⭐️ Listener Favorite - Parent Loss and the Details That Remain: Story Work After Death from Lora Wallenstein

⚠️ Note: This episode is from the Intentional Documentary® era. I’ve kept it in the public archive because it’s a powerful example of grief-tending through sensory memory, story work, and honoring the details that remain.

⚠️ Content Note: This episode contains references to sudden parent loss, death, and personal grief.

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Lora Wallenstein was a photographer with thousands of images, but after her dad died suddenly and unexpectedly, she realized she didn’t have a single photo that truly captured him.

Not one that made her say, “That’s Dad.”

In this episode, Lora shares how she turned to his home, his tools, and the radio — still playing in the basement workshop — to tell his story through what remained.

It’s a story about grief, missed moments, and the void that loss leaves behind. But it’s also a story about intention, noticing, and creative response, even in the thick of heartbreak.

This one’s for anyone who’s ever lost someone and wondered, 'Did I miss my chance?' 

Chances are, you may have missed a medium, but it’s likely not too late to record the story.

Topics: 

• Lora’s story of losing her father suddenly and unexpectedly
• The absence of authentic photos and the emotional impact of “not documenting in time”
• How she used story work and sensory memory (sounds, objects, details) to process grief
• DGS Story Work Practice (formerly The Preservation Project) as a structured support during emotional overwhelm
• Photographing someone’s space to tell their story without them in the frame
• How shared photos surfaced new memories for her sister
• The emotional weight of tools, objects, and everyday traces
• The therapeutic role of intention and creative planning in grief
• An invitation for listeners to reflect on their own untold or unpreserved stories

The practices shared in this episode are not medical or psychological advice. They reflect one person’s story of using creativity and reflection to navigate loss. If you feel these practices may support you in your grief or healing process, consider speaking with a qualified mental health professional first.

Access all active archived episode resources here: → dangerouslygoodstories.com/intentional-documentary-podcast-archive