Grief and Rebirth: Finding the Joy in Life

The Prophecy That Shattered a Family

When a life is irrevocably changed by a prophecy-fulfilled death of a brother, a profound journey toward healing can begin. Holistic health visionary, author, and spiritual seeker Kristina Amelong [https://www.kristinaamelong.com/] joins the conversation to share the haunting, true story behind her powerful memoir, What My Brother Knew [https://bookshop.org/a/93249/9781647429089]. She details her path from a childhood marked by abuse and addiction, reclaiming vibrant health through holistic protocols and profound inner work. As the founder of the Optimal Health Network and a senior board member at the Center for World Philosophy and Religion, Kristina discusses the sacred lessons of loss and how her transformation serves as a guiding light for transmuting grief into rebirth and embracing conscious evolution. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL HEAR ABOUT THINGS LIKE: * Sharing a personal healing journey can lead to collective healing from unresolved loss. * Grief is an evolving, communal process. True healing comes from embracing all intense emotions to deepen spiritual connections. * Overcoming self-destructive paths is driven by a deep internal will, supported by community and structured healing work. * Profuse, prophetic visions concerning death can occur and unfold with astonishing accuracy. * The nature of consciousness is eternal. The soul leaves the body, finding a sense of universal love and knowingness. * The universe "delights in our becoming" as personal growth is an evolutionary process that positively affects all humanity. * Joy is found in simple, present-moment activities, learning, and fostering profound, healing relationships. WATCH ON YOUTUBE: The Prophecy That Shattered a Family [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJnD6xIA-xo&list=PL7judgDzhkAWmfyB5r5WgFD6ahombBvoh] 🎉 Special Offer for Podcast Listeners! Use code REBIRTH25 at checkout for free domestic shipping on your copy of What My Brother Knew: A Memoir. Plus, every memoir ordered from our website comes signed! 👉  Order here: https://www.optimalhealthnetwork.com/What-My-Brother-Knew-A-Memoir-p/3003.htm [https://www.optimalhealthnetwork.com/What-My-Brother-Knew-A-Memoir-p/3003.htm] --- ✨ Grief & Rebirth: Healing Resources & Tools ✨ 🎧 Irene's Books (Including a Free Audiobook!) They Serve Bagels in Heaven—Irene’s heartfelt story of love and life beyond. Listen Free on Audible as a First Time User: https://amzn.to/4dG4l4w [https://amzn.to/4dG4l4w] Get the Paperback or Hard copy: https://amzn.to/3XrE995 [https://amzn.to/3XrE995] 📚 Embrace Life’s Third Chapter Good to the Last Drop—A powerful anthology on aging with purpose: https://amzn.to/3VJgEa5 [https://amzn.to/3VJgEa5] 🛍️ Healing & Self-Care Picks Curated books and essentials from Irene: https://kit.co/GriefandRebirth [https://kit.co/GriefandRebirth] 📚 Grief & Rebirth Bookshop Books by podcast guests for healing & wisdom: https://bookshop.org/shop/griefandrebirth [https://bookshop.org/shop/griefandrebirth] 🎙️ Podcast & Community Inspiring stories of transformation on the Grief and Rebirth website: https://griefandrebirth.com [https://griefandrebirth.com/] 📱 Stay Connected Subscribe to Grief and Rebirth on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSDru2EU1djRZaZxxFkMig?sub_confirmation=1 [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSDru2EU1djRZaZxxFkMig?sub_confirmation=1] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irenesweinberg [https://www.instagram.com/irenesweinberg] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IreneSWeinberg [https://www.facebook.com/IreneSWeinberg] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@irenesweinberg [https://www.tiktok.com/@irenesweinberg] 🎥 Irene’s Spiritual Awakening Story Watch how the podcast began: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0mJWKfg5PM [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0mJWKfg5PM] 🎙️ Be a Podcast Guest Have a story or healing work to share? Apply Here: https://ireneweinberg.com/be-on-the-podcast/ [https://ireneweinberg.com/be-on-the-podcast/] 📰 Newsletter Get updates, tips, and new episodes by signing up to the Grief and Rebirth Substack: https://substack.com/@griefandrebirth [https://substack.com/@griefandrebirth] 💖 Affiliate Disclaimer Some links may earn us a commission. We only share trusted, personally recommended resources.

