Talking Grief is a podcast about what grief really looks like at work, and how we can support one another with more compassion, confidence, and understanding.Hosted by Rainbow Tomes, Founder of <a href="https://thegrieftherapists.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">The Grief Therapists</a>, each episode opens an honest conversation with people who’ve experienced grief personally, supported others, or navigated loss within professional spaces. Together, we explore how grief shows up in workplaces, what helps, what doesn’t, and why so many organisations still struggle to respond well.It’s a space to share stories, challenge myths, and rethink what meaningful support at work can look like.Talking Grief is for mental health first aiders, managers, leaders, HR professionals, and anyone who wants to build workplaces where people feel seen, understood, and supported, especially when life changes unexpectedly. <ul><li>Because grief doesn’t stop at the office door.</li><li>For the people who support people.</li><li>Changing how workplaces understand grief — one story at a time.</li><li>Helping HR, leaders, and teams support grief with confidence and care.</li></ul> Rainbow Tomes is the Founder of <a href="https://thegrieftherapists.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">The Grief Therapists </a>and a specialist in grief therapy, education, workplace support, and compassionate leadership. With a background in counselling, coaching, organisational wellbeing, and human-centred training, Rainbow helps individuals and organisations better understand grief and its impact on working life.Through her work, she teaches leaders, HR professionals, mental health first aiders, and teams how to support people through loss with confidence, clarity, and genuine care.As the host of Talking Grief, Rainbow brings warmth, insight, and grounded presence to conversations that are often avoided, creating a space where real stories can be shared and meaningful change begins.

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In this episode, Simon Blake, CEO of Stonewall, joins us to discuss how workplaces can better support individuals going through challenging or painful periods in their lives. The conversation explores how leaders can balance compassion with performance, ensuring work remains supportive rather than becoming an added burden.<h2>Key Topics Discussed</h2><ul><li>Why performance naturally fluctuates during periods of personal difficulty</li><li>The risk of work becoming an additional source of stress</li><li>How work can also serve as a helpful distraction or source of focus</li><li>Recognizing when someone needs time away versus continued engagement</li><li>Creating a supportive work environment without compromising core responsibilities</li><li>The role of leadership in navigating empathy and expectations</li></ul><h2>Key Takeaways</h2><ul><li>Employees experiencing personal challenges may not perform at their usual level — and that’s normal</li><li>Workplaces should aim to reduce pressure, not compound it</li><li>In some cases, work can provide structure and relief; in others, stepping away is the better option</li><li>Open communication and flexibility are critical</li><li>Supportive cultures balance empathy with clarity about work expectations</li></ul><h2>Notable Quote</h2>&#34;When we&#39;re in a period of pain, our work isn&#39;t perhaps going to be at the standard that it&#39;s going to be.&#34;<h2>About the Guest</h2>Simon Blake is the CEO of Stonewall, one of the UK’s leading LGBTQ+ rights organisations. He has a long track record in leadership, wellbeing, and social impact, and is widely recognised for his work in creating more inclusive and compassionate workplaces.

Supporting People Through Difficult Periods at Work with Simon Blake OBE

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In the final episode of the first series of Talking Grief, the roles are reversed as host Rainbow Tomes becomes the interviewee. Reflecting on the journey of creating the podcast, Rainbow shares insights, emotions and key themes that have emerged from conversations with guests throughout the series.This episode explores what it has meant to hold space for stories of loss, the powerful common threads that connect grieving experiences, and how open conversations about grief can support others who may be struggling.What we cover in this episode• How it feels to complete the first series of a grief-focused podcast• The mix of gratitude, sadness and hope that can exist alongside one another• The importance of giving people space to share their grief stories• Recurring themes across episodes — including what helps and what doesn’t• The kindness and openness shown by guests throughout the series• Why grief is still not spoken about enough in everyday life• The emotional impact of listening deeply to others’ experiences of loss• How sharing conversations about grief can help people feel less aloneKey reflectionsGrief holds many emotions at onceRainbow reflects on feeling both sadness and excitement at the end of the series — a reminder that grief itself is often a complex mix of feelings rather than a single emotion.Common themes bring reassuranceHearing consistent messages from guests about what supports grieving people — such as kindness, presence and understanding — has reinforced the importance of compassionate approaches to bereavement.Creating space mattersProviding a platform where people feel able to talk openly about grief can be powerful, both for those sharing their stories and for listeners who may be navigating their own loss.Kindness makes a differenceThe willingness of guests to be vulnerable and generous in sharing their experiences highlights the role of human connection in coping with grief.Looking aheadAs the first series comes to a close, this episode reflects on the potential for continued conversations about grief — helping to normalise loss, encourage understanding and build supportive communities.

