Grief 2 Growth

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 handle] Podcast / Audio Work: [Insert link]❤️ Support the ShowIf today’s conversation touched you: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 I'm excited to announce a new resource I'm very proud of. This guide outlines the four daily practices I discovered on my grief journey. These techniques have helped dozens of my clients. Get it free today.GEMS- 4 Steps To Go From Grief To Joy 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: “You don’t have to go through this alone.”👉 Feedback Request: We want to uplift more voices like Michael’s. What toVisit 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 I'm excited to announce a new resource I'm very proud of. This guide outlines the four daily practices I discovered on my grief journey. These techniques have helped dozens of my clients. Get it free today.GEMS- 4 Steps To Go From Grief To Joy 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 today’s powerful episode of Grief 2 Growth, Brian sits down with Samina Bari — author of Don’t Call Me Widow and host of the Afterlife podcast — for a raw and insightful look at spousal loss, solo parenting, grief brain, and the quiet ways we can show up for those who are hurting most.Samina lost her husband suddenly in 2023. What followed was a journey through shock, trauma, identity loss, and rebuilding life as a solo parent of twins. Her honesty brings comfort, clarity, and guidance to anyone walking beside someone who’s grieving — or navigating grief themselves.🔑 In This Episode You’ll DiscoverWhat “grief brain” really feels like and why it affects memory, decisions, and daily functioningWhy year two can feel harder than year oneHow solo parenting is different from single parentingWhy the word “widow” is so emotionally charged — and why Samina rejects itHow children grieve and what they need mostWhat actually helps someone grieving (and what makes things worse)The unseen emotional and logistical weight after a spouse diesWhy saying the loved one’s name matters more than you thinkHow friends can become the lifeline a grieving person depends on🌟 About Samina BariWebsite: https://saminabari.com Books:I Can, I Will, and I DidDon’t Call Me Widow Podcast: Afterlife (available on all major platforms)Samina blends lived experience with heartfelt advocacy, helping others understand the realities of spousal grief in a culture that’s deeply uncomfortable with loss.🧠 Listener TakeawaysSmall acts of kindness matter far more than big gesturesChildren are not naturally resilient — they need supportGrief changes identity, timelines, and the imagined futureCommunity support can literally hold a grieving person togetherIt’s never too late to reach out to someone who’s hurtingVisit 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 I'm excited to announce a new resource I'm very proud of. This guide outlines the four daily practices I discovered on my grief journey. These techniques have helped dozens of my clients. Get it free today.GEMS- 4 Steps To Go From Grief To Joy 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 powerful episode of Grief 2 Growth, internationally bestselling author and dream expert Theresa Cheung joins me to explore the deeper meaning of dreams — including the ones that frighten us, comfort us, and stay with us long after we wake up.Theresa shares why she believes we sleep to dream, how dreams reflect our soul's growth, and how they can become gateways to healing—especially after profound loss. Whether you're longing for an afterlife dream visit, navigating recurring nightmares, or simply curious about the hidden messages behind your dreams, this conversation offers clarity and hope.🌟 What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeThe surprising spiritual purpose of ordinary dreamsHow to distinguish symbolic dreams from true afterlife dream visitsWhy nightmares are “tough love” signs from the subconsciousHow dreams help us process grief and reconnect with those we loveThe power of lucid dreaming and emotional rehearsalHow Theresa weaves dream wisdom into her new spiritual thriller, Nightborn🧠 About Our Guest — Theresa CheungTheresa Cheung is a world-renowned spiritual writer with 20+ years of experience researching dreams, intuition, and the afterlife. She’s the author of multiple Sunday Times bestsellers and now, her debut spiritual thriller:👉 Nightborne — A gripping story infused with hidden dream-decoding teachings.🔗 Website: https://www.theresacheung.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetheresacheung✨ Resources MentionedTheresa’s novel: NightbornPast Grief 2 Growth episodes on afterlife communication and dream visitsDream journaling tips and recall practices💬 Join the ConversationWe want to hear from you!Did this episode spark a memory of a powerful dream?Have you experienced a dream visit from a loved one?What dream symbols show up most often for you?Share your thoughts with us on Substack: 👉 httpsVisit 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 I'm excited to announce a new resource I'm very proud of. This guide outlines the four daily practices I discovered on my grief journey. These techniques have helped dozens of my clients. Get it free today.GEMS- 4 Steps To Go From Grief To Joy 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

🎧 Episode Title: My Grief Is Not Like Yours: Theo Boyd on Layered Loss, Divine Signs & Radical HopeGuest: Theo Boyd – Author, Grief Educator, and Speaker Books: 📘 My Grief Is Not Like Yours 📗 Hope All The Way Grief Study Resource: Download the National Grief Study💡 Episode Summary:What if grief didn’t just break you—it rebuilt you?In this deeply moving conversation, Theo Boyd shares how her life was upended by a string of heartbreaking losses: her mother in a tragic farm accident, her father’s suicide, the sudden death of her longtime counselor, and the end of her marriage. But Theo didn’t stay in the darkness.Through writing, faith, and raw resilience, she created two life-affirming books that are helping thousands find healing. This episode is an emotional blueprint for anyone navigating the chaos of grief and searching for signs that love never dies.📝 Key Topics Covered:Why Theo says grief is like black paint—and how the light returnsThe silent trauma of witnessing compounded lossThe surprising story of how signs from her parents helped restore her faithWhat 79% of grieving Americans say they wish the media would doHow to help someone who's grieving (hint: just be there)The most misunderstood truths about “prolonged grief disorder”💬 Favorite Quotes:“Grief is just like that black paint… it coats you and covers you. It takes a while for that to dry and chip away so that you see the rays of light come through. Those are the little specks of hope.” – Theo Boyd“The loss that is the hardest… is the loss that you are experiencing.”“I gave up on my faith, but my faith never gave up on me.”🙋‍♀️ Your Turn:What’s one way you’ve found light through the black paint of grief? 📩 Leave a comment or join the conversation on Substack: grieftogrowth.substack.comVisit 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 I'm excited to announce a new resource I'm very proud of. This guide outlines the four daily practices I discovered on my grief journey. These techniques have helped dozens of my clients. Get it free today.GEMS- 4 Steps To Go From Grief To Joy 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