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Rating
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This podcast has
226 episodes
Language
EnglishPublisher
Emily TannerExplicit
No
Date created
2022/11/16
Latest episode
2026/10/21
Average duration
30 min.
Release period
8 days
Description
Inspiration for young widows to help heal their heart, find hope, and dream again for the future.
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BONUS: When Grief Is Overwhelming and Loss Keeps Coming, I Do These 5 Things
2026/10/21
What do you do when grief feels overwhelming and one loss after another keeps piling up?
In this episode, I’m sharing the five fundamentals I teach inside the Chaos to Calm series. These are the building blocks I return to whenever life feels chaotic, heavy, or impossible to manage.
When grief is intense, you may need to temporarily rearrange your life, lower your expectations, and focus only on what is essential. You are not failing because you cannot function at your normal capacity. You are moving through something deeply difficult, and your priorities may need to change.
The 5 Fundamentals
1. RoutineSimplify your calendar and focus on what truly has to get done. Remove unnecessary obligations and leave space to rest and recover.
2. Self-CarePrioritize your physical needs, including sleep, nutrition, hydration, and gentle movement. Self-care does not have to be complicated. Sometimes it means sitting in the sunshine or walking around your home.
3. HelpAsk for help, accept help, and allow people to support you. You do not have to carry every responsibility alone.
4. Emotional HealingProcess what is happening instead of isolating yourself. Find at least one safe person or community where you can talk honestly about the loneliness, pain, confusion, and heaviness of grief.
5. Spiritual ConnectionBring your anger, questions, disappointment, confusion, and pain to God. Spiritual connection does not require pretending everything is fine. It is about pursuing closeness with God in the middle of a painful season.
If grief feels overwhelming right now, return to these five fundamentals and ask: What is the one area where I need support today?
You can also join the free Brave Widow community at bravewidow.com/free.
Chapters
00:00 What to do when grief feels overwhelming00:45 The Chaos to Calm framework01:20 Fundamental 1: Routine02:15 Fundamental 2: Self-care03:15 Fundamental 3: Help03:50 Fundamental 4: Emotional healing04:40 Fundamental 5: Spiritual connection05:35 The five fundamentals recap
3 Things No One Tells You About the Holidays as a Widow (That Actually Help) | BW: 216
2026/10/20
Join Brave Through the Holidays: bravewidow.com/holidays
This 12-week pop-up group includes coaching, worksheets, community support, holiday planning, communication guidance, and vision planning for 2027.
The holidays can feel painful, overwhelming, and completely different after losing your spouse.
And the second year does not automatically feel easier.
Brave Widow Resources
Book a call with me to see if Academy is right for you: https://www.bravewidow.com/call
Free, Live “Four Seasons of Grief” Training + Quiz: bravewidow.com/live
Rebuild a Life You Can Love Again in the Brave Widow Academy (join the waitlist or book a call): https://bravewidow.com/academy
Create Calm from Chaos and Heal Your Heart inside Brave Widow Foundations:👉 bravewidow.com/foundations
Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free
The holidays can bring joy, but they can also bring powerful grief triggers for widows and widowers.
In this episode, I’m sharing three things people often don’t tell you about experiencing the holidays after the loss of your spouse:
No one may come to rescue your holidays.
Your nervous system may recognize holiday triggers before you consciously do.
The second or third holiday season may feel harder than the first.
You are not doing grief wrong if the holidays still feel painful. You are not required to participate in every tradition, attend every gathering, or pretend everything feels normal.
You can make decisions in advance. You can create a plan. You can choose what feels supportive, set boundaries, and prepare for the moments that may feel especially difficult.
If you want support navigating the holiday season, join us inside Brave Through the Holidays.
You’ll receive weekly guidance, worksheets, coaching, replays, and community support through the end of January.
Learn more: bravewidow.com/holidays
You can also join the free Brave Widow community at bravewidow.com/free.
