Widowhood Real Talk with Dr. Tina

Through therapy and self-care, we can transform the pain of grief into the power to heal, rediscover joy, and embrace life again. In this compelling episode, Brad Taylor discusses the effective tools for managing grief. Drawing from his extensive experience in therapy, he sheds light on the challenges faced by individuals dealing with profound sadness and grief. In this compassionate exchange, Bra...

Dating can be a beautiful beginning from a past relationship. But how do you move forward when you are dating a widow? How do you navigate through their past and help them start anew? In this episode, we dive into the poignant world of dating widows with two guests, Fred Jackson and Lionel Grimes. They open up about their journeys of love and companionship with widows, navigating through its joys...

Through the depths of loss, the journey of two widows unveils the resilience of the human heart – embracing new love while treasuring cherished memories. Life's surprises bring solace, and in companionship, we find the courage to keep showing up, keep loving, and keep living. In today’s episode, we're diving into a topic that's both tender and transformative – dating and marriage after the loss of...

In the depths of grief, resilience emerges as a guiding light, showing us the extraordinary strength we possess to navigate the darkest of times and transform our pain into a catalyst for healing. Join us on this episode as we dive into the courageous and resilient grief journey of Heather Heying Hunt . She is a young widow who shares her raw and authentic experiences of navigating loss, rebuildin...

Grief pushes us to hit our lowest points. We tend to keep to ourselves, refuse to open to other people, and ultimately, get angry at God. However, those in the middle of their grief fail to see that in their most sorrowful moments, God does not abandon them. He guides them back to their feet.   In this episode, I speak with Rev. Dr. Moses Asamoah, Jr. of the Living Destiny Church. He shares h...

In a world where silence breeds suffering, let us remember that seeking help is an act of courage. We must transcend cultural taboos and empower ourselves to embrace vulnerability on our journey to mental wellness. Today, we have the privilege of hosting a remarkable guest, Resident in Counseloling Reginald W. Lockhart , affectionately known as Reggie, who shares the value of grief counseling. In...

Grief does not follow a timeline and can last throughout a person’s entire life. When grief becomes unresolved in the long term, it can later affect your mental health. In this episode, Dr. Pamela D. Blair , the Author of The Long Grief Journey , talks about her own long grief journey and how she found healing from it. The key: a support group. After losing her ex-husband, she shares how she found...

In the realm of widowhood, men silently navigate the labyrinth of grief, their strength often veiled by societal expectations. Empower their stories of loss and resilience to reveal healing transcends gender and anyone can rise from the ashes. In today’s riveting conversation, we have a special guest joining us, Mr. Martin Owens. We stumbled upon Martin’s poignant story on TikTok and knew immediat...

Lori Prashker-Thomas , the author of From Mistakes to Miracles , shares her story of redemption, hope, and healing. Her story is deeply personal and explores her experiences as a pregnant and alone woman who considered abortion but ultimately chose a different path as a Jewish birth mother. Lori's journey, as outlined in the memoir, showcases her inner struggles and the difficult decisions she fac...

True leadership is not measured solely by accomplishments, but by the compassion and support we extend to our grieving employees during their darkest hours. In this powerful episode, we are joined by the dynamic and experienced Dr. William Ramey . Grief is a universal experience that knows no boundaries, infiltrating every aspect of our lives. Recognizing its profound impact in the workplace, Dr....

We deal with grief differently, and many do not allow themselves to live. Most people choose to run away from reality. We don't have to live like that. In this episode, a widow, Isobelle Morrison, shares her inspiring tale that demonstrates how the beauty in grieving shows up if you are giving yourself permission to see it. It was her husband who taught her to deal with grief. Isobelle's relations...

When you lose your spouse, you start again from scratch. How can we get back up again financially after the loss? In this episode, Kelly B. Hunter of Winning Financial Solutions shares some critical financial advice and guidance for widows and widowers. We need to get our bearings after losing our partner. As homeowners, we can get bearings through Mortgage Protection Insurance because there are o...

