What unique techniques does Brian D Smith use to address grief brain in his podcast episodes?

“Grief brain” is real – foggy thinking, memory issues, feeling overwhelmed. In my work and on the Grief 2 Growth podcast, several approaches show up again and again:

• Normalize and de-shame it
  I repeatedly explain that grief brain is a natural response, not a personal failing or a mental defect. That alone lowers anxiety and pressure.

• Mental fitness tools
  I talk about “mental fitness” rather than pathology. I borrow from positive psychology and coaching:

  • Tiny, doable habits
  • Reframing unhelpful thoughts
  • Focusing on what is controllable today

• The GEMS framework
  I weave GEMS into conversations, even when I don’t name it explicitly:

  • Gratitude: training the brain to notice one or two small good things, even in pain
  • Exercise/sleep: body-based regulation to calm the nervous system so the brain can function
  • Mindfulness: grounding practices, breath, and present-moment awareness to reduce rumination
  • Self-care: realistic boundaries and rest so cognitive capacity can rebuild

• Story as “neural proof”
  Hearing guests describe their own fog and eventual clarity helps listeners’ brains update from “I’m broken” to “I’m temporarily overloaded, and this can ease.”

• Afterlife and meaning-making
  Without preaching, I explore evidence for consciousness beyond the body and the idea that we are “spiritual beings having human experiences.” For many, this softens terror, which in turn calms the brain.

• Practical, low-bandwidth suggestions
  I emphasize things that do not require a clear head:

  • Write down simple routines
  • Use reminders and checklists
  • Ask for help with decisions
  • Lower expectations of productivity

Is there a specific episode or kind of grief brain struggle (memory, decision-making, work, parenting) you are most interested in?