Chapters
00:00 Why holiday grief can feel overwhelming 02:00 Why avoiding the holidays can make things harder 06:00 Thing 1: No one is coming to rescue your holidays 10:00 You get to decide what your holidays look like 11:30 Thing 2: Your nervous system knows the holiday schedule 14:00 Why holiday triggers can feel so unexpected 15:00 Thing 3: The second and third holidays may feel harder 17:00 Healing does not mean forgetting 19:00 Recap of the three things 20:00 Why join Brave Through the Holidays 23:00 Free Brave Widow community
💬 If this episode helped you, please:
* Hit Subscribe
* Leave a quick rating & review – it helps more widows find this support
* Share this with a friend who’s facing grief or the holidays without their person
If you’re new here, my name is Emily Tanner. I’m the founder of Brave Widow and Brave Widow Academy.
I help widows move from barely surviving their loss… to rebuilding a life they can actually love again without feeling like they’re betraying their person.
By day (and for 20+ years), I’ve led large teams and complex operations in the corporate world.
After my husband Nathan died in 2021, just shy of our 20-year anniversary, I took everything I knew about leadership, systems, and change — and started applying it to grief.
Since then, I’ve:
Shared my story publicly to make widows feel less alone.
Launched the Brave Widow podcast, now with 180+ episodes and listeners around the world.
Coached hundreds of widows 1:1 and in groups, and talked with thousands more through the podcast, communities, and events.
Built Brave Widow Academy, a 6-month coaching program with a clear framework for moving from deep grief to rebuilding a life you can love again.
I don’t teach “just think positive” grief tips.
I teach widows how to:
Heal their heart.
Stop waiting on “time” to fix everything.
Take small, brave steps toward a life that feels meaningful again.
How I Got Here…
2021: My husband Nathan dies unexpectedly. I’m 4 kids in, overwhelmed, and drowning in paperwork, decisions, and pain. Therapy helps, but I still feel stuck with no roadmap.
2021–2022: I start devouring books, interviewing widows, trying grief groups, and studying coaching — desperate to find something that actually helps me feel different.
2022: I start the Brave Widow podcast, recording episodes while terrified and crying between takes — but determined that no widow should feel as alone as I did.
Year 1: I begin coaching widows 1:1. Word spreads quietly. The same patterns and problems keep showing up, so I start building frameworks instead of one-off advice.
Year 2: I launch Brave Widow Academy — a structured, 6-month coaching program with a step-by-step path: from deep grief, to stability, to rebuilding.
Year 3: Brave Widow has listeners around the world. I’ve personally coached hundreds of widows and spoken with thousands more through consults, lives, emails, and DMs.
Today: My work is simple:
Help widows stop surviving each day… and start rebuilding a life that makes them genuinely glad to be alive again.
How to Handle Holidays After Losing My Husband | Grief Support for Widows | BW: 215
2026/10/13
Join Brave Through the Holidays: bravewidow.com/holidays
This 12-week pop-up group includes coaching, worksheets, community support, holiday planning, communication guidance, and vision planning for 2027.
The holidays can feel painful, overwhelming, and completely different after losing your spouse.
And the second year does not automatically feel easier.
Brave Widow Resources
Book a call with me to see if Academy is right for you: https://www.bravewidow.com/call
Free, Live “Four Seasons of Grief” Training + Quiz: bravewidow.com/live
Rebuild a Life You Can Love Again in the Brave Widow Academy (join the waitlist or book a call): https://bravewidow.com/academy
Create Calm from Chaos and Heal Your Heart inside Brave Widow Foundations:👉 bravewidow.com/foundations
Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free
In this episode of The Brave Widow Show, I share my personal experience navigating Thanksgiving and Christmas after Nathan died, including the year I canceled Thanksgiving and the year I created an entire project-management chart just to host Christmas dinner.