Series Reflection: What We’ve Learned About Grief

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In this episode of Talking Grief, host Rainbow Tomes is joined by Martin Edwards, CEO of Julia’s House Children’s Hospice. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience supporting families whose children have life-limiting conditions, Martin shares deep insights into how grief affects individuals, families, friendships and workplaces.Together they explore the realities of bereavement, the importance of simply being present for someone who is grieving, and how employers can respond with greater understanding and flexibility.Guest bioMartin Edwards is CEO of Julia’s House Children’s Hospice. He has spent over two decades working alongside families navigating the challenges of caring for a child with a life-limiting condition and supporting them through bereavement.What we cover in this episode• Why grief — especially after the death of a child — can isolate families• The common fear people have of saying or doing “the wrong thing”• How small acts of kindness and practical help can make a lasting difference• The reality that grief is not linear or predictable• Understanding grief triggers such as anniversaries, memories, smells or music• Why workplaces need flexibility and compassion when supporting grieving employees• The importance — and complexity — of peer support between bereaved families• How children’s hospices provide whole-life support, not just end-of-life care• The value of remembrance events in helping families honour and reconnect with memories of their childKey insightsGrief is individualNo two people grieve in the same way. Comparing or judging grief based on personal experience can prevent meaningful support.Presence matters more than wordsMany grieving families say people withdraw because they are afraid of saying the wrong thing. Martin emphasises that simply showing up, listening and offering practical help can be profoundly supportive.Grief does not follow a timetableBereavement can resurface months or years later, often triggered by memories or significant dates. Understanding this can help workplaces and communities respond with empathy rather than expectation.Support continues beyond deathChildren’s hospices often build long-term relationships with families, offering respite, emotional support and opportunities to remember and celebrate a child’s life.Memories can connect peopleEvents such as remembrance days can create natural opportunities for families at different stages of grief to support one another.

Supporting Grief: Presence, Workplaces and Remembering

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In this episode, Rainbow Tomes speaks with Jane Barry, Managing Director at Liberty Recruitment Group, about how grief shows up in professional environments as well as in personal life. Jane shares her experiences of supporting team members through loss, navigating her own bereavement after losing her mother, and the importance of empathy, flexibility and shared understanding at work. Together they explore how collective experiences of grief can strengthen teams, the often overlooked grief of losing pets, and why open conversations about loss matter more than ever.What you’ll hear in this episode• How grief impacts workplace dynamics and leadership responsibilities• Jane’s personal experience of losing her mother to frontal lobe dementia• Supporting colleagues through bereavement and building compassionate team cultures• The role of shared grief experiences in reducing guilt and isolation at work• The emotional impact of pet loss and why it deserves recognition• Lessons learned from navigating multiple losses within a team• Creating psychologically safe spaces for conversations about griefKey themesGrief at workJane reflects on years spent in HR and leadership roles, highlighting how often managers and teams must support colleagues through bereavement. She explains how grief can affect performance, confidence and day-to-day functioning — and why flexible, human responses from employers are essential.Shared experience and connectionJane describes how going through loss at the same time as a colleague helped remove feelings of guilt and allowed both of them to support each other more openly. She shares how this created stronger bonds within the team.Personal loss and anticipatory griefJane talks about losing her mother after a period of illness and the complex emotions involved in watching a loved one decline. She discusses how grief can begin long before death occurs.Recognising different forms of griefThe conversation explores grief beyond human loss, including the death of pets and the impact this can have on individuals and teams.Building compassionate workplacesRainbow and Jane discuss the importance of openness, empathy and normalising conversations about grief to help people feel less alone.About the guestJane Barry is Managing Director at Liberty Recruitment Group. With a background in HR and leadership, she is passionate about building supportive workplace cultures and helping organisations respond compassionately to life’s most difficult moments.

