Fishing Without Bait 517: Joanna Lowe on Turning Pain Into Purpose
In episode 517 of Fishing Without Bait, returning guest Joanna Lowe continues her deeply personal conversation with Jim Ellermeyer about grief, healing, and what comes after unimaginable loss.
Joanna opens up about the death of her husband and how creativity became one of the only ways forward. She describes the experience of creating and performing her one-woman show Widow, explaining how the process allowed her to release emotions she felt trapped inside her body.
The conversation explores the complexity of grief — not as something to “fix,” but as something that must be honored. Joanna discusses how different people process loss in different ways, why suppressing grief can be damaging, and how embracing pain can ultimately become part of healing.
Joanna also shares the story behind The Grin Reapers Club, a podcast she launched with her friend Lauren after both experienced devastating personal losses. Together, they explore “big grief” with honesty, dark humor, compassion, and openness.
One of the most powerful moments in the episode comes when Joanna says:
“Grief is the other side of love.”
It’s a conversation about transformation, emotional honesty, mindfulness, and learning how to live authentically after life changes forever.
Learn more about Joanna’s work:
The Grin Reapers Club Podcast
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