# Episode 55 The Person You Used to Be

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-next-podcast-moving-forward-with-grief-and-loss-7049767/episode-55-the-person-you-used-to-be
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-next-podcast-moving-forward-with-grief-and-loss-7049767/episode-55-the-person-you-used-to-be.md
Podcast: [The Next Podcast: Moving Forward with Grief and Loss](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-next-podcast-moving-forward-with-grief-and-loss-7049767)
Published: 2026-02-18T14:02:43+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jay-cookingham/episodes/Episode-55-The-Person-You-Used-to-Be-e3f8sml
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/fc08e024/podcast/play/115683477/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-1-18%2F2a554f45-c18d-d598-108b-0a6aaf46b0bc.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-next-podcast-moving-forward-with-grief-and-loss-7049767/episodes/episode-55-the-person-you-used-to-be
Duration seconds: 758

## Resource

Grief doesn’t just take what you love. It changes who you are. In this episode of The NEXT Podcast, Jay Cookingham continues the conversation about grief as a rite of passage by stepping into what may be the hardest part of the journey—the middle space. That in-between place where you are no longer who you were, but not yet who you are becoming. Jay shares honestly about disorientation, about learning to function in a life he didn’t choose after the loss of his bride, Christine, and about the quietness of God in seasons where clarity doesn’t come quickly. He speaks to the tension of wanting a map while discovering that what we truly need is proximity to the Father. If you’ve felt lost, numb, behind, or unsure of who you are anymore, this episode offers language for that experience. The middle is not wasted space. It is sacred ground where identity is refined, dependence grows deeper, and God meets us daily with just enough grace. You are not behind. You are in between. And God is still good there. Find out more about me here: https://jaycookingham.com I’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/jcdude56t

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## Transcript

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