What happens when grief doesn't just visit—but moves in and takes everything?
Vanessa May knows. She lost her son Harry at 24. Then, during the pandemic, she lost her husband, Anthony, and her father within weeks of each other—while battling COVID herself and unable to say goodbye in person.
Together, Brian and Vanessa explore:
✨ How compounded grief affects us emotionally, physically, and spiritually
✨ The trauma-body connection—including Vanessa's cancer diagnosis 18 months after losing Harry
✨ Why "resilience" can feel like a stick to beat yourself with
✨ Earth school, soul planning, and the lessons hidden inside loss
✨ Continuing bonds with Harry and Anthony—and how they guide her still
This conversation is raw, honest, and deeply human. It's filled with hard-won wisdom for anyone who has ever felt like the ground has been ripped out from under them.
If you've ever asked:
"Why did this happen to me?"
"How do I survive when grief keeps compounding?"
"Is it okay to still be struggling years later?"
You are not alone—and this episode is for you. 🌱
👉 After listening, continue the conversation at grief2growth.substack.com
Share your reflections, leave a comment, and connect with others who understand.
🎧 Guest resources:
Vanessa May — https://VanessaMay.co.uk
Instagram: @may.wellbeing.griefsupport
Books: *Love Untethered*, *When Grief Takes Everything*, *Supporting Your Grieving Client*
💬 If this episode speaks to you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who may need it today.
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[CHAPTERS]
00:00 🌱 Introduction
03:34 💔 Who was Harry
10:05 🌊 When lightning strikes twice—losing Anthony during COVID
14:51 🫀 How grief lives in the body
17:30 💫 Metabolizing emotions and transforming pain
23:08 🔮 Soul planning and asking "why me?"
27:31 🧘 Surrender vs. giving up
31:50 ⚖️ Comparing losses—child vs. spouse
35:27 🏠 The loneliness of widowhood in middle years
40:01 📚 Earth school and spiritual bypassing
45:43 👭 The six women in Vanessa's new book
49:05 ✨ Harry as a guide—continuing bonds
51:55 😤 It's okay to be angry at them
55:26 🌀 Living with uncertainty
1:01:07 💜 Hold it loosely, hold it lightly, hold it with love
