Have you ever wondered how grief can completely change the direction of your life—and even help you discover your strength?

I had the honor of sitting down with guest Rachel Blatt to explore her journey through sudden loss, the unexpected ways she coped, and how she’s found meaning and new purpose. Highlights from our chat include:

• Rachel’s Widow Story: The shocking diagnosis and rapid loss of her husband, Dave, to a rare form of sarcoma, and how she balanced caregiving, parenting, and her own survival during and after his illness.
• The Early Days of Widowhood: Why she dove into life with a sense of urgency—traveling to Paris, sending her sons to camp, and even adopting a new dog in a moment of “manic” decision-making.
• Navigating Grief with Kids: The unique challenges and bittersweet solutions she found to help her boys cope, especially around Father’s Day and family milestones.
• Distraction Actions & Dating Again: Rachel’s candid take on seeking distraction (including jumping into dating), the guilt and judgment widows face, and the unexpected friendships that blossomed from those choices.
• Healing Through Writing: How Rachel’s lifelong love of writing became a lifeline in her grief, leading to published work in The Washington Post and a supportive writing group.
• Signs and Spiritual Connection: Fascinating stories about connecting with her late husband through signs, lost-and-found wedding rings, and sessions with mediums.
• Becoming a Grief Educator: Rachel’s journey to becoming a certified grief educator with David Kessler’s program, the insights it brought her, and the importance of “witnessing” grief in a safe community.

This conversation is packed with wisdom, relatable moments, and hard-earned hope. 

Don’t miss it—follow Rachel at @widow-tales on Instagram and Widow Tales on Substack!

Get the newest Widow 180 Workbook, The New To Widowhood? Start Here! Workbook at https://www.widow180.com/newwidow

Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927

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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 had no idea!" Here they are...5 things no one tells you about grief after losing your spouse—today I am sharing insights from my own journey through sudden loss and widowhood. If you’re struggling with fatigue, overwhelming fear, loss of motivation, unexpected waves of pain, or feeling like a stranger to yourself, you are not alone!

We are diving deep into the emotional and practical realities of grief that often catch widows off guard, offering understanding and hope for those navigating life after loss.

Tune in as we discuss:

• The exhausting physical effects of grief, even in simple daily tasks
• Fears and anxieties about facing life without your spouse, even if you’ve always been independent
• How old priorities like work, health, and routine can suddenly feel meaningless
• The shocking intensity of pain—especially when it comes to parenting and supporting your children
• Feeling unrecognizable to yourself, with unpredictable emotions and reactions

This episode is a must-listen for new widows, those supporting grieving loved ones, or anyone seeking honest conversation about the realities of widowhood.

 Plus, we're introducing the New to Widowhood? Start Here! Workbook, a resource designed to help you navigate the first few months after loss.

Get the workbook at https://www.widow180.com/newwidow

Find community and additional support in the Widow 180 Facebook group and on Instagram (@widow180). For more resources, check out the Widow 180 YouTube channel with 200+ videos on everything from dating to parenting to handling in-law relationships after loss.

Whether you're newly widowed or further along in your healing journey, this episode will help you feel seen, understood, and less alone!

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]

Navigating life after loss can feel overwhelming, but every widow needs to know there is hope and healing on the other side of heartbreak. 

Drawing from my own experience and the wisdom and personal journeys of the hundreds of widows I’ve interviewed on Widow 180: The Podcast, I’ve gathered 10 tips every widow needs to know, each designed to encourage self-compassion, practical action, and the rediscovery of joy in this next chapter. 

Whether you’re just beginning the journey or seeking new ways to honor your healing, these tips offer guidance and inspiration rooted in real experience.

Check out our newest workbook in the Widow 180 Workbook Series, The New To Widowhood? Start Here! Workbook. This is 60 pages of validation, hope, and healing in the form of tips, exercises, and journal prompts to help you through grief. 

Get more details and get the workbook at https://www.widow180.com/newwidow

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]

What if less than a year after getting married, you're told you have only 3 months to live? This was the reality of this week's guest on the podcast, Stephanie Duran, who lost her husband to terminal cancer.  

Stephanie opens up about the realities of caregiving and also bravely discusses their experience with California’s Death with Dignity law, and the complexity of honoring Jeff’s wish for a compassionate, courageous end to his suffering.

Stephanie and I chat about:

~Anticipatory grief

~The challenge of rediscovering oneself

~The delicate balance of self-care and moving forward. 

~Her decision to become a grief coach

~How trusting your own heart is essential in grief recovery.

She also shares the liberating adventures that helped her reconnect with herself (including a solo trip to the Caribbean), the creation of her memoir, “Because I Loved You: Surviving the Unthinkable,” and her beautiful story of finding new love and building a life in Australia.

If you’re looking for inspiration, practical advice for widows, or simply a story that honors both the pain and hope in loss, this episode is sure to move you!

 Tune in for wisdom on navigating grief, letting go with love, and choosing courage in life after loss.

Learn more about Stephanie and find her grief coaching resources at StephanieDuran.com or connect with her on Instagram at @StephanieDuranOfficial.

Don’t miss this heartfelt, hope-filled conversation with someone who’s walked the road and found meaning—and even new love—after heartbreak.

Interested in a second chance at love? If you would like some support on how to date as a widow, I encourage you to get our latest workbook, The Dating Again After Losing Your Spouse Workbook! Get the downloadable workbook here: https://www.widow180.com/dating

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]

Blizzards and french fries for dinner? There's nothing wrong with that!

In this heartfelt episode, we welcome back Christie Salava for an honest conversation about solo parenting after loss. Christie, who lost her husband Andy to cancer in 2020, opens up about the ups and downs of raising young children while processing her own grief.  Christy shares personal stories, confessions, and wisdom—reminding listeners that there’s no handbook for widowed parenting, but there is always hope!

