Episodes
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Mother Theresa has a quote that says, "We can do no great things, only small things done with great love."
This week on the podcast we are talking about harnessing your ability to see the beauty in the small gestures.
You have the gift of sight. You can choose to see the good in the small miracles and acts of humanity, even as you world is crumbling under grief.
I encourage you to remember this.
You have the gift of sight.
Use it. Practice it. Embody it.Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927
Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/
Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ
For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com
Questions? Email me at [email protected] -
Welcome back to Part 2 of my interview with Tracy Quinn!
This week I talk to Tracy about:
~ Being resilient and learning what helps you recover from the trauma of loss.
~ How she found a new love in her life with James.
~ Things to consider when dating as a widow!
~ Moving and selling her home.
~ Keeping memories of her life with Carl.
~ Handling milestone days.
~ Giving yourself grace during the hardest time of your life.Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927
Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/
Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ
For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com
Questions? Email me at [email protected] -
Missing episodes?
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Welcome to this incredibly inspiring interview with the lovely Tracy Quinn! Tracy lost her husband Carl in 2020 to COVID. Today she is on the podcast sharing her experience with the world, offering golden nuggets of advice that you don't want to miss! Her strength and positivity are an inspiration to all of us. This is Part 1 of a 2 part interview.
Tracy and I chat about:
~ How losing her husband during COVID forced her into quarantine and a completely different grieving experience than normal.
~ How the power of community and friends can help us get through even the toughest times.
~ How she was able to honor Carl during the COVID quarantine
~ How she handled loneliness
~ Having dreams about our loved ones and what they mean
Be sure to come back next week for Part 2 of the interview!Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927
Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/
Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ
For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com
Questions? Email me at [email protected] -
Today's episode was inspired by a message I received via email from a listener who had recently lost her husband.
She had something that was weighing on her mind and keeping her up at night. She kept thinking...
"What if I get sick?"
And that thought spiraled into...
"Who will take care of me?"
"How will I manage?"
"How will I be able to keep up with my house if I get sick?"
These are all valid concerns and I know a lot of you listeners can relate to these questions!
Let's talk about it on today's episode!Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927
Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/
Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ
For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com
Questions? Email me at [email protected] -
Join me this week as we celebrate a HUGE milestone of reaching 200 podcast episodes on Widow 180: The Podcast!
I thought I would take this time to share my story with you since we have so many new listeners and members of the Widow 180 community.
This is an interview I did with Emily Thiroux Threatt on her podcast titled "Grief and Happiness" last year.
I share my own widow story, how becoming a widow changed my life, affected my attitude, and changed my perspective.
I share the lessons I've learned and the mistakes I've made on this journey.
I also share how the podcast came to be and how inspired I am by the widows I get to meet every single day!
I cannot thank you enough for all of your support!
200 episodes - what an incredible milestone!Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927
Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/
Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ
For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com
Questions? Email me at [email protected] -
We all know that grief and anxiety can go hand in hand.
After losing your spouse, it’s hard to stop the feeling of being out of your body and out of your mind. You’re massively anxious. Your mind races with uncertainty. Fear rushes through you. Your thoughts are running through every horrible scenario and possibility. You expect nothing but the worst of all circumstances to occur. Your breathing is shallow. You’re sweaty and uncomfortable. You’re in the middle of a panic attack.
When you find yourself about to have a panic attack or in the midst of a panic attack, there is something you can do to stop it. To calm yourself down, to control it and get a grip on the whirlwind that you’re lost in.
Try THIS helpful grounding practice the next time you feel a panic attack coming on.
Grab our FREEBIE, The How To Get Your Life Back Together After Loss: 10 Step Checklist HERE: widow180.ck.page/lifebackBe sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927
Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/
Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ
For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com
Questions? Email me at [email protected] -
Most bereaved people make their way along the grief road, albeit bumpy and full of potholes, that leads to accepting the loss, integrating the reality of that loss into a new life, and reimagining a future with the possibility of joy.
