In this episode of In the Processor, host Rev. Dr. Juana Jordan sits down with certified grief counselor and Fellow of the American Academy of Grief Counselors, Rev. Felicia Allen, for a raw and tender conversation about what it means to grieve well. Juana explores with Felicia how our brains build "titanium roads" to those we love—neural pathways so strong they remain long after our loved ones are gone. Together they examine why Americans struggle to grieve, how cultural norms shape our mourning, and the liberating truth that grief and gratitude can occupy the same space.

Show Notes:

• 7:24 Felicia shares how God placed her on the oncology ward—the last place she wanted to be—and how that assignment launched her grief counseling journey
• 12:48Why we grieve more healthily in community, and how demonstrative grief across cultures is often pathologized in American healthcare settings
• 26:25 The "titanium roads" metaphor: how neurons build pathways to our loved ones from the womb, and why grief requires us to build new roads off the old ones
• 45:59 Grief rituals—from funerals to t-shirts with loved ones' faces—and why these practices are sacred tools for processing loss
• 55:02 Reframing "how can I move on?" to "how can I not?"—and why grief and gratitude can occupy the same space

In this introductory episode of "In the Processor," host Rev. Dr. Juana Jordan sits down with Derrick Scott III, Creative Producer of Studio Wesley, to unveil a podcast dedicated to creating sacred space for grief. Juana shares her personal journey through the unexpected loss of her mother in July 2024 and how a healing conversation with sorority sisters at homecoming sparked the vision for this series. The podcast title draws on the metaphor of a computer processor—transforming raw, unfiltered emotions into clarity and growth. The series centers the desire for Black women and Black people to grieve fully and out loud. These are conversations that will offer language and tools for younger generations navigating loss, change, and transition for the first time. Enjoy!

Show Notes:

• 01:09 – Juana introduces herself and shares her personal grief journey as an only daughter caring for her father after losing her mother

• 03:33 – The heart of the podcast: "Telling our stories is holy work" and cultivating sacred spaces for collective healing

• 06:35 – The meaning behind the name "In the Processor" and how grief affects our personal growth

• 15:44 – Derrick and Juana discuss the biblical tradition of grieving out loud and reclaiming that practice

• 20:15 – A college student's discovery of "anticipatory grief" and why this language matters for younger generations

Produced by Wesley's Revival, a ministry of Studio Wesley.