About Me – Maile Navarro

Let’s get one thing straight—I never set out to be the poster child for resilience, grief, or spiritual awakenings. Yet, here I am, writing an “About” page that no one ever wants to have the material for. My name is Maile Navarro, and I’m the founder of The AfterWords.

If you had met me before July 2024, you would have found a mom fiercely devoted to her son Kingston—a boy whose laughter could melt the coldest hearts and whose strength put superheroes to shame. Kingston was my greatest teacher. He fought through pediatric cancer with wisdom, making me wonder if he came into this world already knowing the endgame. He wasn’t just any kid—he was the kind of soul that left fingerprints on everyone he met. Then, in a moment I wasn’t ready for, he left this world just before his 10th birthday.

Spiritual Awakening

And then something happened—I knew he wasn’t gone. I wasn’t just grasping for signs; I was getting them—repeating numbers, flickering lights, and the hilariously petty ways Kingston chooses to show up. My relationship with spirituality and God had always been loose—like a friend I hadn’t texted in a while. But after Kingston’s passing, there was no denying it: life doesn’t just end. We are energy, and that energy continues. The veil between this world and whatever comes next is thinner than we think.

I was a skeptic. I resented God and questioned everything—until I was finally slapped in the face with the fact that I had been witnessing miracles and God’s presence in my life all along while complaining about not hearing His voice. The truth was, I wasn’t listening.

Why I’m Sharing This

Why am I sharing all this? Because I know I’m not the only one navigating this grief-laced, soul-awakening ride. I know I’m not the only one searching for proof that our loved ones are still with us—that love doesn’t end just because a body does. Kingston taught me that we’re all intuitive. We just have to tap in.

The Mission Behind The AfterWords

The AfterWords is about opening our hearts and minds to the reality that love is power, and that power is electric. It’s about the signs, the stories, the gut punches and the gut laughs. It’s for the skeptics, the seekers, and everyone in between. I’m here to share my journey in honor of Kingston’s, because this was our soul contract. He knew I needed him to find my purpose. And now, I’m here to help others find theirs.

Live Like Kingston

I originally started Live Like Kingston as a nonprofit to help kids like Kingston get the financial assistance they need for essential therapies and medical equipment. You can learn more about Live Like Kingston and our mission here.

Follow Along

Contact

📧 Email: theafterwordspodcast@gmail.com

📍 Location: Redondo Beach, California

📞 Phone: 310-896-8311

I currently work as a paralegal while waiting for my writing and podcast to pay the bills, but The AfterWords is what I want my life’s work to be. Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, I moved to Redondo Beach, CA in February 2012 with nothing but what I could fit in the trunk of my Hyundai Elantra when I was pregnant. Jaden, my oldest, is now 24 and lives in Seattle, making waves as an R&B artist (@JdenRay on all platforms). His most recent album, For Two, is dedicated to Kingston.

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