Jill McClennen, a death doula and much more, hosts this fascinating podcast. She encourages her guests to talk about dying and its aftermath in ways we rarely discuss in this society. Listen to our conversation on Buzzsprout (or wherever you get your podcasts) or watch us on YouTube. From the show notes:

Tony Stewart joined the podcast to share his powerful story about love, loss, and healing after the death of his wife, Lynn. In his new book, Carrying the Tiger: Living with Cancer, Dying with Grace, Finding Joy While Grieving, Tony tells the story of Lynn’s sudden cancer diagnosis, their emotional journey through treatment, and the deep lessons they learned about life, love, and letting go. After Lynn’s death, Tony faced overwhelming grief, but over time, he found a way to live again and even to welcome new love into his life.

He shared how their world changed overnight when Lynn was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Through clinical trials, hospital stays, and hard choices, they carved out several more meaningful years together. One of the most touching parts of Tony’s story is the two final weeks they spent together in home hospice, which he describes as some of the most sacred and beautiful days of his life.

Throughout the journey, Tony kept an online journal on CaringBridge.org, writing updates for friends and family. Over time, these posts grew into deep reflections about love, grief, and resilience. After Lynn’s death, friends encouraged him to turn his writing into a book. Carrying the Tiger brings together those raw and honest stories, offering a heartfelt look at grief and the surprising truth that sorrow and joy can live side by side.

Tony also spoke about his life before and after Lynn, his creative work, and how building a new relationship while grieving taught him that healing doesn’t mean forgetting.