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."
Grief 2 Growth
Forgiveness, Family, and Finding Freedom Through Storytelling- Kennerly Clay EP 429
🔍 Episode Summary:
What if the stories we’ve buried hold the power to heal us? In this deeply personal and moving conversation, Brian D. Smith speaks with Kennerly Clay, author of Letters from East of Nowhere, about the long road to forgiveness, the wounds of parental abandonment, and the unexpected redemption found in decades of handwritten letters.
Kennerly’s father, an alcoholic and long-haul truck driver, was largely absent from her life. But through raw honesty, early sobriety, and years of storytelling, she found a way to forgive—and even to love—the man who shaped her pain.
💬 This episode explores:
- The power of writing to reclaim your narrative 🖋️
- How forgiveness frees us, even when others don’t change 🕊️
- Rediscovering lost love through preserved letters 💌
- Turning personal trauma into a purposeful message 🌈
You’ll walk away with a new lens on your own past—and perhaps the courage to look at it with more compassion.
👤 Guest: Kennerly Clay
Kennerly is a memoirist, speaker, and storytelling strategist helping others transform personal pain into powerful purpose. Her memoir Letters from East of Nowhere: Daddy’s Words to Live, Drink, and Die By is available now.
🔗 Learn more & get the book: https://lettersfromeastofnowhere.com
🔗 Links & Resources
- 💻 Visit our community: grief2growth.com/community
- 📘 Get Letters from East of Nowhere: lettersfromeastofnowhere.com
- 🎧 Subscribe on YouTube: Grief 2 Growth Channel
- 📬 Join Brian’s newsletter:
Visit the Grief 2 Growth store for FREE items as well as other tools to help you along your journey:
- Guided Meditations
- My book GEMS of Healing (signed copy)
- My Oracle deck to help you connect with your loved ones
- Mini-courses
- Mini-guides
Check it out at https://grief2growth.com/store
Do near-death experiences inspire you? Are you moved by the research showing we are more than our bodies?
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of near-death studies, IANDS has launched the Chrysalis Campaign. Join at the Supporting level or higher, or make a donation of $100 or more, you’ll receive a commemorative mug.
🌍 Visit IANDS.org and click “Give” to support this vital work.
What really happens when we die? And how can understanding near-death experiences transform the way we live?
Join nearly 1,000 attendees August 27–31, 2025 at the Hilton Oak Brook Hills near Chicago for four days of soul-stirring keynotes, healing practices, and conversations that expand your understanding of life, death, and everything in between.
Register now at Conference.IANDS.org
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Thanks so much for your support
[Brian D. Smith] [0.56s] Close your eyes and imagine what are the things in life that cause us the greatest pain, the things that bring us grief, or challenges, challenges designed to help us grow to ultimately become what we were always meant to be.
[Brian D. Smith] [17.18s] We feel like we've been buried.
[Brian D. Smith] [19.26s] But what if like a seed we've been planted, and having been planted, we grow to become a mighty tree.
[Brian D. Smith] [27.98s] Now, open your eyes, Open your eyes to this way of viewing life.
[Brian D. Smith] [33.21s] Come with me as we explore your true infinite, eternal nature.
[Brian D. Smith] [38.81s] This is grief to growth.
[Brian D. Smith] [40.73s] And I am your host, Brian Smith.
[Brian D. Smith] [45.42s] Hi there.
[Brian D. Smith] [45.83s] I'm your I'm Brian Smith, your host, and I wanna welcome you to Grief two Growth.
[Brian D. Smith] [49.10s] So whether this is your first time tuning in, you've been walking this journey here with me for a while, what I'd like to let you know is this show is all about helping you navigate life's toughest challenges, grief, trauma, transformation, and understand the deeper questions of who we are, why we're here, and where we're going.
[Brian D. Smith] [65.16s] Today's guest is Kennerly Clay.
[Brian D. Smith] [67.56s] Kennerly is an author, a thought leader, and a storytelling strategist who has turned personal pain into powerful purpose.
...
[Brian D. Smith] [3414.34s] Kimberly, again, thanks for being here today, and enjoy the rest of your day.
[Kennerly Clay] [3417.68s] Yeah.
[Brian D. Smith] [3421.51s] You too.
[Brian D. Smith] [3429.18s] Thanks.