The acute grief, the intensely painful grief that you feel in those first months, starts to lessen. It transforms and becomes integrated into your new life, your new normal.Most people fall into this category.
However, a small minority of people, roughly 7-10% according to the National Institute of Health, become so entangled, essentially trapped in their grief.
And this is where complicated grief is different. Complicated grief is the syndrome that occurs when the transformation from the darkness of grief back into the light does not happen.
Complicated grief disrupts the healing process. Complicated grief is altered grief that starts down a different course than the one we just talked about. Basically, it takes a turn for the worse. You struggle to move forward. Your grief is so profound it becomes chronic and debilitating. It cripples your ability to function normally in the world. The suffering persists. It becomes deep-rooted. Sometimes lasting for years. Healing just doesn’t happen.
Today we discuss what it means to have complicated grief, who is likely to experience it, and how we can treat it.
Questions or comments? Email me at [email protected]Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927
Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/
Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ
For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com
Questions? Email me at [email protected] -
This is Part 2 of my interview with the lovely Leila Salisbury, who opened Kentucky's first center for grief support for families and children. Leila shares her expertise in the field of children's grief and tells us how to communicate more effectively about loss.
Today we talk about:
~ How kids use anger as an outlet for grief (we all do!)
~ How we can help kids process their anger using focused activities like mindfulness techniques, art therapy, etc. These work for adults as well!
~ Letting kids be kids! They should never feel a burden to take over a parenting role in the household.
~The challenge and struggle of balancing your own grief and your child's grieving needs. They don't always match up! And sometimes we need to compromise.
~ Always keep the lines of communication open with kids!
~ Check out all of the resources on Leila's website: www.kcgcf.orgBe sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927
Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/
Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ
For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com
Questions? Email me at [email protected] -
I am so pleased to welcome back Leila Salisbury to the podcast to talk about parenting your grieving child. This is Part 1 of 2 episodes with Leila.
Leila was first on the podcast in episode 174 where she talked about losing her husband to suicide, raising her daughter, and opening Kentucky's first and only family grief support center.
Be sure to check out that interview!
On today's podcast, Leila and I talk about:
~how to have hard conversations with grieving children.
~resources like the Eluna Network
~behavioral milestones of grieving children
~setting boundaries with kids
~teens and loss
~what is a 504 document? why you might want to get one!
I hope you enjoy this episode! Join us next time for Part 2 with Leila and more important advice on parenting grieving children.
Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927
Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/
Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ
For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com
Questions? Email me at [email protected] -
Megan Kopka joins us this week on the podcast! She lost her husband Keith to the devastating illness ALS. Megan is passionate about helping women, especially- caregivers and widows, find financial security and
freedom to live fulfilling lives supported through planning and investing.
In today's interview, we chat about:
~where she was able to find support after losing Keith
~her greatest fear as a widow
~finding healthy coping mechanisms
~finding the strength to show up every day and be a good role model for your kids!
~her involvement with Modern Widows Club
~her fierce dedication to helping widows and caregivers thrive!
Megan is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Registered Life Planner.
Megan co-founded the Cape Fear Community of the Modern Widows Club (MWC) in May 2020 and served as their community advocate until December 2023. She also served on the Golden Committee for the National Modern Widows Club,
a national non-profit organization that serves widows. Megan is now the Board Chair for MWC.
You can reach Modern Widows Club at https://www.modernwidowsclub.org
You can reach Megan at https://www.apprisewealthmanagement.comBe sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927
Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/
Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ
For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com
Questions? Email me at [email protected] -
Capt. David Dorn tragically lost his life in 2020, while responding to a break-in during a protest in St. Louis.
His widow, Ann Wood-Dorn, joins me today on the podcast to talk about Dave, how she has coped with his loss, and how she is living out his legacy of generosity and kindness.
Ann and I talk about:
~the riots in St. Louis and the events around her husband's death in 2020.
~how she handled debilitating anxiety.
~going through a trial process and how to handle stress
~an incredible connection she formed with her service dog, Poncho!
~buying a new house only months after Dave passed away.
