Advertise on podcast: Widow 180 The Podcast with Jen Zwinck

“Just leave the door open a crack. Light has a way of finding its way in.” When your spouse dies, the world doesn’t just feel sad. It feels unrecognizable. And well-meaning advice to “stay positive” can sting more than it soothes. In this gentle, honest episode, we explore how optimism and grief can sit side by side. Optimism isn’t pretending you’re fine or rushing through pain. It’s the quiet belief that meaning, connection, and even joy can return, someday. You’ll hear: Why healthy grieving moves between pain and restFour ways a hopeful outlook supports healingFive gentle habits for nurturing hope on hard daysWhy healing means carrying love and loss together, not “moving on”Whether you lost your spouse recently or years ago, or you’re supporting someone who is grieving, this episode offers comfort without pressure. If you’re struggling, please reach out to a doctor or grief counselor. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 anytime. This podcast is not a substitute for professional mental health care. Read more on Chara’s Substack: Chara Armon Get the Finding Purpose and Meaning After Loss Workbook at https://widow180.kit.com/products/purpose 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]

Your husband said there was a life insurance policy. Now you can't find it! The claim is delayed, or a denial letter just arrived! What now? In this episode, we sit down with Stephanie Prestridge, attorney and founder of Life Claim, a law practice focused exclusively on life insurance disputes. After nearly two decades in estate planning, Stephanie knows where grieving families get blindsided: lost policies, missed premiums, the two-year contestability period, and the sympathetic phone call from a claims adjuster that may not be what it seems. Grab a pen and paper and take notes! Timestamps 00:00 – Meet Stephanie Prestridge and why this topic matters01:52 – How to have the hard conversations before it's too late08:45 – Where to look when you suspect a policy exists10:26 – The NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator, and why it's slow12:27 – Do insurers have to find you? (The lawyer answer: it depends)19:09 – Top reasons claims get denied, and the missed-premium trap23:04 – The two-year contestability period explained27:19 – What's happening when your claim is delayed32:57 – Employer policies and ERISA: why you only get one appeal37:28 – First steps after a denial, and why DIY appeals backfire41:02 – The one thing Stephanie wishes every widow knew43:14 – Leaving a legacy conversation, not a guessing game46:15 – How to reach Life Claim"Banking on your grief is an industry standard, and it should not be one." ~Stephie Prestridge Five Key Takeaways Have the conversation now. A spouse who refuses to talk about finances isn't protecting you. If they won't talk, have them write down what you need to know and tell you where it's stored.Be careful what you tell the claims examiner. Their friendly questions can become grounds to investigate or deny. Keep it short: confirm the death, ask what forms are needed, and request everything in writing.Watch the contestability period. If the insured dies within two years of the policy being issued or reinstated, the insurer can audit the application and medical records. Even an honest mistake can sink a claim.Employer policies follow ERISA. You get one chance to appeal correctly and can't add evidence later, so get counsel immediately after a denial.Prevent problems before they happen. Name a second person to receive missed-premium notices, review beneficiary designations every five years, and remember that life insurance bypasses your will.Reach Stephie at www.lifeclaim.com For more Widow 180 FREE resources go to www.widow180.com/freebies 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]

"The hardest part about grief is adapting to your new reality, and adapting to your life without that person in it." - Lauren Four months after losing her husband, Porter, therapist and grief educator Lauren joins us on Widow180 to talk about widowhood as it's happening. After a sudden medical emergency on their anniversary trip, Lauren had to make the hardest decision of her life. She shares what it's like to be a grief professional living through grief herself, and how she's rebuilding her home, her routines, and her identity. Timestamps 0:46 - Lauren's story: Memorial Day weekend and losing Porter5:14 - When the grief expert becomes the griever7:29 - The tiny reminders no one prepares you for11:57 - Helping her 10-year-old son through grief14:50 - What's helping: restorative yoga, journaling, breath work, and re-nesting the home19:20 - Loneliness, and the highs and lows after a good day out23:34 - Holding on to his phone and talking to him in voice recordings25:40 - How to support someone months into grief30:06 - Working as a "wounded healer" one week after the loss35:18 - Rebuilding identity as "widow Lauren"38:53 - Losing your "history keeper"41:40 - What Lauren would tell someone newly widowed44:00 - Where to find LaurenIn this episode, you'll hear: Why saying "he's in a better place" or looking for meaning can hurt more than helpWhy you should show up and do the dishes instead of asking "what can I do?"How to set firmer boundaries when everyone has an opinion about your griefConnect with Lauren Website: www.healingjourney.usEmail: [email protected]: The Healing Journey LafayetteTikTok: That WooWooTherapist LadyIf you're grieving, you're not alone. Listen, share with someone who needs it, and subscribe to Widow180. The Cooking For One After Loss - Widow 180 Cooking Workbook is available now for instant download! Get the cookbook at www.widow180.kit.com/products/cooking 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]

