In the season finale of the After Life Podcast, host Samina Bari returns to reflect on the powerful conversations and lessons learned over the past five episodes. With honesty and gratitude, she shares how these raw, intimate discussions - rooted in her own journey of spousal loss - have opened doors for compassion, healing, and new understanding. Joined by lifelong friends, thought leaders, and grief advocates, Samina weaves their wisdom and stories into a tapestry of practical support and hope for anyone touched by loss.

Through candid conversations about identity, navigating uncomfortable silences, supporting grieving children, and managing life's practical challenges after loss, Samina shines a light on what truly helps (and what doesn't) when someone's world has been upended. This episode is both a heartfelt recap and a call to action to keep the dialogue alive, offering resources and support for anyone grieving or supporting someone who is.

The loss of a spouse is a uniquely devastating experience, shattering identity and rewriting the present and future overnight.

Support goes beyond words. Small, genuine gestures can comfort grieving people in ways that platitudes or silence never can.

Grieving children need special care, honest communication, and lasting community support—resilience is not automatic.

Friends and chosen family form a vital network, and self-care for those supporting the bereaved is essential to sustaining compassion.

Cultural traditions, personalized remembrance, and practical planning all play a meaningful role in fostering healing and connection.

If the stories and insights from these episodes have touched you, I warmly invite you to continue the conversation with me at saminabari.com. There, you'll discover meaningful ways to share this work - whether by ordering copies for your friends, office or community, gifting the book to someone in need, or inviting me to speak to ignite more of these essential conversations together.

On the site, you'll also find the latest updates about my book Don't Call Me Widow: How to Support Someone Who Has Lost Their Spouse. Additionally, you can download a free resource I created, What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do

In this episode of the After Life Podcast, Samina Bari sits down with Cara Belvin, founder and CEO of Empower, a nonprofit devoted to building community for children who've lost a parent. Cara opens up about her own experience of losing her mother at the age of nine, the "rules" she picked up about remaining silent, and how that isolation motivated her to help other children who have lost a parent. Together, Samina and Cara talk candidly about the myth about children's resilience, the weight placed on grieving families to "move on," and why empathy, support networks, and open conversation matter for real healing.

Cara explains how Empower's unique mentorship model helps young people feel less alone and gives the entire family permission to talk because the surviving parent doesn't have the bandwidth. The episode also highlights the ripple effects of grief through childhood, adolescence, and beyond - and how being surrounded by people who "get it" can be life-changing.

True healing is nurtured by empathy, mentorship, and connections - not by ignoring the loss or expecting kids to "be fine" after a set period of time.

Children of grief and trauma are not resilient, and adults who surround the bereaved family should forgo that thinking or expressing it as a platitude.

The weight of a parent's loss stays with children like a weight on their soul despite their outward appearance, and they feel different from others and isolated in their daily lives

Healing happens when grieving children see others who have lived through similar grief, especially peers who can share honest experiences and offer hope, or through community-based support and mentorship.

If the stories and insights from these episodes have touched you, I warmly invite you to continue the conversation with me at saminabari.com. There, you'll discover meaningful ways to share this work - whether by ordering copies for your office or community, gifting the book to someone in need, or inviting me to speak and ignite more of these essential conversations together.

On the site, you'll also find the latest updates about my book Don't Call Me Widow: How to Support Someone Who Has Lost Their Spouse.

Additionally, you can download a free resource I created, What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do.

In this episode of the After Life Podcast, Samina Bari sits down with Jason Fang, founder of TerraFirma Wealth Partners, to explore the often unseen challenges that come after losing a loved one. Jason shares his personal story of losing his father at a young age and how that shaped his empathetic and hands-on approach to helping families navigate the overwhelming financial and administrative responsibilities that follow a death.

Together, Samina and Jason discuss the realities of grief, the limitations of "planning ahead," and the practical—yet emotionally taxing—steps surviving spouses and families must take in the aftermath of loss. From managing joint accounts and Social Security benefits to protecting against fraud, updating beneficiaries, and navigating digital assets, this conversation is both personal and practical. More than anything, Jason emphasizes the importance of compassion, building a strong support network, and ensuring no one has to walk this painful path alone.

Lean on your village: Friends and family can help with administrative tasks, meal trains, and phone calls - delegating is not only allowed but necessary.

Try to avoid costly mistakes: Many financial and legal decisions are one-way doors. Professional guidance is invaluable for preventing errors with lasting consequences.

Digital assets require special planning: Wills often don't account for digital legacies. Assigning a legacy contact and using password managers can prevent costly and painful legal hurdles.

Family transparency prevents conflict: Open conversations about estate intentions reduce confusion and future disputes among loved ones.

