Failing Grief: How Losing His Mom Shaped Matt Gilhooly’s Life

Matt Gilhooly, host of The Life Shift podcast, shares the story behind his own pivotal life shift—the sudden death of his mother when he was just eight years old. In a deeply moving conversation, Matt reflects on the fallout that followed, the perfectionism that took hold, and how it took him 20 years to finally face the grief he had buried. He opens up about processing trauma in therapy, learning to live intentionally, and the radically different way he was able to say goodbye to his grandmother. Matt’s story is one of heartbreak, healing, and learning to hold space—for himself and others.

Interview recorded in Orlando, FL.

Key Takeaways:

• Matt’s life changed forever when his mother died in a motorcycle accident while he was visiting his father for the summer.
• That moment led to a perfectionist mindset, rooted in fear of further abandonment.
• It took Matt 20 years to begin processing his grief—and therapy helped him understand how much of his life was driven by the fear of not being enough.
• He learned from that experience how to grieve differently when his grandmother—the most consistent maternal figure in his life—passed away.
• Starting The Life Shift podcast became a healing outlet, helping him connect with others through their pivotal life stories.
• Matt’s story highlights how grief can be delayed, repressed, or misunderstood—and how compassion begins with truly listening.

Matt’s Bio:

Matt Gilhooly is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast, where he shares candid conversations about the moments that change everything. With nearly 200 episodes and counting, Matt’s built a space where everyday stories are treated with the care and depth they deserve.

He’s also a creative producer and communications strategist with a background in higher education, brand storytelling, and internal communications. But at his core, Matt’s a meaning-maker – someone who believes that honest, human connection is where the real magic happens.

You can learn more at www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com or find The Life Shift wherever you listen to podcasts.

Connect with Matt:

www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

#TheHumanExperiencePodcast 

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Can you pinpoint a moment in time when your life changed? Maybe it wasn’t a moment, maybe it was a complicated chain of events that led you to where you are today. Or maybe, it was a generational impact that started before you were even born. Regardless of what it contains, all humans have a story. And those stories are the building blocks of who we are, at our very core. Join host, Jennifer Peterkin - lover and collector of stories, as she interviews humans from all walks of life. Tune in every week to hear stories of love and loss, triumph and defeat, and all that exist in between.