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Beyond the Loss: Life and Identity After a Child Dies
Over time, the conversations we choose to have begin to reflect what matters most.
If you’ve been part of this podcast, you’ve heard me speak about human development, systems thinking, and the ways we make meaning of our lives and work. That work continues—and remains at the core of my coaching and professional practice.
What has changed is the space where I am choosing to have a different kind of conversation.
After the death of my son, Michael, I felt called to create a more personal place—one that speaks directly to the experience of loss, and to the questions that emerge when life no longer looks the way it once did.
That space is now Beyond the Loss.
This podcast is for parents who have lost a child, and for those who support them. It is not about fixing grief or finding closure, but about understanding how we continue to live, to make meaning, and to become—after loss.
If you are looking for my current podcast,
you will now find me there.
I invite you to join me on Beyond the Loss.
You are welcome.
Beyond the Loss: Life and Identity After a Child Dies
Episode 216: Grief, Healing, and Hope with Hope Reger
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Trigger Warning: For listeners who wish to avoid Hope’s account of how she lost her son, Justin, please skip the audio between [0:02:31] and [0:08:46].
The loss of a loved one is one of the most painful emotional experiences any of us can go through. And how we process a loss is unique to every individual. Yet societal expectations can often leave the bereaved feeling that they are somehow grieving incorrectly, even when there is no right or wrong way to experience a loss.
Our guest today is on a mission to change these expectations and help others along their unique journey of grief. Hope Reger is the founder of Grief 2 Hope, a virtual grief support group that assists individuals on their grief journey with authenticity and kindness. Please note that this episode discusses child loss, so please listen with care.
In our conversation Hope shares her grief journey and how she came to found Grief 2 Hope. She describes the details of their 7-week program along with an overview of what to expect from each session. She also reflects on the healing power of helping others and the connection she feels with other parents who have lost a child.
Hope’s journey has not been an easy one. It takes immense courage for a mother to find healing and hope after such a devastating loss. But through her desire to help others, Hope has helped build a supportive community where we can all begin to heal and experience connection and kindness. We hope you’ll join us for this reflective conversation on grief, life, and healing.
What you’ll learn about in this episode:
- An introduction to today’s special guest, Hope Reger.
- How the shock you experience after the loss of a loved one affects your ability to process information.
- Some of the logistical decisions Hope was confronted with shortly after she lost her son.
- The helpful counseling and support Hope received after her loss.
- The moment that made Hope live by the words “be kind”.
- Hope shares her journey of grief and how her outlook has changed.
- How to honor everyone's unique journey of grief.
Transcript: Here
Additional Resources:
Hope Reger on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hope-reger/
Grief 2 Hope: https://www.grief2hopesupport.com/
Grief 2 Hope on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grief-2-hope/
Grief 2 Hope on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Grief2Hope2020/?ref=page_internal
Grief 2 Hope on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grief2hope2020/
Grief 2 Hope: A Mother's Memoir of Devastation to Determination: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/
Sharon Spano:
Website: sharonspano.com
Facebook: facebook.com/SharonSpanoPHD
Instagram: instagram.com/drsharonspano/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sharonspano/
Book: thetimemoneybook.com
Contact: sharon@sharonspano.com
Twitter: twitter.com/SharonSpano
The Other Side of Potential Podcast: sharonspano.com/podcast/