Grief and Rebirth: Finding the Joy in Life

7h ago

In this moving episode, which we’re rereleasing in honor of Nikki Mark, who shares how the death of her 12-year-old son Tommy brought her messages from heaven that transformed her grief into hope, purpose, and a lasting legacy. Nikki is the author of the highly acclaimed memoir Tommy’s Field: Love, Loss, and the Goal of a Lifetime , chronicling the unexpected passing of her 12-year-old son, Tommy, and her extraordinary journey to heal, honor his memory, and leave a lasting legacy. In this episode, Nikki shares her unconventional path to grief, hope, and transformation—turning heartbreak into a mission that has inspired communities across Los Angeles. She also reflects on her recent New York Times essay, “ My Son Is Gone. Our Conversation Goes On ” , which brings her story of loss, love, and signs from beyond to an even wider audience. As founder and president of the TM23 Foundation, Nikki has created a state-of-the-art athletic field in Tommy’s honor, ensuring his love of soccer and playful spirit lives on in others. Tommy’s Field: Love, Loss, and the Goal of a Lifetime : https://bookshop.org/a/93249/9781454951049 Read the episode blog post here: https://ireneweinberg.com/nikki-mark-are-you-aware-that-when-we-heal-our-own-hearts-we-also-heal-our-families-and-the-world-around-us/ --- ✨ Grief & Rebirth: Healing Resources & Tools ✨ 🎧 Irene's Books (Including a Free Audiobook!) They Serve Bagels in Heaven—Irene’s heartfelt story of love and life beyond. Listen Free on Audible as a First Time User: https://amzn.to/4dG4l4w Get the Paperback or Hard copy: https://amzn.to/3XrE995 📚 Embrace Life’s Third Chapter Good to the Last Drop—A powerful anthology on aging with purpose: https://amzn.to/3VJgEa5 🛍️ Healing & Self-Care Picks Curated books and essentials from Irene: https://kit.co/GriefandRebirth 📚 Grief & Rebirth Bookshop Books by podcast guests for healing & wisdom: https://bookshop.org/shop/griefandrebirth 🎙️ Podcast & Community Inspiring stories of transformation on the Grief and Rebirth website: https://griefandrebirth.com 📱 Stay Connected Subscribe to Grief and Rebirth on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSDru2EU1djRZaZxxFkMig?sub_confirmation=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irenesweinberg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IreneSWeinberg TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@irenesweinberg 🎥 Irene’s Spiritual Awakening Story Watch how the podcast began: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0mJWKfg5PM 🎙️ Be a Podcast Guest Have a story or healing work to share? Apply Here: https://ireneweinberg.com/be-on-the-podcast/ 📰 Newsletter Get updates, tips, and new episodes by signing up to the Grief and Rebirth Substack: https://substack.com/@griefandrebirth 💖 Affiliate Disclaimer Some links may earn us a commission. We only share trusted, personally recommended resources.

