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Dorothy Kane is not a grandmother. She is a 36-year-old widow from Toronto who is just four months into life after loss. With a newborn at home and maternity leave underway, Dorothy shares what it’s like navigating fresh grief while caring for a brand-new life. She opens up about losing her husband to lupus, and the disorienting overlap of heartbreak, exhaustion, and responsibility—all while not yet knowing what returning to her role as a high school teacher will feel like.  Anita and Mel learn more from Dorothy about Canadian vs US healthcare (specifically ambulances), what it's like to be a mom to several small children while your husband is in the hospital, and if it's possible to be a grief savant. This episode contains lots of laughter, so be forewarned!  *Check our Patreon for AD FREE Episodes, or to submit tributes of your person to be read in an episode! *http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Sponsored by: BetterHelp.com. Save 10% off the first month of online therapy done securely, online with our unique link: https://trybetterhelp.com/wwdn Mint Mobile: Mobile phone plans with great service and coverage starting at $15/month https://trymintmobile.com/wwdn Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more! http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Need some Snarky Grief merch? http://shop.widowwedonow.com Wanna buy us tacos? http://www.buymeacoffee.com/widowwedonow Follow our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@widowwedonow Support the show

Anita and Mel are catching up after spring break—grief, growth, and the weird ways time keeps moving whether you’re ready or not. Anita opens up about a heavy realization about her kids: the stretch of time after their dad’s death didn’t just pass—it quietly closed doors. Some of the kids missed windows where they would’ve been starting activities, playing on sports teams, and building routines… and now it feels like they’re arriving late to something nearly everyone else already knows how to do.  As far as updates and headlines: what’s going on with people's reactions to actor, widow, and newly-ish pregnant Aubrey Plaza, the latest developments in the Kouri Richins trial, and yes—an unexpected dive into clowns.  *Check our Patreon for AD FREE Episodes, or to submit tributes of your person to be read in an episode! *http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Sponsored by: BetterHelp.com. Save 10% off the first month of online therapy done securely, online with our unique link: https://trybetterhelp.com/wwdn Mint Mobile: Mobile phone plans with great service and coverage starting at $15/month https://trymintmobile.com/wwdn Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more! http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Need some Snarky Grief merch? http://shop.widowwedonow.com Wanna buy us tacos? http://www.buymeacoffee.com/widowwedonow Follow our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@widowwedonow Support the show

Meet our friend Dennis. Dennis was widowed from his long-time partner Michelle, who died from ampullary adenocarcinoma - a rare, malignant tumor arising from the spot where the bile and pancreatic ducts empty into the small intestine. Dennis discusses with Anita and Mel how he and Michelle were legally set up before her death so he could make decisions in her best interest before AND after her death. Unbeknownst to Anita and Mel, Dennis has made a career change, which was prompted by a promise to Michelle. He has also repartnered, and shares about what it has been like for him and his wife.  Connect with Dennis at: https://consigcoaching.com *Check our Patreon for AD FREE Episodes, or to submit tributes of your person to be read in an episode! *http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Sponsored by: BetterHelp.com. Save 10% off the first month of online therapy done securely, online with our unique link: https://trybetterhelp.com/wwdn Mint Mobile: Mobile phone plans with great service and coverage starting at $15/month https://trymintmobile.com/wwdn Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more! http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Need some Snarky Grief merch? http://shop.widowwedonow.com Wanna buy us tacos? http://www.buymeacoffee.com/widowwedonow Follow our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@widowwedonow Support the show

Leslie Harter Berg, known for her Vids for Wids, joins Widow We Do Now to talk about the loss of her husband, Ryan, who died from arteriovenous malformations, and what life has looked like in the years since. She shares the reality of early grief, what it meant to rebuild, and how her path eventually led to remarriage — something that can feel complicated, unexpected, and even conflicting in widowhood. Leslie brings humor into the conversation without forcing it, offering a perspective that feels both grounded and honest. She also talks about creating content specifically for widows, writing her book You’re So Strong, and the experience of being told that phrase when everything feels anything but. Get your copy of Leslie's book, You're So Strong: On Grief And Letting Go Of My Favorite Compliment on Amazon or anywhere books are sold. Website: https://www.vidsforwids.com IG: @vidsforwids TikTok @vidsforwids *Check our Patreon for AD FREE Episodes, or to submit tributes of your person to be read in an episode! *http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Sponsored by: BetterHelp.com. Save 10% off the first month of online therapy done securely, online with our unique link: https://trybetterhelp.com/wwdn Mint Mobile: Mobile phone plans with great service and coverage starting at $15/month https://trymintmobile.com/wwdn Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more! http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Need some Snarky Grief merch? http://shop.widowwedonow.com Wanna buy us tacos? http://www.buymeacoffee.com/widowwedonow Follow our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@widowwedonow Support the show