I also explain how widows and widowers can create a more peaceful holiday plan by deciding:
Which traditions to maintain
Which traditions to modify
Which traditions to release
How to communicate decisions with family
What to do with loneliness and empty space
How to create a Plan A, Plan B, and escape plan
How to enter the new year without abandoning your person
You do not have to recreate the holidays exactly as they were. You are allowed to change your mind, set boundaries, participate differently, or take a break.
You do not need the perfect holiday plan. You need a plan that supports you.
Chapters
00:00 Why the holidays can feel harder after loss 00:55 An invitation from Stand in the Gap Ministries 02:00 Is the second year of grief harder? 03:12 My first Thanksgiving after Nathan died 04:25 When I tried to do everything for Christmas 06:20 The expectations widows put on themselves 08:00 Why avoiding holiday planning creates more stress 09:25 Create a Plan A, Plan B, and escape plan 11:15 Which traditions should you keep, change, or release? 13:20 Handling family expectations and guilt 14:30 Planning for loneliness and empty space 15:35 Join Brave Through the Holidays 21:20 A real-life donkey interruption
How to Get Through the Holidays After Losing Your Husband: 5 Ways to Make Them Easier | BW: 214
2026/10/01
The holidays can bring grief, loneliness, family pressure, painful traditions, and the fear of facing another “first” without your person.
Ready to build your personalized holiday plan with support?
Brave Through the Holidays begins Wednesday, October 21, 2026, and includes 12 weeks of support, live sessions, replays, worksheets, and tools through January 31, 2027.
Join here: bravewidow.com/holidays
Brave Widow Resources
Book a call with me to see if Academy is right for you: https://www.bravewidow.com/call
Free, Live “Four Seasons of Grief” Training + Quiz: bravewidow.com/live
Rebuild a Life You Can Love Again in the Brave Widow Academy (join the waitlist or book a call): https://bravewidow.com/academy
Create Calm from Chaos and Heal Your Heart inside Brave Widow Foundations:👉 bravewidow.com/foundations
Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free
In this episode of The Brave Widow Show, Emily shares five ways widows and widowers can plan ahead and make the holiday season feel lighter, gentler, and more manageable.
You do not have to maintain every tradition. You don’t have to make everyone else comfortable. You’re allowed to create a holiday plan that supports your grief and your real capacity.
You’ll learn how to plan for:
Family expectations and difficult conversations
Traditions you want to keep, change, or release
Grief triggers like music, decorations, and memories
Loneliness and isolation on big days
Entering the new year without feeling like you are leaving your person behind
You’ll also hear about creating a Plan A, Plan B, and an escape plan for overwhelming situations.
Chapters
00:00 Why the holidays can feel overwhelming after loss 02:00 Why holiday dread shows up 04:00 Five areas to plan for 05:20 Family expectations and pressure 10:45 Why delayed conflict becomes harder 14:00 Traditions: keep, change, or release 16:45 Planning for grief triggers 18:15 Loneliness, isolation, and support anchors 20:15 Entering the new year without leaving your person behind 23:15 Recap: the five-part holiday plan 24:00 Brave Through the Holidays invitation 25:30 Free Brave Widow community
💬 If this episode helped you, please:
Hit Subscribe
Leave a quick rating & review – it helps more widows find this support
Share this with a friend who’s facing grief or the holidays without their person
If you’re new here, my name is Emily Tanner. I’m the founder of Brave Widow and Brave Widow Academy.
I help widows move from barely surviving their loss… to rebuilding a life they can actually love again without feeling like they’re betraying their person.
By day (and for 20+ years), I’ve led large teams and complex operations in the corporate world.
After my husband Nathan died in 2021, just shy of our 20-year anniversary, I took everything I knew about leadership, systems, and change — and started applying it to grief.
Since then, I’ve:
Shared my story publicly to make widows feel less alone.
Launched the Brave Widow podcast, now with 180+ episodes and listeners around the world.
Coached hundreds of widows 1:1 and in groups, and talked with thousands more through the podcast, communities, and events.
