What happens when grief does not stay private, but becomes a part of how we lead, work, and respond to one another in the world?
Welcome to Beyond the Loss: Life and Identity After a Child Dies. I’m Dr. Sharon Spano, and in this episode, I’m joined by Mindy Corporon—an author, speaker, former wealth management CEO, and founder of the emerging discipline known as Grief Leadership.
In 2014, Mindy’s life was forever altered when her 14-year-old son, Reat Underwood, and her father, Dr. William Corporon, were murdered in a senseless hate crime shooting outside the Kansas City Jewish Community Center. Stepping into the public eye within hours of the tragedy, Mindy made a conscious choice to lead with love, moving away from division to build a legacy of compassion.
In our conversation, Mindy opens up about her personal journey through loss, workplace re-entry, and family survival:
• Honoring Reat & Dr. William: Reclaiming the narrative from media headlines to celebrate who they were—from Reat’s musical theater audition to his grandfather’s devotion as a family doctor.
• Grief Leadership in the Workplace: How organizations can support grieving employees without expecting them to “fix” or manage their pain while balancing productivity.
• Navigating Family System Trauma: Supporting a surviving child (her son Lucas) through acute anger and suicidal ideation, while managing her own profound heartbreak.
• Guilt, Shame, and Control: Facing the irrational guilt of having scheduled the audition appointment and coming to terms with the limits of parental control.
Whether you are a corporate leader navigating an employee’s loss or a grieving parent looking for ways to allow your feelings space to breathe, Mindy’s wisdom offers practical care and deep humanity.
Listen to the episode now and subscribe. You do not have to carry this weight in isolation.
Connect with Dr. Sharon Spano:
• Website
• Podcast
• YouTube
• Substack
Connect with Mindy Corporon:
Website here
Youtube here
Instagram here
Interested in Being a Guest on Beyond the Loss?
Apply here to share your story:
https://sharonspano.com/podcast-guest-beyond-the-loss/
Transcript here