Love and Suffering: A Spiritual Guide for Helpers, Healers & Humans — with Zach Beach | EP 461 Artwork

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.

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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."

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Love and Suffering: A Spiritual Guide for Helpers, Healers & Humans — with Zach Beach | EP 461

November 18, 2025 • Brian D. Smith • Episode 461

How do we hold love in one hand and suffering in the other — without breaking? In this beautiful and soul-stretching conversation, Brian sits down with Zach Beach to explore the deep connection between our capacity to love and our capacity to hurt. Zach brings wisdom from spiritual traditions, psychology, and lived experience to illuminate why grief is not something to “fix,” but something to honor.

This episode is rich with insights on compassion, presence, mindfulness, and the human journey through loss. If you're grieving, supporting someone in grief, or walking your own spiritual path, this one will speak directly to your heart.

🧘‍♂️ What You’ll Learn

Why love and suffering are intertwined, and why this matters for healing
How compassion differs from empathy — and why compassion energizes instead of draining us
The dangers of “premature problem solving” in grief
How mindfulness helps us “suffer well” and stay grounded
Wisdom from the Buddha, Jesus, and mystical traditions on pain and presence
Practical ways to support someone who’s grieving (beyond platitudes)
Brian’s personal insights on transforming the darkest moments into growth

🔗 Connect with Zach

Website: https://www.zachbeach.com
Instagram: @zachbeachlove
Book: Love and Suffering: A Spiritual Guide for Helpers, Healers, and Humans

💬 We Want to Hear From You

What part of this conversation moved you the most?
Have you ever experienced love and suffering arriving together?
What practices help you stay present with difficult emotions?

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or email Brian directly.
👉 Continue the conversation at grief2growth.substack.com.

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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
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Check 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-deck

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