Why Grief Isn't A Journey (And What It Is Instead) - John Onwuchekwa

What if grief isn't a journey for us to eventually finish, but more a language we become fluent in? In this first episode of 2026, we talk with writer, storyteller, and social entrepreneur, John Onwuchekwa, whose life was profoundly shaped by the death of his brother Sam in 2015. John shares how Sam's death altered not just his relationships and priorities, but his understanding of grief itself.

Rather than framing grief as a journey with an endpoint, John offers a different metaphor: grief as a language that we learn over time, one with past, present, and future tenses. He explores how grief comes through not just in our words, but our bodies, our reflexes, and our relationships, showing up in ways we often don't consciously choose.

We discuss:

• The limitations - and harm - of common grief metaphors
• The shifts in John's priorities and perspective that occurred after Sam died
• How loneliness often sits at the center of grief
• The ways grief can show up in our bodies, before our minds understand what's happening
• Holding grief and hope at the same time

Connect with John
Website: https://www.johno.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jawn_o/?hl=en
We Go On: https://www.andwegoon.com/
Blog: https://www.johno.blog/
Podcast: Four In The Morning https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Portrait Coffee: https://www.johno.co/ventures#portrait