Joanna opens up about the experience of widowhood, the emotional isolation of grief, and the well-meaning things people say that often miss the mark. She discusses the importance of allowing yourself to fully feel emotions instead of hiding them, how friends and family supported her during suicidal ideation, and the ways grief reshaped her relationship with her daughter.

The conversation also explores:

How to support someone who is grieving without smothering them
Why “How are you?” can feel impossible to answer
Anger toward God, loved ones, and life itself
Trauma, emotional honesty, and parenting through grief
The balance between needing solitude and needing connection
Why every person experiences grief differently

Joanna also discusses her one-woman show Widow, which she is bringing to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and how storytelling can help teach people how to truly love and support those who are grieving.

Joanna’s work:

The Occasional Epiphany by Joanna Lowe
Cup A Joe Productions Facebook

Subscribe to Fishing Without Bait on your favorite podcast player.

Support us on Patreon for ad-free episodes:
Fishing Without Bait Patreon

Pick up our book:
Learn to Fish Without Bait: A 365-Day Mindfulness Journal and Adult Coloring Book

Joanna shares the story of losing her husband just months after their marriage—a loss that didn’t just take a partner, but reshaped her entire world. She opens up about experiencing prolonged grief disorder, losing years of her life to trauma, and the physical, emotional, and neurological effects that followed.

This conversation explores:

The reality of grief beyond what society expects
How trauma impacts the body and mind
The loss of identity, faith, and emotional connection
Why “I know how you feel” can be harmful
The importance of sitting with pain instead of trying to fix it

This is not a conversation about “moving on.” It’s about learning to exist again.

Beyond her personal journey, Joanna continues to create across multiple platforms:

🎶 The Occasional Epiphany:
https://ceeteecee.bandcamp.com/album/the-occasional-epiphany

🎙️ The Grin Reapers Club Podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/show/66bwzvlXpuOcdxbk3a2ygo

🎬 Cup a Joe Productions:
https://www.facebook.com/cupajoprod
🎧 Calls to Action
Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast player
Support us on Patreon (ad-free episodes): https://www.patreon.com/c/fishingwithoutbait
Pick up our book:
“Learn to Fish Without Bait: A 365-Day Mindfulness Journal and Adult Coloring Book”
https://www.lulu.com/shop/james-ellermeyer-lpc-ma-ncc-lpc/learn-to-fish-without-bait/paperback/product-6n9rd8.html?page=1&pageSize=4

Joanna shares the unexpected story of how she became a spoken word artist—born from a moment of fear, vulnerability, and the decision to take control. From stepping on stage terrified to finding her voice through performance, this episode explores how courage isn’t the absence of fear—but the willingness to move through it.

The conversation dives into personal responsibility, emotional awareness, and the idea that we “allow” others to influence how we feel. Joanna also shares her journey through creative work, including her music, podcasting, and production projects.

The Occasional Epiphany (Album)
👉 https://ceeteecee.bandcamp.com/album/the-occasional-epiphany

The Grin Reapers Club Podcast
👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/66bwzvlXpuOcdxbk3a2ygo

Cup a Joe Productions
👉 https://www.facebook.com/cupajoprod

Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast player
Support us on Patreon for ad-free episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/fishingwithoutbait
Pick up our book:
👉 https://www.lulu.com/shop/james-ellermeyer-lpc-ma-ncc-lpc/learn-to-fish-without-bait/paperback/product-6n9rd8.html?page=1&pageSize=4

Joanna Lowe's productions can be found at www.cupajoproductions.com or experience her spoken word music at www.joannalowepoetry.com. You can also catch Joanna in the open scene of Mindhunter on Netflix!

Subscribe to our Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Music, TuneIn or look for it on your favorite Podcatcher! Also, check us out streaming on The River's Edge online radio!