Sometimes the most heartbreaking moment of your life became your most beautiful lesson. In this episode, I sit down with fashion publicist, writer, and mom Sydney Mintle to talk about love, loss, and what it means to face death with presence and peace. Sydney’s husband, Jeff, was diagnosed with glioblastoma—an aggressive form of brain cancer—and within just over a year, he passed away. But this isn’t just a story about loss. It’s about how one family chose beauty over bitterness, honesty over fear, and how Jeff’s legacy continues to bloom—literally. From parenting through grief and embracing death doulas, to composting Jeff’s remains and traveling the world to spread his soil, Sydney shares a deeply moving journey of intentional living, radical acceptance, and spiritual grace.

 

In this episode:

• Sydney and Jeff’s love story and their shared philosophy on living fully
• How they approached terminal illness with honesty and hope
• The impact of open conversations with children about death
• Why Sydney chose human composting—and how it brought comfort
• What it means to “walk someone home” at the end of life
• Finding signs, miracles, and meaning in unexpected moments

 

This conversation will change the way you think about grief, death, and what it means to truly live. Whether you’ve experienced a personal loss or want to better support someone who has, this episode is a gift.

 

Connect with Sydney: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sydlovesfashion Jeff's Obituary: https://www.sydlovesfashion.com/blog/jeff-mintle-obituary

 

You can find me on Instagram @rightinfrontofmyface or send me a note at [email protected]. If this conversation hit home for you, please share it with a friend and leave a review. It really does help more people find these stories. And as always, don’t forget to look around—you never know what’s happening right in front of your face.   Thank you to my sponsors Cassie and Jeremy Johnson with Windermere Real Estate: https://johnsonandwalker.com/