I’m pretty sure you’re familiar with the stages of grief. We’ve all heard of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. But what if I told you that model wasn’t actually meant for the people left behind?

In today’s powerful episode, I sit down with Tara Karels, a registered nurse with over 30 years of experience in women’s health, postpartum care, and bereavement support. Tara shares the heartbreaking story of losing her 19-year-old son to suicide and how that tragedy led her down a new path of personal transformation, emotional healing, and purpose.

Tara not only survived the unimaginable, she wrote an inspirational memoir, Trekking Poles, and created a resilience framework to help others who are coping with loss. If you’re walking through grief yourself or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers heart, hope, and real tools for healing.

You’ll learn why the common understanding of grief stages doesn’t tell the full story and what life after loss truly looks like (hint: it’s not about simply “moving on”). Tara shares how her devastating experience sparked a powerful mission of suicide awareness and advocacy, and how she turned pain into purpose through personal growth and helping others. You’ll also discover how to rebuild your life with emotional strength, clarity, and self-compassion, and gain insight into what a real mental health journey looks like, free from shame and silence.

This episode is especially for those looking for insight on navigating grief, finding purpose in pain, or simply hearing a story of hope and resilience.

Listen now and share this episode with someone who needs a little hope today.

Here’s to your next chapter,

Nikki

🌐 Guest Info.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-karels-646882a9/

Website: https://trekkingpoles.co/

I'm thrilled to be working with Juliana Barbati and her amazing podcast agency! If you're a podcaster looking to grow your audience, boost your SEO, and create momentum with your show, I highly recommend reaching out to her!

👉 Learn more or get in touch with Juliana: www.julianabarbati.com

Come check out my new podcast, The Scarlet Edit!

Instagram: @thescarleteditpodcast

YouTube: @thescarletedit

Available to listen on Apple, Spotify & Amazon

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✅ Round Two Podcast is officially on hiatus. Please feel free to enjoy all of the episodes, as they were a joy to create and are full of inspiration, knowledge and wonderful stories.

Thank you for being a loyal listener of Round Two - it has been the most special adventure and I have loved every minute of it.

Nikki

For collaboration and business inquiries,
📩 email: roundtwopod@gmail.com