Brave Widow Show

Apply for the Brave Widow Academy scholarship before midnight, Friday, January 2nd: https://www.bravewidow.com/scholarship

If you’re ready for more support, learn about Brave Widow Academy here: https://www.bravewidow.com/academy

The longest night of the year can feel even darker when your person is gone.

In this special 2025 Widow Winter Solstice gathering, Emily and a panel of Christian widows share honest stories about loneliness, surviving the holidays, feeling misunderstood, wrestling with God, and answering the question: “Will I always feel this way?”

You’ll hear real, unpolished conversations from women in different seasons of widowhood who have walked through the same sleepless nights, empty chairs, and “I don’t know who I am anymore” moments you may be living right now.

In this episode you’ll hear:

-Why we honor Winter Solstice as “the longest night” for widows

-Raw stories of loneliness in grief: empty houses, changing friendships, family let-downs

-How faith, prayer, and Scripture show up when you’re angry, numb, or confused with God

-What helped each widow move from “just surviving” to taking tiny brave steps again

-Guided reflection prompts you can use tonight to process your own grief

-How joy and sorrow can coexist without betraying your person’s memory

-An invitation to go deeper inside Brave Widow Academy and our scholarship opportunity

Next steps

-Watch / listen and journal through the reflection prompts

-Share your person’s name in the comments so we can honor them with you

Chapters 

00:00 Welcome & Why Winter Solstice matters for widows

09:00 Panel introductions & love stories

28:00 Loneliness in the new normal

1:22:00 Guided reflection time

1:35:00 “Will I always feel this way?”

2:25:00 Q&A on anger, boundaries, and kids

The holidays can feel brutal after your spouse dies. While the world is twinkling with lights and parties, you’re just trying to get through the longest nights. I’m inviting you to Widow Winter Solstice, a free online gathering on Sunday, December 21, 6–8 pm Central for widows and widowers on the longest night of the year. You’ll be able to: Cozy up at home in PJs (you’re not on camera) Hear from a panel of widows at different stages of loss Ask questions live in the chat or simply listen Join giveaways (books, gift cards, and Brave Widow surprises) Remember your person and be reminded: it will not always feel like this 👉 Register & get the replay + giveaways: https://www.bravewidow.com/winter

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Connect with Danny: * Book: Thank You, Cancer (paperback & Kindle) https://stan.store/dannylesslie/p/thank-you-cancer- * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momentumwithdanny/ * Substack (audiobook-style readings & poetry): https://dannylesslie.substack.com * Brave Widow® Academy: https://www.bravewidow.com/academy * Grief Recovery Method with Emily Tanner: https://www.bravewidow.com/offers/EPW2EeyT/checkout What do you do when you run out of options… and then God shows up? In this episode of The Brave Widow Show, Emily talks with widower and dad, Danny Lesslie, who walked through five years of a rare vulvar cancer journey with his wife Raffaella before losing her in December 2024. Danny shares the raw reality of caregiving, solo parenting two daughters, crippling financial uncertainty, and the “Jesus moments” that became anchors for their faith when there were no moves left. You’ll also hear how Danny and Raffaella’s story became the powerful book “Thank You, Cancer” – built from her own real-time journal entries, his perspective as a caregiver, and the undeniable ways God provided when everything else fell apart. In this episode, we talk about: * Getting a rare cancer diagnosis and how it upended their life overnight * The 1,592 days of pain Raffaella endured, and how she still showed up with joy * Losing jobs, housing, and stability… and the RV + home God provided the same day * What it’s really like to raise two young daughters without their mom * How to hold anger, confusion, and faith at the same time * Turning grief into a book: why “Thank You, Cancer” exists and what’s inside * Using writing and sharing their story as a way to “spend” unexpressed love * Practical encouragement for widows, widowers, and solo parents in deep grief Get support as a widow If you’re a widow in your 40s–60s trying to rebuild a life you can love again, you don’t have to do it alone. Join the Brave Widow Academy for a proven path, live coaching, and a community of widows who truly get it: 👉 Learn more and join here: bravewidow.com/academy 💬 If this episode helped you, please: * Hit Subscribe * Leave a quick rating & review – it helps more widows find this support * Share this with a friend who’s facing grief or the holidays without their person

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 

When your husband dies suddenly on Christmas Eve… while you’re standing there with your kids… how do you ever breathe again?

In today’s episode, I’m talking with Allyson, a Brave Widow community member, mom of four, and woman of deep faith whose husband Chris died of a sudden heart attack just six days after their 23rd wedding anniversary. 

If you’re in the thick of it – wondering if life will ever feel anything but shattered – Allyson’s story is a tender, honest reminder to hang on, take the next tiny step, and let people help you.

💬 If this episode helped you, please: 

Feeling dread about the holidays after losing your person?