Built Brave Widow Academy, a 6-month coaching program with a clear framework for moving from deep grief to rebuilding a life you can love again.
I don’t teach “just think positive” grief tips.
I teach widows how to:
Heal their heart.
Stop waiting on “time” to fix everything.
Take small, brave steps toward a life that feels meaningful again.
How I Got Here…
2021: My husband Nathan dies unexpectedly. I’m 4 kids in, overwhelmed, and drowning in paperwork, decisions, and pain. Therapy helps, but I still feel stuck with no roadmap.
2021–2022: I start devouring books, interviewing widows, trying grief groups, and studying coaching — desperate to find something that actually helps me feel different.
2022: I start the Brave Widow podcast, recording episodes while terrified and crying between takes — but determined that no widow should feel as alone as I did.
Year 1: I begin coaching widows 1:1. Word spreads quietly. The same patterns and problems keep showing up, so I start building frameworks instead of one-off advice.
Year 2: I launch Brave Widow Academy — a structured, 6-month coaching program with a step-by-step path: from deep grief, to stability, to rebuilding.
Year 3: Brave Widow has listeners around the world. I’ve personally coached hundreds of widows and spoken with thousands more through consults, lives, emails, and DMs.
Today: My work is simple:
Help widows stop surviving each day… and start rebuilding a life that makes them genuinely glad to be alive again.
I Thought I Was Getting Better. Then Grief Hit Me Like Day One Again. | BW: 213
2026/09/23
Have you ever felt like you were finally doing better, only to be hit by an unexpected wave of grief?
Brave Widow Resources
Book a call with me to see if 1-1 Coaching or Academy is right for you: https://www.bravewidow.com/call
Free, Live “Four Seasons of Grief” Training + Quiz: bravewidow.com/live
Rebuild a Life You Can Love Again in the Brave Widow Academy (join the waitlist or book a call): https://bravewidow.com/academy
Create Calm from Chaos and Heal Your Heart inside Brave Widow Foundations:👉 bravewidow.com/foundations
Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free
You may wonder if you’re going backward, if your progress was fake, or if you’re doing grief “wrong.” You’re not.
In this episode, Emily explains why grief is not linear, how memories and seasons can trigger intense grief waves, and what healing actually looks like after loss.
You’ll learn:
Why a grief wave does not mean you are back at day one
How grief can be triggered by sounds, smells, songs, seasons, and milestones
Why your body can react strongly to memories
How to name and acknowledge a grief wave
Why you should lower expectations during difficult days
How support and community help you recover
Why you do not need to solve your future in the middle of a wave
What “getting better” really means
How to carry grief and gratitude at the same time
How to begin learning to “ride the wave” instead of feeling destroyed by it
Chapters
00:00 When grief suddenly hits again 01:00 The power of one-on-one coaching 04:00 Choosing the right Brave Widow support 06:00 The myth of linear healing 08:00 Unexpected grief triggers 11:00 Learning to ride the waves 17:00 Why grief feels like going backward 23:00 What a grief wave does not mean 24:00 What to do when grief hits 29:00 Redefining healing and progress 31:00 You do not have to walk alone
💬 If this episode helped you, please:
Hit Subscribe
Leave a quick rating & review – it helps more widows find this support
Share this with a friend who’s facing grief or the holidays without their person
If you’re new here, my name is Emily Tanner. I’m the founder of Brave Widow and Brave Widow Academy.
I help widows move from barely surviving their loss… to rebuilding a life they can actually love again without feeling like they’re betraying their person.
By day (and for 20+ years), I’ve led large teams and complex operations in the corporate world.
After my husband Nathan died in 2021, just shy of our 20-year anniversary, I took everything I knew about leadership, systems, and change — and started applying it to grief.
Since then, I’ve:
Shared my story publicly to make widows feel less alone.
Launched the Brave Widow podcast, now with 180+ episodes and listeners around the world.