~starting a foundation in March 2022
~how she is finding purpose by giving back and helping first responders
If you would like to make a donation, please click below:
https://www.dornfoundation.com/meet-the-foundation-2Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927
Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/
Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ
For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com
Questions? Email me at [email protected] -
We all experience guilt in some way after we lose our spouse.
We feel responsible for what happened.
We get trapped in this illusion of control, thinking that we could have or should have done something differently and they would still be here.
In this episode, you will hear how guilt shows up for widows, why we continue to blame ourselves, and how we can let go of guilt in grief.
As long as you feel the need to punish yourself, you cannot get on with the business of living a happy life.
Give yourself permission to move forward.
Please always be kind to yourself.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a kind rating and review for the podcast! It is always appreciated!Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927
Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/
Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ
For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com
Questions? Email me at [email protected] -
"I just always knew in my heart that I had to keep living." ~Emily Curtis
Emily Curtis, widow and grief coach, joins us this week on the podcast to talk about how she was able to tap into her own resilience to move through grief after losing her husband Brad suddenly.
We chat about:
~ anger being such a HUGE emotion around grief
~ how her friends really became her family during this time.
~ her strategy for handling loneliness!
~ how EMDR was a game-changer for her trauma!
~ how medication from her therapist helped her slow down and BE IN her grief to process it all!
~ how she met her new love, Lyon and is embracing and living into this new relationship!
~ how she became a certified grief coach and is helping other widows navigate their grief.
~ you can find her at Awaken and Renew Grief Coaching:
https://www.awakenrenewcoaching.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please lave a rating and review!
Thanks!Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927
Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/
Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ
For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com
Questions? Email me at [email protected] -
My guest this week on the podcast is MaryJo Newell. I've known MaryJo from really close to the beginning of her widowhood story. A few years later, I can see the changes in her, the growth, and her transformation of becoming who she is today. Join us in this conversation as she shares her insights, perspectives, and things she's learned about life and about herself.
We chat about:
~losing her husband in January 2020 and navigating loss, grief , and COVID isolation all at once
~how Facebook was her outlet and connection during COVID
~her decision to move despite people telling her what to do.
~dealing with guilt over feeling better!
~making the decision to give yourself permission to move forward in life
~how she learned to find new hobbies and new friends
~how she chose to travel solo and how it changed her world!
~her genius advice about going to concerts!
Mary Jo is such a light and such a joy!
If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Also, please leave a nice rating and review for the podcast so we can reach more widows around the world!
Thank you!
Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927
Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/
Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ
For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com
Questions? Email me at [email protected] -
Ryane Moates joins us this week for a candid interview about losing her husband and her journey through losing her confidence, losing her faith, and losing hope.
She shares what she did to welcome God back into heart, what she did to regain that confidence, and what she chose to bring purpose and meaning into her life through her YouTube channel, Ryane To The Rescue!
We talk about:
~ how she lost her husband John 7 weeks after a horrible biking accident.
~How she embraces the word "acceptance"
~when she decided to take off her ring
~ How she struggled with her faith
~How she was able to rebuild confidence
~How she decided to launch her YouTube channel
~How she write her new book, Field Guide For WidowsBe sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927
Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/
Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ
For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com
Questions? Email me at [email protected] -
This is Part 2 of my interview with Eva Still, widow, author, yoga therapist, and retreat leader.
In this episode, Eva walks us through some helpful breathing exercises to calm and regulate our nervous system when we feel anxious.
She also mentions several books that she recommends for grief and mindfulness. Here's a list:
Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief (David Kessler)Writing to Heal the Soul: Transforming Grief & Loss Through Writing (Susan Zimmerman)
Anxious Grief: A Clinician's Guide to Supporting Grieving Clients Experiencing Anxiety, Panic & Fear(Claire Bidwell Smith)
Anchored: How to Befriend Your Nervous System Using Polyvagal Theory (Deb Dana)
When Life Hits Hard: How to Transcend Grief, Crisis & Loss with Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (Russ Harris)
The Chakras in Grief & Trauma (Karla Helbert)
In Spanish... El Duelo Duele... y eso está bien (grief hurts... and that's ok) (Camilo Russi)
Breath techniques:Physiologica sigh - two sips in through the nose, filling the lungs, long slow exhale through the mouth
Lengthen the exhale - inhale for four, exhale for five, six or seven
Box breathing - inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 4, inhale 4... etc.
