Grief 2 Growth

"Transform your grief into growth with Brian Smith, an empathetic life coach, certified grief educator, public speaker, and author who has walked the treacherous path of profound loss. Grief 2 Growth unravels the intricacies of life, death, and the spaces in between, offering listeners a new perspective on what it means to be 'Planted. Not Buried.'

Join Brian and his compelling guests—bereaved parents, life coaches, mediums, healers, near death experiencers, and experts in various fields—as they discuss topics like survival guilt, synchronicities, and the scientific evidence supporting the existence of the afterlife. You'll come away with actionable advice, renewed hope, and the comforting knowledge that love and life are eternal.

One of the most powerful ways we know what awaits us and where we came from is Near Death Experiences. Much of Brian's knowledge is derived from extensive study of this phenomenon, along with interviewing dozens of near death experience experiencers.

Brian knows the soul-crushing weight of loss; his journey began with the sudden passing of his fifteen-year-old daughter, Shayna. It's not an odyssey he would have chosen, but it has been an odyssey that has chosen him to guide others.

Grief 2 Growth is a sanctuary for those grieving, those curious about the beyond, and anyone eager to explore the fuller dimensions of life and death. Each episode delves into topics that matter most—how to cope, grow, and connect with loved ones in the afterlife. If you ask: “Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going?” this podcast is for you.

This isn't about forgetting your loss or simply 'moving on'; it's about growing in a new direction that honors your loved ones and your spirit. It’s about finding joy and purpose again.

Grief 2 Growth is more than a podcast; it's a community of souls committed to supporting one another through the darkest valleys and highest peaks of human existence. Listen today and start planting seeds for a brighter, more spiritually connected tomorrow."

Contributors

Host

Brian D. Smith

I am a Grief Guide and Life Purpose Coach. My mission is to help people rediscover who they are and why they are here. In those two questions lie the secrets to not only surviving this life but thriving.

If you're feeling "stuck", it's most likely because you have forgotten the answer to one or both of these questions.

My vision is to create a world where everyone has a sense of purpose and fulfillment. If we know the "why", we can endure any "how'. I want to remind everyone of their true nature and their reason for being.

I became well acquainted with grief in 2015 after the sudden passing of my fifteen-year-old daughter Shayna. After Shayna's passing, I felt my life was over. I have studied the nature of life and death and how to progress through grief of all kinds from a job loss, divorce, illness or the death of a loved one. I speak from experience of all of the above.

https://www.grief2growth.com

Guests

Guest

Bernadette Thompson

Bernadette Thompson is the owner of Tell Me Our Story Genealogy & Ancestral Healing. She is a Grief and Spiritual coach and guide for those seeking a path to healing and self-discovery. As a trained genealogist, professionally certified in understanding grief and trauma, it was her own path through grief that brought clarity to her work. Her focus is to help you journey towards understanding and healing. You will discover the stories of your ancestors opening you up to Ancestral Healing and a deeper understanding of who you are. It will help you make sense of the emotional impact of their lives, uncovering what may have been passed down, and expanding your connection with your ancestral past. It is a journey of self-discovery where you will use the tenets of compassion, forgiveness, resilience, and wisdom. It is also a spiritual journey that will help you overcome the challenges of grief, loss, change, and uncertainty.

https://www.tellmeourstory.com

Guest

Dr. Natasha P. Trujillo

There's no "right" way to grieve, according to Denver-based psychologist and therapist Dr. Natasha P. Trujillo.

Dr. Trujillo specializes in grief, loss, eating disorders, trauma, life transitions, identity development, perfectionism, and performance psychology. Her expertise extends to working with athletes and performers across the nation, both individually and within team settings.

https://www.andshewasneverthesameagain.com

Guest

James Parker

James Parker is a staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of GET ME THROUGH THE NEXT 5 MINUTES: Odes to Being Alive (W. W. Norton & Company; June 4, 2024). Turned On, his 1998 biography of the punk-rock performer Henry Rollins has been described as “breathlessly brilliant” (New Musical Express) and “a modern-day Pilgrim’s Progress” (Feed.com). He was previously a staff writer for the Boston Phoenix, where he won New England Newspapers and Press Association awards for his reporting on history and religious issues, and an ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for music criticism. In 2012, he was nominated for a National Magazine Award for his columns at The Atlantic. In 2017–18 he was the Institute of Liberal Arts journalism fellow at Boston College. Since 2011, Parker has been running the Black Seed Writers Group—a weekly writing workshop for homeless, transitional, and recently housed writers–and editing The Pilgrim, a literary magazine from the homeless community of downtown Boston.