Coached hundreds of widows 1:1 and in groups, and talked with thousands more through the podcast, communities, and events.
Built Brave Widow Academy, a 6-month coaching program with a clear framework for moving from deep grief to rebuilding a life you can love again.
I don’t teach “just think positive” grief tips.
I teach widows how to:
Heal their heart.
Stop waiting on “time” to fix everything.
Take small, brave steps toward a life that feels meaningful again.
How I Got Here…
2021: My husband Nathan dies unexpectedly. I’m 4 kids in, overwhelmed, and drowning in paperwork, decisions, and pain. Therapy helps, but I still feel stuck with no roadmap.
2021–2022: I start devouring books, interviewing widows, trying grief groups, and studying coaching — desperate to find something that actually helps me feel different.
2022: I start the Brave Widow podcast, recording episodes while terrified and crying between takes — but determined that no widow should feel as alone as I did.
Year 1: I begin coaching widows 1:1. Word spreads quietly. The same patterns and problems keep showing up, so I start building frameworks instead of one-off advice.
Year 2: I launch Brave Widow Academy — a structured, 6-month coaching program with a step-by-step path: from deep grief, to stability, to rebuilding.
Year 3: Brave Widow has listeners around the world. I’ve personally coached hundreds of widows and spoken with thousands more through consults, lives, emails, and DMs.
Today: My work is simple:
Help widows stop surviving each day… and start rebuilding a life that makes them genuinely glad to be alive again.
I Used to Think Grief Healed Like a Broken Bone. I Was Wrong. | BW: 212
2026/09/15
If you’re functioning on the outside but barely surviving on the inside, this episode is for you.
Brave Widow Resources
Free, Live “Four Seasons of Grief” Training + Quiz: bravewidow.com/live
Rebuild a Life You Can Love Again in the Brave Widow Academy (join the waitlist or book a call): https://bravewidow.com/academy
Create Calm from Chaos and Heal Your Heart inside Brave Widow Foundations:👉 bravewidow.com/foundations
Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free
Book a call with me to see if Academy is right for you: https://www.bravewidow.com/call
Emily’s amazing public speaking coach, Jen Gould: https://jengouldcoaching.com
After my husband died, I thought healing meant eventually returning to the person I used to be and the life I used to have. But grief does not work that way. Our old life is gone, and rebuilding requires a different kind of roadmap.
In this episode, I walk through the three phases many widows experience:
Stabilize: Moving through the storm and creating a foundation for healing.
Explore: Discovering who you are now and what kind of life you want to build.
Rebuild: Creating a life you can love again while still carrying grief.
You’ll also learn why staying busy cannot help you outrun grief, how to grow your capacity for both grief and joy, and why being surrounded by the right people can change the direction of your life.
Chapters
00:00 When you look fine but are barely surviving 01:00 Phase One: Stabilize 03:00 Why staying busy does not heal grief 06:00 The Chaos to Calm blueprint 09:00 Building a foundation 10:30 Phase Two: Explore 12:00 Who am I now? 16:00 Experimenting with your new life 20:00 Grief, guilt, and learning to hold both 26:00 Phase Three: Rebuild 30:00 The “and” life 34:00 Why community helps you move forward 41:00 The three-phase roadmap and next steps
💬 If this episode helped you, please:
Hit Subscribe
Leave a quick rating & review – it helps more widows find this support
Share this with a friend who’s facing grief or the holidays without their person
If you’re new here, my name is Emily Tanner. I’m the founder of Brave Widow and Brave Widow Academy.
I help widows move from barely surviving their loss… to rebuilding a life they can actually love again without feeling like they’re betraying their person.
By day (and for 20+ years), I’ve led large teams and complex operations in the corporate world.
After my husband Nathan died in 2021, just shy of our 20-year anniversary, I took everything I knew about leadership, systems, and change — and started applying it to grief.
Since then, I’ve:
Shared my story publicly to make widows feel less alone.
