Viki Brown lost her husband Dustin at the young age of 34 in a tragic single car accident. Their children were 6, 5, and not even 1 year old at the time. 

Viki turned to a grief support center, Ryan's place, to help both her and her children grieve the loss of Dustin. Shortly after attending, she felt a strong calling to open a children's grief center in her own town. 

She mentioned the idea to friend and co-founder, Ashley, and from there doors started opening up for the center to come to fruition. She was told to get a non-profit up and running would take 3-5 years.  From the initial time she mentioned the idea until the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the facility was exactly one year! 

Dustin's Place - Center for Grieving Children and their Families was born!

Viki shares her story of loss, understanding children's grief, starting a non-profit, putting faith in God, finding love again, and answering a calling!

It's an incredible story!

You can find Viki at www.dustinsplace.org

On Facebook at Dustin's Place

On IG @dustinsplaceinc

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For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com

Questions? Email me at [email protected]

Alex Sinclair lost her husband Lee to lung cancer in July 2018. Alex leaned on her beloved dog and best friend Phoebe for support to get her through her loss.

When Phoebe fell ill one afternoon, Alex took her to the vet and was shocked when her debit card was declined to pay for the visit.

A man Alex had met online had stolen almost $60,000 out of her bank account through hacking into her accounts. This man, William, who she had met on the dating app Zoosk had gotten access to her accounts through her email. 

Alex shares the details of the ordeal she is going through, the loss of her lifesavings, the roadblocks she is facing with getting help from local police, and the ultimate loss of her beloved dog, Phoebe. 

If there is anyone listening to this podcast episode that can help Alex in any way, PLEASE contact me at [email protected]

Alex also shares with us some red flags to look for when it comes to online scammers!

You can read those in this week's blog post at 

www.widow180.com/resources/scammer

Join us for more discussion on Widow 180 Community with Jen Zwinck on Facebook! 

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

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For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com

Questions? Email me at [email protected]

Jenny Lisk's entire world shut down and turned upside down with her husband, Dennis's sudden diagnosis of glioblastoma.  Within a few short months, Jenny became full time caregiver for Dennis, who lost his battle with brain cancer in January 2016. 

Jenny documented the year from diagnosis until Dennis's death through Caring Bridge, an online blog/journal for families going through illness. 

Jenny realized she needed extra help and support when it came to her 2 young children and their grief. 

She started to compile a list of resources and felt a calling to share this information with other widows.

She started her podcast, The Widowed Parent Podcast, where each week she interviews top grief experts, authors, psychologists,  and speakers who share their advice.

Jenny recently published her first book called Future Widow: Losing My Husband, Saving My Family, and Finding My Voice. 

You can reach Jenny at:

www.jennylisk.com

Other resources from this episode:

Tips for widowed parents:

https://jennylisk.com/top10

Dougy Center:

https://www.dougy.org/

National Alliance For Grieving Children:

https://childrengrieve.org/find-support

Eluna Resource Center:

https://elunanetwork.org/resources/

Join us on Facebook at Widow 180 Community

and on

IG: @widow_180

 

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

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For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com

Questions? Email me at [email protected]

There's one question I try to ask every one of my guests on Widow 180: The Podcast and that question is:

What's one piece of advice you can give to new widows?

Here's a list of the Top Ten answers I've found to be the most helpful!

 

If you can think of any other advice to give to new widows, I want to hear it! 

DM on IG @widow_180

Join our Facebook group Widow 180 Community and message me!

Or email me: [email protected]

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

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For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com

Questions? Email me at [email protected]

One evening, Kathryn's husband Larry pulled her aside, sat her down, and very seriously explained to her that he felt like he didn't have any more goals in life. He had nothing more to live for. He didn't know why, but he felt he needed to tell her that.

2 weeks later Larry passed away suddenly from a blood clot. 

 

Kathryn became a widow at 42 years old.

 

She had a disappointing experience with traditional therapy and then with a local bereavement group, so she decided to start her own group. She called it Widowed Not Alone.

She has spent the last 15 years growing her support groups, adding new fundraisers, and training dozens of new grief facilitators. Her support groups are totally free to the public.

