Giving yourself permission to live again after loss can feel unfamiliar and even uncomfortable, and in this conversation with Kelley Raleigh, that tension is explored with honesty, depth, and care. Kelley reflects on becoming a widow at 46 and the disorienting experience of grieving a life that changed in an instant while still choosing to move forward. Her story moves through identity shifts, evolving relationships, and the deeply personal choices that come with rebuilding, including moments that felt messy, unexpected, and real. What unfolds is a thoughtful reflection on grief that makes space for both sorrow and growth, gently challenging the belief that there is only one way to mourn. Through her lived experience, Kelley offers a grounded reminder that even in the midst of profound loss, it is possible to reconnect with yourself and begin shaping a life that still feels meaningful.

I am sharing my experience of loving the same man for 32 years, a mother to two adult children, a retired military officer, a breast cancer survivor, and my connections with others.  

Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts should reach out to a suicide hotline or local emergency number in their country: Psychology Today Suicide Hotlines and Prevention Resources Around the World.

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/

In this episode, host Tina sits down with Tami Franklin, author of Un-Masked, Un-Broken, Healed & Set Free. Tami shares her raw and honest "lived experience" of surviving the loss of her daughter, Brittany, and her stepson, Christian. After 14 years of trauma therapy and writing, Tami explains why she believes grief is "holy ground" and how resilient faith allowed her to move from a three-year pit of despair to a life of liberation. This conversation is a roadmap for anyone wearing a mask of "fine" while feeling broken, offering a powerful reminder that while we don't always get what we "ordered" from life, healing is an intentional daily choice.

I am sharing my experience of loving the same man for 32 years, a mother to two adult children, a retired military officer, a breast cancer survivor, and my connections with others.  

Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts should reach out to a suicide hotline or local emergency number in their country: Psychology Today Suicide Hotlines and Prevention Resources Around the World.

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/

Most people often consider getting end of life care once they have exhausted all other options – but that is when it is all too late. Tina Fornwald sits down with Cylon George, who shares about his work as a seasoned hospice chaplain who bridges clinical support and soulful connection. He dispels different misconceptions about hospice care and emphasizes why conversations about it should not feel dreadful. Chaplain George also explains how to handle the guilt and emotional burden often associated with caregiving, allowing them to live fulfilling lives while ensuring the betterment of other people’s lives.

I am sharing my experience of loving the same man for 32 years, a mother to two adult children, a retired military officer, a breast cancer survivor, and my connections with others.  

Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts should reach out to a suicide hotline or local emergency number in their country: Psychology Today Suicide Hotlines and Prevention Resources Around the World.

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/

This episode closes out a month of conversations dedicated to love, loss, and remembrance. 

Recorded nine years after the death of my husband, Mark, this final March reflection is not about closure or moving on. It is about what endured. What relocated. What stayed. In this conversation, I speak to both Mark and you, the listener, exploring the idea of continuing bonds and the quiet ways love endures long after loss. I share how grief has changed shape over time, how connection can persist without denial, and how meaning can be made not by letting go, but by carrying love forward.

This episode offers gentle permission to remember, to speak love aloud, and to honor the relationships that continue to shape us even in their absence.

March is ending. Love is not.

I am sharing my experience of loving the same man for 32 years, a mother to two adult children, a retired military officer, a breast cancer survivor, and my connections with others.  

Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts should reach out to a suicide hotline or local emergency number in their country: Psychology Today Suicide Hotlines and Prevention Resources Around the World.

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/

Love changes us—but sometimes in ways we don’t fully realize until we look back. In this heartfelt reflection, we explore the transformative power of loving someone deeply and how that love shaped the person I became. From lessons in vulnerability to the growth sparked by connection, this story dives into the ways love challenges us, teaches us, and ultimately helps us evolve. Discover how love isn’t just about the other person—it’s about who you become in the process.

I am sharing my experience of loving the same man for 32 years, a mother to two adult children, a retired military officer, a breast cancer survivor, and my connections with others.  

Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts should reach out to a suicide hotline or local emergency number in their country: Psychology Today Suicide Hotlines and Prevention Resources Around the World.