2d ago

A spiritual awakening often blossoms from profound personal loss, leading to an extraordinary calling to help others heal and embrace their purpose. Our guest, Huenu Solsona, shares her remarkable journey from being a former helicopter pilot to becoming the inspired founder of Orykl , the world’s first digital platform for connecting seekers with thoroughly vetted spiritual practitioners. Huenu details how the tragic loss of her older brother catalyzed her deep spiritual path and how an intuitive knowing saved her life during a harrowing helicopter crash. She also shares her unwavering belief that each of us is here with a unique purpose, discusses how integrity and purposeful intention by light workers can raise the collective consciousness, and outlines Orykl’s healing mission to empower spiritual practitioners to turn their gifts into thriving careers while ensuring that seekers receive guidance from trusted, heart-centered professionals. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL HEAR ABOUT THINGS LIKE: How a profound personal loss can serve as the catalyst for a deep spiritual awakening and a call to service. The life-saving power of intuitive knowing (a “soul-level knowing”) in a crisis, which brings immediate clarity and calm. The belief that the ultimate human purpose is to be one’s authentic self, rather than living the life others want you to live. How the soul communicates through expansive (good) or constrictive (bad) emotions, guiding you toward your path. Understanding the collective consciousness and how light workers uniting with integrity can help elevate it. The philosophy behind the Orykl platform: empowering seekers with vetted spiritual practitioners who focus on autonomous, self-powering healing (“teaching you how to fish”). Why healing is essential to address energetic blockages and understand that everything starts in the spirit realm before manifesting physically. Tips for conscious living, including practicing self-love, detaching from drama and negative media, and committing to a daily, non-negotiable inward practice. WATCH ON YOUTUBE: From Helicopter Crash to Spiritual Awakening: Huenu Solsona’s Journey from Tragedy to Oracle: https://youtu.be/rVvTVuxvayE ✨ Begin your healing journey with guidance you can trust. Orykl connects you with thoroughly vetted spiritual practitioners who support your healing, growth, and awakening. Find your practitioner here: https://orykl.com/grief-and-rebirth --- ✨ Grief & Rebirth: Healing Resources & Tools ✨ 🎧 Irene's Books (Including a Free Audiobook!) They Serve Bagels in Heaven—Irene’s heartfelt story of love and life beyond. Listen Free on Audible as a First Time User: https://amzn.to/4dG4l4w Get the Paperback or Hard copy: https://amzn.to/3XrE995 📚 Embrace Life’s Third Chapter Good to the Last Drop—A powerful anthology on aging with purpose: https://amzn.to/3VJgEa5 🛍️ Healing & Self-Care Picks Curated books and essentials from Irene: https://kit.co/GriefandRebirth 📚 Grief & Rebirth Bookshop Books by podcast guests for healing & wisdom: https://bookshop.org/shop/griefandrebirth 🎙️ Podcast & Community Inspiring stories of transformation on the Grief and Rebirth website: https://griefandrebirth.com 📱 Stay Connected Subscribe to Grief and Rebirth on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSDru2EU1djRZaZxxFkMig?sub_confirmation=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irenesweinberg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IreneSWeinberg TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@irenesweinberg 🎥 Irene’s Spiritual Awakening Story Watch how the podcast began: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0mJWKfg5PM 🎙️ Be a Podcast Guest Have a story or healing work to share? Apply Here: https://ireneweinberg.com/be-on-the-podcast/ 📰 Newsletter Get updates, tips, and new episodes by signing up to the Grief and Rebirth Substack: https://substack.com/@griefandrebirth 💖 Affiliate Disclaimer Some links may earn us a commission. We only share trusted, personally recommended resources.

4d ago

Huenu Solsona a former helicopter pilot from Cape Town South Africa. After a life altering personal tragedy, she embraced a higher calling and became the visionary founder of Oracle, the world's first digital platform designed to connect seekers with thoroughly vetted spiritual practitioners. In 2009, the sudden and tragic loss of her older brother in a small plane crash became the spark. Ignited when new spiritual awakening. In this powerful and soul stirring interview, she shares the heartbreak that cracked her open, the intuitive knowing that saved her life during a helicopter crash, and her unwavering belief that each of us is here with a purpose. She also speaks to the power of lightworkers, uniting with integrity and intention to elevate collective consciousness. --- ✨ Grief & Rebirth: Healing Resources & Tools ✨ 🎧 Irene's Books (Including a Free Audiobook!) They Serve Bagels in Heaven—Irene’s heartfelt story of love and life beyond. Listen Free on Audible as a First Time User: https://amzn.to/4dG4l4w Get the Paperback or Hard copy: https://amzn.to/3XrE995 📚 Embrace Life’s Third Chapter Good to the Last Drop—A powerful anthology on aging with purpose: https://amzn.to/3VJgEa5 🛍️ Healing & Self-Care Picks Curated books and essentials from Irene: https://kit.co/GriefandRebirth 📚 Grief & Rebirth Bookshop Books by podcast guests for healing & wisdom: https://bookshop.org/shop/griefandrebirth 🎙️ Podcast & Community Inspiring stories of transformation on the Grief and Rebirth website: https://griefandrebirth.com 📱 Stay Connected Subscribe to Grief and Rebirth on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSDru2EU1djRZaZxxFkMig?sub_confirmation=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irenesweinberg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IreneSWeinberg TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@irenesweinberg 🎥 Irene’s Spiritual Awakening Story Watch how the podcast began: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0mJWKfg5PM 🎙️ Be a Podcast Guest Have a story or healing work to share? Apply Here: https://ireneweinberg.com/be-on-the-podcast/ 📰 Newsletter Get updates, tips, and new episodes by signing up to the Grief and Rebirth Substack: https://substack.com/@griefandrebirth 💖 Affiliate Disclaimer Some links may earn us a commission. We only share trusted, personally recommended resources.

