07-07-25 Grief to Gratitude with Portia Booker
On this episode of the Make Mental Health Matter Show, Kelli catches up with former special guest Portia Booker.
Little bit about Portia’s story from her:
Grief is no longer a stranger I avoid—it’s a part of my everyday life that I’ve learned to integrate. Over the last three years, I lost both of my parents, with my mother making her transition first. In 2022, after serving as her full-time caregiver through her battle with an interstitial lung condition, I found myself standing in a funeral home, picking up her ashes. That’s when an epiphany struck me: *Portia, what if her transition is meant for your transformation?* That moment became the turning point in my grief journey. It invited me to start living again after putting my life on pause. The frustration I felt toward society’s narrow view of grief became the fuel for my first book, *Finding Grace Within Grief: Her Transition…My Transformation*. In it, I challenge the belief that grief is only darkness—because what if grief is where we rediscover purpose, gratitude, and an entirely new version of ourselves?
Short bio: Portia Booker is the Chief Media Producer and host of Groove with Portia, a show dedicated to amplifying stories that leave a lasting impact. After losing both of her parents just nine months apart, she found herself navigating the murky waters of grief—only to discover an unexpected gift: gratitude. This awakening reignited her passion for storytelling and inspired her to help others find purpose through pain. Portia is the author of Finding Grace within Grief: Her Transition…My Transformation, a personal narrative that challenges how society depicts grief. Today, she produces podcasts, coaches creatives, and leads grief support groups focused on parent and suicide loss. Portia believes grief requires integration, not avoidance—and that choosing to share your story can be a powerful act of healing. Her work proves that adversity can “add verses” to our life’s blueprint and light the way for others.
Find out more about here:
https://linktr.ee/portiabkr
https://www.facebook.com/portiabkr/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/theportiabooker/
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