What My Brother Knew: From a Haunting Premonition to Healing and Awakening | Episode Teaser

At just 13, Kristina Amelong’s brother, Jay, eerily predicted his own death — a tragedy that would forever change her life. Decades later, Kristina, now a holistic health visionary and author of What My Brother Knew [https://bookshop.org/a/93249/9781647429089], shares her extraordinary journey from trauma, addiction, and chronic illness to profound healing and spiritual awakening. In this powerful conversation, she reveals how loss became the catalyst for transformation — and what she discovered about life, death, and the boundless human capacity to heal. --- ✨ Grief & Rebirth: Healing Resources & Tools ✨ 🎧 Irene's Books (Including a Free Audiobook!) They Serve Bagels in Heaven—Irene’s heartfelt story of love and life beyond. Listen Free on Audible as a First Time User: https://amzn.to/4dG4l4w [https://amzn.to/4dG4l4w] Get the Paperback or Hard copy: https://amzn.to/3XrE995 [https://amzn.to/3XrE995] 📚 Embrace Life’s Third Chapter Good to the Last Drop—A powerful anthology on aging with purpose: https://amzn.to/3VJgEa5 [https://amzn.to/3VJgEa5] 🛍️ Healing & Self-Care Picks Curated books and essentials from Irene: https://kit.co/GriefandRebirth [https://kit.co/GriefandRebirth] 📚 Grief & Rebirth Bookshop Books by podcast guests for healing & wisdom: https://bookshop.org/shop/griefandrebirth [https://bookshop.org/shop/griefandrebirth] 🎙️ Podcast & Community Inspiring stories of transformation on the Grief and Rebirth website: https://griefandrebirth.com [https://griefandrebirth.com/] 📱 Stay Connected Subscribe to Grief and Rebirth on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSDru2EU1djRZaZxxFkMig?sub_confirmation=1 [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSDru2EU1djRZaZxxFkMig?sub_confirmation=1] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irenesweinberg [https://www.instagram.com/irenesweinberg] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IreneSWeinberg [https://www.facebook.com/IreneSWeinberg] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@irenesweinberg [https://www.tiktok.com/@irenesweinberg] 🎥 Irene’s Spiritual Awakening Story Watch how the podcast began: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0mJWKfg5PM [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0mJWKfg5PM] 🎙️ Be a Podcast Guest Have a story or healing work to share? Apply Here: https://ireneweinberg.com/be-on-the-podcast/ [https://ireneweinberg.com/be-on-the-podcast/] 📰 Newsletter Get updates, tips, and new episodes by signing up to the Grief and Rebirth Substack: https://substack.com/@griefandrebirth [https://substack.com/@griefandrebirth] 💖 Affiliate Disclaimer Some links may earn us a commission. We only share trusted, personally recommended resources.

How Preston Knowles Transformed Grief Into a Children’s Story of Connection

A children’s story can do more than entertain—it can heal. When Preston Knowles [https://www.instagram.com/preston_k/] lost his beloved uncle during the early days of the pandemic, grief became the spark for Ollie and Beep [https://bookshop.org/a/93249/9781966786207], a tender tale about love, loss, and the enduring power of connection. At just seventeen, Preston turned pain into purpose, creating a story that helps children and the adults who love them understand that life keeps moving forward, just like a river. In this heartfelt conversation, host Irene Weinberg explores how Preston’s creative journey brought comfort to countless families and how storytelling can transform grief into something beautifully whole. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL HEAR ABOUT THINGS LIKE: * How grief can spark creativity and provide an outlet for processing emotions. * The profound impact of lacking traditional closure during the grieving process. * The philosophy that life is like a river, and the importance of learning to flow with change and loss. * The scarcity of resources for children navigating grief and the need for tools for parents and educators. * The way loss reshapes one's entire perspective on life and relationships. * The idea that the beloved characters Ollie the bear and Beep the penguin represent a special real-life relationship. * The importance of healing grief and living a positive life that a deceased loved one would want for you. * The tip for finding joy and "magic" by embracing uncomfortableness and new experiences. WATCH ON YOUTUBE: How Preston Knowles Transformed Grief Into a Children’s Story of Connection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8P0Iv93MTU&list=PL7judgDzhkAWmfyB5r5WgFD6ahombBvoh [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8P0Iv93MTU&list=PL7judgDzhkAWmfyB5r5WgFD6ahombBvoh] Let Ollie and Beep remind you — and the little ones you love — that every goodbye holds a bit of grace, and every moment together is a gift. 🐻🐧 Discover Ollie and Beep by Preston Knowles here: https://a.co/d/aiLNDK2 [https://a.co/d/aiLNDK2] --- ✨ Grief & Rebirth: Healing Resources & Tools ✨ 🎧 Irene's Books (Including a Free Audiobook!) They Serve Bagels in Heaven—Irene’s heartfelt story of love and life beyond. Listen Free on Audible as a First Time User: https://amzn.to/4dG4l4w [https://amzn.to/4dG4l4w] Get the Paperback or Hard copy: https://amzn.to/3XrE995 [https://amzn.to/3XrE995] 📚 Embrace Life’s Third Chapter Good to the Last Drop—A powerful anthology on aging with purpose: https://amzn.to/3VJgEa5 [https://amzn.to/3VJgEa5] 🛍️ Healing & Self-Care Picks Curated books and essentials from Irene: https://kit.co/GriefandRebirth [https://kit.co/GriefandRebirth] 📚 Grief & Rebirth Bookshop Books by podcast guests for healing & wisdom: https://bookshop.org/shop/griefandrebirth [https://bookshop.org/shop/griefandrebirth] 🎙️ Podcast & Community Inspiring stories of transformation on the Grief and Rebirth website: https://griefandrebirth.com [https://griefandrebirth.com/] 📱 Stay Connected Subscribe to Grief and Rebirth on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSDru2EU1djRZaZxxFkMig?sub_confirmation=1 [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSDru2EU1djRZaZxxFkMig?sub_confirmation=1] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irenesweinberg [https://www.instagram.com/irenesweinberg] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IreneSWeinberg [https://www.facebook.com/IreneSWeinberg] 🎙️ Be a Podcast Guest Have a story or healing work to share? Apply Here: https://ireneweinberg.com/be-on-the-podcast/ [https://ireneweinberg.com/be-on-the-podcast/] 📰 Newsletter Get updates, tips, and new episodes by signing up to the Grief and Rebirth Substack: https://substack.com/@griefandrebirth [https://substack.com/@griefandrebirth] 💖 Affiliate Disclaimer Some links may earn us a commission. We only share trusted, personally recommended resources.