Nobody warns you that grief shows up in your kitchen!  If you've lost your spouse and suddenly can't figure out what to make for dinner — or don't even want to try — you're not alone, and you're not doing anything wrong! In this episode, we talk through the real, often unspoken emotional side of cooking for one after loss: the guilt of eating a favorite meal without them, the apathy that makes food feel pointless, the overwhelm of grocery shopping for one, and the way a single smell or recipe can bring grief rushing back out of nowhere. You'll learn why this happens, why it's a completely normal part of grief (not a personal failing), and a few practical ways to start taking care of yourself again — even on the nights you have almost nothing left to give. The Cooking for One After Loss - Widow 180 Cooking Workbook, the newest Widow 180 workbook was built specifically to help with this exact struggle — simple recipes organized by energy level, a starting-point quiz, and real support for the emotional side of eating alone. Get the workbook at https://www.widow180.com/cooking If this episode speaks to where you are right now, you're not alone — and you don't have to figure it out today. Timestamps 0:00 — Introduction: the grief nobody warns you about1:15 — The four feelings most widows have around food (guilt, apathy, overwhelm, memory triggers)4:15 — Why grief fatigue makes cooking feel impossible some days6:15 — Introducing A Table for One: a workbook built for this exact struggle8:15 — Where to find support and get your copy🔗 Check out all of the workbooks in the 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]

In this episode of Widow 180, listeners are invited into the deeply personal journey of Stephanie Edens as she recounts the day her world changed forever with the sudden loss of her husband, Peter. The conversation focused on the intense shock of unexpected tragedy, the struggle to process loss, and the profound impact on her and her young children. A key theme that emerged was the remarkable timing of a critical conversation Stephanie and Peter had the night before his death—one in which Peter made her promise to remarry, sell the family’s fishing boat, and move away for a fresh start. The discussion explored how this candid exchange ultimately became a guiding light for Stephanie as she navigated solo parenting, grief, and community judgments regarding her choices. Several points were raised, including the importance of setting personal boundaries, the role of family counseling in healing, and creative approaches to milestone days—like transforming the anniversary of Peter’s death into a celebration of his “birthday in heaven.” The episode delves into honoring a loved one through new traditions, starting a scholarship, and ultimately, finding the courage to date and remarry, with honesty about the unique challenges widows face. Stephanie also shares the process and meaning behind her memoir, “Don’t Worry, I Have a Plan,” offering wisdom for others feeling stuck in grief. She encourages widows to embrace living forward, seek guidance within, and remember that life after loss, while forever changed, can be lived with hope and purpose. FREE Postcards for you: https://widow180.kit.com/postcards 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]

In Episode 287 of Widow 180: The Podcast, we take on one of the most challenging and emotionally charged topics for widows: navigating those significant dates on the calendar after loss. Whether it’s wedding anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, or family milestones like graduations, facing them without your spouse can feel overwhelming and isolating. Drawing from my own recent experiences (my daughter Claire is about to graduate high school!), I address the unique anxiety and grief that anticipation brings.  This key insight is echoed by members of the Widow 180 Community Facebook group: the dread leading up to these hard days is often worse than the day itself!  But that doesn’t mean the actual day is easy.  Feeling hit hard or temporarily set back is entirely normal, not a sign of failure or regression. This episode offers hope and practical strategies for surviving those big milestone days, with three actionable tips: Pick one intentional way to feel connected to your person (00:04:31).Tell one or two people exactly what you need for support on that day (00:04:58).Give yourself permission to say no to anyone else’s expectations or plans (00:05:35).Ultimately, this is about self-compassion and flexibility. There is no wrong way to mark these days—each year may feel different, and that’s okay (00:06:25).  Whether you spend the day in quiet remembrance or surrounded by others, this episode will leave you feeling seen, understood, and a little more prepared to get through the hard days ahead. Check out the Widow 180 FREEBIES at www.widow180.com/freebies 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]

