Send me a Text Message- please include your contact information so I can respond

When we think of grief, we often picture death. But what about the silent grief that comes from illness — the kind that alters your identity, steals your energy, and isolates you from the world?

In this powerful episode, I speak with Brenda Snow, a woman who turned a life-changing diagnosis into a movement that’s touched millions. After being dismissed by doctors and told her symptoms were “all in her head,” Brenda found herself at rock bottom — until a single moment with her young daughter re-ignited her will to fight.

Now the founder of Snow Companies and author of Diagnosed: The Essential Guide to Navigating the Patient Journey, Brenda shares how she walked through grief, reclaimed her identity, and built a life of purpose.

We cover:

• The “unnamed grief” of chronic illness
• Why hope is essential — even before a diagnosis
• How Brenda went from patient to pioneer
• The power of storytelling in healing and advocacy
• What the healthcare system must do better
• Rebuilding identity when your body feels like a stranger
• The difference between giving up and accepting what is

I was especially moved by Brenda’s metaphor of taking MS “by the hand.” It reminded me of the core truth of Grief 2 Growth: we’re not buried—we’re planted. 🌱

Links & Resources:

📘 Diagnosed: The Essential Guide to Navigating the Patient Journey
🛒 Order the Book on Amazon

💌 Need a free copy due to hardship? Contact Brenda directly at brenda@brendasnow.com

🌐 Brenda’s Website: https://www.brendasnow.com

📰 Related article & community discussion:
👉 Join us on Substack

✨ Listener Reflection Prompt:
Have you ever grieved something that didn’t involve death? How did it change your sense of self?
💬 Tell us in the comment

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

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

Support the show

🧑🏿‍🤝‍🧑🏻 Join Facebook Group- Get Support and Education
👛 Subscribe to Grief 2 Growth Premium (bonus episodes)
📰 Get A Free Gift
📅 Book A Complimentary Discovery Call
📈 Leave A Review

Thanks so much for your support

Send me a Text Message- please include your contact information so I can respond

Have you ever wondered why we suffer, where we go after we die, or what grief really means for the soul’s evolution?

In this eye-opening and deeply healing episode of Grief 2 Growth, Brian Smith welcomes spiritual teacher and mystic Hans Wilhelm, the creator of the wildly popular Life Explained video series and author of over 200 books with 40+ million copies sold.

Hans uses simple visuals and timeless spiritual truths to explain the laws of karma, reincarnation, Christ consciousness, and the spiritual reasons behind grief and suffering. Together, Brian and Hans explore how our deepest losses may hold the key to our greatest growth—and why Earth is not our home, but our school.

💬 Whether you're grieving, curious, or searching for peace, this episode is for you.

🔍 What You'll Discover:

• Why Earth is a spiritual school, not our home 🌍
• How karma works—and how we can release it through forgiveness 🔁
• Why reincarnation was removed from Christian doctrine ✝️
• What Hans means by the Christ Spark and inner healing 💫
• The truth about suicide and the afterlife 🕊️
• Why grief is often rooted in unspoken love or unmet expectations 💔
• A new way to relate to grief, gratitude, and your soul's path 🙏

🔗 Links & Resources:

🔹 Hans Wilhelm’s Website – https://www.lifeexplained.com

🔹 📺 Watch his YouTube series “Life Explained” – Hans Wilhelm on YouTube

🔹 📰 Continue the conversation – Join Brian at https://grieftogrowth.substack.com

💬 Join the Conversation

We want to hear from you:
👉 What insight from this episode resonated most with you?
👉 Has grief ever been a doorway to spiritual awakening in your life?

💌 Reply in the comments or leave a review to let us know how this episode impacted you.

📲 Stay Connected

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe to Grief 2 Growth for more soul-stirring conversations.
📣 Share this episode with someone who could use some light in the dark.
💖 Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review if you found healing here.

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

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

Support the show

🧑🏿‍🤝‍🧑🏻 Join Facebook Group- Get Support and Education
👛 Subscribe to Grief 2 Growth Premium (bonus episodes)
📰 Get A Free Gift
📅 Book A Complimentary Discovery Call
📈 Leave A Review

Thanks so much for your support

Send me a Text Message- please include your contact information so I can respond

“Our time on Earth is just one little page in a never-ending story.” – Charlie Bynar

After the tragic loss of her only child, 16-year-old Isaac, Charlie Bynar’s world fell apart. What followed was a breathtaking journey through unimaginable grief, mysterious signs, and undeniable communication from the other side. In this deeply moving conversation, Charlie and Brian explore love that doesn’t die — and what it means to forgive, to trust, and to believe again.

Charlie went from skeptic to spiritual seeker after receiving repeated dream visitations, unmistakable signs, and life-changing readings with mediums — including world-renowned Allison DuBois of the TV show Medium. Her memoir, Through the Darkness: A Story of Love from the Other Side, isn’t just a book — it’s a lifeline for grieving parents and a beacon for anyone questioning what happens after death.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The medical negligence that changed Charlie’s life forever
• The stunning signs Isaac gave after passing
• What it’s like to connect with a child in Spirit
• Forgiving injustice, even murder
• The science of empathy and psychopathy
• How Charlie turned grief into education and purpose

Whether you’ve lost a child, are questioning the afterlife, or are looking for hope in the darkest of places — this episode is for you.