Launched the Brave Widow podcast, now with 180+ episodes and listeners around the world.
Coached hundreds of widows 1:1 and in groups, and talked with thousands more through the podcast, communities, and events.
Built Brave Widow Academy, a 6-month coaching program with a clear framework for moving from deep grief to rebuilding a life you can love again.
I don’t teach “just think positive” grief tips.
I teach widows how to:
Heal their heart.
Stop waiting on “time” to fix everything.
Take small, brave steps toward a life that feels meaningful again.
How I Got Here…
2021: My husband Nathan dies unexpectedly. I’m 4 kids in, overwhelmed, and drowning in paperwork, decisions, and pain. Therapy helps, but I still feel stuck with no roadmap.
2021–2022: I start devouring books, interviewing widows, trying grief groups, and studying coaching — desperate to find something that actually helps me feel different.
2022: I start the Brave Widow podcast, recording episodes while terrified and crying between takes — but determined that no widow should feel as alone as I did.
Year 1: I begin coaching widows 1:1. Word spreads quietly. The same patterns and problems keep showing up, so I start building frameworks instead of one-off advice.
Year 2: I launch Brave Widow Academy — a structured, 6-month coaching program with a step-by-step path: from deep grief, to stability, to rebuilding.
Year 3: Brave Widow has listeners around the world. I’ve personally coached hundreds of widows and spoken with thousands more through consults, lives, emails, and DMs.
Today: My work is simple:
Help widows stop surviving each day… and start rebuilding a life that makes them genuinely glad to be alive again.
I Lost Two Friends to Suicide. Then I Put My Grief on Stage. | BW: 211
2026/09/08
What happens when grief, dark humor, motherhood, and entrepreneurship collide?
Connect With Lucy
Facebook: @jeannetterizzi
Instagram: @jeannetterizzi
Instagram: @puresweatwoodlandhills
Brave Widow Resources
Free, Live “Four Seasons of Grief” Training + Quiz: bravewidow.com/live
Rebuild a Life You Can Love Again in the Brave Widow Academy (join the waitlist or book a call): https://bravewidow.com/academy
Create Calm from Chaos and Heal Your Heart inside Brave Widow Foundations:👉 bravewidow.com/foundations
Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free
In this episode, Jeannette Rizzi shares how losing two close friends to suicide as a teenager shaped her life, her relationships, and her work as a comedian. After years of silence and people avoiding difficult conversations, Jeannette found a way to process her grief by writing and performing a one-woman show.
She explains why sometimes the best thing you can do for someone grieving is simply sit beside them, why humor can create space for painful conversations, and how she turned her personal story into fundraisers supporting mental health, suicide prevention, and neurofibromatosis research.
Jeannette also shares the reality of performing vulnerable material, handling criticism, parenting through trauma, and choosing kindness when life feels heavy.
Content note: This episode discusses suicide loss, grief, mental health, and trauma. If you or someone else may be in immediate danger, contact emergency services or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the United States.
Chapters
00:00 Meet Jeannette Rizzi 01:30 Experiencing suicide loss as a teenager 04:00 When people avoid your grief 07:00 Why sitting beside someone matters 09:00 Turning grief into comedy 12:00 The power of dark humor 15:00 Giggles for Good and giving back 19:00 Writing a true story for the stage 24:00 Why writing can help process grief 27:00 Parenting, trauma, and difficult conversations 30:00 Finding the right professional support 34:00 Where to connect with Jeannette
💬 If this episode helped you, please:
Hit Subscribe
Leave a quick rating & review – it helps more widows find this support
Share this with a friend who’s facing grief or the holidays without their person
If you’re new here, my name is Emily Tanner. I’m the founder of Brave Widow and Brave Widow Academy.
I help widows move from barely surviving their loss… to rebuilding a life they can actually love again without feeling like they’re betraying their person.
By day (and for 20+ years), I’ve led large teams and complex operations in the corporate world.
