The AfterWords

08/11/2025

When you’re just trying to survive a Saturday and someone drops the ultimate ‘Oh, I didn’t know’ bomb… and now you’re in full-blown trauma Olympics. 🏆
This episode isn’t about cake or balloons — it’s about how the tiniest disruption can launch you straight into survival mode.

🎧 Listen now Wherever you get your podcasts 📚 Grab Zuma’s Magical Balloon on Amazon
💌 Sponsors & donations keep the mics on — link in bio

06/19/2025

🎮✨ New episode just dropped!

Is this hell? Are we in it?
Or is this just the level we’re here to beat?

We’re talking soul contracts, reincarnation, ascension—and what it actually means to stop living from pain and start living with purpose.

If you’ve ever wondered where your person is, if they’ll come back, or if you chose this wild human ride before you got here… this one’s for you.

It’s weird. It’s deep. It’s real. And somehow, it still includes Magikarp.

🔗 New Episode Link in bio! The AfterWords is live now wherever you get your podcasts.

04/24/2025

Me, minding my business, when the universe said: “Time to awaken, babe.”
New episode of The AfterWords is out now—raw, real, and slightly uncomfortable (just like spiritual growth).

04/22/2025

soul contracts, twin flames, and everything happens for a reason except when it’s BS- literally, I couldn’t be more proud of this episode! With my good friend I am super excited to share this. His voice is smooth as silk (at least Zuma thinks so😂)
✨ NEW EPISODE ✨

Episode 5 of The AfterWords is live—and this one is personal.

We’re talking soul contracts, spiritual wake-up calls, and the absolute chaos that followed losing Kingston. If you’ve ever felt like life handed you a cosmic pop quiz you didn’t sign up for, this one’s for you.

I’m sharing the dream that changed everything—the moment I saw Kingston again—and the signs I missed until the lights literally started flickering. From electric energy to 1:11, 2:22 and 2:23 a.m. wakeups, it’s been a whole spiritual scavenger hunt.

And I’ve got my longtime friend + emotional support human Royce Perkins on with me, because I needed someone to help steer this roller coaster. We even get into twin flames and the people who show up just to light everything on fire… only to help you grow.

🎧 Stream now: Spotify, Apple, YouTube, all the places
🌐 theafterwords.co
📖 New blog post is up too
📚 Zuma’s Magical Balloon launches this week—link going live soon!

If you’re grieving, waking up, or somewhere in between—this one’s for you. You’re not crazy. And you’re not alone.

03/26/2025

🚨New Episode 🚨 🔊 Disclaimer:
I don’t remember recording this. Not a single word. It started with a plan, unraveled into chaos, and somehow looped back around like maybe the mess was the plan.
Call it dissociation. Call it channeling. Call it grief kicking down the door and handing the mic to something bigger than me.
I almost apologized for how unfiltered it is. But my gut—loud and clear—said: don’t touch it.
So I didn’t.
It’s messy. It’s raw. And it’s exactly how it needed to come out.
If you’re here, maybe you’re meant to hear it this way.

03/06/2025

💛 Kingston’s story is one of love, resilience, and unbreakable bonds. If you’ve followed The AfterWords, read the blog, or ever felt touched by his light, this article shares more about his journey, the podcast, and how you can help as I navigate this next chapter.

🕊️ Kingston always wanted everyone to live—to find joy even in the hardest moments. If his story has ever moved you, please take a moment to read, share, and, if you can, support. Every click, share, and donation makes a difference. Thank you for being part of this with us. 💛

Thank you, Mellisa for writing such a beautiful article!

📖 Read & support: https://www.dailybreeze.com/2025/03/06/for-a-good-cause-after-9-year-old-son-dies-redondo-beach-mom-turns-to-community-for-help/

In July, Maile Navarro’s 9-year-old son died. Now, the Redondo Beach resident and her young daughter are facing eviction.

03/05/2025

Hey, my fellow floaters! Welcome back to The Afterwords, the podcast where we tackle the intricate dance of life, loss, and the wild things that happen in between. I'm Maile Navarro, your host and today, I’m joined by my super insightful nine-year-old daughter, Zuma. We’re here to remind you that messy, ungraceful growth is just part of finding your flow in this cosmic journey. Personal growth often looks like stumbling face-first into enlightenment.

Today’s episode is a special one as Zuma makes her podcast debut to help us explore the awkward intersection of grief and empathy. You know—the times when people try to say the right thing and ultimately fail miserably. We’ll share some cringeworthy "comforting" things said to us after losing Kingston, as well as the science behind why our brains turn into awkward mess-machines when faced with our own discomfort in the face of someone else's pain.

You’ll hear all about our misadventures and giggle through the absurdity of grief brain, and how it makes forgetting things not only common but laughably relatable. Plus, we’re breaking down some empathy basics and offering tips on what to say (and what not to say) to someone who’s grieving.

Stick around for the rollercoaster ride that is grief, and how we manage to find light, laughter, and the importance of connection during our toughest times. From the quirky significance of wombat p**p to the infamous five stages of grief, we’re covering it all. Thank you for joining us on this heartfelt—and sometimes hilariously awkward—journey.

03/05/2025

Hey, hey, my fellow floaters! Welcome to another episode of The Afterwords, the place where we embrace life, loss, and all the chaos in between. Today, I'm thrilled (and maybe just a little terrified) to introduce a special co-host—my spirited 9-year-old daughter, Zuma. Together, we're diving headfirst into the wildly awkward world of empathy 'failures' that seem to pop up whenever grief shadows our lives.

You know, no one's got grief all figured out, and people say the darndest things when trying to help. Ever heard "he's in a better place"? Yeah, we're unpacking that gem and many others like it. Zuma and I will give you the lowdown on why well-meaning folks might blurt out the most unhelpful stuff and how our brains react when the tides of sorrow hit.

Get ready for some straight-up honesty with a hearty side of laughter as we navigate through our insight on what real empathy could look like. Trust me, we'll share a cringe moment or two from our own lives that you'll probably relate to. At the end of the day, if you're drowning in the sea of grief, know that you’re not alone and empathy isn't about fixing things; it's about simply being there through it all.

So, jump in with us. We promise it's not all tears—expect some science, a sprinkle of humor, and the loose understanding that sometimes all we need is a safe space to share our messy journeys. Thank you for sticking around, for listening, and for allowing us to share our slice of life. Until next time, stay weird, stay kind, and remember, you're doing better than you think!

03/02/2025

Listen Now on Spotify.

03/01/2025

In this eye-opening episode of 'The Afterwords,' host Maile Navarro is joined by her insightful 9-year-old daughter, Zuma, as they delve into the clumsy and sometimes cringeworthy attempts at empathy people offer during times of grief. Together, they share personal stories mingled with humor about h...