107 Colin Campbell | Finding the Words and the Importance of Community
06/02/25 • 53 min
+++ Check out the new Podcast with Tori Press: What the Mental Health?! https://bit.ly/PodWTMH +++
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich.
Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you!
For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here.
About this week’s episode
Today’s guest on the How to Deal with Grief and Trauma podcast is Colin Campbell. I first heard about Colin through a former guest who was deeply moved by an article he had written. Her words piqued my curiosity, and when I finally read Colin’s piece, I immediately understood why—it was powerful, honest, and deeply human. We later crossed paths through mutual colleagues, and it became clear that we shared not just a passion for helping others navigate grief, but also the personal experience of child loss. That shared bond drew me to connect with him more personally, and I knew I wanted to invite him onto the podcast. Colin brings a heartfelt and courageous voice to conversations around grief, and I’m honoured to have him here today to share his story, insights, and the wisdom he's gained on his journey through unimaginable loss.
About this week’s guest
Colin Campbell is a writer and director for theatre and film. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Seraglio, a short film he wrote and directed with his lovely and talented wife, Gail Lerner. He has taught Theatre and/or Filmmaking at Chapman University, Loyola Marymount University, Cal Poly Pomona University, and to incarcerated youth. His book, Finding the Words: Working Through Profound Loss with Hope and Purpose, was published by Penguin Random House in 2023. He wrote and performs, Grief: A One Man ShitShow which premiered at the Hollywood Fringe Festival and ran for a month at New York’s Theatre Row. His writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Los Angeles Times, and ModernLoss.com. Most recently, he was a keynote speaker at The Compassionate Friends’ National Conference.
- Website: colincampbellauthor.com
- IG: @colincampbellwriter
Find support:
Support the show:
- Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month
- Join Facebook Group - Grief and Trauma Support Network
- Download the FREE grief resource eBook
- Book a Discovery Call
- Leave a review
Follow on socials:
+++ Check out the new Podcast with Tori Press: What the Mental Health?! https://bit.ly/PodWTMH +++
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich.
Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you!
For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here.
About this week’s episode
Today’s guest on the How to Deal with Grief and Trauma podcast is Colin Campbell. I first heard about Colin through a former guest who was deeply moved by an article he had written. Her words piqued my curiosity, and when I finally read Colin’s piece, I immediately understood why—it was powerful, honest, and deeply human. We later crossed paths through mutual colleagues, and it became clear that we shared not just a passion for helping others navigate grief, but also the personal experience of child loss. That shared bond drew me to connect with him more personally, and I knew I wanted to invite him onto the podcast. Colin brings a heartfelt and courageous voice to conversations around grief, and I’m honoured to have him here today to share his story, insights, and the wisdom he's gained on his journey through unimaginable loss.
About this week’s guest
Colin Campbell is a writer and director for theatre and film. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Seraglio, a short film he wrote and directed with his lovely and talented wife, Gail Lerner. He has taught Theatre and/or Filmmaking at Chapman University, Loyola Marymount University, Cal Poly Pomona University, and to incarcerated youth. His book, Finding the Words: Working Through Profound Loss with Hope and Purpose, was published by Penguin Random House in 2023. He wrote and performs, Grief: A One Man ShitShow which premiered at the Hollywood Fringe Festival and ran for a month at New York’s Theatre Row. His writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Los Angeles Times, and ModernLoss.com. Most recently, he was a keynote speaker at The Compassionate Friends’ National Conference.
- Website: colincampbellauthor.com
- IG: @colincampbellwriter
Find support:
Support the show:
- Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month
- Join Facebook Group - Grief and Trauma Support Network
- Download the FREE grief resource eBook
- Book a Discovery Call
- Leave a review
Follow on socials:
Previous Episode
106 Nathalie Himmelrich | When Loss Reshapes Our Circle: Navigating Friendship After Grief and Trauma
+++ Check out the new Podcast with Tori Press: What the Mental Health?! https://bit.ly/PodWTMH +++
HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA is completely self-funded, produced, and edited by me, Nathalie Himmelrich.
Consider making a small donation to support the Podcast: bit.ly/SupportGTPodcast. Thank you!
For more information, please visit Nathalie’s website, join the podcast’s Instagram page, and subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates on future episodes here.
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Have you ever noticed how grief reshapes your entire social landscape? Some friends rush in while others quietly slip away, and sometimes the most unexpected people become your anchors through the storm.
This deeply human exploration of friendship during grief introduces us to the powerful metaphor of "firefighters" and "builders." Firefighters are those who show up immediately during a crisis with urgency and dedication. They bring meals, stay up with you through sleepless nights, and hold space while you fall apart. Builders arrive later, bringing tools, patience and steady presence to help reconstruct your world when the initial flames have died down.
What's particularly illuminating is recognising that few people serve effectively in both roles. This understanding helps release unrealistic expectations of our support network while appreciating the unique contributions different friends make to our healing. We explore the unexpected connections formed through shared grief—relationships that transcend small talk and connect soul to soul. These profound bonds often form quickly with people we might never have met otherwise.
We also delve into the painful secondary losses when friends disappear after trauma, the complex grief of mourning relationships with people still living, and the concept of "shelving" friendships—temporarily pausing rather than permanently ending them.
The most valuable companions are those who sit beside us without trying to fix us, who witness our pain rather than trying to solve it. If you're navigating changing relationships through grief or supporting someone who is, this episode offers both validation and a framework for understanding these complex social dynamics. Remember, even in your darkest moments, you're neve
Find support:
Support the show:
- Become a supporter of the show! Starting at $3/month
- Join Facebook Group - Grief and Trauma Support Network
- Download the FREE grief resource eBook
- Book a Discovery Call
- Leave a review
Follow on socials:
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