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Rebuilding After Loss: Cathy Bass’ Path to Advocacy and Healing

Show Notes

Trigger Warning: discussion includes sudden death, grief, trauma, and vulnerability.

In this raw and real episode of the Suicide Zen Forgiveness podcast, host Elaine Lindsay (aka “The Dark Pollyanna”) sits down with Cathy Bass — a 25‑year veteran tax professional turned author and widow. Cathy shares how she lost her husband in a tragic kayaking accident, confronted the hidden wounds he carried, and then faced the wreckage of grief, widowhood, and financial vulnerability.

She opens up about the shock of finding herself suddenly responsible for children, bills, vultures disguised as helpers, and her own fog of loss. Cathy also reveals how writing her story (in the anthology Unbreakable Spirit: 18 Stories of Feminine Resilience, Blessings and Renewal) became a healing portal, how she reclaimed joy for her children and herself, and how she now works to ensure other widows don’t go it alone.

Elaine and Cathy dig into the taboo: how society treats widows, how scammers target them, the unspoken grief of children, and the idea that the “grief train” has no final stop — you ride when you need to, you step off when you can. The bottom line: loss might land you in the darkest corridor, but you still have choices — you still have agency.

By episode’s end you’ll recognize the power of speaking your story, the importance of remembering that grief is love, and that even when the door slams shut you can — painstakingly, stubbornly — open another.

💥 What We Talk About:

• Cathy’s husband’s death: a kayaking accident that revealed deeper trauma and secret suffering
• The double‑blow of grief and becoming financially vulnerable overnight
• Why widows are easy targets: scams, manipulations, funeral‑industry guilt trips
• The role of children in grief: returning to “playful self” and letting kids see you living again
• Writing as medicine: how journaling and contributing to Unbreakable Spirit set Cathy on a path
• “Grief train” metaphor & the lifelong journey of living forward
• Practical tips: what widows (and their support‑networks) need to watch out for — especially around money & exploitation
• The ultimate message: you don’t have to get over it. You have to get through it. And then you build a new “through.”

🔗 How to Connect with Cathy Bass:

• Book: Unbreakable Spirit: 18 Stories of Feminine Resilience, Blessings and Renewal — Cathy’s chapter “From Tears to Treasure” is her personal story. Everand+2Evolve Systems Group+2
• Cathy also works helping widows with financial stability and coaching.
• (Assumed) Link below in show description or via podcast website for her website/services.

📞 If You’re in Crisis:

If you're in North America, text 988 for free, 24/7 support.

Elsewhere? Please reach out to your local suicide prevention or mental health hotline. #YouMatter.

💬 Subscribe, rate, and share if this episode moved you. It could be the lifeline someone else didn’t know they needed. #ConverSAVEtions

Bio

Enrolled Agent, is not just your average tax expert; she’s a powerhouse in the world of tax relief and financial empowerment. A

s the founder of Bass Tax Relief in Arlington, Texas, Catherine has solidified her reputation as a leading authority on resolving individual and small business tax dilemmas with the IRS. With over 25 years of hands-on experience, she has represented thousands of taxpayers.

Beyond her professional credentials. She is a resilient widow, juggling life with two young adult children and two loving dogs. In her downtime, she immerses herself in the joys of reading, hiking, and rocking out at concerts with her daughter.

Now, as she embraces the wisdom of middle age, Catherine has set her sights on helping other women who have faced loss find their way to abundance. Drawing from her own journey through grief, she’s passionate about sharing the healing skills she has cultivated. With Catherine, it’s not just about taxes, it’s about transforming lives.

Links & Socials

Suicide Zen Forgiveness Stories re Suicide Loss | Ideation | Mental Health | Offering Hope |Empathy for All website

©2025-2018 Elaine Lindsay SZF42.com All rights reserved.

https://suicide-zen-forgiveness.captivate.fm/episode/rebuilding-after-loss-cathy-bass-path-to-advocacy-and-healing

Elaine Lindsay

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