This week Julian reads an essay focused on reminders. A very specific one. A birthday reminder for the deceased. The essay explores bipolar disorder, suicide, and the things we didn't have the chance to say. 

This week Julian finds an essay about the small graces extended by strangers. In this divorced father's essay he talks about his difficult childhood, his early life homelessness, his history of bullying and a moment of thoughtless kindness or "lollipop moment" that helped him in a moment of need. 

Today's song was "Farewell" by Reeder licensed under Creative Commons 3.0 Share-alike License. Today's featured song is from their album "It is the Nature of Dreams to End". Find Reeder on Twitter. Find this song and all their albums on their Bandcamp here.

After speaking to his sister Annika and visiting Coarline's grave alone, Julian finds an essay from a woman who lost her husband overseas. In her essay she notes the small rituals we do to attempt to reach those we've lost, be it her daughter's tapping on her bedroom door or her widowed father's conversations with his long-dead wife. 

When we whisper into the dark, do you think anyone hears us? 

Today's music was "Home" by Reeder licensed under Creative Commons 3.0 Share-alike License. Today's featured song is from their album  "It is the Nature of Dreams to End". Find Reeder on Twitter here https://twitter.com/reeder_music. Find this song and all their albums on Bandcamp: https://iamreeder.bandcamp.com/

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Twitter: @worksoflovepodcast

On the web: wolpod.com

Julian welcomes his sister to the show. Although Annika was Coraline’s best friend and the reason Julian met his wife, the two siblings have not talked since Coraline’s death. With Annika now in Seattle, they discuss the day-to-day difficulties of being a transperson, the importance of honoring “dead names", the roles men and women are forced into by society, and the two grieve over the woman they both loved.

Today’s episode was written and performed by Elliott Rose and Seranine Elliot.

To see more of Seranine’s work go to: Seranine.com

If you’d like a full transcript of this show, go to wolpod.com

After last week’s episode of siblings pulling together even when one is trying to pull away, Julian finds an essay from the opposite perspective. What happens when you live life as a tumbleweed? Beholden to no one but yourself?

What happens when an estranged parent tries to bring you back into the fold?

Also, Julian’s sister Annika has come back to Seattle from Chicago. Will the siblings pull together? Or pass like ships in the night?

Written and performed by Elliott Rose

For a full transcript of this episode go to www.wolpod.com

Follow us on Twitter @worksoflovepod

Content Warning: Mental Health and Attempted Suicide

Julian struggles to read a piece about a woman visiting her sister who was admitted into a mental health hospital for being a danger to herself. How is it that sometimes the people we have spent our lives knowing can become suddenly estranged from us? How is it that mental health problems can estrange the sufferers from themselves?

After the essay, Julian talks about the folks he’s known who have suffered from similar diseases and has a message for those who are currently suffering.

For a full transcript of this essay please go to www.wolpod.com

Julian chooses his first official essay to read from the submissions choosing an essay that focuses on family. More specifically, mothers and their adult children. What does it mean when you’re far away from family, when you’ve begun your own? What does it feel like knowing that although you may be a mother or a father yourself, before any of that you were someone’s child?

Julian then reminisces about his family and the schims between them and then he thinks of his trans sister and the difficulties between the sibling.

Written and performed by Elliott Rose

For a full transcript of today's episode please go to wolpod.com

After Coraline’s death, Julian decides to re-start her show, “Works of Love” while acknowledging his decision to take down the old show and its episodes are controversial, he is grateful for the outpouring of support. The essay he reads is one Coraline had wanted to do about the end of a love relationship with a fun twist at the end.

Written and performed by: Elliott Rose

For a full transcription of this episode please go to: wolpod.com

Follow us on Twitter: @worksoflovepod

We're also having a contest, if you like this show please consider leaving a review on iTunes for a chance to win one of two copies of Gavin Aung Than's "Cartoon Quotes From Inspirational Folks". 

In this trailer for Works of Love, an audio drama about love and loss, joy and grief, we find Julian in the early morning, trying to find a way to connect with his late wife and finding the answer in her desk drawer.

For more information go to wolpod.com