S4E34 - Encore - When Grief Changes Us: A Conversation with Michele Neff Hernandez

In this final episode of the Dying Your Way Encore Series, Claire O’Berry revisits her powerful conversation with Michele Neff Hernandez, founder of Soaring Spirits International and author of Different After You: Rediscovering Yourself and Healing after Grief or Trauma. Michele’s life changed in 2005 when her husband, Phillip, was killed in a cycling accident. Suddenly widowed at 35 and raising a blended family of six children, Michele began searching for other widowed people who could help her understand what life after such a devastating loss might look like. That search became the foundation for Soaring Spirits International, a global organization offering peer support, resources, and community for people who have experienced the death of a spouse or partner. In this conversation, Claire and Michele explore grief, trauma, widowhood, complicated grief, community support, and the importance of allowing ourselves to be changed by loss. Michele also shares her memorable fishbowl analogy, a practical way to think about boundaries, support, judgment, and whose opinions truly deserve space in our lives. This episode is for anyone who is widowed, anyone supporting someone after the death of a spouse or partner, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of grief that does not fit neatly into society’s expectations. Learn more:Dying Your Way: https://dyingyourway.com Soaring Spirits International: https://soaringspirits.org Michele Neff Hernandez: https://michelleneffhernandez.com Different After You: https://shop.soaringspirits.org/products/autographed-copy-of-different-after-you-rediscovering-yourself-and-healing-after-grief-and-trauma   📬 Connect with Us: 💻 Website: https://dyingyourway.com 📧 Contact: [email protected] 📱 Instagram: @dyingyourway 🗣️ Leave a comment, submit a topic, or tell us your story! 🙏 Support the Podcast: ✅ Subscribe — It’s free! 💬 Leave a review or comment 🔗 Share this episode with someone who needs it 👍 Hit that like button to help others find this space See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.