Widow 180 The Podcast with Jen Zwinck

Today's episode is a widow pep talk for you. Sometimes we just need to hear that everything is going to be okay.  Today I am offering some words of encouragement to help you get through this day and this Father's Day weekend, a time when we can really feel the ache of the loss. I see you and I hear you. I see how hard you're trying. And the quiet courage it takes to just exist in a...

Welcome to the 60 Days of Summer Healing Quest for Widows and Widowers!  This is the first week of June which means that we are a few days into the 60 days of Summer Healing Quest For Widows and Widowers over on YouTube at Widow 180:The Channel.  I hope you’ve gone over to check out those videos.  If not, what in the world are you waiting for? It’s not too late to join.   For today’s episode I act...

Do you think it's impossible to find love again after losing your spouse? You will want to hear Becca's story this week! Becca’s journey through sudden widowhood, parenting three children (each with unique stories of their own), rebuilding her life, and eventually finding love again is both humbling and inspiring. She speaks candidly about the reality of life after loss: solo parenting,...

Can we truly recover after devastating loss? Guest Julie New says, "YES!"  Julie New, grief and sudden loss recovery coach, joins us today on the podcast. This Episode’s Highlights: 🌷 Julie’s Story – From the pain of grief of losing both her daughters’ father and subsequently her husband, Julie shares how her own path fuels her compassion for others. 🌱 “Watering You” – Julie’s signatur...

Grief specialist Ashley Olivia Nelson joins us on Widow 180: The Podcast. Ashley shared her deeply personal journey as a two-time widow before 35, and her transition into helping others navigate grief. There were so many powerful insights, but here are the top 3 takeaways: 🔹 Your identity is ever-evolving. Ashley reminds us that after a significant loss, our sense of self changes—not just once, b...

Are you stuck in a FRUMP-WIDOW funk?  Try this confidence life hack to break out of a rut and regain some of that confidence you may have lost since becoming a widow. You will get an instant boost in your spirit, you will perk up, you will stand taller and prouder, you will carry yourself in a different, better way! Listen to the episode to find out how! And if you're looking for more tips an...

What if you wanted to make up your own rules for grieving and do what feels right for you? That's EXACTLY what Diane Easley decided to do.  This is an incredibly honest and inspiring conversation with Diane Easley, who graciously shared her journey through widowhood after suddenly losing her husband, Walter, in 2017.  I know you will enjoy it and all of the wisdom she shares! What “Doing Grie...

What exactly is a "grief hangover"? It is real. And no amount of Advil can help this particular type of hangover. With this Easter holiday just passing, I wanted to address the "grief hangover" phenomenon that happens when we crash after those big milestone days or holidays. We spend so much energy to get through the actual day. We feel even more exhausted on the days following...

Do you feel like you were widowed too soon?  I think all of us can agree that there is never enough time.  This week's podcast guest, Michelle Bader Ebersole, talks with me about being widowed too soon and how her experience through widowhood inspired her to start helping other widows and widowers around the world.   Michelle is a passionate widow advocate, author, and podcaster. Michelle and...

What if I start to forget them? What if I forget their laugh, their smell, the quirky things they used to say and do? This is one of the biggest fears we have as widows. We put so much pressure on ourselves to be the sole record-keeper of our loved one and the life we shared together. It's impossible to remember every detail, and for that, we tend to be hard on ourselves and even feel guilt. ...

What would you do if you were told your spouse only had 12 months to live?  Join us this week for an enlightening conversation with Myra McElhaney on Widow 180: The Podcast where she shares her incredible journey of healing and inspiring others after the loss of her husband, Phil to glioblastoma. Here are some key takeaways from our discussion: Finding Joy After Loss: Myra emphasizes that enjoying...

I am so excited to bring you another inspiring new episode of Widow 180: The Podcast featuring the remarkable Kristin Divers Markey, AKA the "Runaway Widow." In this week's episode, Kristin shares her deeply personal journey of navigating life after the sudden tragic loss of her husband, Mike, in 2015.  👣 Episode Highlights from my chat with Kristin: Coping with Tragedy : Kristin r...