Relationships with in-laws can be complicated! But after the death of a spouse, things can really go off the rails!  In this emotional and eye-opening episode of Widow 180, we gather two widows, Renee and Gretchen, for a candid roundtable discussion about the ways their connections to their late husbands’ families changed after loss, and the surprising, sometimes painful, ways in-laws can impact the grieving process. We explore how cherished extended family ties often dissolve or morph at the very moment widows need support most. Gretchen shares the contrast between her two sets of in-laws: one side offering comfort, boundaries, and ongoing connection, while the other brought stress with overbearing involvement and competitive grief. She recounts the heartbreak and shock when her mother-in-law skipped her son’s funeral, and how she navigated complex expectations about maintaining family ties for her children’s sake. Renee opens up about her devastating experience with a financial betrayal: her sister-in-law, once named the beneficiary on an old IRA, agreed to transfer the funds to Renee’s children—only to keep the six-figure inheritance for herself. Despite attempts at family intervention, Renee was left feeling isolated, let down by in-laws who refused to get involved, and forced to protect her children from further harm. The discussion delves into setting boundaries, communicating through high-emotion situations, and the heartbreaking financial complexities widows may face, often learning the heard way.  Want some practical scripts for difficult conversations? We have them here!  This conversation is for anyone who has felt “family” slip away at the worst possible time, or needs guidance for tackling tough relationships and decisions after loss. Tune in to hear honest stories and actionable advice for protecting what matters most. Want the "Get Your Life Back Together After Loss" freebie? Click HERE! 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]

Life can feel "griefy". You know what I mean! Some days are heavy in a way that's hard to explain — not a crisis, exactly, just "griefy".  And then there are the moments a wave hits out of nowhere: a song, a habit, reaching for the phone to tell them something, or nothing you can even pinpoint. In this episode, we talk honestly about both kinds of days — the low, gray-cloud heaviness that settles in for hours, and the sudden waves that can knock you off your feet. You'll hear why grief doesn't move like a project with a finish line, and why a hard day doesn't mean you're grieving wrong. We cover practical ways to get through the heavier days: lowering the bar for what counts as "getting through it," keeping one small anchor of routine, asking for specific help instead of a vague offer, and understanding why grief shows up in your body — the exhaustion, the forgetfulness, the disrupted sleep — just as much as in your mind. Then we walk through a simple four-step practice designed for the exact moment a wave of grief hits and you feel overwhelmed: Name it, don't fight itPut your feet on the groundBreathe out longer than you breathe inLet the wave move through, then do one small next thingIt's short enough to remember in the grocery store, at your desk, or lying awake at 3 a.m. — anywhere grief catches you off guard. This episode is for anyone who's lost a spouse or partner and is looking for something steadier than "just give it time." It won't make the grief disappear, and it isn't meant to. It's meant to help you stay standing inside it — one wave, one small next step, at a time. If grief is showing up often, lasting a long time, or making it hard to function, we also talk about when it's worth bringing to a grief counselor or therapist — not because anything is wrong with you, but because what you're carrying deserves support sized to match it. 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]

In this deeply honest and moving episode, I sit down with Rachel Powell — widow, remarried wife, mother of a "super blended" family, and founder of Hope Speaker — to talk about the messy, complicated, and ultimately hope-filled path she's walked since losing her husband. Rachel shares the story of meeting her late husband Andre in high school youth group, building a life together that included raising four children (three nieces and nephews plus their biological daughter), and the devastating final year of their marriage marked by addiction, undiagnosed mental health struggles, and abuse — before losing him to suicide in June 2019. She opens up candidly about the darkest chapter that followed: navigating single parenthood during the COVID pandemic, wrestling with guilt and shame, surviving two suicide attempts of her own, and the pivotal turning point that led her to prioritize her own healing. Rachel discusses: ~the tools that helped her rebuild, including the Grief Recovery Method ~holistic approaches to healing body, mind, and spirit ~vagus nerve regulation work ~her journey into remarriage — meeting her husband Mike online, navigating a cross-state relationship, and blending their families ~encouragement for widows considering dating again.  She closes with a powerful reminder: today's reality is not your forever reality! Rachel also speaks to the urgent, under-resourced needs of the widowed community, sharing striking statistics about how little nonprofit support exists for the 11.6 million widows in the U.S., and the work she's doing through her coaching practice and the Hope Stronghold community to change that. This episode is a raw, faith-centered conversation about grief, resilience, and finding purpose on the other side of unimaginable loss. Connect with Rachel: hopespeaker.com | hopespeaker.com/coaching The community: hopestronghold.com A note: this episode discusses suicide loss and suicidal ideation in detail. If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) is available 24/7. 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]

