Widow 180 The Podcast with Jen Zwinck

This week's special guest is author, speaker, widow, mom, Susan Hannifin-MacNab. Susan lost her husband Brent in a car accident ten years ago. In today's episode she and I talk about: ~How Camp Widow was a game-changer for her in terms of healing! ~ How she started the San Diego chapter of Soaring Spirits International. ~ How she researched tools and techniques to help both her and her s...

Here's the link to the FREE "Where Can I Meet A Guy?" Workshop For Widows... http://widow180.ck.page/meetaguy Workshop date: August 1, 2022 In today's episode, we're talking about a common thought that might stop you from dating again! But, you don't have to let it! Let me know your thoughts on this! What's your biggest take-away from this episode? I would love t...

This week we featured guest Clarissa Moll, widow, author, speaker, podcaster, and mama of 4 kiddos! Clarissa became a widow in July 2019, when her husband Rob died while hiking in Mt. Rainier Park, leaving her and her young children behind.  While homeschooling Clarissa began to pour herself into writing in an effort to process her grief. Her new book, Beyond The Darkness: A Gentle Guide For Livin...

Trouble sleeping? I'm not surprised if you said "YES!" This is the most common, HORRIBLE side effect of grief that most widows suffer with.  But there are some sleeping hacks that might work for you! Give these a try and let me know if they work! Try the Apps: White Noise and Noise Machine Join our Widow Connection Community at www.widow180.com/membership to meet weekly via Zoom for...

This is one of the simplest ways to help heal a grieving heart. Maybe you've tried it, maybe not. But this powerful, healthy coping mechanism is what got me through the first months, if not years after losing my husband. Give it a try! Would you like to join our membership community of widows who get together every single week for group coaching, guest speakers, peer support, help and advice?...

Nora Plesent, author of the book Be Still And Soar, was a guest speaker for our membership community, the Widow Connection Community several weeks ago. This was such an eye-opening conversation that I wanted to share it with you all today on the podcast! Nora is a meditation and wellness coach who has made it her life purpose to help women with stress and overwhelm. She was the PERFECT person to t...

It was such a treat talking to our guest this week, Bevin Farrand, creator of the Take The DAMN Trip movement! Bevin's husband Mark passed away unexpectedly two weeks after they took an epic trip to France.  Bevin and I chat about: ~ helping a grieving friend and asking for help when you need it. ~ how she created the DAMN framework as a way to live and find purpose. ~ how she decided to move...

On Today's episode we're talking about 2 simple but powerful strategies that will make widows feel more confident!   These are 2 lessons from my BRAND NEW course, How To Rebuild Confidence After Loss: Guide For Widows! I know what it's like to doubt your every move and every choice. I know how it feels to get so frustrated with yourself for not being able to make decisions.  I want...

Rachel Pope joins us this week on the podcast. She is the founder of the online community Gifts From Grief and author of the book, Gifts From Grief. She joins us today to share her positive attitude, her insights on grief, some pearls of wisdom, and some practical strategies on how we can cope with grief! Rachel and I chat about: ~ her experience with grief throughout her life, first losing her da...

This week's episode is talking all about ESCAPISM and how this word can have a negative connotation. However, escapism can also be a way to turn to healthy coping strategies, like reading, dancing, or travel. In this episode, we hear from several widows how they've used travel as a main tool in their toolbox of healing through grief! I am proposing a SUMMER CHALLENGE to all of you listen...

This episode was inspired by our awesome, hilarious membership community that cracks me up! I just love each and every person in this group! In our meeting last week, a discussion was started about how exhausting grief is and then the conversation snowballed because we are all feeling the effects of grief and we want to know that this is normal!  And I am here to say, you are are definitely not al...

Jessica's husband Jay had an aneurysm while driving home from work on May 1, 2020. He passed away the next day. Jess had just given birth to their son Tommy 6 weeks before. In today's interview, Jess and I chat about: ~ funeral plans in the height of COVID ~ navigating grief and having an infant at the same time! ~ Being in the moment and being grateful for what you do have. ~ The strugg...

