After the Silence

In this episode, Brandi shares her raw and honest journey through profound grief after losing her husband Rio, exploring complex emotions like love, trauma, addiction, and survival. Her story underscores the importance of community, vulnerability, and embracing grief as a path to healing.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction: Grief, love, trauma, and survival with Brandi Vandenberg00:23 - Brandi discusses her husband Rio’s creative, musical personality01:54 - How Rio’s love for music and humor defined him03:24 - The beautiful parts of Rio and Brandi’s life together04:32 - Rio’s loyalty, humor, and deep love for his family05:13 - Misunderstandings about addiction and mental illness06:15 - Rio’s silent struggles with self-love and self-worth07:10 - The impact of self-medication and quick fixes in Rio’s life08:37 - Carrying roles of partner and caregiver: exhaustion and identity09:23 - Emotional toll of supporting Rio over the years10:25 - Hidden struggles behind closed doors and the complexity of staying11:13 - The organic nature of mental health challenges and their organic origin12:45 - The uniqueness of each relationship facing mental health issues13:44 - The life-shaping years of partnership and constant planning14:36 - Shielding children from the full scope of struggles16:29 - Grief’s early days and the detachment from reality17:19 - Fears, suicide attempts, and the day Rio passed away18:13 - The practice scares and the pre-grief rehearsals20:26 - The body’s response to grief and the healing power of exercise22:11 - The profound physical experience of loss and its ongoing impact23:01 - How support networks helped Brandi cope25:13 - Rediscovering herself through writing and creativity26:35 - The loss of music and her identity as a musician27:24 - Grief and re-engagement with her passions28:23 - The misunderstood aspects of grief29:28 - Creative expression as a therapeutic outlet31:22 - Love and life after loss, and honoring Rio’s memory33:39 - Finding love again and embracing her true self35:26 - How her new relationship respects Rio’s memory and their past38:55 - Advice to those in fresh grief: lean into it, talk openly, and allow space for healing40:09 - Loving someone with addiction and mental health struggles: have the hard conversations41:15 - What “After the Silence” means personally to Brandi42:11 - Connecting with Brandi’s work, books, and future projectsResources & Links:Brandi Vandenberg’s Books (available on Amazon & Barnes & Noble)Connect with Brandi:InstagramWebsiteRemember, your grief is valid, and you are not alone in this journey. Thank you for walking with us today.

In this emotionally powerful episode, our guests share raw and inspiring stories about surviving life-altering trauma, navigating complicated grief, and finding ways to rebuild strength, community, and love. Their journeys highlight the importance of resilience, responsibility, and the support networks that help us heal.Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to the episode and its focus on trauma and resilience00:32 - Meet Adi Mairal and his current life and thriving mindset00:50 - Adi recounts his five-year journey starting with a devastating car accident03:36 - The long recovery and the emotional toll during rehabilitation04:32 - Experiences of fear, loss of identity, and depression post-accident05:02 - The moment Adi begins to find hope and determination to heal07:43 - The role of prayer, gratitude, and community support in recovery10:26 - Navigating a toxic relationship and violent attack13:04 - Legal challenges, false accusations, and the physical/emotional aftermath15:12 - Building a community around herbalism and shared healing practices17:17 - The power of gratitude and trusting divine timing18:42 - Internal struggles that aren’t visible externally and managing PTSD22:39 - Breathing, meditation, and mental health strategies for trauma management24:00 - Societal pressures on men and the importance of redefining strength28:12 - The struggle of acceptance and forgiveness of oneself31:30 - How trauma led Adi back to reconnect with his true self and his parents36:13 - The spiritual lesson in facing Goliath: life as a test of resilience41:47 - The ongoing tenderness in facing betrayal and heartbreak44:54 - The potential for love and trust again after deep trauma47:44 - Key takeaways of hope, resilience, and the importance of self-compassionResources & Links:Herb Your Enthusiasm Community – Follow Adi’s herbalism classes and meetupsAdi’s Herbal Alchemy – Explore herbal blends created by AudiConnect with Adi Mairal:Instagram

