Widowhood Real Talk with Dr. Tina

Grief doesn’t follow rules, timelines, or tidy emotional stages, and Kim Murray knows that deeply. A young widow at forty-four with two children, Kim learned firsthand how confusing, exhausting, and disorienting life becomes when the world keeps moving but yours stops. She opens up about the early days of widowhood, parenting through grief, the pressure to keep traditions alive, the weight of othe...

The emotional turmoil of loss requires more than just time; it demands the intentional "work" of navigating grief. Certified grief educator and certified life coach Brian D. Smith , host of the Grief 2 Growth podcast, joins the conversation to share how he transformed his own pain after the sudden loss of his daughter, Shayna, into a calling to help others. Brian details his practical GEMS method—...

Grief is quite challenging to deal with all year round, but it can be specifically tougher during the holiday season. Keynote speaker Marie Alessi talks about her mission to bring lightness into grief, not to make it completely go away, but instead make it much easier to handle. Reflecting on the sudden passing of her husband, she stresses the importance of embracing joy despite the sadness – rega...

For a grieving person, the holiday season can be a painful reminder of loss while the whole world celebrates. Linda Findlay shares how she helps people in their own bereavement world to get through the holidays without sacrificing their peace of mind. She explains the importance of proactive communication with your loved ones about grief and the simple yet profound comfort of creating new traditio...

Losing a spouse is devastating, but for widowers, the journey through grief often feels isolated and uncharted. Are you a widower searching for a roadmap? Wondering how to navigate the overwhelming emotional and practical challenges, especially during the holidays? In this exclusive conversation, we sit down with Herb Knoll, a widower, author, and founder of the Widowers Support Network , who spen...

Grief changes everything, but storytelling can help us find our way back to ourselves. Dr. Tina Fornwald opens her heart to share the journey behind The Five Widows Club , her upcoming book that explores love, loss, and the raw reality of grief. Drawing from her own story of widowhood and the collective experiences of five women—Monique, Carmen, Ava, Trish, and Joyce—Tina reveals how storytelling...

Learning to share your story after loss can feel daunting—but it’s also one of the most powerful ways to heal. Writing coach Romana Hasenöhrl joins Tina Fornwald to explore how creative expression helps us navigate grief, remember our loved ones, and rediscover joy. Through her own experience of losing her grandmother, Romana found comfort in writing, eventually transforming her pain into purpose...

After the passing of their partners, widows are left alone to deal with grief. But despite the sadness and loneliness, they should not be deprived of enjoying a good sex life. I chat with sex coach Lexus Powell to find out how widows can enjoy pleasure and intimacy unapologetically – even while navigating grief. Inspired by her own experiences as a divorced person, Lexus explains the benefits of d...

Dealing with your loved one’s last moments is not easy, but you have to make it count not just for your own peace, but also for the person lying on their deathbed. We hear the experiences and insights of Gabrielle Jimenez , a palliative care nurse who also works as a death doula. She discusses why communication, listening, and validation are essential to help people get through the end-of-life mom...

Dealing with grief during the joyful ambiance of the holidays is one of the hardest and overwhelming feelings to handle. Helping you get through this season is Addie Green , a sensual movement teacher, who presents the benefits of grief-informed breathwork. She breaks down practical and conscious ways to tap into yourself and focus on your own breath, hopes, and dreams as you go through your journ...

What does a man do when he feels like he wants to quit after his wife and his newborn child die? How do you begin the monumental task of finding purpose when the world doesn't give you the opportunity to cry and grieve? This is the journey of James D. Price, a widower who transformed his deepest pain into a calling to help others. He shares his raw, transparent story of isolation, faith, and ultim...

Every year, Tina Fornwald welcomes back Joi Brooks for an honest and heartfelt check-in on life after loss. In this year’s conversation, Joi shares candid reflections on moving forward after years of caregiving, navigating the complexities of travel and social life without her late husband, and redefining what happiness looks like at this stage of her journey. Together, Tina and Joi discuss guilt,...

