The Widow Squad Podcast

Join us for an inspirational story on this week’s episode as we talk with Rob Kenney, the creator of the "Dad, How Do I?" channel on YouTube.In April 2020, Rob embarked on a mission to assist people with basic life skills. Little did he know that his channel would become a beacon of hope for millions. Today, with over 4.5 million subscribers, Rob's journey is a testament to the power of his wholesome "how-to" videos.Key topics in this episode:Rob opens up about the void left by his parent’s d...

When her beloved husband took his life, and with it her life as she knew it, Suzanne Anderson faced a choice: would she be broken down and defeated, or broken open and transformed?Part memoir, part guidebook, her book, You Make Your Path By Walking, accompanies readers on their own journey through the barren landscape of trauma and grief.Today, we talk to Suzanne about her story of loss and how she moved through grief, ultimately learning to make meaning out of her experience.She shares some ...

In the midst of suffering and heartache, you might find it’s incredibly hard trusting your widow intuition. In this episode, Jen helps listeners learn how to trust themselves again. 

Key topics in this episode:

• How to use your intuition and discover how it speaks to you
• Five practical methods to tap into your intuition and find the answers you seek when faced with life’s crossroads
• Keeping your heart and mind open to receiving that help when you need it most

It's an unsettling feeling after losing your spouse and having to rely on just yourself to decide everything. Listen in to uncover ways to make those decisions a little bit easier.

Get the full transcript and more here: https://widowsquad.com/trusting-your-widow-intuition/

Do you ever feel like a third wheel or odd person out after losing your partner? On this episode, we share our personal experiences around the awkwardness of widowhood in social settings. 

Because let’s face it. It’s awkward, right?

Key Topics in this episode:

• How we pushed through the social discomfort
• Unovering how we create feelings based on thoughts that just aren’t true
• Challenging negative thoughts in social situations

Feeling like a third or fifth wheel is completely normal, and you're not alone. We’ve moved through it and share a few thoughts on this episode to help you get through it too.

Get the full transcript and more here: https://widowsquad.com/third-wheel-thoughts

Deciding what to do with your partner’s belongings after their death can be super challenging. In this epsiode, we share some unique ways that made this process a little bit easier.

Key topics in this episode:

• The profound significance these objects hold
• The emotional connection momentos provide
• What we did  with the buckets of rocks, sweatshirts, cell phones, shoes, baseball cards and more.

Remember, there's no right or wrong way to do this. There are no rules so take the time you need and do what feels best for you.

Get the full transcript and more here: https://widowsquad.com/the-things-widows-keep-after-loss

We live in a society that doesn’t understand grief and we’re talking all about it in this episode with John Polo.

John is a widower, an international coach, best-selling author and keynote speaker. From grief to dating, self-growth and everything in between, John offers a style that is powerful, authentic and also very unique.

Key topics in this episode:

• Tips on grieving the way that's best for you
• The loss of identity after the death of your partner
• Getting to know yourself again and making your needs a priority

Get the full transcript and more here: https://widowsquad.com/stupid-remarks-while-grieving/

On this week's episode, we’re talking about the physical effects of grief we experienced in those early days of widowhood and how it affects us in the present. From lack of sleep to constant stress and somatic pain, we share our personal experiences and the profound impact grief had on our bodies. 

Key topics in this episode:

• Kim recounts her journey with knots in her shoulders, sore hips, and all manifestations of the stress and fear she carried
• Melissa opens up about her sudden loss and the immediate changes she noticed in her body, from loss of appetite to irregular heartbeats
• Jen describes how her state of shock caused everything to go numb

We cover not sleeping, bad tasting food, adrenal fatigue, where trauma is stored in our bodies, irregular heartbeats, anxiety, and so much more. 

Get the full transcript and more here: https://widowsquad.com/how-grief-affects-your-body

You’ve all heard the widow rule, “don’t make any big changes or decisions within that first year." On this episode, we’re talking about our first hand experiences with bending this and other so-called "rules."

Key topics in this episode: 

• The liberating concept of embracing individuality
• Finding healing in unexpected places
• Redefining what it means to live fully in the widowhood’s first year

Tune in and find out if we made big changes, little changes or no changes at all.
 
Get the full transcript and more here: https://widowsquad.com/making-big-changes-in-widowhoods-first-year

On this episode, Melissa is joined by Jenny Lisk, an award-winning author and widowed mom who is dedicated to helping widowed parents increase their family's well-being. Her book, Future Widow, and her podcast, The Widowed Parent Podcast, bring much-needed resources to widowed parents, helping them feel less lost and alone.

Key topics in this episdode: 

• Anticipatory grief
• What Jenny wishes she would have known as a solo-parent 
• Grief and its effect on kids

She shares a lot more widow-wisdom so grab a cup of coffee or tea and listen in on the conversation!

Get the full transcript and more here: https://widowsquad.com/supporting-grieving-children/

On today’s episode, you’re getting the “inside scoop” on our dating experiences as widows which led to meeting our husbands in this new life!

We all shared some crazy synchronicities and coincidences on this episode and if we had any advice or widow-wisdom to give it would be to:

• Pay attention to those signs and synchronicities
• Open that “dating door” and walk through it if it feels right
• And much more!

Also, Melissa confirms (again) that she has literally “no game” when it comes to dating and Kim shares the dream she had that was the “clincher” in her getting remarried.

Get the full transcript and more here: https://widowsquad.com/dating-experiences-as-widows/