Meet Veronica Day | Podcast creator and host

We had the good fortune of connecting with Veronica Day and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Veronica, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I lost my husband unexpectedly in 2018. One day I was a happily married Texan loving my jobs in non-profit and theater; the next I was a young (ish) widow alone in a new house that was full of unpacked moving boxes. “Sadness” and “spiraling” were just two of the words that described me during that time.

I began my journey navigating all that comes with grief and loss. It was filled with tears, frustration, confusion and an occassional laugh. Friends and family set up meal trains and often asked me what they could or should have done to help me. I was surprised at how many people brought me a frozen lasagna. Along the way I realized that I wanted to help others who were experiencing loss and help those who support them. Sometimes another frozen lasagna was just not going to cut it.

I thought about writing a book but then I realized a podcast would give me more options to share not just my story but share all types of grief. I wanted to normalize grief conversations. It can be a scary and sad topic. So, I launched my podcast, Grief and Frozen Lasagnas in the Spring of 2022. I thought I could turn my grief into something to help others. We invite guests on the show to talk about their grief, what helped and what did not help. We are not grief counselors nor grief experts. I wanted to focus on just real people and real grief. My goal is to give people hope and let them know that they are not alone.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
There are lots of podcasts and books on grief. Ours focuses on personal stories from real people. Every story may not be for every listener. We strive to have a wide variety of grief topics. I started this podcast as a way to help people who are trying to help their friends and loved ones who are coping with grief. I did not want my own grief to destroy me. I knew that while my grief will always be a part of me, it is not the whole me. So when I decided to launch this podcast I jumped in with both feet.

I listen to a lot of podcasts but then I had to learn what really goes into creating one. I had to learn everything from which microphone was best for me, where to record, how to edit, produce, how to effectively interview guests and how to promote our show. I am still learning. I think one thing some people may not know is how much time actually goes into interviewing and editing. I definitely have a new appreciation for this now! I network with other podcasters and ask listeners for feedback. I know that I will make mistakes but not to give up. I try to take those mistakes and use them as a chance to improve. I hope to continue to share real and honest conversations about grief. Sometimes it might make you cry. Sometimes it just might make you laugh.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I think DFW has so much to offer no matter what your style is! I don’t think one week woud be enough time to really show an out of town guest all the wonderful things in DFW. I would take my out of town bestie to Origin Kitchen and Bar for great craft cuisine. We would definitely head to Richardson’s Lockwood Distillery for a cocktail. Both spaces have great selection and service. I would take them over to Bishops Arts for some shopping and walking around. I think the Sons of Hermann Hall would be a neat place to take them to hear some cool music. The Pocket Sandwich Theatre in Carrollton is a must see. If French jazz is your thing, check out the band La Pompe every Thursday night. I could go on and on.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to thank all of my podcast guests who have shared their grief stories. They have opened up and shared so candidly with our listeners. We all have some type of grief and I think hearing others share helps us too. I would also like to thank my husband for not only encouraging me to do this but also helps me produce each episode. Our listeners also get a huge thank you!

Website: www.griefandfrozenlasagnas.com

Instagram: grieflasagnas

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077499661270&mibextid=ZbWKwL

Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grief-and-frozen-lasagnas/id1605433893