Grief touches every life, but in the midst of loss there are often unexpected glimmers of hope–rivers in the desert. In this heartfelt conversation, author Katherine E. ST. joins Tina Fornwald to share the journey behind her book Rivers in the Desert: Glimmers of Hope in Impossible Times . Together, they explore the many faces of grief — from the loss of loved ones to broken relationships, health...

Grief support isn’t just a conversation—it’s a lifeline. In this heartfelt episode, Tina Fornwald steps out from behind the mic to reveal how Widowhood Real Talk with Tina has grown into a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering concrete ways to help widows, widowers, and families heal. She shares exciting details about the upcoming “Hope Grows Here” 1960s-themed event in Norfolk, Virginia; explai...

What do you do when you lose your husband to suicide? How do you live with it every single day, and how do you talk about it with other people? I sit down with Erin Carlson , who shares how she became a widow at 36 and was left with three children after her husband committed suicide. Now in her eighth year of widowhood just like me, she explains how she breaks the stigma around suicide and why con...

Losing a loved one is truly heartbreaking. How harder would it be if you had to deal with the death of several family members? Alicia Voss is here to share how she handled the passing of her mother and her spouse after they got divorced. She reflects on the importance of forgiving even when unasked for, the importance of self-grace in navigating the complexities of loss, and how her personal relat...

A lot of things have to be addressed and dealt with after a loved one’s passing, especially on the financial side. How can you handle life after death in the smoothest way possible? I sit down with Pam Baker , who talks about her book “ Where’s the Key to the Safe? ” She discusses how she handled the finances of her late husband while dealing with the grief of losing her most beloved person in the...

Grief, trauma, and self-worth collide in this raw and empowering conversation on healing through grief. Yvette Lloyd —podcaster, businesswoman, and survivor—opens up about the compounding losses that shaped her, from the death of her husband and mother to the betrayal of friends and the weight of domestic violence. She shares not only what broke her, but how she rebuilt herself with faith, resilie...

What do you say to your children when their father dies by suicide? How do you get through the days when even taking a shower feels impossible? In this powerful episode, our guest Donna Kendrick opens up about what it really means to navigate widowhood—from surviving the early months of unbearable grief to finding meaning, community, and even love again twelve years later. She shares the raw truth...

Widowhood is often associated with brokenness, depression, and isolation. But amidst the loneliness after losing a loved one, there is one thing that will never go away: God’s presence. I sit down with Florine Hurdle , author of two amazing books about widowhood, who shares how her faith carried her through the lowest point of her grieving journey. She talks about her own widowhood community, wher...

Aside from dealing with grief after losing the love of your life, there is also the burden of sorting out your possessions, primarily your home. Jose Reyes Jr. , a realtor with REMAX and a widower, is here to discuss how to handle a home sale and purchase after your spouse dies. He explores practical advice on handling these real estate deals, which is sometimes made more complicated because of th...

Losing a spouse is a life-altering event that can throw everything, especially finances, into disarray. In this episode, Tina Fornwald welcomes Philip Weiss , founder of Apprise Wealth Management and seasoned financial expert with over 25 years of experience, to unpack the complexities of navigating finances after widowhood. Phil, holding prestigious credentials like CFA, CPA, and RLP, delves into...

Experiencing the profound journey of living with grief, especially after the loss of a spouse, can feel incredibly isolating and overwhelming. In this episode, Tina Fornwald welcomes Carol Banens , author of Kintsugi Your Heart and certified grief educator, to share her personal experience and expert insights. Carol unravels common myths surrounding grief, discusses the physical and emotional impa...

In a world where loss leaves echoes, how do we navigate the labyrinth of memory? Join us as Shundra Chamberliss bravely confronts the hidden corners of grief, where the past intertwines with the present in unexpected ways. Discover how life's diverse experiences shape our sorrow and what happens when grief is complicated by more than just the absence of a loved one. Get ready for a candid conversa...

Have you ever felt like your world has been reduced to rubble? Like the very foundation beneath you has crumbled, leaving you lost and wondering if there's anything left to build upon? Our guest today, Rachel Powell , knows that feeling intimately. After the profound loss of her husband, she found herself navigating the bewildering landscape of life after widowhood. But what she discovered in the...