From Loss to Legacy: Greg Boyd on Grief, Growth, and Living Intentionally

When tragedy strikes, it tests everything you believe about yourself, your faith, and your purpose. In this episode of The Climb, Teko Bailey sits down with Greg Boyd—founder of Vienna Waits—to unpack how he rebuilt his life after losing his wife, Allison, to glioblastoma at just 34. From the depths of grief and fatherhood through COVID, Greg learned to live intentionally, parent with compassion, and build a new life rooted in gratitude and action. He opens up about his journey from anxiety and high-performance culture in the tech world to discovering the healing power of presence, therapy, community, and purpose. Greg shares how therapy gave him the tools to face grief head-on, why men must take off their “hero” armor to heal, and how post-traumatic growth reveals strength you never knew you had. Together, he and Teko explore what it means to live in alignment with your true self—and why taking action, not waiting for the “right time,” is the first step toward freedom. Chapters 00:00 – Start Before You’re Ready: The Power of Action 02:00 – From Tech Executive to Turning Point 04:45 – The Diagnosis That Changed Everything 06:50 – Grieving Through COVID and Chaos 09:00 – Tools for Survival: Therapy, Journaling, and Mindfulness 10:30 – Post-Traumatic Growth and Finding Strength in Suffering 13:00 – The Role of Community and Friendship in Healing 15:00 – Rebuilding Love and Family After Loss 17:00 – Parenting Through Grief and Acceptance 20:00 – Letting Go of the Hero Complex 23:00 – Therapy Lessons: Telling the Truth to Your Kids 26:00 – The Backpack Metaphor: How Men Carry Emotional Weight 30:00 – Finding Purpose After the Storm 33:00 – Building Vienna Waits: Helping Others Live Intentionally 37:00 – Gratitude, Action, and Redefining Success 41:00 – Lessons in Fatherhood, Faith, and Fearlessness 49:00 – How to Get Unstuck and Start Living with Purpose About Greg BoydGreg Boyd is the co-founder of Vienna Waits, an organization dedicated to helping people live more intentionally and find purpose through action. A former tech executive turned speaker and coach, Greg’s life changed forever after losing his wife, Allison, to brain cancer in 2020. Through his experiences of grief, growth, and healing, he now empowers others to pursue meaning beyond success. Website: vienna-waits.comInstagram: @vienna_waits_studioLinkedIn: Greg Boyd About Teko Bailey Teko Bailey is a husband, father, coach, and guide for men walking the path of faith and purpose. Through The Climb, he’s building a brotherhood of men committed to living fully, leading boldly, and climbing with intention. Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@IamTekoBailey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tekobailey.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing: Massif Studio & Production Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠massifsp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Tallawah Group Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tallawahworldwide.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sponsorship Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices