News from the Room
You know that weird phenomenon where you buy a new car or pick up a new hobby, and suddenly it’s like the universe is full of that exact same thing? You can’t unsee it. And you start to wonder, has it always been there, or did the world shift the moment you noticed?
That’s grief for me right now. Ever since I started really paying attention, how grief lands on people, how it can either walk quietly beside them or yank them through life by the collar. I’ve realised grief is everywhere. It’s woven into what it means to be human. But here’s the trick: like Betelgeuse or the Candyman, grief rarely gets called by name. It’s sneaky that way. It shows up as anger, bitterness, numbness, sadness, overwhelm. It hides in plain sight.
I’ve been watching the new season of The Bear, and honestly, half the drama boils down to grief. The grief of a messy childhood, the grief of lost family and friends, the grief of the life they thought they were going to have. The grief is the Bear.
It’s not just The Bear. Look at the universal hero’s journey stories we cling to. Bruce Wayne: grief over his parents’ murder becomes the fuel that turns him into Batman. Peter Parker: grief over Uncle Ben’s death flips him from using his powers for monetary gain, to becoming your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man.
Real life is no different. J.R.R. Tolkien carried the grief and trauma of his mother’s death and his experiences of the Great War, where most of his best friends died in battle. He used that grief and turned it into one of the most epic tales ever written.
No one wants to meet grief. We avoid thinking about it. We avoid talking about it. And that’s exactly what grief wants. Because the less prepared you are for when it comes—and it will come—the easier it is for grief to manipulate you, to take control, to steer you into a stagnant, dark place where time feels stuck. But what if you flipped the script? What if you used the grief tethered to you as fuel instead? What if it could push you forward into places you never imagined you’d go?
So how’s grief showing up in your life? Are you steering it, or is it steering you?
The 411
This Week at Room Eleven
The Room Eleven Podcast – Episode 3 – Matt McConnell out now!
Episode 3 of the Room Eleven Podcast dropped on Friday. In this episode, I sat down with Matt McConnell — a husband, a dad, and the founder of Love from Dad, a brilliant one-stop resource for fathers navigating grief after baby loss.
We spoke about his daughter Wren. It was raw, honest, and deeply personal. Matt’s openness in sharing his experience, from those first few hours to the days and months that followed, is something I’m incredibly grateful for.
He’s been on a number of podcasts already, generously sharing Wren’s story and helping other grieving dads feel less alone. And I’m sure he’ll be back on this one again in the future.
Sponsor a Kilometre. Power the Ride. Fund Real Change.
As mentioned last week, but leaving it in as a reminder. We launched a new way to get behind Scooting for Hope — and it’s perfect for people and businesses who want to be part of the record-breaking ride, without, you know, riding 270 km on a scooter.
We’re inviting 135–270 individuals and businesses to sponsor 1 or 2 kilometres of this world record attempt.
1 km = $150
Includes a certificate of appreciation, your name on our sponsor wall and official tracker, plus an invite to the private event at Calder Park.2 km (1+ lap) = $250
Everything above — plus a feature in the livestream, event materials, and across our socials.
This isn’t just a donation. It’s a purpose-driven partnership.
Support helps cover the infrastructure and broadcast costs, so every dollar from public donations can go straight to the Pregnancy After Loss Service at the Royal Women’s.
Room Eleven takes no profit. Just heart, wheels and momentum.
Weekly Musings
What I’m Watching: Squid Game - Season 3
The third and final season of Squid Game kicks off right where Season 2’s failed rebellion left us hanging. Seong Gi-hun, still reeling from everything he’s survived, dives back into the world’s most twisted competition, this time dead set on burning it all to the ground from the inside. The games ramp up in brutality, alliances continue to evolve, and Gi-hun stares down some gut-wrenching moral choices that make you question what you’d do in his place.
What an absolutely intense way to close out the Squid Game series. This season was a nail-biting, stomach-churning, emotionally exhausting rollercoaster from start to finish.
Quick heads-up to anyone in the baby loss community: there’s a newborn baby in the mix this season, a baby who’s constantly in danger of being eliminated. I won’t spoil what happens, but if you’re not in the right headspace, it’s probably best to skip this one.
As stressful as it was, this season blew the last one out of the water. Honestly, Seasons 2 and 3 could’ve been a single, tighter season if the streaming service hadn’t dragged things out for a bigger cash grab.
The cast were outstanding, the stakes were sky-high (literally), and every game had me on the edge of my seat. But man, those side plots, every time they showed up, it was like someone slammed the brakes on the story. They didn’t add a thing except wasted minutes.
And while this is officially the end of the South Korean Squid Game series, the story looks like its moving to Hollywood. They’ve left the door wide open for an expanding universe, with a new USA Squid Game in development, this time with David Fincher and Cate Blanchett attached.
All in all, Squid Game went out with a bang. A bang that will, and already is dividing viewers. So watch it soon or fall victim to spoilers on socials.
What I’m Reading: All These Worlds (Bobiverse, Book 3)
In All These Worlds, the third book in Dennis E. Taylor’s Bobiverse series, the Bobs, digitised human minds uploaded into self-replicating probes, continue their mission to secure humanity’s survival and expand across the stars. With Earth dying, new threats emerging, and alien species posing both opportunities and dangers, the Bobs juggle colonization efforts, clashes with rival replicants, and the moral dilemmas of wielding near-unlimited technological power. All while keeping their quirky personalities, and sense of humour, fully intact.
This is a solid third installment in the Bobiverse series. And after finishing it, it honestly felt like Dennis E. Taylor wrapped things up as if it could’ve been the last book. He tied off major storylines and set both humankind and the Bobs on a path toward survival and maybe even prosperity among the stars.
I really enjoy this series—it’s smart, hilarious, and full of big questions about identity, purpose, and what it means to be human… even when you’re just a brain in a spaceship.
Winter Warmer I’m enjoying: Twinings Strawberry, Rasberry & Loganberry Tea
When Melbourne’s cold winter rolls in, I find myself leaning hard into tea. I’m talking two pots a day, probably six cups or so. Lately, I wanted something sweet for the evening that’s also caffeine-free. That’s when I stumbled on this gem at the supermarket: Twinings Strawberry, Raspberry & Loganberry Tea.
It tastes like raspberry cordial, but without the sugar crash. Instead, it’s warm, relaxing, and the perfect way to wind down before bed. I’m actually drinking a cup as I write this.
If you’re after a cozy, sweet-but-not-sugary evening sip, give this one a try.
Grief is a master of disguise. It hides in anger, sadness, overwhelm—and it’s everywhere once you start looking. This week, from exploring how grief shapes our stories to intense shows like Squid Game and the cosmic adventures of the Bobiverse, I’ve been reminded how the challenges we face can either trap us or fuel our growth.
If you found something helpful or meaningful in this week’s newsletter, please take a moment to listen, like, share, and subscribe to the Room Eleven Podcast. It’s one of the best ways you can help us reach more people who need these conversations—and it also helps us build the leverage we need to bring corporate sponsors on board for our Scooting for Hope fundraiser.
Your support helps spread awareness, creates change, and, most importantly, makes sure no grieving parent has to feel alone.
Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
See you next week!
Rob
Giving Back
Donate a Still Billie Box
Our care packages for families who’ve lost their baby, named after our baby daughter Billie. Offering comfort during what should be a special, happy time.
Your donation can make a real difference in allowing us to provide free Still Billie Boxes to hospitals across Australia and fund our Scooting for Hope $100k Campaign.
Room Eleven is a social enterprise business and does not qualify for DGR status.