Supporting Grief in the Workplace and Beyond

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In this episode of Talking Grief, Rainbow speaks with Becks Tridgell, co-founder of the Autistic Women’s Club, about a form of grief that isn’t often discussed — the grief that can come with a late autism diagnosis.For Becks, discovering she was autistic wasn’t about losing something in the present. In fact, it was about finding a missing piece of identity. But alongside that discovery came a deep sense of grief for the past — the support that wasn’t available, the misunderstandings that shaped her life, and the opportunities that may have looked very different with earlier understanding.Together, they explore the complex emotional landscape of late diagnosis, including the mix of relief, validation, anger, and sadness that can emerge when someone finally understands themselves.This episode highlights how grief isn’t always about death or bereavement — sometimes it’s about reframing a lifetime of experiences.

The Grief of a Late Autism Diagnosis

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In this episode of Talking Grief, Rainbow sits down with Hannah O’Hare, CEO of Forest Home Hospice Charity, to explore what grief looks like inside the workplace — especially from a leadership perspective.Although Hannah shares that she hasn’t experienced significant personal bereavement herself, she has spent 14 years working in the hospice sector. Through supporting families, colleagues, and team members experiencing profound loss, she has developed deep insight into how grief shows up differently for everyone.Together, they explore:<ul><li>Why there is no “right” way to grieve</li><li>The danger of comparing one person’s grief to another’s</li><li>Why timelines around grief simply don’t exist</li><li>The pressure leaders feel to “get it right”</li><li>How small organisations can balance compassion with business realities</li><li>Why listening — not fixing — is often the most powerful support</li></ul>Hannah shares practical reflections on leading with empathy, building a non-hierarchical culture, and adapting policies to meet individual needs.This episode is a thoughtful conversation for leaders, managers, HR professionals, and anyone navigating grief in professional spaces.

Leadership, Empathy & Grief in the Workplace

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Grief isn’t only about death—it can surface any time life changes and something familiar ends. Jess Jones has seen this “career grief” repeatedly through her work in recruitment, headhunting, and leadership: people leaving long-term roles through redundancy, stepping away for maternity/adoption, or facing uncertainty during restructures and acquisitions.Jess and Rainbow discuss the fear, identity-shift, relationship changes, and imposter syndrome that can arise—especially for high-achieving women—plus the intense emotions that can follow even when leaving a job is your own decision. Jess shares a personal moment of being blindsided by grief after pressing “send” on her resignation.Together they highlight practical support that helps: listening without assumptions, creating space for emotions, offering outplacement-style resources, upskilling opportunities, and working with a coach. Jess’s key takeaway: learn to welcome emotions and feel them in the body—through tools like journaling and compassionate support.Guest<ul><li>Jess Jones — Founder, Secora Group</li></ul> What you’ll hear in this episode<ul><li>What “career grief” can look like beyond bereavement</li><li>Why redundancy can trigger panic, loss of identity, and relationship grief</li><li>How market uncertainty increases fear—especially at executive level</li><li>Why a redundancy period can also be a chance to recalibrate and upskill (including AI skills)</li><li>Imposter syndrome and the vulnerability of losing your usual support network</li><li>What employers and leaders can do to handle restructures with empathy</li><li>Jess’s personal story of unexpected grief after resigning</li><li>The power of coaching, journaling, and learning to welcome emotions</li></ul>Key takeaways<ul><li>Listen first—don’t assume you know what someone needs.</li><li>Treat people how they want to be treated, not how you prefer.</li><li>Career transitions can bring layered grief: identity, community, routine, certainty.</li><li>Even “chosen” change (like resigning) can trigger powerful grief responses.</li><li>Employers can reduce harm through outplacement support (CVs, interviewing, job search guidance) and emotional acknowledgement.</li><li>Welcome emotions—sadness, fear, anger, joy—and notice where they live in the body.</li></ul> Notable moments / pull quotes (for promos)<ul><li>“Grief shows up far more regularly in careers than we realise—especially through change.”</li><li>“It’s not treating people how you want to be treated—treat them how they want to be treated.”</li><li>“When I pressed send on my resignation letter… it felt like somebody had died.”</li><li>“It’s okay to feel sad. It’s healthy to have emotions like sadness and fear and anger.”</li><li>“Welcome emotions—feel them in your body, not just your head.”</li></ul> Resources mentioned<ul><li>Support/resources on grief in the workplace: <a href="http://www.thegrieftherapists.co.uk" rel="nofollow">www.thegrieftherapists.co.uk</a></li></ul>﻿Call to actionIf this episode resonated, subscribe to Talking Grief and share it with someone who might find it helpful.Tags / SEO keywordscareer grief, redundancy, restructuring, outplacement, leadership, workplace wellbeing, identity and work, imposter syndrome, executive coaching, change management, grief at work, journaling, emotions, maternity leave, adoption leave, acquisitions

