Living in the After: When Survival Becomes a New Beginning

What happens after tragedy, after the funeral, after the headlines fade, and after everyone else returns to their lives? Award-winning author, speaker, retired paramedic, psychology student, and Miss Classic Colorado 2026 Teri Busse joins Erica on Get Rooted Radio for an honest conversation about Living in the After. After the unexpected death of her husband and the devastating murder of her son, Teri faced the unimaginable task of rebuilding a life she never expected to live. She shares how losing her husband changed her life, while losing her son changed what she chose to do with it. Together, Erica and Teri explore grief without an expiration date, resilience without toxic positivity, and the difference between simply surviving and intentionally creating a meaningful life after loss. They also discuss Teri’s writing, advocacy, scholarship program, podcast, publishing work, and her upcoming project, Stop Saying No for Them. This conversation is a reminder that survival is not the end of the story. Sometimes, it is the beginning of what comes next, and your story is not over.