Annie Orenstein: Bold Lessons in Love, Loss & Healing

Content Warning: death of a sibling, grief

About This Episode

Join us as we welcome Annie Orenstein, an esteemed qualitative researcher, oral historian, storyteller, and the author of Always a Sibling: The Forgotten Mourner’s Guide to Grief. Through Annie's insights, we explore the deeply personal nature of boldness and the courage it takes to keep moving forward, especially after hardship. As the youngest of three siblings, Annie shares the experience of losing her oldest brother during his deployment in Afghanistan, and we examine the shared and distinct aspects of sibling grief and the lifelong journey of healing. This episode also emphasizes the importance of storytelling and creating a lasting legacy, as Annie recounts how writing her book was a positive transformative process. We share the power of sharing stories, encouraging you to embrace a bold mindset and preserve cherished memories to inspire healing and connection.

About Annie Orenstein 

Annie Sklaver Orenstein is a qualitative researcher, oral historian, and storyteller who has spent over a decade collecting stories from people around the world. Her work has been featured on NBC Nightly News, Comedy Central, Huffington Post, Politico, TIME, and Mother.ly. In 2020, driven by a desire to share these stories beyond the walls of corporate America, Annie founded Dispatch from Daybreak, a collection of letters written by womxn to their earlier selves. She is also the author of Always a Sibling: The Forgotten Mourner’s Guide to Grief. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, children, dog, and chickens.

Additional Resources

Website: annieorenstein.com

Instagram: @AnnieSklaverOrenstein

LinkedIn: @AnnieOrenstein

Chapters

• 12:53 Navigating Grief
• 20:06 Navigating Sibling Loss and Grief
• 31:47 Healing Through Sibling Loss Experiences
• 37:50 Preserving Memories to Heal