Dec 10

When a life is irrevocably changed by a prophecy-fulfilled death of a brother, a profound journey toward healing can begin. Holistic health visionary, author, and spiritual seeker Kristina Amelong joins the conversation to share the haunting, true story behind her powerful memoir, What My Brother Knew . She details her path from a childhood marked by abuse and addiction, reclaiming vibrant health through holistic protocols and profound inner work. As the founder of the Optimal Health Network and a senior board member at the Center for World Philosophy and Religion, Kristina discusses the sacred lessons of loss and how her transformation serves as a guiding light for transmuting grief into rebirth and embracing conscious evolution. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL HEAR ABOUT THINGS LIKE: Sharing a personal healing journey can lead to collective healing from unresolved loss. Grief is an evolving, communal process. True healing comes from embracing all intense emotions to deepen spiritual connections. Overcoming self-destructive paths is driven by a deep internal will, supported by community and structured healing work. Profuse, prophetic visions concerning death can occur and unfold with astonishing accuracy. The nature of consciousness is eternal. The soul leaves the body, finding a sense of universal love and knowingness. The universe "delights in our becoming" as personal growth is an evolutionary process that positively affects all humanity. Joy is found in simple, present-moment activities, learning, and fostering profound, healing relationships. WATCH ON YOUTUBE: The Prophecy That Shattered a Family 🎉 Special Offer for Podcast Listeners! Use code REBIRTH25 at checkout for free domestic shipping on your copy of What My Brother Knew: A Memoir . Plus, every memoir ordered from our website comes signed! 👉 Order here: https://www.optimalhealthnetwork.com/What-My-Brother-Knew-A-Memoir-p/3003.htm --- ✨ Grief & Rebirth: Healing Resources & Tools ✨ 🎧 Irene's Books (Including a Free Audiobook!) They Serve Bagels in Heaven—Irene’s heartfelt story of love and life beyond. Listen Free on Audible as a First Time User: https://amzn.to/4dG4l4w Get the Paperback or Hard copy: https://amzn.to/3XrE995 📚 Embrace Life’s Third Chapter Good to the Last Drop—A powerful anthology on aging with purpose: https://amzn.to/3VJgEa5 🛍️ Healing & Self-Care Picks Curated books and essentials from Irene: https://kit.co/GriefandRebirth 📚 Grief & Rebirth Bookshop Books by podcast guests for healing & wisdom: https://bookshop.org/shop/griefandrebirth 🎙️ Podcast & Community Inspiring stories of transformation on the Grief and Rebirth website: https://griefandrebirth.com 📱 Stay Connected Subscribe to Grief and Rebirth on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSDru2EU1djRZaZxxFkMig?sub_confirmation=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irenesweinberg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IreneSWeinberg TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@irenesweinberg 🎥 Irene’s Spiritual Awakening Story Watch how the podcast began: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0mJWKfg5PM 🎙️ Be a Podcast Guest Have a story or healing work to share? Apply Here: https://ireneweinberg.com/be-on-the-podcast/ 📰 Newsletter Get updates, tips, and new episodes by signing up to the Grief and Rebirth Substack: https://substack.com/@griefandrebirth 💖 Affiliate Disclaimer Some links may earn us a commission. We only share trusted, personally recommended resources.

Dec 8

At just 13, Kristina Amelong’s brother, Jay, eerily predicted his own death — a tragedy that would forever change her life. Decades later, Kristina, now a holistic health visionary and author of What My Brother Knew , shares her extraordinary journey from trauma, addiction, and chronic illness to profound healing and spiritual awakening. In this powerful conversation, she reveals how loss became the catalyst for transformation — and what she discovered about life, death, and the boundless human capacity to heal. --- ✨ Grief & Rebirth: Healing Resources & Tools ✨ 🎧 Irene's Books (Including a Free Audiobook!) They Serve Bagels in Heaven—Irene’s heartfelt story of love and life beyond. Listen Free on Audible as a First Time User: https://amzn.to/4dG4l4w Get the Paperback or Hard copy: https://amzn.to/3XrE995 📚 Embrace Life’s Third Chapter Good to the Last Drop—A powerful anthology on aging with purpose: https://amzn.to/3VJgEa5 🛍️ Healing & Self-Care Picks Curated books and essentials from Irene: https://kit.co/GriefandRebirth 📚 Grief & Rebirth Bookshop Books by podcast guests for healing & wisdom: https://bookshop.org/shop/griefandrebirth 🎙️ Podcast & Community Inspiring stories of transformation on the Grief and Rebirth website: https://griefandrebirth.com 📱 Stay Connected Subscribe to Grief and Rebirth on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSDru2EU1djRZaZxxFkMig?sub_confirmation=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irenesweinberg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IreneSWeinberg TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@irenesweinberg 🎥 Irene’s Spiritual Awakening Story Watch how the podcast began: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0mJWKfg5PM 🎙️ Be a Podcast Guest Have a story or healing work to share? Apply Here: https://ireneweinberg.com/be-on-the-podcast/ 📰 Newsletter Get updates, tips, and new episodes by signing up to the Grief and Rebirth Substack: https://substack.com/@griefandrebirth 💖 Affiliate Disclaimer Some links may earn us a commission. We only share trusted, personally recommended resources.

