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 guestsābereaved parents, life coaches, mediums, healers, near death experiencers, and experts in various fieldsāas 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 mostāhow to cope, grow, and connect with loved ones in the afterlife. If you ask: āWhere did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going?ā 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. Itās 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
Turning Sudden Loss Into Sacred Storytelling | Diandra Ford-Wing | EP 435
š About This Episode
What do you do when grief crashes into your life without warning?
In this intimate and emotionally raw conversation, host Brian Smith sits down with Diandra Ford-Wing, an African-American author and sales director who made the courageous decision to pause her life and fully sit with her grief after her motherās sudden passing.
Together, Brian and Diandraāboth of whom have experienced the devastating shock of sudden lossāopen up about the moments that shattered them, the signs that gave them hope, and the transformation that comes when we choose to feel deeply rather than move on quickly.
This is more than an interview. Itās two people speaking from their hearts about the mess, the mystery, and the meaning found in mourning.
šļø What You'll Hear
- The moment Diandra got the call that changed everything
- Why she left her career to process grief on her own terms
- The powerful symbolism behind the red bird
- The mystery surrounding her auntās death in The Gambia
- How Brian's daughter Shayna continues to guide his life after death
- Why grief in the Black community often goes unspokenāand how storytelling breaks that silence
- A candid discussion about anger, disbelief, and the fog of the first year
- The surprising connection between Diandraās mother and her newborn great-niece, Eden
š About Diandra's Book: Red Bird
Red Bird began as journal entries written during a sacred pauseāand grew into a soul-stirring novel that helps readers explore their own relationship to loss, love, and legacy. Itās a short, powerful read meant to be absorbed in a day or two, but carried with you for a lifetime.
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, youāll receive a commemorative mug.
š Visit IANDS.org and click āGiveā 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 27ā31, 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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