Sara Gregerman became a widow when her platonic life partner, Joanna, died from brain cancer. Sara is asexual. Joanna was first her best friend, then the person she built a life with—and the person she was planning to marry. Their partnership didn’t follow the usual scripts people imagine when they hear the word “widow,” but it was loving, deeply committed, and built out of years of choosing each other. In this episode, Sara talks about how their relationship grew from friendship into a committed life partnership, what it meant to imagine a future and a marriage together, and what it’s like to grieve when your relationship doesn’t fit the categories people recognize. She also shares what it was like to move through Joanna’s illness and death when some family members—and the medical system—didn’t always see her as a partner.  Sara talks with Anita and Mel about the many kinds of widows that exist, the ways some losses fall outside the stories people expect, and why it matters for people in unconventional partnerships to know they are not alone. *Check our Patreon for AD FREE Episodes, or to submit tributes of your person to be read in an episode! *http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Sponsored by: BetterHelp.com. Save 10% off the first month of online therapy done securely, online with our unique link: https://trybetterhelp.com/wwdn Mint Mobile: Mobile phone plans with great service and coverage starting at $15/month https://trymintmobile.com/wwdn Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more! http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Need some Snarky Grief merch? http://shop.widowwedonow.com Wanna buy us tacos? http://www.buymeacoffee.com/widowwedonow Follow our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@widowwedonow Support the show

When your husband was a deeply kind and loving person who brought joy and warmth into the lives of the people around him, it goes without saying that this is the kind of person everyone needs. Katie Goetz shares with Anita and Mel how the complications of addiction came as a shock, because she didn’t know he had been struggling until he became seriously ill. The addiction had been hidden, largely because of the shame and fear he carried. Their marriage was loving and real, which makes the story more complicated, not less. Katie talks about the experience of looking back on a relationship that was supportive and meaningful while also processing the hidden reality of addiction and the secrecy that shame can create.  Katie is also a historical researcher, which leads to a fascinating dive into widowhood across history. The conversation looks at how widows throughout history were treated in their time, the discomfort people have long had with widowed women, and the ways widows themselves have responded to those reactions. *Check our Patreon for AD FREE Episodes, or to submit tributes of your person to be read in an episode! *http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Sponsored by: BetterHelp.com. Save 10% off the first month of online therapy done securely, online with our unique link: https://trybetterhelp.com/wwdn Mint Mobile: Mobile phone plans with great service and coverage starting at $15/month https://trymintmobile.com/wwdn Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more! http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Need some Snarky Grief merch? http://shop.widowwedonow.com Wanna buy us tacos? http://www.buymeacoffee.com/widowwedonow Follow our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@widowwedonow Support the show

Julia Robinson is not here to fit in a box — and she’s definitely not here to let widowhood be reduced to a single storyline. As an AuDHD widow, mom to a non-binary child, and someone who was in an open marriage before her husband’s death, Julia brings sharp wit, self-awareness, and zero interest in changing herself to make other people comfortable. In this episode, she talks about navigating loss while living outside conventional expectations, what it’s like when the world wants tidy explanations for complex lives, and how she’s building a life that reflects who she actually is. Julia also tackles a topic many families whisper about: the shame that can surface when an autopsy reveals substances in a loved one’s system. She speaks candidly about reducing stigma, rejecting secrecy, and refusing to let judgment compound grief. Also featured are cats with hilariously unhinged names, honest conversations about parenting, and a very real appreciation for limited-edition energy drinks only available in South Korea.  *Check our Patreon for AD FREE Episodes, or to submit tributes of your person to be read in an episode! *http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Sponsored by: BetterHelp.com. Save 10% off the first month of online therapy done securely, online with our unique link: https://trybetterhelp.com/wwdn Mint Mobile: Mobile phone plans with great service and coverage starting at $15/month https://trymintmobile.com/wwdn Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more! http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Need some Snarky Grief merch? http://shop.widowwedonow.com Wanna buy us tacos? http://www.buymeacoffee.com/widowwedonow Follow our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@widowwedonow Support the show

