Grief Out Loud

"I Felt Like Half A Person" – On Becoming A Widow


Listen Later

In an instant, Leslie went from sharing every aspect of life with her husband Ryan to feeling like half a person. Leslie, Ryan, their two young children, and their extended family were on vacation in California when Ryan told Leslie that something didn't feel right. He was rushed to the hospital where he died of a stroke and an aneurysym, leaving Leslie to figure out how to live their life without him. The people Leslie most wanted to talk to in her grief were other widows. This inspired her to start Vids for Wids - a project to capture the stories of widows in the hopes of helping others feel less alone.

We discuss:

  • How Leslie and Ryan met as co-workers

  • The day Ryan died while they were on vacation

  • Suddenly feeling like half a person without Ryan

  • Telling her very young children about his death

  • The early days and weeks of widowhood

  • How her kids' grief is changing over time

  • The power of talking to other widows

  • What Leslie learned about grief from Ryan

  • Dating and becoming a remarried widow

  • Leslie's Vids for Wids project to support other widows

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Grief Out LoudBy The Dougy Center

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

302 ratings


More shows like Grief Out Loud

View all
The Recovery Show » Finding serenity through 12 step recovery in Al-Anon – a podcast by The Recovery Show

The Recovery Show » Finding serenity through 12 step recovery in Al-Anon – a podcast

1,608 Listeners

10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

10% Happier with Dan Harris

12,709 Listeners

Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson by Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Forrest Hanson

Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

2,499 Listeners

Thanks For Asking by Feelings & Co.

Thanks For Asking

13,241 Listeners

The Michelle Chalfant Show — Life from the Adult Chair by Michelle Chalfant

The Michelle Chalfant Show — Life from the Adult Chair

1,542 Listeners

Heal Squad x Maria Menounos by Heal Squad

Heal Squad x Maria Menounos

2,020 Listeners

Life, Death & The Space Between with Dr. Amy Robbins by Dr. Amy Robbins |Psychology | Spirituality | Grief | Life After Death

Life, Death & The Space Between with Dr. Amy Robbins

568 Listeners

The Widowed Mom Podcast by Krista St-Germain

The Widowed Mom Podcast

695 Listeners

Trauma Rewired by Elisabeth Kristof & Jennifer Wallace

Trauma Rewired

345 Listeners

Psychology Unplugged by Dr. Corey J. Nigro

Psychology Unplugged

733 Listeners

We Can Do Hard Things by Treat Media and Glennon Doyle

We Can Do Hard Things

41,550 Listeners

All There Is with Anderson Cooper by CNN Podcasts

All There Is with Anderson Cooper

10,535 Listeners

The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

The Mel Robbins Podcast

19,676 Listeners

Healing Anxious Attachment by Johanna Adriaansen

Healing Anxious Attachment

68 Listeners

The Oprah Podcast by Harpo

The Oprah Podcast

1,858 Listeners