Losing a spouse is one of the most disorienting experiences a person can go through, but grief doesn't have to be the end of your story. In this uplifting episode, we explore what it really means to find purpose and meaning after loss, and why choosing happiness again isn't a betrayal of the person you lost, it's an honor to them. We talk honestly about the danger of staying stuck in grief, why "waiting for the right time" to move forward often means waiting forever, and how rediscovering who you are after loss can become one of the most unexpected gifts hidden inside your grief journey. You'll hear practical, heartfelt encouragement for widows and widowers who are ready to stop surviving and start truly living again — building a life filled with purpose, joy, and possibility.  The Finding Purpose and Meaning After Loss Workbook, a 43-page guided resource full of journal prompts and reflective exercises designed to help you rediscover yourself and reconnect with what makes life meaningful, one page at a time! Find the workbook at www.widow180.com/purpose If you're a widow or widower feeling stuck between honoring your past and building your future, this episode is your reminder: your story isn't over!  Grief and growth can coexist. Life — even after profound loss — is still amazing, and it's still yours to shape! Tune in for a warm, honest conversation about healing, resilience, and choosing joy on purpose. 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]

Gia was 19 when she met Jonas and she loved him almost from the start, even though fate took a few tries to bring them together. What followed was a whirlwind life: a blended family, two kids ten years apart, constant moves, and a marriage built on Jonas's fearless, say-yes-to-everything spirit. His biggest dream was returning to his native Tanzania to build a business, and after the pandemic hit, he finally got his shot — opening a boutique hotel and tour company he poured his heart into. Then, in April 2024, everything changed. Gia describes the surreal morning she couldn't reach him, the strange phone call from their housekeeper delivering the impossible news, and the disorienting hours that followed as she tried to get answers from thousands of miles away.  She opens up about: ~the altercation that took Jonas's life ~the confusion and misinformation that clouded the early days ~leaning on her widow community during the darkest moments ~carrying a business she never intended to run ~starting Seasons Of Life Celebrations to honor life-changing moments ~the excruciating wait for legal answers that, over two years later, still aren't fully resolved ~finding her footing again while still living inside the unknown In this deeply honest conversation, Gia shares what it's like to grieve not just a husband, but the future they'd planned together — the "empty nest" chapter she never got to have.  This is a story about love, sudden loss, resilience, and the long, uneven road toward healing. Find Gia at www.SeasonsOfLifeCelebrations.com.  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 do you do with the clothes still hanging in his closet?  The shoes that seem to multiply the moment you try to pack them away?!  In this raw, unfiltered Widow 180 roundtable, four guests — three widows and a widower — open up about one of the hardest, least-talked-about parts of loss: deciding what to do with a spouse's belongings. Lindsay Lawrence, Sarah Fox, Lakisha Lefever, and psychologist Stephen Taylor share their timelines, triggers, and hard-won strategies — from turning t-shirts into memory bears, to donating shoes to strangers in need, to the surprising guilt that can surface over something as small as a comforter or an empty cologne bottle. They talk honestly about outside pressure and unsolicited opinions from family. As Lindsay puts it: "Until you are walking in my shoes, I really don't need to hear your opinion anymore."  And Stephen offers a piece of wisdom that reframes the whole conversation: "If you don't do something with your grief, your grief is gonna do something to you." This episode also covers the power of pre-loss conversations, the "widow brain" phenomenon, navigating family traditions around belongings, and two simple questions to help guide any decision:  Will I ever actually use this? and  Where is the right place for it to go? Whether your loss was sudden or came after years of illness, this conversation offers permission to move at your own pace — because when it comes to grief, there's no right way. There's just your way. For more support and guidance in widowhood, check out the Widow 180 Workbook series at www.widow180.com/workbooks What stage of widowhood are you in right now? Not sure? Click here to get the specific help you need for where you are right now on this journey. Go to www.widow180.com/stages 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 happens when widow brain and ADHD collide? In this episode, we sit down with Jennifer Dall — grief-informed neurodivergence specialist, founder of Curveball Press, and widow of four-plus years — to unpack how grief and neurodivergence amplify each other in ways almost no one talks about. Jennifer opens up about losing her husband to suicide, navigating grief alongside her adult daughter, and the messy, ongoing work of sorting through his belongings (tools, fishing gear, and all).  We dig into decision fatigue, executive dysfunction, and why "widow fog" hits differently when you're also managing ADHD — plus practical, compassionate strategies for getting through the hardest days, releasing guilt, and rebuilding an identity that's been completely upended. If you're in the thick of grief and wondering whether you'll ever feel capable again, this conversation is a reminder: you will. One day, one wave, one Netflix episode at a time! In this episode: Grief triggers, "random Tuesdays," and anticipating hard anniversariesWidow brain vs. ADHD — how they compound each otherPractical tools for decision fatigue and overwhelmReleasing guilt around big life decisionsRebuilding identity after lossWhat "mini survival mode" looks like — and how to get through it againConnect with Jennifer: adhdholistically.com  There are 5 stages of healing in widowhood. Not sure which one you're in? Go to www.widow180.com/stages to find out. Get a curated list of resources you need to start healing today! 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]

