Grief isn't linear, and neither is the path to finding love again after loss. When Judie McCoy lost her husband of 42 years to a sudden heart attack, she found herself at a profound crossroads. After the shock, denial, and anger subsided, she faced a crucial decision: would she let grief define her future, or would she choose to move forward?

In this deeply moving conversation, Judie shares her raw, unfiltered journey through widowhood with remarkable candor. From sleeping with her late husband's t-shirt on the pillow beside her to eventually opening her heart to new love, she offers wisdom that can only come from walking through the fire of profound loss. "I was not looking for another Gary, Judie explains, revealing how she distinguished between honoring her past love and being open to a different but equally meaningful connection.

Perhaps most striking is Judie's perspective on the difference between "moving on" and "moving forward." She beautifully articulates how she keeps her late husband's memory alive for her children and grandchildren through videos, memory books, and garden stones with personal messages – while simultaneously building a new life with her second husband, Fred. Their relationship demonstrates something rare and beautiful: how a secure, loving partnership can make space for the memories of what came before.

Whether you're navigating your own grief journey, supporting someone who is, or simply seeking to understand the resilience of the human heart, Judie's story offers both comfort and practical guidance. Her advice to "find something funny every day" and to recognize that "widows are women of WOW" reminds us that even after devastating loss, joy and laughter can return. Listen now to discover how love, in all its complex forms, can continue to illuminate our lives even after our darkest moments.

When Maureen Jirikowic's husband Pete was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2021, she couldn't have imagined how this journey would transform not just her life, but her purpose. After walking alongside him through an 18-month battle combining holistic and Western medicine, Maureen found herself navigating the complex landscape of widowhood when Pete passed in October 2023.

Rather than allowing grief to consume her, Maureen—already accomplished as a top 2% leader in her field helping women achieve their goals—channeled her experience into creating something meaningful. Her forthcoming podcast "Widow Talk" aims to create a safe space for women traveling similar paths, offering guidance on everything from emotional healing to practical concerns like finances and building new relationships.

What makes Maureen's approach particularly valuable is her hard-won wisdom about transformation after loss. She shares practical strategies that helped her move forward: avoiding major decisions in the first year, creating spaces of peace and serenity in her home, decluttering at her own pace, and maintaining routines of meditation, prayer, and exercise that anchored her through the most difficult days.

"Grief isn't linear," Maureen explains, describing how emotions move unpredictably between denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. This recognition offers profound comfort to those who might otherwise feel they're "doing grief wrong." Perhaps most compelling is her perspective on finding purpose through pain: "I want to help people with support systems, with working in their community, with building their own self, transforming their own life, finding new opportunities."

Tune in to Widow Talk launching this month to join a community of women discovering that while nothing stays the same, there can be revival, renewal, and meaningful connection even after profound loss. Whether you're personally navigating grief or supporting someone who is, Maureen's journey offers a roadmap for finding light after darkness.