Grounding/self-soothing
Butterfly hug - bilateral stimulation, hands crossed on the chest or to the opposite shoulder, gently tapping while breathing deeply
Orienting - look around your space and name three things you see
5 senses orienting - name something you can see, hear, smell, feel touch
You can reach Eva at:
Instagram @evastillyoga
Website: https://www.evastill.comBe sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927
Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/
Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ
For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com
Questions? Email me at [email protected] -
Today's podcast guest, Eva Still, has an incredible story to share! Her life has taken her down so many different, unexpected paths and I can't wait for you to hear all about her adventures!
This interview is broken up into 2 parts, so you will hear the first half today, where Eva talks about:
~visits from her late husband and the conversations they had!
~Her take on how the universe is always guiding you in the right direction.
~ how she turned to yoga as a "safe place" to grieve
~ how she spent over a month in Bali getting her yoga training.
~how she quit her job and spent 7months backpacking in South America before settling in Colombia!
I hope you find her story inspiring! I know I did! I hope this motivates you to go out and have your own adventures because life is too short to miss out!
Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927
Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/
Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ
For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com
Questions? Email me at [email protected] -
Feeling isolated and lonely can be one of the most challenging parts of widowhood. But, that's actually putting it lightly, right?
I know that loneliness is not just a "challenge". It's all-encompassing. It's life-altering. It's anxiety-inducing and triggering.
I also know that a really good quote has the power to to get you through a really bad day.
So, today on episode 187 of Widow 180: The Podcast, I am sharing a selection of quotes that will hopefully strike a chord with you, help bring some self-awareness to your situation, cause some perspective shifts, and give you something to hold onto during this difficult time in your life.
If you would like more help and support with loneliness, be sure to sign up for The Overcoming Loneliness Workshop for Widows.
The LIVE Zoom session will be held on Sunday April 21, 2024 at 8pm EST!
Join us at https://www.widow180.com/lonelyBe sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927
Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/
Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ
For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com
Questions? Email me at [email protected] -
You know that awful feeling when you find out after the fact that there was a party or a get-together thrown by a friend or family member?
It's the dreadful, gut-wrenching feeling of being left out.
It stings.
Today, I want to offer you 7 tips on how to deal with feeling left out.
These are some things you can do to help soothe the sting of rejection.
For more help and guidance with loneliness, be sure to sign up for our upcoming workshop, Overcoming Loneliness Workshop for Widows.
It's happening on Sunday April 21, 2024 at 8pm EST. This LIVE 60-90 minutes Zoom session will cover ways to help you stop feeling lonely.
Sign up at https://www.widow180.com/lonelyBe sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927
Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/
Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ
For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com
Questions? Email me at [email protected] -
"Stay open to the universe and the void gets filled."
These are the wise and brilliant words of advice from this week's guest, Julie Hanrahan.
Julie lost her husband Paul suddenly and unexpectedly on October 27, 2021 at only 33 years old. Julie's life went into a tailspin.
In today's episode she shares:
~how she was struck with PTSD, panic attacks, and breathing problems following the loss of her husband.
~how she decided immediately to sell her house and move to the next town over to start a new life.
~how she had to pivot from her high-stress career in social work to now teaching yoga classes.
~ how she was able to boost her confidence by travelling the world.
~ how her relationship with her dad strengthened after living with him for 6 months.
~how she was able to open her heart to a new love with a new partner!
~ how she is still struggling with the fact that Paul passed away on the same day as her birthday.
~how she is paving her own way in her new life!Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927
Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/
Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ
For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com
Questions? Email me at [email protected] - Show more