Do you ever feel like you're not "grieving right?" Do you sometimes feel like you take one step forward and two steps back when it comes to grieving?  Grief is tricky. Grief is a complex beast.  I've always found that metaphors are helpful when trying to understand something. So, on today's podcast episode I would like to share a particularly helpful metaphor about the hum...

Is it possible to have a full, robust, vibrant life after losing your spouse? YES! Just ask our guest this week on the podcast, Gini Swancy , who lost her husband Mark in 2019.  Gini has found her way through the depths of grief and managed to move forward into a new and exciting phase of life. She shares how on today's inspiring episode. Gini and I talk about: ~ PTSD associated with widowhoo...

"Make new friends, but keep the old" is a saying that means it's important to continue nurturing, or even rekindling, existing friendships while also seeking out new connections in life. This is especially important advice for widows, as we find ourselves alone again after years of being with our partner. Our friendships and relationships can change. So the value of older friendship...

Are you feeling stuck in grief? Wondering how you'll be able to move forward after losing your spouse? Our guest on the podcast this week is Lauri Robinson , who lost her husband Pat in December of 2022. Lauri struggled with the loss, but in the throes of widowhood, discovered that a change in perspective and attitude kept her motivated to keep going.  Lauri and I talk about: ~How she chose t...

Are you dreading Valentine's Day? Do you just want to get this day over with?  While Valentine's Day may be a romantic celebration for couples, this can be an extremely tough time to be alone for widows. So, what can we do about it? The best thing is to plan for it. The best thing is to feel more empowered on this day. With the right planning and mindset, you will have a better time copi...

After losing her husband to Glioblastoma, Pam Baker knew her life would never be the same. She struggled to find joy in her life again. Today on the podcast Pam shares how she followed her heart (and some very interesting signs from the universe!) to a new direction, filled with purpose and meaning. She talks about: ~ Establishing a "caregiver team" ~ Lessons from her grief counselor ~ A...

Are you ready for an adventure? Yesterday was National Plan For A Vacation Day and today on the podcast we are talking all about the power of Positive Anticipation, which is the act of looking forward to a future event or experience that is expected to bring joy and excitement. Having things to look forward to, big or small, is a major coping strategy that helps us recover from stress and anxiety....

How can you find the motivation and confidence to move forward after losing your spouse? Jennifer Sander joins us on the podcast this week to talk about her experience in widowhood, what she leaned on during tough times, and how she was able to cope with the loss of her husband Shannon. We chat about: ~ the signs she got from Shannon after he passed away (and a premonition he had before!) ~ how to...

Welcome back to the first episode of 2025!  On today’s episode we are talking about how to thrive in 2025!  One thing to do is to leave behind the thoughts and things that don’t serve you , that don’t help you, the thoughts that hold you back. In order to move forward with confidence in 2025, we can leave behind self-doubt. We can leave behind the negative thoughts that tell us that we’re not capa...

How can a simple quote or a short poem make such a difference to a person?   Here’s the thing—grief can be isolating. It can make you feel like no one else understands what you’re going through. But when you come across a line of poetry or a heartfelt quote that captures exactly what you’re feeling, it’s like a light bulb goes off. You realize: I’m not alone in this. Someone else has been where I...

I want to offer something up to you this month.  I want to challenge you to be daring and do something different in December!  This time of year can be especially trying and challenging for widows as we navigate the holidays and the ups and downs of balancing tradition with moving forward after losing our spouse. So, why not change things up a little this month!  Change the focus. Get out of your...

The holidays are almost here! Have you made any plans? Do you have an idea of what you want to do? Who do you want to see? Many of you are facing the holidays alone for the first time in a long time. And while this should be a season of joy, for many widows it's a time we would just like to skip over or ignore! In today's repeat episode from #148, we are talking about the 3 P's to r...

This is an episode that I recorded in November 2022 the week before Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a time when we are focused on family and gratitude. BUT.. . As you know, it's pretty difficult to find things to be grateful for when you are buried in grief and suffering the loss of someone special in your life. Grief causes a serious gratitude slump ! Here's a way to uplevel your gratitud...