Grief Became the Reason She Lives With More Empathy

Groove with Portia · Apr 9, 2026 · 23m

Grief and healing after loss, trauma, and addiction can feel overwhelming but they can also become a pathway to purpose. In this episode, we explore mental health awareness, addiction recovery, and healing through storytelling in a deeply personal conversation.

I sat down with Kari Wells, author, actress, and storyteller, to talk about the loss of her sister to addiction, surviving a traumatic assault, and how those experiences reshaped her life. Kari shares how grief is not linear, how trauma does not have to define you, and why empathy matters more than judgment.

We also talk about her book…