It's not an uncommon phrase: "I felt like I got hit by a truck." But Jessica Medlin, school principal, avid runner, and recent widow actually DID get hit by a truck. Join Jessica, Anita, and Mel as they discuss widowhood, kids, work, what it's like to wake up in the hospital with crushed body parts, the criminal justice system, and whether or not you'd want a gold or platinum-filled eyelid if you had the choice. Jessica is a wonderful, positive, and humor-filled lovely lady and we know you'll enjoy getting to know her. To check out the result of the criminal case where Jessica was hit, click the link below: https://gilaherald.com/man-who-struck-thatcher-middle-school-principal-with-a-work-truck-while-she-jogged-sentenced-to-150-days-in-jail-and-4-years-of-intensive-probation/ *Check our Patreon for AD FREE Episodes, or to submit tributes of your person to be read in an episode! *http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Sponsored by: BetterHelp.com. Save 10% off the first month of online therapy done securely, online with our unique link: https://trybetterhelp.com/wwdn Mint Mobile: Mobile phone plans with great service and coverage starting at $15/month https://trymintmobile.com/wwdn Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more! http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Need some Snarky Grief merch? http://shop.widowwedonow.com Wanna buy us tacos? http://www.buymeacoffee.com/widowwedonow Follow our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@widowwedonow Support the show

Erin Clark, the widowed creator behind How’s the Weather,  joins Anita and Mel to talk about life after losing her husband, the emotional whiplash of grief, and how widowhood can shift from “I’m fine” to “I’m not okay” faster than anyone sees coming. Together, they unpack the daily realities: navigating triggers, handling the well-meaning check-ins, and learning how to answer the simplest question—how are you?—when the truth is complicated. Erin shares how she’s rebuilt routines, identity, and hope, while still honoring what she’s lost. Learn more about Erin and what she's doing at: Website: https://www.hows-the-weather.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wwwhowstheweather IG: https://www.instagram.com/erin_clark_242 *Check our Patreon for AD FREE Episodes, or to submit tributes of your person to be read in an episode! *http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Sponsored by: BetterHelp.com. Save 10% off the first month of online therapy done securely, online with our unique link: https://trybetterhelp.com/wwdn Mint Mobile: Mobile phone plans with great service and coverage starting at $15/month https://trymintmobile.com/wwdn Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more! http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Need some Snarky Grief merch? http://shop.widowwedonow.com Wanna buy us tacos? http://www.buymeacoffee.com/widowwedonow Follow our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@widowwedonow Support the show

Fiona de la Mezzo joins Anita and Mel all the way from Australia to talk about life after loss, love after cancer, and what happens when you decide to date again before you’re remotely ready. After losing her husband to cancer, Fiona opens up about the strange pressure to “make memories” while someone is dying, and how that expectation can feel heavy, performative, and impossible in the middle of anticipatory grief and caretaking. She also shares what is happening after: finding herself, navigating widowhood, and stumbling into the dating world with some truly cringey, laugh-out-loud stories.  *Check our Patreon for AD FREE Episodes, or to submit tributes of your person to be read in an episode! *http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Sponsored by: BetterHelp.com. Save 10% off the first month of online therapy done securely, online with our unique link: https://trybetterhelp.com/wwdn Mint Mobile: Mobile phone plans with great service and coverage starting at $15/month https://trymintmobile.com/wwdn Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more! http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Need some Snarky Grief merch? http://shop.widowwedonow.com Wanna buy us tacos? http://www.buymeacoffee.com/widowwedonow Follow our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@widowwedonow Support the show

In this episode, Anita and Mel get together to discuss current widow happenings. Anita shares one of her wildest post-widowhood adventures yet—getting asked to dance. Meanwhile, Mel dives into the growing conversation around AI awareness and what it means for regular people, independent creators, and big businesses.  *Check our Patreon for AD FREE Episodes, or to submit tributes of your person to be read in an episode! *http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Sponsored by: BetterHelp.com. Save 10% off the first month of online therapy done securely, online with our unique link: https://trybetterhelp.com/wwdn Mint Mobile: Mobile phone plans with great service and coverage starting at $15/month https://trymintmobile.com/wwdn Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more! http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Need some Snarky Grief merch? http://shop.widowwedonow.com Wanna buy us tacos? http://www.buymeacoffee.com/widowwedonow Follow our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@widowwedonow Support the show

