May 15, 2026

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

56 minutes

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

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