Dec 3

A children’s story can do more than entertain—it can heal. When Preston Knowles lost his beloved uncle during the early days of the pandemic, grief became the spark for Ollie and Beep , a tender tale about love, loss, and the enduring power of connection. At just seventeen, Preston turned pain into purpose, creating a story that helps children and the adults who love them understand that life keeps moving forward, just like a river. In this heartfelt conversation, host Irene Weinberg explores how Preston’s creative journey brought comfort to countless families and how storytelling can transform grief into something beautifully whole. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL HEAR ABOUT THINGS LIKE: How grief can spark creativity and provide an outlet for processing emotions. The profound impact of lacking traditional closure during the grieving process. The philosophy that life is like a river, and the importance of learning to flow with change and loss. The scarcity of resources for children navigating grief and the need for tools for parents and educators. The way loss reshapes one's entire perspective on life and relationships. The idea that the beloved characters Ollie the bear and Beep the penguin represent a special real-life relationship. The importance of healing grief and living a positive life that a deceased loved one would want for you. The tip for finding joy and "magic" by embracing uncomfortableness and new experiences. WATCH ON YOUTUBE: How Preston Knowles Transformed Grief Into a Children’s Story of Connection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8P0Iv93MTU&list=PL7judgDzhkAWmfyB5r5WgFD6ahombBvoh Let Ollie and Beep remind you — and the little ones you love — that every goodbye holds a bit of grace, and every moment together is a gift. 🐻🐧 Discover Ollie and Beep by Preston Knowles here: https://a.co/d/aiLNDK2 --- ✨ Grief & Rebirth: Healing Resources & Tools ✨ 🎧 Irene's Books (Including a Free Audiobook!) They Serve Bagels in Heaven—Irene’s heartfelt story of love and life beyond. Listen Free on Audible as a First Time User: https://amzn.to/4dG4l4w Get the Paperback or Hard copy: https://amzn.to/3XrE995 📚 Embrace Life’s Third Chapter Good to the Last Drop—A powerful anthology on aging with purpose: https://amzn.to/3VJgEa5 🛍️ Healing & Self-Care Picks Curated books and essentials from Irene: https://kit.co/GriefandRebirth 📚 Grief & Rebirth Bookshop Books by podcast guests for healing & wisdom: https://bookshop.org/shop/griefandrebirth 🎙️ Podcast & Community Inspiring stories of transformation on the Grief and Rebirth website: https://griefandrebirth.com 📱 Stay Connected Subscribe to Grief and Rebirth on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSDru2EU1djRZaZxxFkMig?sub_confirmation=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irenesweinberg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IreneSWeinberg 🎙️ Be a Podcast Guest Have a story or healing work to share? Apply Here: https://ireneweinberg.com/be-on-the-podcast/ 📰 Newsletter Get updates, tips, and new episodes by signing up to the Grief and Rebirth Substack: https://substack.com/@griefandrebirth 💖 Affiliate Disclaimer Some links may earn us a commission. We only share trusted, personally recommended resources.

