Ep 48: How to Rebuild Your Life After an Injury Changes Everything (with author, Jo Giesse)
How to Rebuild Your Life After an Injury Changes Everything
with Jo Giese
Episode Summary
Healing doesn’t always feel hopeful.
Sometimes it comes with grief, frustration, and the quiet realization that life will never look the way it once did.
In this episode of Rise To Her, Emily sits down with award-winning journalist and author Jo Giese to talk about what happens when your body forces you to slow down—and the version of life you loved is no longer accessible.
After a sudden injury left Jo unable to walk, she found herself navigating far more than physical recovery. This conversation explores identity loss, learning to accept help, redefining strength, and how to keep choosing joy without bypassing grief.
This episode is for anyone who is “doing better” on the outside, but still quietly mourning who they used to be.
In This Episode, We Talk About:
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What it means to heal while still grieving your old life
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How injury and loss can change your sense of identity
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Why healing isn’t linear—and why comparison can make it harder
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Learning to live at a different pace without giving up meaning
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The role of community when independence is taken away
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How Jo refused to accept a diminished version of her life
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Why walking, water, and nature became part of her recovery
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How to stay open to joy without denying pain
About Jo Giese
Jo Giese is an award-winning journalist, longtime radio host, and bestselling author whose work explores movement, meaning, and resilience. Her upcoming memoir, You’ll Never Walk Alone (releasing February 8, 2026), tells the story of a sudden Achilles injury that left her unable to walk—and the unexpected transformation that followed.
Jo has built a community of over 25,000 hikers, readers, and seekers who connect deeply with her grounded storytelling and lived wisdom.
Mentioned in This Episode
You’ll Never Walk Alone by Jo Giese
→ stay up to date + check out her other books, too!!
Jo Giese’s Website
→ check it out here
Follow Jo on Instagram
→ follow her IG here
Events & Resources from Emily & Rise To Her
Winter Solstice Workshop — Portland, OR (Dec 20)
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Journey to Joy Retreat — Bacalar, Mexico (Nov 5–10, 2026)
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ROOTED: Seasonal Living Membership (7-Day Free Trial)
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You can be healing and grieving at the same time.
You can move forward without pretending you’re the same person.
And you don’t have to do it alone.
If this episode resonated, share it with someone who’s quietly navigating their own in-between season—and take a walk today, even if it’s a slow one.