If the stories and insights from these episodes have touched you, I warmly invite you to continue the conversation with me at saminabari.com. There, you'll discover meaningful ways to share this work - whether by ordering copies for your office or community, gifting the book to someone in need, or inviting me to speak and ignite more of these essential conversations together.

On the site, you'll also find the latest updates about my book Don't Call Me Widow: How to Support Someone Who Has Lost Their Spouse.

Additionally, you can download a free resource I created, What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do.

In this episode of the After Life Podcast, Samina Bari is joined by Abby Reyes, a powerhouse communications executive and a longtime friend of both Samina and her late husband, Doug. Abby shares the extraordinary and tender role she played in supporting Samina during the immediate aftermath of Doug's sudden passing - including managing the countless details that weigh heavily on those left behind.

Together, they explore themes of shock, grief, and the immense challenge of stepping up for someone while navigating their own emotions. Abby's cultural perspective - rooted in Filipino traditions that openly acknowledge and celebrate death - shaped her approach to support, allowing her to hold space for Samina's grief without overwhelming her with her own feelings.

Keeping open conversations about the deceased and creating lasting remembrances are crucial for long-term emotional well-being.

Personalizing memorials with favorite music, cocktails, and memories helps celebrate a loved one's life and fosters healing.

Including children in remembrance activities allows them to participate and keeps their connection to the lost parent alive.

Grief is personal and different for everyone, so it's important to honor and respect each person's unique way of feeling and processing loss without judgment.

If the stories and insights from these episodes have touched you, I warmly invite you to continue the conversation with me at saminabari.com. There, you'll discover meaningful ways to share this work - whether by ordering copies for your office or community, gifting the book to someone in need, or inviting me to speak and ignite more of these essential conversations together.

On the site, you'll also find the latest updates about my book Don't Call Me Widow: How to Support Someone Who Has Lost Their Spouse.

Additionally, you can download a free resource I created, What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do.

In the premiere episode of the After Life Podcast, host Samina Bari opens her heart and shares the deeply personal story that inspired her to create this show. With honesty and vulnerability, she talks about the sudden death of her husband, Doug, how that loss transformed her world as a wife, mom, now solo parent, and as a person, and why she is committed to changing how we support grieving spouses.

Drawing from decades of leadership experience, personal struggles through religious and cultural pressures, otherness, infertility, and the devastating loss of her life partner, Samina offers a meaningful exploration of grief, discomfort, and community. This episode sets the stage for honest conversations around the unspoken realities of grief while offering hope, compassion, and practical lessons for those grieving—or those walking alongside them.

The loss of a spouse is unlike any other kind of grief. It reshapes identity, family, and the future overnight.

Talking about grief makes us uncomfortable. Avoiding it doesn't make it go away—healing begins when we're willing to break the silence.

Not all support feels helpful. Well‑meaning words or actions sometimes miss the mark, but genuine kindness is always remembered.

Support matters more than words. Small, thoughtful gestures can help lift a grieving person during their darkest days.

If the stories and insights from these episodes have touched you, I warmly invite you to continue the conversation with me at saminabari.com. There, you'll discover meaningful ways to share this work - whether by ordering copies for your friends, office or community, gifting the book to someone in need, or inviting me to speak to ignite more of these essential conversations together.

On the site, you'll also find the latest updates about my book Don't Call Me Widow: How to Support Someone Who Has Lost Their Spouse.

Additionally, you can download a free resource I created, What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do.

In this episode of the After Life Podcast, Samina Bari is joined by her lifelong friend, Stephanie Koze, who shares a deeply personal account of the moments surrounding the loss of Samina's husband, Doug. From the first 3 a.m. phone call from the hospital to rushing cross-country to be by Samina's side, Stephanie reveals the realities and raw emotions of showing up for someone in the darkest times.

Together, they explore what true support looks like beyond words - offering presence, compassion, and practical help without overwhelming the grieving person. Stephanie's thoughtful reflections illustrate the delicate balance of managing her own emotions while focusing fully on being there for Samina and her family.

Supporting someone in grief involves putting your own emotions aside, truly listening, and showing up with empathy and practical help.

Friends and chosen family form a crucial support network. Having them step in with different strengths will lift the burden from the grieving person.

Grieving children need special care and attention, as their experiences and ways of coping are unique and often overlooked.

Self-care for supporters matters too - it's okay to grieve alongside your loved one in private to sustain the strength needed to be present.

If the stories and insights from these episodes have touched you, I warmly invite you to continue the conversation with me at saminabari.com. There, you'll discover meaningful ways to share this work - whether by ordering copies for your office or community, gifting the book to someone in need, or inviting me to speak and ignite more of these essential conversations together.

On the site, you'll also find the latest updates about my book Don't Call Me Widow: How to Support Someone Who Has Lost Their Spouse.

Additionally, you can download a free resource I created, What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do.