Dec 1

Next on Grief and Rebirth , meet Preston Knowles, the creative heart behind Ollie and Beep — a story inspired by grief that gently guides children and adults alike toward healing and the beauty of change. --- ✨ Grief & Rebirth: Healing Resources & Tools ✨ 🎧 Irene's Books (Including a Free Audiobook!) They Serve Bagels in Heaven—Irene’s heartfelt story of love and life beyond. Listen Free on Audible as a First Time User: https://amzn.to/4dG4l4w Get the Paperback or Hard copy: https://amzn.to/3XrE995 📚 Embrace Life’s Third Chapter Good to the Last Drop—A powerful anthology on aging with purpose: https://amzn.to/3VJgEa5 🛍️ Healing & Self-Care Picks Curated books and essentials from Irene: https://kit.co/GriefandRebirth 📚 Grief & Rebirth Bookshop Books by podcast guests for healing & wisdom: https://bookshop.org/shop/griefandrebirth 🎙️ Podcast & Community Inspiring stories of transformation on the Grief and Rebirth website: https://griefandrebirth.com 📱 Stay Connected Subscribe to Grief and Rebirth on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSDru2EU1djRZaZxxFkMig?sub_confirmation=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irenesweinberg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IreneSWeinberg TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@irenesweinberg 🎥 Irene’s Spiritual Awakening Story Watch how the podcast began: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0mJWKfg5PM 🎙️ Be a Podcast Guest Have a story or healing work to share? Apply Here: https://ireneweinberg.com/be-on-the-podcast/ 📰 Newsletter Get updates, tips, and new episodes by signing up to the Grief and Rebirth Substack: https://substack.com/@griefandrebirth 💖 Affiliate Disclaimer Some links may earn us a commission. We only share trusted, personally recommended resources.

Nov 26

Pediatric palliative care reveals both the fragility and strength of the human spirit. In this deeply moving conversation, Dr. Robert Macauley —physician, Episcopal priest, author, and survivor—shares how his journey from childhood trauma to healing led him to care for terminally ill children and their families. Through his acclaimed book Because I Knew You: How Some Remarkable Sick Kids Healed a Doctor’s Soul , Dr. Macauley reflects on how these young patients restored his faith, opened his heart, and showed him the transformative power of caring for children at the edge of life. Together, he and Irene explore how love, loss, and service intertwine to bring meaning, connection, and grace even in life’s hardest moments. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL HEAR ABOUT THINGS LIKE: The profound impact of trauma from child sexual abuse. The concept of “soul calluses” as a protective mechanism and the journey to regaining emotional sensation. The unexpected path to finding a calling in pediatric palliative care and how it can contribute to personal healing. Inspiring stories of families navigating grief and finding moments of joy and connection amidst unimaginable loss. The importance of expressing feelings and not leaving things unsaid to those you care about. The transformative power of vulnerability and sharing personal stories for collective healing. The redemptive aspect of pain and how past experiences can inform and enhance one’s ability to help others. The significance of supporting pediatric palliative care and initiatives for preventing childhood sexual abuse. The ongoing nature of healing and finding meaning in difficult experiences. The wisdom of “bringing forth what is within you” as a path to salvation and preventing self-destruction. WATCH ON YOUTUBE: The Quiet Miracles of Pediatric Palliative Care : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34yFATSoY8k&list=PL7judgDzhkAWmfyB5r5WgFD6ahombBvoh Don’t miss Dr. Macaulay’s Because I Knew You . Grab one here: https://bookshop.org/a/93249/9781594981517 💙 Every purchase of Because I Knew You makes a difference — all proceeds support pediatric palliative care through the OHSU Foundation and help prevent child sexual abuse through Darkness to Light. --- ✨ Grief & Rebirth: Healing Resources & Tools ✨ 🎧 Irene's Books (Including a Free Audiobook!) They Serve Bagels in Heaven—Irene’s heartfelt story of love and life beyond. Listen Free on Audible as a First Time User: https://amzn.to/4dG4l4w Get the Paperback or Hard copy: https://amzn.to/3XrE995 📚 Embrace Life’s Third Chapter Good to the Last Drop—A powerful anthology on aging with purpose: https://amzn.to/3VJgEa5 🛍️ Healing & Self-Care Picks Curated books and essentials from Irene: https://kit.co/GriefandRebirth 📚 Grief & Rebirth Bookshop Books by podcast guests for healing & wisdom: https://bookshop.org/shop/griefandrebirth 🎙️ Podcast & Community Inspiring stories of transformation on the Grief and Rebirth website: https://griefandrebirth.com 📱 Stay Connected Subscribe to Grief and Rebirth on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSDru2EU1djRZaZxxFkMig?sub_confirmation=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irenesweinberg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IreneSWeinberg TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@irenesweinberg 🎥 Irene’s Spiritual Awakening Story Watch how the podcast began: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0mJWKfg5PM 🎙️ Be a Podcast Guest Have a story or healing work to share? Apply Here: https://ireneweinberg.com/be-on-the-podcast/ 📰 Newsletter Get updates, tips, and new episodes by signing up to the Grief and Rebirth Substack: https://substack.com/@griefandrebirth 💖 Affiliate Disclaimer Some links may earn us a commission. We only share trusted, personally recommended resources.