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Big Stuff With Danielle Colley

You know who's going through BIG STUFF? Literally everyone. But it's how you handle it that makes the difference.

Award-winning author and life coach Danielle Colley gets real about the relentless expectations we put on ourselves, the comparison trap, and the gap between how life looks and how it actually feels.

For ambitious women who may be crushing their goals but are feeling crushed by them. Conversations that matter. A little advice, a little inspiration, and a lot of humanness. No toxic positivity - just raw honesty about what it really takes to thrive.

If you're burnt out from achieving everything or tired of pretending it's all fine, this is for you. Because life should feel GOOD to live.

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Big Stuff With Danielle Colley

Parenting After Loss and How Radical Reframes Change Everything

October 02, 2025 • Danielle Colley • Season 1 • Episode 11

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When Andy Whitfield died at 39 from cancer, his widow Vashti faced an impossible question: How do you survive profound loss while raising two young children alone? In this deeply honest conversation about grief, solo parenting, and personal transformation, Vashti Whitfield shares how she turned devastating loss into meaningful legacy work.

Vashti Whitfield is a transformational facilitator, executive coach, and filmmaker who co-created the award-winning documentary Be Here Now: The Andy Whitfield Story. In this episode of the Big Stuff podcast, host and life coach Danielle Colley explores the realities of anticipatory grief, navigating parenting after loss, and why protecting loved ones from pain can sometimes do more harm than good.

This conversation offers practical wisdom for anyone dealing with grief, life transitions, terminal illness in the family, or the challenge of rebuilding identity after devastating loss. Vashti's approach combines vulnerability with actionable insights about living fully in the present moment—even when life feels impossibly hard.

00:00 Introduction to Vashti Whitfield's Journey

01:56 Meeting Vashti: A Personal Anecdote

08:33 The Story of Andy Whitfield

12:08 The Making of 'Be Here Now'

14:40 Reframing Grief and Finding Purpose

18:23 Navigating Anticipatory Grief

24:04 Living and Dying: A Personal Reflection

26:00 Transforming Grief into Legacy Work

33:01 Turning Creativity into Legacy

34:12 Embracing All of You

34:43 Parenting Challenges and Non-Attachment

36:58 Solo Parenting and Letting Go