This was an incredible interview with special guest Maya Tyler, author, speaker, and life coach. Maya lost her husband Jason very unexpectedly. She shares her story of how she was able to rebuild her life and find purpose again.   We chat about: ~ how our faith is tested after loss ~ advocating for your kids to get them the help they need through the school system ~ How to fight and manage debilit...

Jen's husband Bob passed away after a 2 year battle with cancer. Bob was a hospice doctor, so the subject of death and dying were not uncommon between them. In today's episode, Jen shares the lessons she learned from Bob and tells us how her journey as a caregiver and now a widow, led her to create the award-winning book, The Hospice Doctor's Widow: A Journal. In this episode Jen an...

The Finding Purpose And Meaning After Loss: Program For Widows just wrapped up, but it's coming again soon! Here are some examples of the big, beautiful, audacious goals and dreams that came out of this group! Are you feeling stuck? Don't know which direction to go? Get this GIANT extensive list of 275 Interests, Hobbies, And Ways To Make An Impact In This World! Let this list spark some...

Treva Runyan lost her husband Jeff in a car accident 5 years ago. Her world was turned upside down and suddenly she was raising their 3 children on her own. In this interview Treva and I chat about: ~ the biggest struggles for grieving mamas ~ learning to let go of control over things we can't control! ~ allowing others to help us ~ accepting loss and recognizing that there is a plan and a pu...

What exactly is a " grief hangover" ? It is real. And unfortunately, no amount of Advil will help this particular type of hangover. With another holiday approaching, I thought it would be appropriate to address the "grief hangover" phenomenon that happens when we crash after anniversary dates or holidays. This episode also serves as a reminder to do what you need to do, be awar...

Is anxiety really good for us? YES! Lemme explain. In this episode, we discuss the "optimal anxiety pathway" where we first feel the overwhelming anxiety of grief, followed by a leveling off into an anxiety-neutral state for a while, and finally transitioning into an optimal anxiety condition.  This episode defines what a comfort zone is and why we need to get out of it! Check out Jay Sh...

This is Part 2 of my interview with Marni Henderson of Sunrise Retreats. We are continuing our open and honest conversation of life after losing her husband Tyler to glioblastoma. We chat about: ~ 3 crucial things we need in order to heal ~ her calling in her heart to start doing retreats for widows ~ finding love again and how it IS POSSIBLE to love two people at the same time! ~ ALMOST becoming...

This is Part 1 of my interview with Marni Henderson of Sunrise Retreats. Marni lost her husband Tyler to glioblastoma several years ago. She felt a calling to support other widows through running retreats. In Part 1 of the interview, we talk about: ~ Tyler's diagnosis ~ An unforgettable, bittersweet Make-A-Wish Day for the family ~ Having a "no filter" phase of widowhood! ~ Everyone...

When we go through the experience of losing a spouse, we're forced to re-think so many aspects of life.  We're left asking ourselves "Well, what now?" This is where we need to take the time to reflect, to process, to re-identify with who we are and what we ant to do with our lives. If you want help and support in finding your passion and purpose again, I encourage you to sign u...

Carmen Ordonez is our guest this week on the podcast! She lost her husband Fernando in October 2015 after a battle with cancer. She was left to raise their young son, Andy on her own.  In our interview Carmen and I chat about: ~ Faith keeping her going as a caregiver ~ Balancing grieving and parenting...when is a good time to cry?! ~ Having hope that everything will be okay in the end and surrende...

After suffering loss, you may find there is a clear distinction between the "before" and "after" versions of YOU! You have changed. Grief has changed you. That's the discussion this week on the podcast. There are 2 excerpts highlighted in today's episode: One from Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and one from Cara Hope Clark, author of the book Widow's Moon. Have you joined...

Am I going crazy?? Do I have some kind of impairment?? What is wrong with me?? NO, you're not crazy. I promise. You're grieving. This is normal. Last week I was talking to our group members in the Widow Connection Community about their struggle of the week and their happiest moment of the week. Here are a couple of the answers I got.  It was an interesting insight into human emotion! If...

On April 19, 2012 Hope's life was changed forever when she came home to find that her husband Claude had taken his own life.  In today's interview, she walks us through her life with her husband leading up to his passing and then how her life has been evolving since then.  She talks about: ~ watching her husband decline emotionally and physically ~ feeling helpless ~ feeling relief after...