Preston Knowles on Healing Hearts Through the Story of Ollie and Beep | Episode Teaser

Next on Grief and Rebirth, meet Preston Knowles, the creative heart behind Ollie and Beep [https://bookshop.org/a/93249/9781966786207] — a story inspired by grief that gently guides children and adults alike toward healing and the beauty of change. --- ✨ Grief & Rebirth: Healing Resources & Tools ✨ 🎧 Irene's Books (Including a Free Audiobook!) They Serve Bagels in Heaven—Irene’s heartfelt story of love and life beyond. Listen Free on Audible as a First Time User: https://amzn.to/4dG4l4w [https://amzn.to/4dG4l4w] Get the Paperback or Hard copy: https://amzn.to/3XrE995 [https://amzn.to/3XrE995] 📚 Embrace Life’s Third Chapter Good to the Last Drop—A powerful anthology on aging with purpose: https://amzn.to/3VJgEa5 [https://amzn.to/3VJgEa5] 🛍️ Healing & Self-Care Picks Curated books and essentials from Irene: https://kit.co/GriefandRebirth [https://kit.co/GriefandRebirth] 📚 Grief & Rebirth Bookshop Books by podcast guests for healing & wisdom: https://bookshop.org/shop/griefandrebirth [https://bookshop.org/shop/griefandrebirth] 🎙️ Podcast & Community Inspiring stories of transformation on the Grief and Rebirth website: https://griefandrebirth.com [https://griefandrebirth.com/] 📱 Stay Connected Subscribe to Grief and Rebirth on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSDru2EU1djRZaZxxFkMig?sub_confirmation=1 [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSDru2EU1djRZaZxxFkMig?sub_confirmation=1] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irenesweinberg [https://www.instagram.com/irenesweinberg] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IreneSWeinberg [https://www.facebook.com/IreneSWeinberg] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@irenesweinberg [https://www.tiktok.com/@irenesweinberg] 🎥 Irene’s Spiritual Awakening Story Watch how the podcast began: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0mJWKfg5PM [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0mJWKfg5PM] 🎙️ Be a Podcast Guest Have a story or healing work to share? Apply Here: https://ireneweinberg.com/be-on-the-podcast/ [https://ireneweinberg.com/be-on-the-podcast/] 📰 Newsletter Get updates, tips, and new episodes by signing up to the Grief and Rebirth Substack: https://substack.com/@griefandrebirth [https://substack.com/@griefandrebirth] 💖 Affiliate Disclaimer Some links may earn us a commission. We only share trusted, personally recommended resources.