Links & Resources

• Through the Darkness (Book): https://www.charliebynar.com
  
  
• Isaac’s Ant Foundation: https://www.charliebynar.com
  
  
• Read the book free on BookSirens: https://www.booksirens.com
  
  
• Join the conversation: https://grief2growth.substack.com
  
  

Join the conversation
Have you received a sign from a loved one in Spirit? What helped you believe in the afterlife? Share your story at https://grief2growth.substack.com
or reply directly in your podcast app.

Help others find this podcast

• Subscribe and leave a review
• Share this episode with someone who’s grieving
• Tag @grief2growth on social media

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

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

Support the show

🧑🏿‍🤝‍🧑🏻 Join Facebook Group- Get Support and Education
👛 Subscribe to Grief 2 Growth Premium (bonus episodes)
📰 Get A Free Gift
📅 Book A Complimentary Discovery Call
📈 Leave A Review

Thanks so much for your support

Send me a Text Message- please include your contact information so I can respond

What happens when a mother loses her child—and chooses to live bigger than grief?

In this heart-opening episode of Grief to Growth, Brian D. Smith sits down with Melissa Hull—author of Dear Drew: Creating a Life Bigger Than Grief, speaker, and coach—on the very day her book launches.

Melissa shares the heartbreaking story of her 4½-year-old son Drew’s drowning, and how that unimaginable pain became the foundation for a new life of purpose, faith, and healing. But this isn’t a story of “moving on.” It’s about carrying love forward, rewriting the rules of grief, and honoring your child’s life through your own.

💡 What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• 💔 Why the traditional grief model often fails parents
• 🌱 How Melissa transformed guilt into growth through mindfulness and creativity
• ✍️ The healing power of writing, art, and telling your story
• 🧘‍♀️ Simple practices to stay connected to your loved one in spirit
• 📚 The letter from a stranger that saved Melissa’s life
• 💬 Why continuing the relationship with your child is not only possible—but necessary

🔗 Links & Resources:

• 💜 Buy Melissa’s book, Dear Drew: Creating a Life Bigger Than Grief
  ➤ https://melissahull.com
  
  
• 🛟 Free Water Safety Resources (a cause close to Melissa’s heart):
  ➤ https://melissahull.com
  
  
• 📬 Join Brian’s Substack for more grief and growth insights:
  ➤ https://grieftogrowth.substack.com
  
  

🗣️ Let’s Hear from You:

What part of Melissa’s story resonated with you the most?
💬 Leave a comment on the episode
🌟 Rate & review the podcast
🔁 Share this episode with someone who needs it

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

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

Support the show

🧑🏿‍🤝‍🧑🏻 Join Facebook Group- Get Support and Education
👛 Subscribe to Grief 2 Growth Premium (bonus episodes)
📰 Get A Free Gift
📅 Book A Complimentary Discovery Call
📈 Leave A Review

Thanks so much for your support

Send me a Text Message- please include your contact information so I can respond

What happens when your entire belief system unravels—and something deeper begins to rise?

In this moving conversation, host Brian D. Smith welcomes back Effie Linke, a spiritual medium whose journey from Greek Orthodox tradition to intuitive channeling was anything but predictable.

Effie didn’t seek out a spiritual awakening—it found her. Through heartbreak, resistance, and a fateful reading that cracked her wide open, Effie was thrust into a new reality. One where spirit spoke, healing came from within, and her purpose became undeniable.

If you're navigating your own spiritual awakening after loss, this episode offers hope, guidance, and a powerful reminder: the pain doesn't mean you're broken—it means you're opening.

💡 What You'll Learn:

• The surprising moment that sparked Effie’s spiritual awakening
• How loss and confusion can be signs of transformation
• The emotional toll of “coming out” as a medium
• The key differences between psychics and mediums
• Why mediumship is about growth—not just gifts
• How to handle spiritual loneliness and find your tribe

🧘‍♀️ Is This You?

This episode is especially for you if:

• You've felt more intuitive since a loss
• You’re questioning your beliefs or religious upbringing
• You want to understand your spiritual gifts
• You feel isolated on your awakening path
• You're curious about what real mediumship looks like

🔗 Links & Resources

👉 Follow Effie Linke:
https://mediumaaliya.com

👉 Join the Grief 2 Growth Community:
https://grief2growth.substack.com

👉 Support the Podcast:
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or share this episode with a friend.

💬 We Want to Hear from You!

What did you take away from Effie’s story? Have you experienced your own spiritual awakening after loss?

📩 Drop us a comment or reply on Substack → grief2growth.substack.com

👥 Join the chat & connect with others on the healing path

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

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

Support the show

🧑🏿‍🤝‍🧑🏻 Join Facebook Group- Get Support and Education
👛 Subscribe to Grief 2 Growth Premium (bonus episodes)
📰 Get A Free Gift
📅 Book A Complimentary Discovery Call
📈 Leave A Review

Thanks so much for your support

Send me a Text Message- please include your contact information so I can respond

What happens when your soulmate isn't a romantic partner — but your best friend — and they're suddenly gone?

