What happens when Michael Allio doesn’t get time to overthink the answer?

In this bonus episode of The Iconic Midlife, Michael plays our Fill in the Blank game—and the answers get personal fast.

We talk about grief, fatherhood, healing, vulnerability, love, legacy, and the next chapter he’s stepping into now.

Michael finishes sentences like:

Grief taught me…

My son has made me a better…

I knew I was healing when…

The biggest misconception about moving forward after loss is…

The next chapter of my life will be…

The result is a revealing, heartfelt look at the man behind the story—and some of his most candid answers yet.

If you listened to Michael’s full episode, this is the perfect companion conversation. And if you haven’t heard it yet, go back and listen to our full interview where we dive deeper into losing his wife, raising his son, rebuilding his life, finding purpose through Where the Wild Heart Grows, and opening his heart to love again.

Listen now, then send this episode to someone who believes the best chapters can still be ahead.

Be sure to follow and subscribe to The Iconic Midlife wherever you listen so you never miss a new episode.

Follow @TheIconicMidlife and @RedCarpetRoxy on social media for more clips, behind-the-scenes moments, and conversations from the show.

And if you enjoyed this episode, leave a rating and review—it helps more people discover The Iconic Midlife.

Catch Michael Allio’s full episode now, available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Michael Allio has lived through the kind of loss that changes everything.

After losing his wife to cancer, the former Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise star suddenly found himself navigating grief, single fatherhood, and the impossible task of helping his young son process emotions he was still trying to understand himself.

What came next was a complete rebuilding of his life.

In this deeply personal conversation, Michael opens up about what grief taught him, how fatherhood changed him, why vulnerability became a strength, and how bedtime stories he created for his son eventually became his beautifully illustrated children’s book, Where the Wild Heart Grows.

We also talk about what it means to move forward without leaving the past behind, how his definition of success has changed, the pressure men feel to stay strong, and what it takes to allow joy — and love — back into your life after unimaginable loss.

And now, as Michael steps into yet another new chapter with his recent engagement, this conversation feels especially poignant: proof that grief and hope can coexist, and that sometimes the life you never planned becomes the one that teaches you the most.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Losing his wife and becoming a single father
• Helping his son navigate grief and big emotions
• The surprising origin of Where the Wild Heart Grows
• Why storytelling became a powerful parenting tool
• What people misunderstand about grief
• Vulnerability, masculinity, and emotional healing
• How loss completely changed his definition of success
• Allowing yourself to experience joy again
• Opening your heart to love after loss
• The legacy he hopes to leave for his son

If you’ve ever had to rebuild after loss, heartbreak, or a life chapter you never saw coming, this conversation is for you.

Listen now and share this episode with someone who may need to hear it.

Follow Michael and learn more about Where the Wild Heart Grows through the links in the show notes.

And make sure you’re following @TheIconicMidlife and @RedCarpetRoxy on social media for more conversations, clips, and behind-the-scenes moments from the show.

Subscribe to The Iconic Midlife wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode — and if you loved this conversation, please leave a rating and review. It helps more women discover the show.

Michael is coming back for our Fill in the Blank game, and some of his answers get personal.

Grief taught me…

My son has made me a better…

I knew I was healing when…

The next chapter of my life will be…

That bonus game episode drops Thursday, so make sure you’re subscribed.

New episodes of The Iconic Midlife are available wherever you get your podcasts.

What if you could ask an intuitive medium all the questions you've secretly wondered about... and get the very first answer that comes to mind?

In this special game episode of The Iconic Midlife, intuitive Jennifer Shaffer takes on Spirit Speed Round—a rapid-fire challenge where she finishes thought-provoking sentences about intuition, signs from loved ones, grief, the afterlife, and the messages she believes we're all meant to hear.

From the biggest misconception about mediums to the one message she wishes everyone could receive, Jennifer's answers are heartfelt, surprising, and guaranteed to leave you thinking long after the game is over.

If you loved Jennifer's full interview, you won't want to miss this fun bonus conversation.

Be sure to check out Jennifer's full interview on The Iconic Midlife, where we dive deeper into intuition, mediumship, signs from loved ones, her work consulting on criminal investigations, her friendship with Jessica Alba, and an unforgettable live reading.

If you loved this game episode, please follow the show, leave a 5-star review, and share it with a friend. Your support helps us continue bringing you inspiring conversations—and fun bonus content—with extraordinary guests.

Stay connected by following me on social media:

@RedCarpetRoxy

@TheIconicMidlife

Visit TheIconicMidlife.com for more episodes, exclusive content, and behind-the-scenes updates.