Kathryn is now writing a book about how to facilitate bereavement groups. Her book is called "The Bereavement Guide Book" and will be released soon!

She is dedicated to helping other widows and those who are grieving loss.

 

You can find her at www.widowednotalone.com

IG: @widowednotalone

FB: Long Island Young Widows and Widowers Group

For more info, resources, and blog posts go to:

www.widow180.com

Sign up to be on our email list!

AND join us on FB:

Widow 180 Community with Jen Zwinck

 

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For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com

Questions? Email me at [email protected]

This is a super quick Tuesday Tip episode!

 

I wanted to share with you something that helped me get over my fears of dating again and putting myself out there after losing Brent.

 

Because it's scary, right?!

We can let ourselves talk us into some pretty crazy, self-doubt spirals sometimes.  But it's all in your mindset and your attitude. 

Keep reminding yourself that you are empowered, not vulnerable!

For more dating advice and tips, go to www.widow180.com/resources/datingagain

and

www.widow180.com/resources/status

Other podcast episodes on dating:

Episode 31

Episode 32

Episode 33

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

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For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com

Questions? Email me at [email protected]

Catfishing, confidence, new chapters, security, The Law of Attraction, making better choices, online scammers, loss and love and all things dating a widow!

This is episode 33 with Jenna Lebron!

Join us for this nitty gritty discussion, where some your Facebook questions get answered!

 

To take the QUIZ to see if you're ready to start dating again, go to www.widow180.ck.page/datingquiz

And to download our CHECKLIST for Writing An Online Dating Profile (That Actually Works!) Go To:

www.widow180.ck.page/profile-checklist

IG: @widow_180

FB: Widow 180 Community

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For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com

Questions? Email me at [email protected]

I was honored this week to have our first male guest on the show! Doug Zwinck, my husband, is here today to talk about what it's like to date a widow!

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

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

We also talk about his online dating experience (before he met me) and some tips he was willing to share about creating a well-crafted online dating profile.

If you're ready to start online dating and not sure about how to write your profile, DOWNLOAD OUR

WIDOW'S CHECKLIST FOR WRITING AN ONLINE DATING PROFILE (THAT ACTUALLY WORKS!)

Go to https://widow180.ck.page/profile-checklist 

For more dating tips and advice, join our Facebook group Widow 180 Community

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

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For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com

Questions? Email me at [email protected]

In this episode we cover the 4 biggest mistakes widows make when it comes to dating again after loss - - and how to avoid them!

Listen, for a widow, dating can be tricky and confusing and downright intimidating!

However, dating can be fun and exciting IF you avoid making these mistakes. 

My mission this week (and every week) is to arm you with the knowledge and know-how to navigate life after loss. 

Hopefully this episode will ease some fears and help you dive right into the dating world!

Here are some references from this episode:

Episode 30 - Ashley Neumann and Jamie Hattier

Episode 10 - Laurice Duffy, life coach.

Episode 17 - Stephanie Mosley

Episode 18 - Kim Murray, Widow 411 (Chicken Soup For The Soul article)

Episode 19 - Autumn Toelle - Jackson, author and speaker

Episode 28 - Jenna Lebron, grief facilitator

Are You Ready to Start Dating Again?

Take THIS QUIZ to find out:

https://widow180.ck.page/datingquiz

Rate, review, and subscribe on Apple podcasts!

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

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For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com

Questions? Email me at [email protected]

Welcome to this special episode of the podcast featuring my two dear friends Ashley Neumann and Jamie Hattier.

These ladies have joined me today for a discussion on dating again after loss!

There are many, MANY things involved in dating again including:

~Feeling guilty

~What type of relationship do you want right now? Just fun? Looking for a serious relationship?

~ When to introduce the kids to a new guy

~What will your in-laws and family think

~Dating a widower versus dating a divorced person

~How do I know if I'm even ready to date

We discuss all of these topics and more in this candid conversation about Ashley and Jamie's experience in the dating world.

Read the latest blog post about advice and tips for dating again at www.widow180.com/resources/datingagain.

Are you not sure you're ready to start dating again? 

TAKE THIS QUIZ TO FIND OUT!

https://widow180.ck.page/datingquiz

 

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]