Women on the Rise: Grief is Love with Kirsten Oconnor

On this heartfelt Women on the Rise episode of the BFF Empowerment Podcast, host Blaque Diamond sits down with Kirsten Oconnor, a grief advocate, author, and founder of This Is Grief NZ. Kirsten shares her deeply personal journey of losing her 24-year-old daughter, Kalia, to suicide and how that loss led her to become a voice for honest conversations around grief, mental health, and healing.

Together, Blaque Diamond and Kirsten explore the many forms grief can take, from the loss of a loved one to the loss of identity, health, and the life we once imagined. They speak candidly about suicide, trauma, motherhood, resilience, and the importance of creating safe spaces where people feel seen, heard, and supported. Kirsten also opens up about her upcoming book, The Year After Kalia, and how writing became a powerful part of her healing journey.

This episode is raw, compassionate, and deeply meaningful for anyone navigating grief, supporting someone through loss, or learning how to hold space for difficult but necessary conversations.

Find out more about Kirsten by visiting: www.thisisgrief.nz

Want to be spotlighted on the “Women on the Rise” segment of the BFF Empowerment Podcast? Send an interest email to bffempowerment@gmail.com

Visit www.bffempowermentpodcast.com to keep up-to-date with the latest happenings on the podcast.

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