The Quiet Miracles of Pediatric Palliative Care

Pediatric palliative care reveals both the fragility and strength of the human spirit. In this deeply moving conversation, Dr. Robert Macauley [https://robertmacauley.com/]—physician, Episcopal priest, author, and survivor—shares how his journey from childhood trauma to healing led him to care for terminally ill children and their families. Through his acclaimed book Because I Knew You: How Some Remarkable Sick Kids Healed a Doctor’s Soul [https://bookshop.org/a/93249/9781594981517], Dr. Macauley reflects on how these young patients restored his faith, opened his heart, and showed him the transformative power of caring for children at the edge of life. Together, he and Irene explore how love, loss, and service intertwine to bring meaning, connection, and grace even in life’s hardest moments. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL HEAR ABOUT THINGS LIKE: * The profound impact of trauma from child sexual abuse. * The concept of “soul calluses” as a protective mechanism and the journey to regaining emotional sensation. * The unexpected path to finding a calling in pediatric palliative care and how it can contribute to personal healing. * Inspiring stories of families navigating grief and finding moments of joy and connection amidst unimaginable loss. * The importance of expressing feelings and not leaving things unsaid to those you care about. * The transformative power of vulnerability and sharing personal stories for collective healing. * The redemptive aspect of pain and how past experiences can inform and enhance one’s ability to help others. * The significance of supporting pediatric palliative care and initiatives for preventing childhood sexual abuse. * The ongoing nature of healing and finding meaning in difficult experiences. * The wisdom of “bringing forth what is within you” as a path to salvation and preventing self-destruction. WATCH ON YOUTUBE: The Quiet Miracles of Pediatric Palliative Care [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34yFATSoY8k&list=PL7judgDzhkAWmfyB5r5WgFD6ahombBvoh]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34yFATSoY8k&list=PL7judgDzhkAWmfyB5r5WgFD6ahombBvoh [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34yFATSoY8k&list=PL7judgDzhkAWmfyB5r5WgFD6ahombBvoh] Don’t miss Dr. Macaulay’s Because I Knew You. Grab one here: https://bookshop.org/a/93249/9781594981517https://bookshop.org/a/93249/9781594981517 [https://bookshop.org/a/93249/9781594981517] 💙 Every purchase of Because I Knew You makes a difference — all proceeds support pediatric palliative care through the OHSU Foundation and help prevent child sexual abuse through Darkness to Light. --- ✨ Grief & Rebirth: Healing Resources & Tools ✨ 🎧 Irene's Books (Including a Free Audiobook!) They Serve Bagels in Heaven—Irene’s heartfelt story of love and life beyond. Listen Free on Audible as a First Time User: https://amzn.to/4dG4l4w [https://amzn.to/4dG4l4w] Get the Paperback or Hard copy: https://amzn.to/3XrE995 [https://amzn.to/3XrE995] 📚 Embrace Life’s Third Chapter Good to the Last Drop—A powerful anthology on aging with purpose: https://amzn.to/3VJgEa5 [https://amzn.to/3VJgEa5] 🛍️ Healing & Self-Care Picks Curated books and essentials from Irene: https://kit.co/GriefandRebirth [https://kit.co/GriefandRebirth] 📚 Grief & Rebirth Bookshop Books by podcast guests for healing & wisdom: https://bookshop.org/shop/griefandrebirth [https://bookshop.org/shop/griefandrebirth] 🎙️ Podcast & Community Inspiring stories of transformation on the Grief and Rebirth website: https://griefandrebirth.com [https://griefandrebirth.com/] 📱 Stay Connected Subscribe to Grief and Rebirth on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSDru2EU1djRZaZxxFkMig?sub_confirmation=1 [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSDru2EU1djRZaZxxFkMig?sub_confirmation=1] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irenesweinberg [https://www.instagram.com/irenesweinberg] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IreneSWeinberg [https://www.facebook.com/IreneSWeinberg] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@irenesweinberg [https://www.tiktok.com/@irenesweinberg] 🎥 Irene’s Spiritual Awakening Story Watch how the podcast began: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0mJWKfg5PM [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0mJWKfg5PM] 🎙️ Be a Podcast Guest Have a story or healing work to share? Apply Here: https://ireneweinberg.com/be-on-the-podcast/ [https://ireneweinberg.com/be-on-the-podcast/] 📰 Newsletter Get updates, tips, and new episodes by signing up to the Grief and Rebirth Substack: https://substack.com/@griefandrebirth [https://substack.com/@griefandrebirth] 💖 Affiliate Disclaimer Some links may earn us a commission. We only share trusted, personally recommended resources.