After my husband Nathan died in 2021, just shy of our 20-year anniversary, I took everything I knew about leadership, systems, and change — and started applying it to grief.
Since then, I’ve:
Shared my story publicly to make widows feel less alone.
Launched the Brave Widow podcast, now with 180+ episodes and listeners around the world.
Coached hundreds of widows 1:1 and in groups, and talked with thousands more through the podcast, communities, and events.
Built Brave Widow Academy, a 6-month coaching program with a clear framework for moving from deep grief to rebuilding a life you can love again.
I don’t teach “just think positive” grief tips.
I teach widows how to:
Heal their heart.
Stop waiting on “time” to fix everything.
Take small, brave steps toward a life that feels meaningful again.
How I Got Here…
2021: My husband Nathan dies unexpectedly. I’m 4 kids in, overwhelmed, and drowning in paperwork, decisions, and pain. Therapy helps, but I still feel stuck with no roadmap.
2021–2022: I start devouring books, interviewing widows, trying grief groups, and studying coaching — desperate to find something that actually helps me feel different.
2022: I start the Brave Widow podcast, recording episodes while terrified and crying between takes — but determined that no widow should feel as alone as I did.
Year 1: I begin coaching widows 1:1. Word spreads quietly. The same patterns and problems keep showing up, so I start building frameworks instead of one-off advice.
Year 2: I launch Brave Widow Academy — a structured, 6-month coaching program with a step-by-step path: from deep grief, to stability, to rebuilding.
Year 3: Brave Widow has listeners around the world. I’ve personally coached hundreds of widows and spoken with thousands more through consults, lives, emails, and DMs.
Today: My work is simple:
Help widows stop surviving each day… and start rebuilding a life that makes them genuinely glad to be alive again.
Why Did God Allow This? One Widow's Journey Through Grief, Faith, and Finding Hope Again | BW: 210
2026/09/01
What do you do when the person you love dies suddenly, your prayers seem unanswered, and everyone expects you to “move on”?
Connect With Lucy
Book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/046M4w5J
Healing Journal: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LTPHopeShop
Website: https://ltphopeauthor.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LTPHope
Podcast: When Goodbye Comes Too Early, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio
Brave Widow Resources
Free, Live “Four Seasons of Grief” Training + Quiz: bravewidow.com/live
Rebuild a Life You Can Love Again in the Brave Widow Academy (join the waitlist or book a call): https://bravewidow.com/academy
Create Calm from Chaos and Heal Your Heart inside Brave Widow Foundations:👉 bravewidow.com/foundations
Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free
In this deeply honest episode of The Brave Widow Show, Emily speaks with Lucy, also known by her pen name LTP Hope, about losing her husband, Tim, just four weeks after his diagnosis with stage four T-cell lymphoma.
Lucy shares:
The shock of receiving a terminal diagnosis
Why she refused to leave the hospital without answers
Advocating fiercely for a loved one in medical care
Wrestling with God after unanswered prayers
The loneliness of coming home to an empty house
Why functioning does not always mean you are okay
How therapy, journaling, worship music, and community helped her cope
The painful reality of grief in the second year
How she transformed her loss into a memoir, podcast, and YouTube channel
Why widows should take their time before making major decisions
Practical reminders for handling finances, legal matters, belongings, and life insurance after a loss
Lucy’s message is simple but powerful: you do not have to rush grief, and you do not have to walk through it alone.
Chapters
00:00 Why this conversation matters 02:00 Lucy’s story and losing Tim 03:00 Receiving the cancer diagnosis 04:00 Fighting for answers and medical advocacy 05:00 Wrestling with God after loss 06:00 Tim’s final morning and the angel at the door 07:00 Coming home to an empty house 08:00 When friends disappear and grief is misunderstood 10:00 Functioning does not mean you are okay 11:00 Journaling, therapy, and learning to breathe again 15:00 Finding courage to share your story publicly 20:00 Practical advice for widows in early grief 24:00 Faith, hope, and surviving the second wave of grief 27:00 Upcoming Brave Widow events and resources
💬 If this episode helped you, please:
Hit Subscribe
Leave a quick rating & review – it helps more widows find this support
Share this with a friend who’s facing grief or the holidays without their person
If you’re new here, my name is Emily Tanner. I’m the founder of Brave Widow and Brave Widow Academy.
