The Power of Music to Heal

When John Richards lost his mom, he turned to music. Sitting by her side as she died, he found that songs could say what words couldn’t — and she, a big lover of music herself, understood. That experience planted the seed for Music Heals: Grief, a radio program he created to help others feel less alone when facing death and dying.

For 20 years, Music Heals: Grief has brought stories of grief and loss into the open on Seattle nonprofit radio station KEXP-FM. It’s the original theme of the Music Heals series, airing every November, with Richards dedicating the three hour Morning Show to music and stories that explore what it means to grieve. Over time, other themes — addiction/recovery, cancer, and mental health — have evolved from the Music Heals concept, becoming their own series played throughout the year.

Even if you’re not grieving, just listening helps share the weight of loss. It’s a way of being present for those who need it. Richards remembers one story that changed how he hears a particular song forever. A father came to the station, holding a small, hand-built box he made to keep his late son’s favorite belongings. He requested Pearl Jam’s “Just Breathe.” “Once you’ve looked a man in the eyes as he holds a box with his child’s belongings in it, that song takes on a different meaning for the rest of time,” Richards says. “And now, hearing that story, it will happen for you too.”

This year, Music Heals: Grief feels especially timely, airing in the wake of an election that left many of us feeling a sense of loss and mourning. “We’re all carrying something heavy this year,” Richards says. “If we can just share a bit of that load, through music, then that’s something beautiful.”

The show also creates a sense of community. Richards’ wife now joins him on air, bringing her own experiences with grief, including losing her brother in an avalanche. Listeners have called in with similar stories, bonding over experiences that might otherwise feel isolating. “This is who we are at KEXP — giving people a place to feel connected, to feel less alone,” Richards says.

The show’s not all heavy. It’s a mix — some songs hit hard, others are a celebration of life. There’s room for all of it. A lot of work goes into mixing a day of music and stories like this, but Richards is up for it. He sees it as part of a self-care toolkit for listeners and himself. “As I get older, I look at every year as a gift,” he says. “Even if that means you’re sitting around grieving an entire day, well, then do it. You gotta do it.”

Music Heals: Grief airs on The Morning Show from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Nov. 14, with other KEXP shows joining in throughout the day. Early, The Afternoon Show and Drive Time will add their own stories and songs about loss.