"You're So Strong" with Leslie Harter-Berg

Leslie Harter-Berg is a speaker, writer, owner of video production company Harter Creative, and founder of the nonprofit Vids for Wids, which creates grief content aimed at helping widows feel less alone. After the sudden death of her husband in 2019, she became a young widow, single mom and solo business owner with a newfound passion to learn and share more about grief and the mess of rebuilding. When she’s not chasing her children or on a TV commercial set, she’s connecting with other widows around the globe about life after loss.

Listen to ""You're So Strong" with Leslie Harter-Berg" on Spreaker.

Show Notes:

Key Topics:

Leslie’s background in screenwriting and how her creative skills shaped her grief journey
The story behind her new book You’re So Strong and its screenplay format as a tribute to Ryan
Honoring loved ones by embracing their flaws and imperfect humanity
The significance of memorials, videos, and personal stories in the grieving process
Navigating faith, hope, and the raw reality of grief amidst belief that God is present in suffering
Lesile’s experience of remarriage and blending families, and the importance of living intentionally
Her platform Vids for Wids and its mission to help widows feel less alone through storytelling
The creative ways Leslie keeps Ryan’s memory alive, including an annual celebration called “Ryan Day”
The launch of her book and upcoming celebration with casseroles, music, and community

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction and Leslie’s creative background
00:20 – The journey of writing You’re So Strong and its screenplay structure
02:11 – Remembering Ryan: his quirks, flaws, and their relationship
03:37 – How grief intertwines with faith and hope
07:50 – The importance of honesty in grief stories with humor and faith combined
10:22 – Navigating scripture and faith post-loss
13:27 – The “Goldfish Moment”: understanding God’s anger at death
16:24 – The significance of memorial videos for the boys’ remembrance
19:14 – Handling illness and grief simultaneously during Ryan’s memorial
23:03 – The tradition of “Ryan Day” and honoring his bucket list
24:54 – The beginnings of Harder Creative and its ongoing projects
28:18 – Launching Vids for Wids to support widows through storytelling
30:34 – Leslie’s personal story of finding love again with Saul
33:11 – Sharing their funny Pride and Prejudice-themed video
36:41 – Leslie’s thoughts on living fully amidst the uncertainty of life
38:43 – The excitement and emotions surrounding her book launch
41:12 – Recent features and the viral moment for Ryan’s story