitness to founding the Dead Dad Run Club, Ethan’s story is a powerful look at how grief can reshape your life and what’s possible when you decide to meet it head-on.
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Grief and Purpose Collide
06:15 Ethan’s Father’s Mental Health Crisis and Trip to Israel
13:01 Searching for His Father and Facing the Unknown
17:10 Identifying the Body and Finding Closure
24:54 Growing Up with Chaos: The Emotional Legacy of His Father
27:02 Generational Trauma and the Decision to Break the Cycle
30:00 Numbness, Vulnerability, and Choosing to Feel
34:40 Launching a Gym While Grieving
39:27 Redefining Strength: Emotional Awareness as Power
48:08 Comedy, Crying, and Creative Release as Therapy
52:58 Facing the Financial and Legal Aftermath
01:01:20 Dead Dad Run Club and Building Community Through Fitness
01:06:50 Gratitude, Grief, and Growth
 
Links
Connect with Ethan Blauner:
Instagram: @deaddadrunclub
Connect with Justin Weidenfeld:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/
Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

EP05: Bill Solominsky: From Engineer to Executor

Most people have no idea how overwhelming things get after a loved one dies. Bill Solominsky didn’t either until he lost his dad and found himself managing grief, paperwork, and unanswered questions all at once.
 
When his father was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, Bill flew home with a blank spreadsheet and a gut instinct that he needed to start asking questions. What accounts existed? Which bills were on autopay? Would his mom be financially okay? That one conversation gave him a head start but not a full picture.
 
In this episode, Bill joins Justin Weidenfeld to talk through the mix of grief and financial responsibility. They cover how active listening helped Bill navigate hard conversations, the tax implications that caught them off guard, and the financial mistakes that happen when families are left to figure things out under stress. What details fall through the cracks when you’re emotionally maxed out? How can you prepare without feeling morbid or intrusive? And what does it actually take to help someone through the money side of loss?
 
This episode offers perspective for anyone who wants to have these conversations while they still can and avoid being blindsided later.
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Introduction to Bill Solominsky
08:02 Navigating Grief After a Parent’s Diagnosis
10:03 Key Financial Conversations Before Loss
24:20 Coping Through Helping Others
29:41 What Happens Immediately After a Death
41:17 Financial and Legal Mistakes During Grief
52:07 Tax Implications and Lessons Learned
 
Links
Connect with Bill Solominsky:
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/billsolominsky/
Website: https://www.reluctantexecutor.com/
 
Connect with Justin Weidenfeld:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/
Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

EP04: Kevin and Jeff Romer: The Balance of Hope and Despair

What happens when life doesn’t go according to plan? How do you keep hope alive when faced with unimaginable challenges?
 
In this episode, Justin Weidenfeld welcomes Kevin and Jeff Romer, a father and son who openly share their family’s journey after receiving Mathew’s devastating Tay-Sachs disease diagnosis. Kevin recalls the overwhelming early days—the emotional and financial pressures, the uncertainty about the future—and sheds light on the crucial role genetic testing plays in family planning.
 
Jeff reflects on what it meant growing up as Mathew’s brother, revealing the complex mix of isolation, guilt, and determination that shaped his childhood. Together, Kevin and Jeff explain how founding the Mathew Forbes Romer Foundation became a meaningful response to their grief and a way to help other families facing similar situations.
 
Their story highlights the power of preparation and awareness: Why is genetic testing essential for every family, regardless of background? How can community support transform your experience of grief?
 
Join this meaningful discussion to find out how the Romers turned tragedy into lasting impact, inspiring compassion, understanding, and hope along the way.
 
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Introduction 
06:08 Discovering Tay-Sachs Disease
10:12 Balancing Care and Family Life
13:00 Jeff’s Perspective: Growing Up with Mathew
17:04 Life After Mathew’s Passing
19:06 Kevin Reflects on Mathew’s Life
25:08 Support Systems and Community
30:01 The Role of Employers in Supporting Grieving Employees
34:04 The Importance of Bereavement Services
35:00 Kevin’s Grief Process After Mathew's Death
38:20 Jeff’s Grief Journey and Coping Mechanisms
41:03 Financial Challenges and Medical Expenses
51:32 Honoring Mathew’s Legacy: The Foundation
 
Links
Connect with Kevin Romer & Jeff Romer:
https://mfrfoundation.org/  
https://www.instagram.com/brainwave.chess/ 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-romer/ 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-romer/
 
Connect with Justin Weidenfeld:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/
Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecurrencyofgrief_podcast 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

EP03: Sarah Grifferty: The Lessons of Living Learned from Her Parents Dying

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.looseends.co/
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
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

EP02: Justin Weidenfeld, Your Grief Financial Officer: My Story, My Why and My Mission for the Podcast

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/
 
https://experiencecamps.org/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAiaC-BhBEEiwAjY99qA91moAqmiDxo9-i-ZYWqpy_QIKUwnS19GhhglDRdnlc8LBb3V8TnxoCHScQAvD_BwE
 
Connect with Justin Weidenfeld:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/
Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld
Instagram: @thecurrencyofgrief_podcast
 
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

EP01: Rob Royall: “There’s no substitute for enjoying life today.”

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
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm