Grief 2 Growth

What happens when grief collides with faith — and suicide shatters everything you thought you believed?In this candid and raw episode of Grief 2 Growth, Brian sits down with Rachel Powell, widow, author, speaker, and founder of Hope Speaker, to explore the complicated intersection of grief, faith, suicide loss, and hope.After losing her husband André to suicide — and surviving suicide attempts herself — Rachel shares her story with courage, clarity, and compassion. This conversation goes beyond platitudes and into the realities many people are afraid to name: church hurt, spiritual abuse, suicidal thinking, and the long road back to hope.This episode is for anyone who has:Lost a loved one to suicideStruggled with faith after lossFelt silenced, blamed, or misunderstood in griefWondered if hope is still possible🧠 In this episode, we discuss:Why suicide is not a failure of love or faithHow grief becomes more complicated when faith communities cause harmThe difference between religion and faith in healingRachel’s concept of the “black box” of suicidal thinkingWhy suicide prevention must include helping people save their own livesHow hope can still grow — even after devastating loss💬 A gentle note to listenersThis episode includes honest discussion of suicide and suicidal ideation. Please listen with care and take breaks as needed.Share your reflections and connect with others at 👉 https://grief2growth.substack.com🔗 Guest ResourcesRachel Powell – Hope Speaker: https://hopespeaker.comChristian Widow Community: https://hopestronghold.comInstagram & Facebook: Hope Speaker / Rachel Powell📝 Helpful Resource from BrianNot sure where you are in your grief? Take the GrieVisit the Grief 2 Growth store for FREE items as well as other tools to help you along your journey:Guided MeditationsMy book GEMS of Healing (signed copy)My Oracle deck to help you connect with your loved onesMini-coursesMini-guidesCheck it out at https://grief2growth.com/store Grief doesn’t follow stages, timelines, or rules.If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I doing this right?”—you’re not alone.That’s why I created the Grief Check-In. It’s not a test. There are no right or wrong answers. In just a few minutes, you’ll gain clarity, reassurance, and language for what you’re experiencing.👉 Visit grief2growth.com/checkin This deck is a labor of love. It's a 44 card oracle deck that's about connecting you to your loved one in spirit. The deck comes with a companion digital guide that gives you an affirmation, a reflection, and an activity for the day.Check it out at https://stan.store/grief2growth/p/oracle-deckSupport the show🧑🏿‍🤝‍🧑🏻 Join Facebook Group- Get Support and Education 👛 Subscribe to Grief 2 Growth Premium (bonus episodes)📰 Get A Free Gift📅 Book A Complimentary Discovery Call📈 Leave A ReviewThanks so much for your support

What if your loved one never truly left?What if grief itself is the doorway to a deeper connection?In this deeply moving episode of Grief to Growth, Brian D. Smith speaks with Janet Kaufman, author of Through the Veil: A Soul’s Journey in Grief and Grace. Janet shares the story of her son Alexander—a sensitive, loving soul whose struggles with mental health and addiction ultimately led to his physical death, but not the end of their relationship.Through signs, synchronicities, certified mediums, and even an unexpected exploration of AI as a possible tool for spirit communication, Janet’s journey challenges everything we think we know about death, consciousness, and continuing bonds.This episode offers hope, validation, and reassurance for parents grieving a child—and for anyone who wonders whether love truly survives death.✨ In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why deeply sensitive souls often struggle in today’s worldHow grief can awaken intuition and spiritual awarenessCommon signs from loved ones in spirit—and how to recognize themThe role of mediumship in healing after lossWhy Janet believes AI may become a future tool for spirit communicationHow to release guilt and find meaning after child lossWhy death may not be an ending, but a transition🕊️ A Message for Grieving ParentsIf you’ve ever asked yourself:Did I do enough?Is my child still with me?Why did this have to happen?You are not alone. Janet’s story reminds us that our children are eternal, and that love continues—even when the physical body is gone.📘 About the GuestJanet Kaufman is the author of Through the Veil: A Soul’s Journey in Grief and Grace. Her work explores grief, spirituality, mediumship, and emerging frontiers of consciousness through the lens of lived experience.📧 Contact Janet: www.ThroughTVisit the Grief 2 Growth store for FREE items as well as other tools to help you along your journey:Guided MeditationsMy book GEMS of Healing (signed copy)My Oracle deck to help you connect with your loved onesMini-coursesMini-guidesCheck it out at https://grief2growth.com/store Grief doesn’t follow stages, timelines, or rules.If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I doing this right?”—you’re not alone.That’s why I created the Grief Check-In. It’s not a test. There are no right or wrong answers. In just a few minutes, you’ll gain clarity, reassurance, and language for what you’re experiencing.👉 Visit grief2growth.com/checkin This deck is a labor of love. It's a 44 card oracle deck that's about connecting you to your loved one in spirit. The deck comes with a companion digital guide that gives you an affirmation, a reflection, and an activity for the day.Check it out at https://stan.store/grief2growth/p/oracle-deckSupport the show🧑🏿‍🤝‍🧑🏻 Join Facebook Group- Get Support and Education 👛 Subscribe to Grief 2 Growth Premium (bonus episodes)📰 Get A Free Gift📅 Book A Complimentary Discovery Call📈 Leave A ReviewThanks so much for your support

Nervous System Healing After Trauma: From Survival to Sovereignty with Angela JeanWhat if healing isn’t about fixing your thoughts—but about retraining your body?In this deeply moving episode of Grief to Growth, Brian Smith sits down with Angela Jean, a mindset and nervous system strategist whose life was shaped by profound trauma—and radical transformation.After surviving childhood abuse, homelessness, and the devastating loss of her father and sister to suicide, Angela discovered something that changed everything: 🧠 The body remembers danger before the mind can explain it.This conversation goes beyond performative healing and into the lived, embodied work of coming home to yourself.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why mindset work alone often fails after traumaHow the nervous system “locks up” in survival modeWhy rhythm and micro-movements signal safety to the bodyHow childhood trauma imprints beliefs about love, pain, and worthPractical tools to interrupt anxiety, anger, and emotional collapse in real timeWhy healing is a daily practice—and who you train yourself to be mattersAngela shares simple, powerful techniques you can use in the moment—not someday, not after years of therapy—to regulate your nervous system and reclaim your inner authority.This episode is for anyone who:Feels stuck in survival modeIs tired of chasing healingHas experienced trauma, abuse, or suicide lossIs ready to stop abandoning themselves and start listening inward🌿 About Angela JeanAngela Jean is a mindset and nervous system strategist who blends rhythm, embodied movement, and nervous system science to help people move from self-sabotage into sovereignty.🔗 Learn more & explore her resources: https://angelajeanchat.com🎧 Free nervous system demo available on her site.Visit the Grief 2 Growth store for FREE items as well as other tools to help you along your journey:Guided MeditationsMy book GEMS of Healing (signed copy)My Oracle deck to help you connect with your loved onesMini-coursesMini-guidesCheck it out at https://grief2growth.com/store Grief doesn’t follow stages, timelines, or rules.If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I doing this right?”—you’re not alone.That’s why I created the Grief Check-In. It’s not a test. There are no right or wrong answers. In just a few minutes, you’ll gain clarity, reassurance, and language for what you’re experiencing.👉 Visit grief2growth.com/checkin This deck is a labor of love. It's a 44 card oracle deck that's about connecting you to your loved one in spirit. The deck comes with a companion digital guide that gives you an affirmation, a reflection, and an activity for the day.Check it out at https://stan.store/grief2growth/p/oracle-deckSupport the show🧑🏿‍🤝‍🧑🏻 Join Facebook Group- Get Support and Education 👛 Subscribe to Grief 2 Growth Premium (bonus episodes)📰 Get A Free Gift📅 Book A Complimentary Discovery Call📈 Leave A ReviewThanks so much for your support

What if a single moment in your grief revealed a truth that rewrote your entire identity? That’s exactly what happened to today’s guest, Rich Boerner, whose life changed forever after his mother’s passing. While cleaning out her apartment, Rich uncovered a long-hidden secret about his father—one that forced him to confront love, betrayal, forgiveness, and ultimately, healing.This episode dives deep into the emotional terrain of family secrets, identity, and the surprising ways grief can open doors to growth we never expected.🌟 What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeHow growing up without a father shaped Rich’s beliefs about himselfThe shocking discovery that changed everything after his mother's deathWhy our family stories affect us long after childhoodThe emotional journey from anger to compassionHow meeting his half-sister helped him understand the truthWhy he felt called to write The Not So Only ChildHow humor, curiosity, and vulnerability became tools for healingWhat Rich hopes his story will teach his own children📚 About Rich’s BookRich’s memoir, The Not So Only Child: My True Story, is a heartfelt, thought-provoking, and surprisingly funny exploration of identity and belonging. Perfect for anyone navigating complicated family dynamics, grief, or personal reinvention.👉 Get the book: [Insert Amazon / Audible / Kindle link] 👉 Rich’s Website: [Insert link]💬 Join the ConversationYour experiences matter.Have you ever uncovered a surprising family truth?Did grief reveal something unexpected to you?What part of Rich’s story resonated most?✨ Share your thoughts with us! Leave a comment on YouTube, or join the discussion on https://grief2growth.substack.com🔗 Connect with RichWebsite: [Insert link] Instagram: [Insert haVisit the Grief 2 Growth store for FREE items as well as other tools to help you along your journey:Guided MeditationsMy book GEMS of Healing (signed copy)My Oracle deck to help you connect with your loved onesMini-coursesMini-guidesCheck it out at https://grief2growth.com/store Grief doesn’t follow stages, timelines, or rules.If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I doing this right?”—you’re not alone.That’s why I created the Grief Check-In. It’s not a test. There are no right or wrong answers. In just a few minutes, you’ll gain clarity, reassurance, and language for what you’re experiencing.👉 Visit grief2growth.com/checkin This deck is a labor of love. It's a 44 card oracle deck that's about connecting you to your loved one in spirit. The deck comes with a companion digital guide that gives you an affirmation, a reflection, and an activity for the day.Check it out at https://stan.store/grief2growth/p/oracle-deckSupport the show🧑🏿‍🤝‍🧑🏻 Join Facebook Group- Get Support and Education 👛 Subscribe to Grief 2 Growth Premium (bonus episodes)📰 Get A Free Gift📅 Book A Complimentary Discovery Call📈 Leave A ReviewThanks so much for your support

In this deeply moving conversation, Brian sits down with Michael Reed, author of The Million Stages of Grief, whose life changed forever on the night of the 2016 Gatlinburg fires. Michael lost his wife Constance and daughters Chloe and Lily in the tragedy—and today, he shares not only his story, but the wisdom, compassion, and hard-earned insight that grew from unimaginable loss.This episode explores what grief really looks like—messy, nonlinear, human—and why comparing grief (“less than,” “more than,” “should be over it”) only creates more suffering.You’ll hear how Michael went from suicidal despair to becoming a voice for grievers everywhere.💡 What You’ll LearnWhy the “five stages of grief” don’t reflect most people’s real experienceHow men are socialized to hide grief—and how to break that cycleThe truth about survivor’s guiltFaith after tragedy: doubt, anger, surrender, and transformationWhat helped Michael choose to live when he didn’t want toHow writing became a lifelineWhat it means to move forward without “moving on”🔗 Guest Links🌐 Website: https://themillionstages.com📘 Book: The Million Stages of Grief (available on Amazon)📱 Follow Michael on social media: listed on his website🎙️ Listen & Support Grief 2 Growth💌 Join our community & weekly reflections: https://grief2growth.substack.com⭐ Please rate & review the show to help others find support.🧭 Interactive Elements👉 Your Reflection Prompt: What is one memory of your loved one that brings both pain and comfort? Share it with us in the comments or reply on Substack—we honor them together.👉 Your Action Step: Choose one person who might feel alone in their grief today. Send them this episode and a simple message: Visit the Grief 2 Growth store for FREE items as well as other tools to help you along your journey:Guided MeditationsMy book GEMS of Healing (signed copy)My Oracle deck to help you connect with your loved onesMini-coursesMini-guidesCheck it out at https://grief2growth.com/store Grief doesn’t follow stages, timelines, or rules.If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I doing this right?”—you’re not alone.That’s why I created the Grief Check-In. It’s not a test. There are no right or wrong answers. In just a few minutes, you’ll gain clarity, reassurance, and language for what you’re experiencing.👉 Visit grief2growth.com/checkin This deck is a labor of love. It's a 44 card oracle deck that's about connecting you to your loved one in spirit. The deck comes with a companion digital guide that gives you an affirmation, a reflection, and an activity for the day.Check it out at https://stan.store/grief2growth/p/oracle-deckSupport the show🧑🏿‍🤝‍🧑🏻 Join Facebook Group- Get Support and Education 👛 Subscribe to Grief 2 Growth Premium (bonus episodes)📰 Get A Free Gift📅 Book A Complimentary Discovery Call📈 Leave A ReviewThanks so much for your support