This is a word, a podcast from Slate.

I'm your host, Jason Johnson.

The pandemic era has been full of trauma and grief for millions of Americans whose loved ones have died of COVID.

And for many African Americans who were hard to hit by the crisis, this season of sorrow has seemed endless.

In her new book, author Marissa Renee Lee, shares her own

story of grief and finding joy and a time of loss. Give yourself some time, you know, like to just

sit and ask yourself, what do I need? What might help me move through this? I'm a meditation person.

I am a church girl. I do therapy. I have my

things that I know help me live with loss. The author of Grief is Love coming up on a word with me,

Jason Johnson. Stay with us. Welcome to a word, a podcast about race and politics and everything else.

I'm your host, Jason Johnson.

On any given day, a friend, a colleague, or anyone you know could be dealing with grief.

The fog of sorrow and sometimes anger and regret after the death of a loved one is a universal experience,

but so often a lonely one.

Even in the wake of a global pandemic, when millions endured repeated losses in isolation,

many of us lack the language for

describing our own grief, for helping others through theirs. Marissa Renee Lee is hoping to change that.

She's an author, speaker, an entrepreneur who's written for The Atlantic, Vogue, the Greo,

and glamour. And her new book, Grief is Love, Living with Loss, is out now.

Marissa, welcome to a word.

Thank you so much for having me, Jason.

I really appreciate it.

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