Anita and Mel are joined by guest Tina Newman for a real-talk episode on dating after widowhood—because it’s never as simple as “moving on.” They chat about how Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) can turn life upside down, what widows actually want, and how we decide what to do with our past when we start over. This episode also gets into messy blended family stuff—stepkid issues, what happens when there’s no relationship with stepchildren after death, and the legal headaches that can come with it (yes, attorneys and all). And because this is Tina, you’ll also hear about her waxing life—because sometimes grief and dating conversations need a little humor and real-life chaos too. *Check our Patreon for AD FREE Episodes, or to submit tributes of your person to be read in an episode! *http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Sponsored by: BetterHelp.com. Save 10% off the first month of online therapy done securely, online with our unique link: https://trybetterhelp.com/wwdn Mint Mobile: Mobile phone plans with great service and coverage starting at $15/month https://trymintmobile.com/wwdn Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more! http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Need some Snarky Grief merch? http://shop.widowwedonow.com Wanna buy us tacos? http://www.buymeacoffee.com/widowwedonow Follow our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@widowwedonow Support the show

Meet our friend Kate. She's that cute friend that can fit in Anita's pocket but will pack a hefty throat punch if warranted. Kate's husband, Jeff, died by suicide at his place of work in 2024 after ingesting something called Kratom. In this episode, Kate shares what happened, what she wants people to understand about kratom, and the complex mental health struggles Jeff faced. This is a raw conversation about what it means to be the one left behind after suicide: the shock, the guilt, the anger, the love, and the questions that can linger for years. Kate speaks with honesty about her grief, the grief of her two young children, and how she's learning to live big. If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available. In the U.S., call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). Outside the U.S., contact local emergency services or a crisis line in your country. *Check our Patreon for AD FREE Episodes, or to submit tributes of your person to be read in an episode! *http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Sponsored by: BetterHelp.com. Save 10% off the first month of online therapy done securely, online with our unique link: https://trybetterhelp.com/wwdn Mint Mobile: Mobile phone plans with great service and coverage starting at $15/month https://trymintmobile.com/wwdn Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more! http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Need some Snarky Grief merch? http://shop.widowwedonow.com Wanna buy us tacos? http://www.buymeacoffee.com/widowwedonow Follow our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@widowwedonow Support the show

Kim Walker never expected to become a widow—especially not in the middle of an ordinary day. In this episode, Kim joins Anita and Mel from Germany to share the story of losing her husband, Lee, unexpectedly just one year ago as he was on his way to work.  Whether it's Formula 1 racing, traveling the world, or spending time with her dog Lando, Kim is showing up for life while carrying heavy grief. Kim also opens up about something many people don’t realize: Germany has strict—and to many, surprising—rules around ashes after cremation. You might just be amused to find out how some people work around these restrictions so they can spread or keep some of their loved ones' ashes.  *Check our Patreon for AD FREE Episodes, or to submit tributes of your person to be read in an episode! *http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Sponsored by: BetterHelp.com. Save 10% off the first month of online therapy done securely, online with our unique link: https://trybetterhelp.com/wwdn Mint Mobile: Mobile phone plans with great service and coverage starting at $15/month https://trymintmobile.com/wwdn Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more! http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Need some Snarky Grief merch? http://shop.widowwedonow.com Wanna buy us tacos? http://www.buymeacoffee.com/widowwedonow Follow our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@widowwedonow Support the show

Anita never thought she’d still be standing seven years after Jason’s death—but here she is. And in a strange twist, it wasn’t grief that almost took her out—it was something else in an adventurous jaunt on New Years Eve. In this episode, Anita and Mel also talk about what they’re choosing to bring into the new year, and what they’re ready to leave behind.  *Check our Patreon for AD FREE Episodes, or to submit tributes of your person to be read in an episode! *http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Sponsored by: BetterHelp.com. Save 10% off the first month of online therapy done securely, online with our unique link: https://trybetterhelp.com/wwdn Mint Mobile: Mobile phone plans with great service and coverage starting at $15/month https://trymintmobile.com/wwdn Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more! http://www.patreon.com/wwdn Need some Snarky Grief merch? http://shop.widowwedonow.com Wanna buy us tacos? http://www.buymeacoffee.com/widowwedonow Follow our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@widowwedonow Support the show