Today’s guest has lived life after losing a child for nearly thirty years, which means he brings decades of hard-won wisdom and the honesty of someone who still remembers the darkness well. Like most pareavors, Tracy Brinkmann never imagined he could climb out of that crushing place of grief. But his story is a powerful example of how one dad found meaning, purpose, and God again after the unthinkable happened.

In our conversation, Tracy shares openly about the deep anger he carried toward God after his 18-month-old daughter, Krysta, died in his arms. We talk about what it looks like to move through that anger instead of living in it, the surprising ways his prayers and relationship with God were reshaped, and the conscious decision he made to rebuild a life that mattered again.

This episode is a heartfelt look at the real journey of life after losing a child; a journey full of questions, rebuilding, unexpected grace, and the slow return of purpose. Tracy’s honesty shows that even when faith feels shattered, God has a way of meeting us in the dark and gently leading us forward.

Tracy Brinkmann is a father of four, a former military man, and the voice behind The Dark Horse Entrepreneur – AI Escape Plan and Your Success DNA, two shows drawing more than 300,000 monthly downloads. His life reads like a redemption story—addiction, the devastating loss of his daughter, divorce, bankruptcy—yet Tracy rose from it all to lead corporate marketing teams and build a thriving digital brand.

Today, he helps parents and small business owners compress time and multiply income through AI, podcasting, and automation. His reactivation campaigns have produced a month’s worth of revenue in under seven days. Tracy speaks with compassion, clarity, and conviction—living proof that no setback is final, and no dream is too late.

(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.) 

Connect with Tracy Brinkmann: Website | Podcast

Join the community who are making sure this podcast continues, giving hope to others the way you have received hope. Choose your level here on Patreon.

Find out more and get your copy of Hope for the Future: An Advent Journey for Bereaved Parents here.

Share with Laura and others a way you brightened your own day a bit by brightening someone else’s here on the GPS Hope website under the show notes. (Or on the public or private GPS Hope page under the podcast episode.)

Subscribe to the GPS Hope YouTube channel to join Laura during advent.

We lovingly remember and celebrate the lives of:

Elizabeth Pasqualone was born on November 14 and is forever 28.

Melissa Sulikowski Hill was born on November 23 and is forever 38.

Brendan Weidner was born on November 28 and is forever 14.

Liam “Trip” Nugent was born on November 29 and is forever 21.

Raelyne Ten Bruggencate was born on November 29 and is forever 1.

Visit gpshope.org/birthdays to submit your child’s name and date so we can honor them, too.

The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.