The conversation delves into the themes of grief, love, and loss, exploring the impact of loss, the spectrum of grief, and unexpected aspects of the grieving process. It provides a raw and honest portrayal of the emotional journey of navigating life after loss. The conversation delves into the themes of navigating grief, the strength of vulnerability, understanding suicide loss, support and healing, grieving out loud, and lessons in love and loss. It explores the challenges and triumphs of processing loss and the importance of open and honest communication about mental health and emotional well-being.TakeawaysGrief is a spectrum that fluctuates between calm and stormy days, requiring individuals to navigate through the waves of emotions.The grieving process involves unexpected challenges and moments that can be both overwhelming and enlightening. Vulnerability is a strengthSuicide is the final symptom of mental illnessChapters00:00 Introduction and Acknowledgment07:27 The Impact of Loss15:25 Navigating Survival Mode22:50 The Spectrum of Grief28:02 The Strength of Vulnerability33:04 Understanding Suicide Loss42:38 Grieving Out Loud48:32 Lessons in Love and Loss**Brave Ladies Club: private group for women who had lost a spouse or partner to suicide. https://www.facebook.com/groups/124553808264700U.S. and Canada, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 24 hours a dayText HOME to 741741 to connect with the Crisis Text LineVeterans and service members can contact the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1If you are outside the U.S., please reach out to your local crisis support services or emergency resources in your area

The conversation delves into the experience of traumatic grief, exploring the shock of sudden loss, the overwhelming nature of grief, the aftermath, the impact on the nervous system, the confusion it brings, the body's response to trauma, and the process of healing.TakeawaysTraumatic grief affects the entire system, not just emotions.Healing from traumatic grief involves creating safety in the body.

The conversation explores the concept of disenfranchised grief, highlighting the lack of acknowledgment and support for this type of grief. It delves into the experience of unacknowledged grief and the importance of validating one's own grief without external validation.TakeawaysDisenfranchised grief is often not acknowledged or supported by othersGrief can come from not being met in the lossChapters00:00 Understanding Disenfranchised Grief05:14 Validating Your Own Grief

The episode explores the concept of anticipatory grief, a type of grief that arises before the actual loss occurs. It delves into the complexities of acknowledging change and the emotional experience of holding gratitude and grief simultaneously.TakeawaysAnticipatory griefAcknowledging changeChapters00:00 Understanding Anticipatory Grief

The episode explores the concept of identity grief and the process of becoming, highlighting the connection between growth and loss. It encourages embracing the in-between and acknowledges the complexity of missing the past while moving forward.TakeawaysIdentity griefGrowth and lossChapters00:00 Grieving the Version of You

Not all grief comes with closure. In this episode, I explore the quiet, often misunderstood experience of ambiguous grief—the kind of loss that has no clear ending, no defined shape, and no easy path forward. Whether it’s the loss of a relationship, a version of yourself, or someone who is still physically here but no longer the same, this conversation brings language and validation to what so many feel but struggle to name. If you’ve ever questioned your grief or felt stuck in the in-between, this episode is for you.TakeawaysNot all grief is tied to deathLack of closure doesn't mean lack of impactHealing begins with naming and honoring the in-between

The conversation delves into the multifaceted nature of grief, exploring its complexity, unpredictability, and the journey of moving forward while honoring love and connection. It emphasizes the validation of individual grief experiences and the reflection of love in the process of carrying grief.TakeawaysGrief is complex and unpredictable.Moving forward with grief does not diminish the love shared.Individual grief experiences are valid and unique.Chapters00:00 Understanding Grief06:09 Navigating Love and Grief

After the Silence is a podcast that explores the universal experience of grief and loss, providing a space for conversations that are often difficult to have. The podcast aims to shed light on the various forms of grief and the resilience that can emerge from these experiences.TakeawaysGrief is universalResilience and healing in grief