On Anxiety, Loss, and Grief with Sara Billups

What is the relationship between anxiety and grief?

For Sara Billups, that question became deeply personal during a season of significant loss. Her latest book, "Nervous Systems," was released while she was caring for both of her seriously ill parents. Her dad died that same month, followed by her mom just six weeks later.

In this conversation, Sara joins Dr. Dan Allender and Rachael Clinton Chen to explore the surprising ways anxiety and grief can interact—sometimes intensifying our distress, and sometimes shifting or even quieting as we face what we feared or cannot change. They also talk about why we often hesitate to bring up loss, how making space for grief can make room for love and joy, and what it means to receive care when you're the one who is used to caring for others.

Join us for a tender, honest conversation about sitting with grief, living with anxiety, and leaning into hope.

About the Allender Center Podcast:

For over a decade, the Allender Center Podcast has offered honest, thoughtful conversations about the deep work of healing and transformation. Hosted by Dr. Dan Allender and Rachael Clinton Chen, MDiv, this weekly podcast explores the complexities of trauma, abuse recovery, story, relationships, and spiritual formation. Through questions submitted by listeners, stories, interviews, and conversations, we engage the deep places of heartache and hope that are rarely addressed so candidly in our culture today. Join the Allender Center Podcast to uncover meaningful perspectives and support for your path to healing and growth.

At the Allender Center, we value thoughtful dialogue across a wide range of voices, stories, and lived experiences. In that spirit, our podcast features guests and hosts who may hold differing perspectives. The perspectives shared on this podcast by guests and hosts reflect their own experiences and viewpoints and do not necessarily represent the views, positions, or endorsements of the Allender Center and/or The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology.

Stream each episode, plus find transcripts, additional resources, and more at: theallendercenter.org/podcast

To become a supporter of the Allender Center Podcast, visit: https://theallendercenter.org/2025/11/podcast-support/

If you and your organization would like to partner with the Allender Center Podcast, please reach out to Clay Clayton at cclayton@theallendercenter.org