The Emotional Institute

07/24/2025

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝟏𝟎𝟏 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞.

I created this podcast because too many of us are grieving in silence, thinking something is wrong with us when really, we’ve just never been taught how to grieve.

In this opening episode, I speak directly to that feeling of confusion and overwhelm that so often shows up after loss.

If you’ve ever said to yourself, “𝐈 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐈’𝐦 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝”—𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭. You’re grieving. And that grief deserves to be named, felt, and held.

This is a gentle invitation to be with your truth. To remember that your emotions are not too much. That your grief is not a flaw—it’s a sacred response to loss.

I hope this first conversation brings you a little breath. A little permission. A little peace.

🕯️ Grief 101 is now live.
🎧 Listen to Episode 1: “You’re Not Crazy, You’re Grieving”
💜 And if you’re a caregiver or helper, there’s a free meditation waiting for you on the episode page.

Thank you for being here. I’m honored to walk this path with you. —Bernadette

In this episode, Bernadette Pleasant unpacks the confusion and overwhelm that often come with grief. If you’ve ever felt like you’re losing your mind after loss, you’re not alone—and you’re not broken. You’re grieving. Bernadette explores how grief impacts the body, emotions, and mind, a...

07/23/2025

Welcome to the Grief 101 Podcast with Bernadette Pleasant

Grief isn’t a problem to solve—it’s a process to honor. I’m Bernadette Pleasant, a Certified Grief Educator, End-of-Life Doula, Sacred Grief Ritual Facilitator, and Founder of The Emotional Institute. This podcast is a refuge for anyone navigating loss in all its forms.

When I lost my mother, I entered a season of profound stillness and grief. Around that same time, I saw a heartbreaking rise in su***de among Black men. As a grandmother of Black boys, I thought, Not my babies. That moment called me into deeper service—using my voice, my rituals, and my life’s work to meet grief where it lives, especially in communities often left behind.

Each episode blends somatic tools, ancestral wisdom, practical guidance, and soulful storytelling to help you feel seen and supported. Whether you’re grieving a death, a divorce, a dream, or the quiet ache of unspoken loss, Grief 101 meets you with truth and tenderness.

You’re not too much. You’re not alone. You’re grieving—and that matters.

Subscribe for weekly episodes and let your healing begin—one breath, one ritual, one conversation at a time.

Visit www.TheEmotionalInstitute.com for courses, rituals, and embodied support.

Download your free Nighttime Nourishment meditation for caregivers—offered with Episode 1.

04/27/2024

Join me tomorrow (11am ET) for Rest As Ritual.

The Emotional Institute Event Calendar features upcoming Femme! Experiences, Teacher Trainings, Grief Rituals, TEI Courses such as 400 Years: Unlearning racism through the body, storytelling and deep listening and many of our collaborations and partnerships.

04/12/2024

Discover the true essence of rest with us!

It's not just about collapsing at the end of a busy day or occasional indulgences. It's about nourishing yourself deeply, letting go of obligations, and embracing replenishment.

Join Bernadette for Rest As Ritual, where we'll explore powerful principles and nourishing exercises to integrate deep rest into your daily life.

Ready to join us on this journey? Click the link to learn more and register.

https://www.theemotionalinstitute.com/rest-as-ritual

07/07/2023

💌 ✨We Are Taking a Pause and Resting✋⏯️ - https://mailchi.mp/theemotionalinstitute.com/july-2023-newsletter

06/21/2023

Reposted from 😍🎉

Have you ever experienced the ecstasy of a wild, shake-it-all-out dance? Have you watched someone dance as if no one is watching? 💭

I am usually that person, on the dance floor moving and shaking like no one is watching. 💃

Today, we chat with Bernadette Pleasant a somatic healer, sacred grief facilitator, and creator of well-loved mind-body wellness programs using sound and movement. Bernadette believes "there are no good, bad, light, or dark emotions; only emotions that need to be fully expressed." ✨

is a vibrant, sensual speaker who connects with those who have been silenced and shut down, to support their physical, emotional, and healing journeys. 🥰

Listen in to hear Bernadette describe the many way to express, honor and release what no longer serves you with sound and movement.

Listen to the full episode!🎙 https://www.dramyrobbins.com/podcast/movement-heals

06/20/2023

Be a Part of an Extraordinary Journey and Embark on a Transformative Dance Film Project: Your Support Matters! ✨ - https://mailchi.mp/theemotionalinstitute.com/grief-and-eros

Together with a dream cast of generous, playful artists, and healers, we aim to bring forth a film that resonates with your souls, nourishes your hearts, and ignites a fire within you 🔥.

06/07/2023

Picture a moment of stillness, where the noise of thoughts fades away and the busyness of life settles.

Mindfulness takes us there, to a place of being fully present, cherishing each breath with gentle awareness. In this space, the magic happens - in the quiet of our minds.

Mindfulness is not just for ourselves; it extends to others. As we nourish our souls, we emit a gentle light that touches those around us. Our presence becomes a source of comfort, empathy, and understanding as we navigate life together.

So, my dear friend, take a moment to breathe, to feel, and to be. Allow the beauty of your soul to unfold, like a blossoming flower reaching towards the sun.

06/06/2023

It's the season of summer, JUNE ✨💌
Get the latest updates and highlights from The Emotional Institute in our June 2023 Newsletter. Don't miss out! - https://mailchi.mp/theemotionalinstitute.com/june-newsletter-2023

05/22/2023

What I got out of the course and what really shifted for me was my ability to process my emotions! - Mercedes Vasquez.

Mercedes Vasquez, Spiritual Consultant, Crystal Reiki Healer, and one of the Attuned Teachers at TEI, beautifully shares her heartfelt journey and experience!

Get ready to be inspired by Mercedez's story of transformation and the incredible impact that The somatic Healing of the Emotional tour and Bernadette's guidance has had on her life and spiritual practice.

As Bernadette says, “There are no bad emotions, just unexpressed emotions!”

Witness the power of emotional growth and transformation firsthand!

It’s time to express your emotions in a safe, inclusive, non-judgmental space and welcome your primal and higher self.

Enroll now: https://bit.ly/3Wa3sdb

05/22/2023

Join the Emotional Tour Teacher Training -🔥 Ignite Your Journey of Transformation ✨ - https://mailchi.mp/theemotionalinstitute.com/join-teacher-training-june-2023

05/19/2023

Join TEI's Teacher Training Program on June and Become an Embodied Facilitator of The Emotional Tour™! - https://mailchi.mp/theemotionalinstitute.com/teacher-training-june-2023