Listen in as we chat about:

• Christie’s journey as a widow and how she navigated sharing her husband’s illness and passing with her young children (ages 7 and 9)
• The struggle of “getting through the day”—from chicken nuggets for dinner to hiring a nanny just to grocery shop alone
• Honest confessions: hiding in closets, anyone??? And feeling the pressure to “not screw up” your children for life
• How Christie learned to balance talking about grief openly with her kids versus letting them be normal kids and honoring their unique ways of processing loss
• Special ways they honor Andy’s memory on milestone birthdays, such as custom engravings in his handwriting and heartfelt blessings
• Advice for other widowed or solo parents: embracing imperfection, evolving as a family, and trusting that joy and love will return

This episode is a comforting, candid look into the realities of widowed parenting—and a reminder that even in the hardest seasons, families can discover new meaning, resilience, and togetherness.

Tune in for support, solidarity, and hope, whether you’re newly widowed or years down the road!

Check out our resources for widows with our Widow 180 Workbook Series covering topics from new grief to dating again! Go to https://www.widow180.com/workbooks

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're always searching for things to help us cope with loss.

Is it books? Is it YouTube videos? Is it live events? Maybe, just maybe, it's these 2 little words that help get you through...

Everything counts.

Let that sink in for a bit.

And start becoming aware of every decision, every interaction, every contribution you make. Every small step counts. 

Small steps are still progress.

Start applying this to your life today and see what a difference it can make!

For more resources, check out all of the Widow 180 Workbooks at https://www.widow180.com/workbooks

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 hope you're ready to listen in on an honest conversation about grief, growth, and finding new footing after profound loss!  I had the privilege of interviewing Linda Davis this week. This chat was rich in wisdom — not just about surviving widowhood, but about rebuilding yourself in the years that follow.

 Linda dropped more than a few gems that anyone moving through monumental change might want to tuck away for later. Here are the five that most spoke to me:

1. Baby Steps Are Legit Steps
   She let herself take things minute by minute.  She honored what her instincts and emotions needed, one afternoon or evening at a time. You get to move slowly. That’s not failing; that’s surviving.
2. It’s Okay to Change Up Your World
   Guilt about rearranging your physical space? Let it go. Linda realized she needed her surroundings to reflect this new phase of her life.
3. Pour Out Your Grief (In Whatever Medium You’ve Got)
   For Linda, collage became a unique lifeline — a way to track the rollercoaster of emotions after loss, visually and creatively. 
4. Follow Your Instincts, and Let Spiritual Growth Surprise You
   Linda described how loss cracked her open spiritually — even when she hadn’t thought a lot about such things before. Unexpected “signs” from her late husband, new feelings of connection, and a deeper sense of presence in the world around her emerged. 
5. Give Yourself Permission to Rebuild — and Love Again
   You are allowed to create a 2.0 version of yourself! Rebuilding takes confidence, but also courage to be a beginner. Don’t pressure yourself to know all the answers, and don’t apologize for whatever timeline, efforts, or interests emerge as you rebuild. 

It’s a complicated, deeply personal road — but if Linda’s experience holds anything universal, it’s that healing and possibility co-exist. If you or someone you know needs encouragement after loss, please pass this episode along! There’s wisdom in every step!

Check out Linda's collage pieces in the Widow 180 Facebook group!

Check out our widow resources and Widow 180 Workbook Series at https://www.widow180.com/workbooks

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]

Having now circled marriage, dating, and second chances at love on  Widow 180: The Podcast, I thought I’d finally share a handful of my favorite pieces of advice—many pulled directly from my chat with my now husband Doug for Episode 236!

Widows have so much stress and concern over dating again, so I wanted to share a guy's point of view about it all.

Did he have any concerns? Was there any hesitation about dating a widow?

We also talk about his experience and advice about online dating! He'll give some tips and strategies about getting back out there with confidence!

Real talk, real stories, real hope: all from a place of compassion, experience, and support. If you’re beginning to contemplate dating after widowhood, remember—there is no right way, only your way. And you don’t have to do it alone.

The Dating Again After Losing Your Spouse Workbook is here!

Get the downloadable workbook here and get started today!

https://widow180.kit.com/products/dating

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]

Debbie Weiss originally joined us for this interview on episode 140 of the podcast. In today's episode we hear her story of losing her husband George to cancer after a 4 year battle. Debbie recounts the loneliness and isolation she struggled with and talks about what she did to overcome those struggles, including turning to writing as a way to heal through grief.

With writing as a passion and outlet, Debbie decided to return to school to pursue her Master's Degree!

She then published her book, Available As Is: A Midlife Widow's Search For Love. 

Debbie will be hosting a 4 week grief writing program that starts August 26, 2025!

If you're interested in joining the program click here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/writing-through-loss-with-rachel-blatt-and-debbie-weiss-registration-1482082411389?aff=oddtdtcreator

Interested in dating? Don't know where to start? START HERE! The newest workbook in the Widow 180 Workbook Series is out soon! The Dating Again After Losing Your Spouse Workbook is here:

https:www.widow180.com/dating

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]

Sleep deprivation is a major problem for those of us who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Sleep disorder insomnia after loss is more common than you may think, so if this is affecting you, you're not alone! 

In this episode we are talking about some strategies for coping with sleep disorders and getting better sleep while grieving.

Some of these include:

~Sleep sounds or sleep music

~Using a sleep mask

Listen here for more suggestions!

Want to share your own "widow success story" on the pod? Let's talk! Email me at [email protected]

Join thousands of other widows and get our FREE weekly newsletter! Go to https://www.widow180.com/newsletter

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]