In this video, I share details about “Brave Through the Holidays,” a 60‑day support circle to help widows get through this season feeling less alone and more supported.  👉 Join Brave Through the Holidays here: https://bravewidow.com/holiday  Today is the last day to join Brave Through the Holidays as a standalone offer. After this, it will only be available as a bonus for new Brave Widow Academy members.  Inside Brave Through the Holidays, you’ll get: 6 live Zoom calls between early December and early January, where we’ll walk through: -Facing the dread and anxiety of the season -Family expectations and invitations -Traditions: what to keep, change, or let go -Triggers (sights, sounds, smells) and what to actually do on the big days -Loneliness and how to get through the “hit like a truck” moments -Stepping into the new year without feeling like you’re abandoning your person  A bonus January workshop to gently create a vision and plan for 2026, even if right now you feel like you have no goals or no future  A private Telegram group just for Brave Through the Holidays, where widows can share the hard, the good, and the in‑between so you don’t have to do this alone  Replays of every call, so you never miss the support even if you can’t attend live  Black Friday special details: Your $297 for Brave Through the Holidays can be fully credited toward Brave Widow Academy if you join by January 31  If you’ve already invested in the Grief Recovery Method with me, that investment will also be credited when you join the Academy by January 31  You can bring a widow or widower friend for free to Brave Through the Holidays so you can walk this circle together  If you’re on the fence and want to talk it through, you can book a consult call with me. As long as you schedule your consult today (even if the call happens later), I’ll honor this Black Friday pricing and bonuses.  👉 Join Brave Through the Holidays:  https://bravewidow.com/holiday  👉 Or book a consult: https://calendly.com/bravewidow/widow-consult-call  This program is grief coaching and community support. It is not therapy, counseling, or a substitute for professional mental health care.  If this video helps, please like, subscribe, and share with another widow who might need to know she’s not alone this season.

🔗 Resources Mentioned Brave Widow Academy – 6-Month Group Coaching: Your roadmap from deep grief to rebuilding and loving your life again ➝ https://bravewidow.com/academy Grief Recovery Method – 8-Week Evidence-Based Program: Next group starts December 9, Tuesdays 1–3 pm CT, limited spots ➝ https://bravewidow.com Free Consult Call: Not sure what you need next? Book a free, no-pressure call. ➝ https://bravewidow.com If you’ve ever thought, “Is this it? Is this how I’m going to feel for the next 40–50 years?” this episode is for you. In today’s Brave Widow Show, I walk you through my RISE Framework — the 4 Seasons of Widow Grief: R – Rawness: the shock, numbness, insomnia, and survival mode I – Isolation: when everyone else moves on and you feel left behind S – Self-Discovery: trying new things, facing guilt, and finding tiny glimmers of hope E – Empowerment: building a life that honors your person and actually feels worth living We talk about: Why “time heals all wounds” isn’t true (it’s time + tools + action) What to do when every happy moment feels like the knife is being twisted How guilt keeps you stuck (“If I stop hurting, did I love them enough?”) The moment I decided, “My life is not going to end when his did.” How to carry both — deep love for your person and excitement for your future 👉 You do not have to feel this way forever… but you do get to decide. ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 – Welcome & updates on Brave Widow Academy + Grief Recovery 2:00 – The question every widow asks: Will I always feel like this? 4:00 – Season 1: Rawness – shock, numbness, survival mode 11:00 – Season 2: Isolation – when everyone else’s life keeps going 17:00 – “What’s the point?” moment on the backyard bench 23:00 – Season 3: Self-Discovery – trying new things, feeling guilty, not going back 31:00 – Can grief really change? First glimpses of real joy again 38:00 – Season 4: Empowerment – living a life where both of you still matter 45:00 – Grief as a “bank account” that needs to be spent 51:00 – How Brave Widow Academy & Grief Recovery can support your next steps 👋 About Brave Widow I’m Emily, a widow, grief coach, and founder of Brave Widow. I help widows move from feeling lost, lonely, and stuck to feeling clear, connected, and confident as they rebuild a life they can love again. Subscribe for more episodes on grief, healing, purpose, dating after loss, and building a life after widowhood.

Connect with Debbie:

Book: Available As Is: A Midlife Widow’s Search for Love (Amazon, Apple Books, and most retailers) https://a.co/d/6jBMOxz

Website: https://debbieweissauthor.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbie_weiss_author/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.hansen.9/

Work with Emily / Brave Widow:

🔁 Grief Recovery Method® – an 8-week, evidence-based program to help you heal your heart and find emotional freedom https://www.bravewidow.com/offers/EPW2EeyT/checkout

🧭 Brave Widow Academy – 6-month coaching and community to help widows find clarity, real connection, and lasting confidence https://www.bravewidow.com/academy

📞 Book a free consult: Go to BraveWidow.com to schedule your no-pressure call and see what support is right for you 

In today’s episode of The Brave Widow Show, I’m talking with author and midlife widow Debbie Weiss, who went from a 32-year marriage and deep isolation after her husband’s death… to rebuilding her life, dating again in midlife, earning an MFA in Creative Writing at 56, and writing her memoir Available As Is: A Midlife Widow’s Search for Love. 

We talk honestly (and with humor) about what it’s really like to start over after decades with one person, how to build a new life when you feel totally alone, and the messy reality of midlife dating after loss.

🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations about widowhood, grief, dating after loss, and rebuilding a life you actually want to live.

💔 In This Episode, You’ll Hear:

Debbie’s story:

Growing up in the Bay Area, marrying her high school sweetheart, and losing her husband after 32 years together. 

Isolation after loss:

How being introverted, retired, and “just the two of us” left her deeply alone after he died—and what she did first to change that. 

Tiny brave steps to a new life:

The small, practical actions she took: daily walks, yoga, staying after class to talk, and joining groups (Meetup, hiking, writing, career groups). 

Dating again as a midlife widow:

Why she started dating 18 months after her loss, what she wishes she’d done differently, and the “red flags” she ignored at first. 

The myth of “you should just accept less now”:

How midlife dating culture often pressures widows to settle—and why you don’t have to.

Finding her voice & identity:

Going back to school for an MFA at 56, taking her writing seriously, and turning her experience into an award-winning memoir. 

Hope 12 years later:

What grief looks like now, being with a second life partner, and why she believes there’s real hope for widows—even when it doesn’t feel that way. 

Chapters:

00:00 – Welcome + Grief Recovery Method update

02:30 – Meet Debbie: high school sweetheart, 32-year marriage, cancer, and loss

05:00 – Isolation after widowhood: “I had to create a whole new life”

07:00 – Tiny steps: walks, yoga, and not running out of the room

10:00 – 12 years later: What grief and hope look like now

11:30 – Dating 18 months after loss: what she’d do differently

15:00 – Why you don’t have to accept “less” just because you’re older

18:00 – Writing Available As Is and going back to school at 54

24:00 – “You’re not too old. Life is not over.”

27:00 – How to connect with Debbie & next steps with Brave Widow

When my husband died, everyone told me, “Just give it time… it’ll get better.”

It didn’t.

[Enroll for the Brave Widow Academy here: bravewidow.com/academy]

In this episode, I’m sharing the real reason I started Brave Widow and why, three years later, the Brave Widow Academy is still my favorite offer for widows who want more than just survival. 

I’ll walk you through:

The moment I realized time alone wasn’t going to heal my grief

The gap I kept seeing in traditional grief support, therapy, and church groups

How the 4 Seasons of Grief (RISE) framework gives you a clear roadmap instead of random tips

What actually happens inside the Brave Widow Academy each week

Real feedback from current Academy students (what’s working, what they’d change, and what they’d tell someone on the fence) 

If you’ve tried counseling, grief groups, podcasts, and books… and you’re still thinking,

“Okay, but what do I do now?”

…this episode is for you.

🎧 In this episode you’ll learn:

Why your “old life” is gone (and why that truth is painful but freeing) 

The 4 core phases widows move through from raw survival to rebuilding a life with peace, purpose, and real relationships

How we calm your nervous system, stabilize your routine, and rebuild confidence step by step

Why group coaching + community often works better than doing this alone in therapy

The weekly rhythm inside the Academy (2-hour Monday calls, live coaching, worksheets, progress tracking, and 24/7 messaging support) 

🧭 Ready for more than survival?

👉 Learn about the Brave Widow Academy + join the next round:

bravewidow.com/academy

👉 Not sure what you need yet? Book a free consult with me:

bravewidow.com

💌 Free resources for widows:

Brave Widow podcast + blog: bravewidow.com

Free Brave Widow guides & checklists for family and friends

Community + meetups inside Brave Widow

widow, widows, widowed mom, grief support, Christian widow, faith based grief coaching, grief recovery method, 4 seasons of grief, Brave Widow Academy, widow coaching, life after loss, loneliness after loss, move forward after grief, grief help for widows

#widow #widowed #widowhood #widowlife #widowsofinstagram #widowshelpingwidows #grief #griefcoach #griefshare #griefsucks #griefquotes #griefsupport #griefjourney #griefandloss #griefrecovery #lifecoaching #lifecoach 

Book a free consult here: https://calendly.com/bravewidow/widow-consult-call

Feeling stuck between who you were and who you’re becoming? Today we dive into Season 4: Empowerment in my RISE framework (Rawness → Isolation → Self-Discovery → Empowerment). 

You’ll learn why empowerment doesn’t arrive by waiting, it’s built through time + consistent action, and how to start uncovering a renewed sense of purpose, confidence, and direction after loss.

Free worksheet mentioned in the episode:
👉 Download: bravewidow.com/173 (fill it out while you listen)

What you’ll learn: 

 • • The difference between Big-P Purpose and little-p purpose (how you show up daily)

Next steps: 

📌 Subscribe & Stay Connected

👍 Like this video if it helped you

🎧 Subscribe for more stories and strategies for life after loss.

💬 Leave a comment if this story resonates with you or if you want to share your own experience.
📩 Share it with someone who needs encouragement

Ready for more support? 

Book a free consult here: https://calendly.com/bravewidow/widow-consult-call

Download the Brave New Widow Starter Kit: A free guide to help you navigate the first steps of widowhood. → https://bravewidow.com/start