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/

The day of your loved one’s passing is indeed a hard time to get through. But unbeknownst to many, the day after their death is much harder to get through. As I remember my late husband Mark on his ninth death anniversary, we explore the often-overlooked emotional weight that happens one day after a special someone dies. I look back on what I learned from the extreme quietness following Mark’s passing and why I continue to embrace gratefulness long after his death. We also uncover why emotional fog is not something you should feel bad about and how to give yourself grace through the immense power of self-care.

I am sharing my experience of loving the same man for 32 years, a mother to two adult children, a retired military officer, a breast cancer survivor, and my connections with others.

Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts should reach out to a suicide hotline or local emergency number in their country: Psychology Today Suicide Hotlines and Prevention Resources Around the World.

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/

How do you hold the expansive story of a life when all people want to ask about is the ending? Dr. Tina Fornwald dedicates the month of March to remembering the whole person in grief, honoring her late husband, Mark Fornwald, nine years after his passing. In this raw and deeply personal conversation, she speaks directly to Mark, allowing listeners into a 32-year love that shaped her into the woman she is today—a relationship built on mutual strength, laughter, and raising their two children. She shares cherished, untold memories and explains why choosing to continue loving and living with his presence is more important than finding resolution. This is an invitation to witness a love that continues out loud and know you are not alone in your own journey.

I am sharing my experience of loving the same man for 32 years, a mother to two adult children, a retired military officer, a breast cancer survivor, and my connections with others.  

Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts should reach out to a suicide hotline or local emergency number in their country: Psychology Today Suicide Hotlines and Prevention Resources Around the World.

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/

Abuse and grief may leave you with deep wounds, but the path to healing will always be open. With an unrelenting mindset, Brian Francis managed to endure a childhood of domestic abuse and the trauma of his father’s death. He tells how he embraced unwavering resilience to write a memoir about his experiences, insights, and realizations to spread inspiration to people who are going through the same struggles. Brian also shares how he gained deeper empathy as a psychiatric nurse, his decision to seek reclassification as a conscientious objector in the Navy, and how he connected with his readers who now feel less alone because of his truth.

I am sharing my experience of loving the same man for 32 years, a mother to two adult children, a retired military officer, a breast cancer survivor, and my connections with others.  

Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts should reach out to a suicide hotline or local emergency number in their country: Psychology Today Suicide Hotlines and Prevention Resources Around the World.

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/

Moving through the unimaginable pain of loss is the beginning of a profound grief transformation and conscious new life. Tina Fornwald sits down with Julie Halbert, a Transformational Soul Coach, Death Doula, and former lawyer, to explore the powerful journey from victimhood to light, discussing her upcoming book, Divine Ashes Ascending. They speak the raw truth about the guttural reality of grief, the importance of building community, and how spiritual practice can move us from mere survival to a state of being and profound peace. Julie also sheds light on the often-overlooked emotional needs of grieving sons and the crucial role of the 504 plan in providing accommodations for children in school.

I am sharing my experience of loving the same man for 32 years, a mother to two adult children, a retired military officer, a breast cancer survivor, and my connections with others.  

Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts should reach out to a suicide hotline or local emergency number in their country: Psychology Today Suicide Hotlines and Prevention Resources Around the World.

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/

Setting healthy boundaries should never restrict you from living your best life, but protect you from getting hurt by external forces out of your control. Author and speaker Regina Hiremath experienced a rough childhood and got into an unhappy marriage, but she handled the wounds of her journey by doing the inner work and creating boundaries in the right places. She shares how overcoming her fear of public speaking and undergoing a self-discovery allowed her to share her story of trauma, domestic violence, and divorce to the world. Regina also explains how to find your own “onesome” and learn to ride the huge waves of life’s challenges.

I am sharing my experience of loving the same man for 32 years, a mother to two adult children, a retired military officer, a breast cancer survivor, and my connections with others.  

Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts should reach out to a suicide hotline or local emergency number in their country: Psychology Today Suicide Hotlines and Prevention Resources Around the World.

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/