In this heart-opening episode, I sit down with writer, performer, and podcast host Hannah Rumsey to explore the often-overlooked pain of grieving the loss of a friend. After losing her friend Lauren in a tragic accident, Hannah found herself in a grief no one seemed to understand — one without rituals, recognition, or even language.

Through storytelling, personal reflection, and a profound spiritual experience, Hannah turned her heartbreak into Friends Missing Friends, a community and podcast for those who have loved and lost a friend.

🧠 We talk about:

• Why society often dismisses friend grief
• The power of platonic love and chosen family
• How creativity and storytelling can help us heal
• What not to say to someone who’s grieving a friend
• Signs from the other side — and how they help us stay connected

Whether you’ve lost a childhood best friend, a soul friend, or someone you drifted from before they passed — this episode is for you.

🔗 Links & Resources:

🎧 Listen to Friends Missing Friends
https://www.friendsmissingfriends.com

📸 Follow Hannah on Instagram
@friendsmissingfriends

📧 Contact Hannah
friendsmissingfriends@gmail.com

📝 Subscribe to Brian’s Substack for More
https://grief2growth.substack.com

💬 We'd Love to Hear From You

Have you lost a friend and felt your grief wasn't acknowledged? What helped you cope?

👉 Share your story in the comments
👉 Email Brian at hello@grief2growth.com

👉 Join the conversation on Substack

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

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

Support the show

🧑🏿‍🤝‍🧑🏻 Join Facebook Group- Get Support and Education
👛 Subscribe to Grief 2 Growth Premium (bonus episodes)
📰 Get A Free Gift
📅 Book A Complimentary Discovery Call
📈 Leave A Review

Thanks so much for your support

Send me a Text Message- please include your contact information so I can respond

This episode is different.
It’s tender. It’s raw. And it’s something I feel deeply called to share.

A grieving parent recently whispered to me, “Maybe God took my child because I strayed.” That sentence — that pain — has echoed in my heart ever since.

In this special episode, I speak directly to that voice inside so many of us… the one shaped by fear-based theology, wondering if loss is somehow our fault. Wondering if we’re being punished. Wondering if God is angry.

We explore the lies that grief can trigger — and the deeper truths that can begin to set us free.

You’ll hear about soul paths, spiritual guilt, parental love, and what it really means to believe in a loving God.
If you’ve ever carried the weight of “what if” in your loss — or walked beside someone who has — this is for you.

🔔 Content Note:

Gentle reflections on infant and child loss, spiritual trauma, and grief.Tender but ultimately loving and redemptive in tone.

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

Support the show

🧑🏿‍🤝‍🧑🏻 Join Facebook Group- Get Support and Education
👛 Subscribe to Grief 2 Growth Premium (bonus episodes)
📰 Get A Free Gift
📅 Book A Complimentary Discovery Call
📈 Leave A Review

Thanks so much for your support

Send me a Text Message- please include your contact information so I can respond

Is the chaos in the world a breakdown... or a breakthrough? 🌍✨

In this powerful return to Grief 2 Growth, Rafael Garcia dives deep into the massive awakening happening across the planet. Once a hard-charging entrepreneur, Rafael was forever changed by a near-death experience that opened him to the Akashic Records, parallel lives, and communication with higher dimensional beings.

In this episode, host Brian Smith and Rafael explore:

• 🌌 How reincarnation and simultaneous lifetimes shape your soul’s journey
• 🧬 The “New Human” blueprint and what DNA activation really means
• 🧘‍♂️ How to raise your vibration to thrive during Earth’s transition
• 🤖 AI’s surprising role in humanity’s ascension
• 🕊 Ways to release fear and align with your true multidimensional nature

This conversation isn’t just spiritual theory — it’s a call to action for anyone feeling like something bigger is unfolding. If you’re experiencing loss, confusion, or awakening, this episode is a roadmap for your soul. 💫

🔗 Connect with Rafael Garcia:
Website: https://www.divinepotentiality.com

YouTube: Divine Potentiality

Instagram: @divinepotentiality

🌟 Episode Highlights

• Near-death experience and the collapse of 3D identity
• Living multiple lives at once — and how to access that wisdom
• Tools to embody your higher self and stay grounded
• The positive potential of AI in spiritual evolution
• The role of grief in catalyzing your soul’s awakening

🗣️ We Want to Hear From You

What part of this episode resonated the most with your journey?

💬 Let’s continue the conversation in the community: grief2growth.substack.com

✅ Rate, Review & Share

If this episode moved you, inspired you, or helped you see things in a new light — please share it with someone who needs to hear it.

⭐️ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
📲 Subscribe so you never miss an episode
🔄 Share on social media & tag @grief2growth

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

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

Support the show

🧑🏿‍🤝‍🧑🏻 Join Facebook Group- Get Support and Education
👛 Subscribe to Grief 2 Growth Premium (bonus episodes)
📰 Get A Free Gift
📅 Book A Complimentary Discovery Call
📈 Leave A Review

Thanks so much for your support