Introducing “Science of Grief,” A New Podcast from WDET and Science Gallery Detroit

Young adults are facing a mental health epidemic in the United States, and the new Science of Grief Podcast from WDET, Detroit’s NPR Station and MSU’s Science Gallery Detroit (SGD) is addressing the problem head-on through conversations with young people and mental health experts. The first episode will be published June 2, and available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

The 10-episode podcast series makes space for young adults to share stories, science, and solutions for those who are exploring their grief and mental health.

Listen to the trailer now. Subscribe to the podcast to get alerted about new episodes.

The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed teens into social isolation, disrupted their social lives, caused missed milestones like graduation, and even taken the lives of loved ones. Anxiety and depression are on the rise. According to a CDC survey from June 2020, 25% of young adults reported that they had seriously considered suicide in the last year.

Inspired by a highly successful public program created by Science Gallery Detroit, “Science of Grief” will create community and provide resources for young adults experiencing grief, trauma, anxiety, and depression, helping listeners to better understand their mental health and provide strategies to work through it.

“Grief, loss, and mental health should no longer be ignored in the lives of young adults and it’s my goal for this podcast to give them more of a voice and us adults more of an ear.” — Natasha T. Miller, Science of Grief Host

Hosted by acclaimed poet and SGD Community Engagement Manager Natasha T. Miller, and featuring a production team that includes six SGD Mediators between the ages of 15 and 25 as producers, “Science of Grief” will put the voices and stories of young adults front and center.

“It’s important that young adults are in a position to tell their own stories. Even more important than that, is that we acknowledge and listen to those stories,” says Miller. “Grief, loss, and mental health should no longer be ignored in the lives of young adults and it’s my goal for this podcast to give them more of a voice and us adults more of an ear.”

Science Gallery Mediators are a team of young adults with a passion for talking about the collision between science and the arts. They are curious about the world around them, and enthusiastic about engaging others in quirky, edgy conversations around timely and relevant ideas. This first-of-its-kind podcast serves as a platform to provide mediators with agency to explore issues affecting their lives.

“It’s no secret anymore that we are facing a mental health epidemic in the U.S. Podcasts for young people, by young people on the topic of mental health and grief are few and far between,” says Shanmin Sultana, Science Gallery Detroit mediator. “It is so encouraging to see institutions like Science Gallery Detroit and WDET humanize and destigmatize this very relevant issue with the hopes of reaching young audiences worldwide.”

The Science of Grief podcast is a collaboration between WDET and Science Gallery Detroit, and is supported by The Children’s Foundation of Michigan, MSUFCU, and Science Sandbox.