Episode Details

When your child transitions into spirit, nothing is ever the same. In this deeply heartfelt episode, Brian speaks with Betsy Thibaud Stephenson, author of Blackbird: A Mother’s Reflection on Loss, Grief, and Life After Suicide.

Betsy’s son Charlie transitioned at age 21, just eleven weeks after expressing thoughts of self-harm. During that same six-week period, her beloved mother-in-law and family dog also transitioned. Rather than turning away from grief, Betsy faced it head-on—and began writing from her open wound instead of waiting for a scar.

This conversation explores the real grief journey—messy, sacred, and unfiltered.

🔑 Topics Covered:

• Charlie’s spirit and legacy 💫
• The emotional weight of suicide grief 🖤
• Why guilt is almost universal in child loss
• How grief impacts the body and mind
• The myth of grieving “the right way”
• Writing as a tool for survival
• Allowing space for others’ grief stories
• Keeping the spirit of our loved ones alive

✨ Guest Info:

Betsy Thibaud Stephenson

• 📘 Blackbird: A Mother’s Reflection on Loss, Grief, and Life After Suicide
• 🌐 Website: https://blackbirdbetsy.com
  
  
• 📸 Instagram: @blackbirdbetsy21
  
  

📣 Let’s Talk:

🗨️ How do you keep your loved one’s spirit present in your life?
Share with us in the comments or visit grief2growth.com/community
to connect with others walking this path.

🔗 Episode Resources:

• 📚 Get Betsy’s book: Blackbird on Amazon
  
  
• 🧠 Free resources on grief, suicide awareness, and emotional healing
• 🎙️ More episodes like this: Grief 2 Growth Podcast Archive
  
  

🙏 If this episode spoke to your heart:

➡️ Leave a review
 ➡️ Subscribe
 ➡️ Share with someone who’s grieving

You've been listening. You're doing the work. But there's still this feeling that you're circling the same place.

Maybe you've thought about working with me one-on-one. Maybe something's held you back. 

I get that. And I want you to know there's still a place for you.

All of it, pay what you want. You decide what it's worth. Nobody gets turned away because of money.

https://grief2g

The International Association for Near-Death Studies or IANDS will host its annual conference at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue.  The event features an all-star lineup of keynotes like Proof of Heaven Author Eben Alexander, MD, and Dying to Be Me Author Anita Moorjani. I Early bird registration rates are available through July 15.

Visit IANDS.org to register

The International Association for Near-Death Studies or IANDS will host its annual conference at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue.  The event features an all-star lineup of keynotes like Proof of Heaven Author Eben Alexander, MD, and Dying to Be Me Author Anita Moorjani. I Early bird registration rates are available through July 15. 

Visit IANDS.org to register

Want to go deeper? My Substack is where I share solo essays on grief, consciousness, and continuing bonds — thoughts that don't always make it into the podcast. It's also home to a community of listeners who get it, because they're living it too. Free to subscribe. Find it at substack.com/grief2growth.