Career Grief: Navigating Change, Loss and New Chapters

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Pet loss can be life-altering — and too often misunderstood, especially at work. Rainbow Tomes sits down with Erica Farmer (Business Director &amp; Co-Founder, Quantum Rise Talent Group) to talk about the deep bond we share with animals, the anticipatory grief that can come with illness, and what meaningful support from managers can actually look like. With Daisy the pug joining the conversation, Erica shares powerful reflections on euthanasia decisions, workplace empathy gaps, and why simple validation can change everything. In this episode, we discuss: •	Why pet loss grief is frequently minimised (“it’s just a dog”) — and the real impact that has•	Anticipatory grief when a pet is unwell, and the emotional toll of “knowing what’s coming”•	The responsibility and second-guessing that can follow euthanasia decisions•	How other pets grieve too — and what it means to support them while you’re grieving•	Workplace realities: when managers treat loss as “transactional”•	The difference empathy makes — and the power of asking, “What do you need?”•	AI as a support tool (practice, resources, anxiety relief) vs. times when human support is essential•	Why grief has no timeline — and how we carry love and memory forwardMemorable moments / quotes (use as pull-quotes):•	“It’s not always taken seriously… by a boss that doesn’t have that relationship.”•	“That’s the biggest misconception… that there is a timeline.”•	“Validate how that person’s feeling… a little bit of validation would’ve gone a huge way.”•	“We are people first.” If this conversation resonated, subscribe to Talking Grief with Rainbow Tomes and share with someone who might need it. For workplace grief support and resources, visit <a href="https://thegrieftherapists.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">https://thegrieftherapists.co.uk/</a>

Supporting Pet Bereavement: Empathy, Policy, and Real Life

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Real stories. Human conversations. Rethinking grief at work.

Talking Grief is a podcast about what grief really looks like at work, and how we can support one another with more compassion, confidence, and understanding.

Hosted by Rainbow Tomes, Founder of The Grief Therapists ( https://thegrieftherapists.co.uk/ ) , each episode opens an honest conversation with people who’ve experienced grief personally, supported others, or navigated loss within professional spaces. Together, we explore how grief shows up in workplaces, what helps, what doesn’t, and why so many organisations still struggle to respond well.

It’s a space to share stories, challenge myths, and rethink what meaningful support at work can look like.

Talking Grief is for mental health first aiders, managers, leaders, HR professionals, and anyone who wants to build workplaces where people feel seen, understood, and supported, especially when life changes unexpectedly.

* Because grief doesn’t stop at the office door.
* For the people who support people.
* Changing how workplaces understand grief — one story at a time.
* Helping HR, leaders, and teams support grief with confidence and care.

Rainbow Tomes is the Founder of The Grief Therapists ( https://thegrieftherapists.co.uk/ ) and a specialist in grief therapy, education, workplace support, and compassionate leadership. With a background in counselling, coaching, organisational wellbeing, and human-centred training, Rainbow helps individuals and organisations better understand grief and its impact on working life.

Through her work, she teaches leaders, HR professionals, mental health first aiders, and teams how to support people through loss with confidence, clarity, and genuine care.

As the host of Talking Grief, Rainbow brings warmth, insight, and grounded presence to conversations that are often avoided, creating a space where real stories can be shared and meaningful change begins.