If you're listening to this at 2am because grief won't let you sleep, or three years out wondering why you still don't feel like yourself — this episode is for you! Forget the 5 stages of grief you've heard about a hundred times.  In this episode, we are breaking down the 5 stages of healing in widowhood — a framework built specifically for what it actually looks like to lose your spouse and rebuild a life afterward: In the Thick of It — raw, early grief and survival modeFinding Your Footing — small wins and the guilt of feeling capable againSearching for Yourself — the identity work of figuring out who you are nowStepping into Chapter Two — building a new life on purpose, joy and grief coexistingThriving and Paying It Forward — a new relationship with your loss, and helping others through theirsThese stages aren't a ladder you climb in order, rather, you can move back and forth between them, sometimes in the same week. We walk through what each stage actually feels like, what it looks like from the outside, and exactly what you need in each one. Whether you're in the fog of week one or years into rebuilding, this episode will help you understand exactly where you are and know that where you're headed is real. FIND YOUR STAGE: Head to https://www.widow180.com/stages to find your stage and get a personalized list of resources to support you right where you are! For all Widow 180 Workbooks in the series, 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]

Julie Wright Halbert was a national education attorney, married 22 years, when her husband Jim started losing weight and running a fever — symptoms doctors first mistook for an infection.  Three weeks later, he was gone.  In this raw, wide-ranging conversation, Julie shares what it's really like to lose a spouse to a fast-moving, hard-to-diagnose cancer (later identified as cholangiocarcinoma), how she held two teenage sons together while barely holding herself together, and the winding path — through grief therapy, a chance encounter with a life coach in Colorado, a medium session that left her laughing and crying, and healing retreats in Sedona — that led her to become a transformational soul coach, death doula, and author of the forthcoming book Live and Die Awake (releasing November 4, 2026). This episode isn't just about how Jim died — it's about how Julie learned to live. In this episode, we chat about: The frightening weeks between Jim's first symptoms and his cholangiocarcinoma diagnosis at MD AndersonThe "angel medevac" flight that got the family home to say goodbyeGoing back to work as an attorney while still in early, acute griefThe synchronicities — a stranger's conversation, a medium's prediction — that led her to coachingHow her book Live and Die Awake came together, chapter by chapter, as a healing tool for any kind of lossWhat she looks for first when guiding a new grief client through an identity shiftHer thoughts on group retreats, Sedona's "vortex energy," and communal healingTimestamps: 00:00 – Intro 00:23 – Jim's first symptoms and the early misdiagnosis 03:30 – The diagnosis: cholangiocarcinoma at MD Anderson 06:07 – The angel medevac flight home 06:43 – Jim passes away, December 6, 2018 07:23 – The raw grief of losing someone in three weeks 11:15 – Returning to work as an attorney while grieving 20:12 – The Colorado synchronicity that led to her life coach 24:20 – How her book Live and Die Awake began taking shape 27:03 – Connecting with medium Tina Powers 34:45 – Founding Rising Phoenix Life coaching 37:03 – Guiding clients through identity shifts after loss 40:27 – Is there a "too soon" for grief transformation? 44:45 – Sedona retreats and communal healing 59:16 – Where to find Julie + closing thoughts Connect with Julie Wright Halbert: 🌐 Website: risingphoenix.life 📖 Substack: Living and Dying Awake 💼 LinkedIn: Julie Wright Halbert 📧 Email: [email protected] 📚 Book: Live and Die Awake — releasing November 4, 2026 What stage are you on this widow journey? Not sure? Find out at https://www.widow180.com/stages and get the tailored grief support you need. 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]