How would you face a tragic tale? A story where Snow White finally sleeps and never wakes up. This is a tale where God plucks a beautiful flower and turns her into a star. Addison Drake, a young widower, recounts a heart-wrenching story from the day they meet until God snuffed out his wife’s breath and turned her into his starlight. TikTok became his outlet after the loss because he found none. Wh...

The brutal terrain of trauma and loss from suicide can be the challenging path to take. In this episode, Suzanne Anderson , the Author of You Make Your Path by Walking , walks us through her journey to restoring her life from trauma and loss because of suicide. She also explores the different capacities of resilience and how to embody them. She draws from her experience of losing her husband to su...

It can be challenging to be honest about our grief, sometimes. But once you let go of the fear that holds you back from really confronting what grief looks like, it can make the journey much more bearable. Teressa Green-Clark is someone who is not afraid of being honest about her grief. And instead of getting stuck there, she is surviving it day by day. In this episode, she joins Tina Fornwald to...

When you lose a loved one, being able to live for them and for yourself is the best gift you can give to the departed. Mr. Atul Patel, a Heartfulness trainer, joins us on the show today to show us how we can use the practice of Heartfulness learn the landscape of our inner body and use it as a way of honoring our departed loved ones. Mr. Patel gives us an introduction to Heartfulness and shows us...

When you meet the right person, you begin to look forward to a lifetime with them. Unfortunately, life has its way of reminding us of our impermanence by taking the person we love the most. No one can prepare you for that loss. Here to open up about his life after the passing of his wife is Carey Christian. In this candid conversation with Tina Fornwald, he tells us about his life, his beautiful w...

When my late husband passed, I met Alma Davis in CA to attend a widow conference, which was extremely helpful for me in learning to be a widow. In this episode, Alma shares her journey of being a widow for 21 years. Alma shares about her life, how she met her husband, Tony, his death, and the life she developed her new life after widowhood. You are going to enjoy her transparency, her ability to c...

There are many things you can do after losing a spouse. One of these can be relocation. In this episode, Monika Dunn provides insights into the rewards and challenges of relocating after the death of a spouse. The discussion with Monika Dunn wraps up with sharing Tina's journey from her perspective and those of family/friends. Moving to Virginia, Tina stayed with Monika on her last night in PA. Ma...

This is a discussion with my friend A lison Tariq . On March 11, 2018, we celebrated the first anniversary of Mark's death in her home. After moving to VA, I became closed off, and Alison came to my home to comfort this behavior. Alison told me she didn't care how ugly my grief was when she was staying with me through the entire process. She took me to dinner and we just talked. Her actions made m...

Losing your partner siphons everything from you. During such a low point in your life, never forget that you can always turn to your faith and friends to get through with grief. In this discussion, Chris Wissmann talks about drawing strength from God and the people around you when you are grieving. She provides a candid insight into our friendship, the people Chris has lost in her life, and how he...

The power of friendship is truly mind-boggling. It serves as crutches when you can’t walk. It is your most reliable support system during desperate times. In this episode, Geraldine Newson shares the value of having friends you can rely on when you are grieving the loss of a loved one. She explains the importance of keeping people you can trust by your side during the long process of grieving. Ger...

Jennifer Pilant and Tina Fornwal have been close friends since 2009, and their bond has only grown stronger over the years. In this episode, Jennifer, who is the Supervisor of IT Specialists, showcases the power of friendship through widowhood by demonstrating her unwavering support for Tina after the loss of her husband Mark. Alongside her partner Paul, Jennifer dropped everything to be there for...

For today’s episode, Tina Fornwald sits down with her dear friend, Elizabeth Randles . They were both in the military, worked at Tobyhanna Army Depot, deployed to Iraq, and are women of color in the workplace. Liz shares her experience with grief and how her life is in a stage of growth and new beginnings. Their discussion shows the extensive levels of support a friend will give in your time of ne...

In this episode, I am joined by my good friend Lisa Staples. We talk about the death of my husband Mark and the organic details of the day he passed away on March 11, 2017. Together, we delve into the beauty of a broken friendship being restored. Listen on as Lisa shares insights on how she felt being able to share and the healing she received from being a part of this inspiring discussion. Love t...