Next Podcast

The Next Podcast: Moving Forward with Grief and Loss

Welcome to The NEXT Podcast with Jay Cookingham—a heartfelt journey through grief, loss, and healing. After the devastating loss of his wife Christine, Jay shares his raw, honest reflections on navigating life without her. This podcast explores the power of grief as a medicine that teaches resilience, invites lament, and leads us to discover God’s presence during sorrow. With grace and vulnerability, Jay offers hope and encouragement to those walking through grief, reminding us that we’re not alone on this journey of healing.

After losing Christine, Jay realized he hadn’t just lost his wife—he had lost his person. The one he automatically turned to, shared life with, and allowed to know him deeply.In this episode, Jay talks honestly about the uncomfortable realization that he needs people. Not someone to replace Christine, but people who can occupy new and different places in his life.He explores the tension between isolation and connection, the lie that protecting ourselves is the same as healing, and what it means to allow God to bring people alongside us as we move forward.Through a tender story about holding his grandson Ayden, Jay discovers that sometimes we show up thinking we are the ones comforting, only to discover that God is comforting us through someone else.This is an episode about loneliness, community, vulnerability, and the courage to receive.“I don’t need a replacement for the person I lost. I need the courage to receive the people God has placed—and will place—in my life.”Find out more about me here: www.jaycookingham.comI’m on @buymeacoffee. If you like, even maybe love my podcast, you can buy me a coffee and support me. It’s a simple way of showing your support and helping me grow the podcast. Thank you!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/jcdude56tMusic by Paul Grimsland.
  1. Episode 67: Who Do You Need?
  2. Episode 66: Behind the Tough Face
  3. Episode 65: Learning to Receive Again
  4. Episode 64: The Loss of Being Known
  5. Episode 63: The Loneliness Nobody Talks About