Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this deeply moving episode of Grief to Growth, Brian Smith is joined by writer and seeker Alexis Lee, author of Pain Is a Portal to Beauty, for a courageous conversation about grief, trauma, and radical self-healing.
Alexis shares the moment that changed her life — hearing a voice while walking in the woods that told her her life would have been a tragedy if it ended that day. That message became the beginning of a profound journey into grief she had buried since childhood, including the loss of her mother and generational trauma carried in the body.
Together, Brian and Alexis explore what happens when we stop running from pain and instead listen to it.
This episode isn’t about fixing yourself.
It’s about remembering who you are beneath the pain.
🌱 In This Episode, You’ll Explore:
• Why avoiding pain may be keeping you stuck
• How grief can live in the body for decades
• What “parts work” and Internal Family Systems teach us about self-compassion
• The role of psychedelic-assisted healing (MDMA, psilocybin, ayahuasca) in trauma recovery
• How pain can become a portal to beauty, authenticity, and love
• Why healing doesn’t require having a plan — only honesty
📖 About Today’s Guest
Alexis Lee is a writer, seeker, and advocate for radical self-healing. Her book, Pain Is a Portal to Beauty, explores grief, trauma, spirituality, and the courage it takes to turn toward what hurts.
🌐 Learn more about Alexis and her work:
👉 alexislee.com
📘 Pain Is a Portal to Beauty is available wherever books are sold.
🤍 Continue the Conversation
And if you’re wondering where you are in your own grief journey, you’re invited to take the Grief Check-In — a gentle, judgment-free way to understand how grief may be showing up for you right now.
👉 grief2growth.com/check-in
You've been listening. You're doing the work. But there's still this feeling that you're circling the same place.
Maybe you've thought about working with me one-on-one. Maybe something's held you back.
I get that. And I want you to know there's still a place for you.
All of it, pay what you want. You decide what it's worth. Nobody gets turned away because of money.
https://grief2g (grief2growth.com/store)
Want to go deeper? My Substack is where I share solo essays on grief, consciousness, and continuing bonds — thoughts that don't always make it into the podcast. It's also home to a community of listeners who get it, because they're living it too. Free to subscribe. Find it at substack.com/grief2growth. (grief2growth.com/substack)
I've been studying Near Death Experiences for many years now. I am 100% convinced they are real. In this short, free ebook, I not only explain why I believe NDEs are real, I share some of the universal secrets brought back by people who have had them.
grief2growth.com/ndelessons
Support the show (pages.grief2growth.com/products/grief-2-growth)
🧑🏿🤝🧑🏻 Join me on Substack (https://grief2growth.substack.com) - connect with others and me
👛 Subscribe to Grief 2 Growth Premium (bonus episodes) (buzzsprout.com/695488/supporters/new)
📰 Get A Free Gift (grief2growth.com/gifts)
📅 Book A Complimentary Discovery Call (grief2growth.as.me/30-minute-complimentary)
📈 Leave A Review (ratethispodcast.com/grief2growth)
Thanks so much for your support
In this deeply moving episode of Grief to Growth, Brian Smith is joined by writer and seeker Alexis Lee, author of Pain Is a Portal to Beauty, for a courageous conversation about grief, trauma, and radical self-healing.
Alexis shares the moment that changed her life — hearing a voice while walking in the woods that told her her life would have been a tragedy if it ended that day. That message became the beginning of a profound journey into grief she had buried since childhood, including the loss of her mother and generational trauma carried in the body.
Together, Brian and Alexis explore what happens when we stop running from pain and instead listen to it.
This episode isn’t about fixing yourself.
It’s about remembering who you are beneath the pain.
🌱 In This Episode, You’ll Explore:
• Why avoiding pain may be keeping you stuck
• How grief can live in the body for decades
• What “parts work” and Internal Family Systems teach us about self-compassion
• The role of psychedelic-assisted healing (MDMA, psilocybin, ayahuasca) in trauma recovery
• How pain can become a portal to beauty, authenticity, and love
• Why healing doesn’t require having a plan — only honesty
📖 About Today’s Guest
Alexis Lee is a writer, seeker, and advocate for radical self-healing. Her book, Pain Is a Portal to Beauty, explores grief, trauma, spirituality, and the courage it takes to turn toward what hurts.
🌐 Learn more about Alexis and her work:
👉 alexislee.com
📘 Pain Is a Portal to Beauty is available wherever books are sold.
🤍 Continue the Conversation
And if you’re wondering where you are in your own grief journey, you’re invited to take the Grief Check-In — a gentle, judgment-free way to understand how grief may be showing up for you right now.
👉 grief2growth.com/check-in
You've been listening. You're doing the work. But there's still this feeling that you're circling the same place.
Maybe you've thought about working with me one-on-one. Maybe something's held you back.
I get that. And I want you to know there's still a place for you.
All of it, pay what you want. You decide what it's worth. Nobody gets turned away because of money.
https://grief2g (grief2growth.com/store)
Want to go deeper? My Substack is where I share solo essays on grief, consciousness, and continuing bonds — thoughts that don't always make it into the podcast. It's also home to a community of listeners who get it, because they're living it too. Free to subscribe. Find it at substack.com/grief2growth. (grief2growth.com/substack)
I've been studying Near Death Experiences for many years now. I am 100% convinced they are real. In this short, free ebook, I not only explain why I believe NDEs are real, I share some of the universal secrets brought back by people who have had them.
grief2growth.com/ndelessons
Support the show (pages.grief2growth.com/products/grief-2-growth)
🧑🏿🤝🧑🏻 Join me on Substack (https://grief2growth.substack.com) - connect with others and me
👛 Subscribe to Grief 2 Growth Premium (bonus episodes) (buzzsprout.com/695488/supporters/new)
📰 Get A Free Gift (grief2growth.com/gifts)
📅 Book A Complimentary Discovery Call (grief2growth.as.me/30-minute-complimentary)
📈 Leave A Review (ratethispodcast.com/grief2growth)
Thanks so much for your support