I help widows move from barely surviving their loss… to rebuilding a life they can actually love again without feeling like they’re betraying their person.
By day (and for 20+ years), I’ve led large teams and complex operations in the corporate world.
After my husband Nathan died in 2021, just shy of our 20-year anniversary, I took everything I knew about leadership, systems, and change — and started applying it to grief.
Since then, I’ve:
Shared my story publicly to make widows feel less alone.
Launched the Brave Widow podcast, now with 180+ episodes and listeners around the world.
Coached hundreds of widows 1:1 and in groups, and talked with thousands more through the podcast, communities, and events.
Built Brave Widow Academy, a 6-month coaching program with a clear framework for moving from deep grief to rebuilding a life you can love again.
I don’t teach “just think positive” grief tips.
I teach widows how to:
Heal their heart.
Stop waiting on “time” to fix everything.
Take small, brave steps toward a life that feels meaningful again.
How I Got Here…
2021: My husband Nathan dies unexpectedly. I’m 4 kids in, overwhelmed, and drowning in paperwork, decisions, and pain. Therapy helps, but I still feel stuck with no roadmap.
2021–2022: I start devouring books, interviewing widows, trying grief groups, and studying coaching — desperate to find something that actually helps me feel different.
2022: I start the Brave Widow podcast, recording episodes while terrified and crying between takes — but determined that no widow should feel as alone as I did.
Year 1: I begin coaching widows 1:1. Word spreads quietly. The same patterns and problems keep showing up, so I start building frameworks instead of one-off advice.
Year 2: I launch Brave Widow Academy — a structured, 6-month coaching program with a step-by-step path: from deep grief, to stability, to rebuilding.
Year 3: Brave Widow has listeners around the world. I’ve personally coached hundreds of widows and spoken with thousands more through consults, lives, emails, and DMs.
Today: My work is simple:
Help widows stop surviving each day… and start rebuilding a life that makes them genuinely glad to be alive again.
I Want More From Life After My Husband Died, but I Feel Guilty | BW: 209
2026/08/27
If a small part of you is whispering, “There has to be more than just surviving,” this episode is for you.
Brave Widow Resources
Free, Live “Four Seasons of Grief” Training + Quiz: bravewidow.com/live
Rebuild a Life You Can Love Again in the Brave Widow Academy (join the waitlist or book a call): https://bravewidow.com/academy
Create Calm from Chaos and Heal Your Heart inside Brave Widow Foundations:👉 bravewidow.com/foundations
Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free
If you’ve ever wanted more from life after losing your spouse then immediately felt guilty for even thinking it… you’re not alone.
In this episode, I share my honest story of wanting more after my husband died, the shame that wouldn’t leave, and what finally helped me see that wanting a full, vibrant life is not betraying his memory.
We’ll talk about:
Why widow guilt is so heavy when you start to want more
The “loyalty myth” that says enjoying life means you’ve moved on
How grief is both/and (you can miss your person and still build something beautiful)
Three big sources of guilt: loyalty, comparison, and lost identity
A simple two-part challenge to notice your thoughts and give yourself permission to want one thing without apology
CHAPTERS
00:00 Feeling guilty for wanting more after loss 01:08 “Is this my life now?” internal conflict 03:20 Grief is both/and, not either/or 05:15 Can I enjoy life if my person isn’t here? 06:40 Where widow guilt really comes from 09:05 The loyalty myth: am I leaving them behind? 12:10 Comparison trap: “It never gets better” messages 14:40 Who am I without my spouse? Identity after widowhood 17:05 Letting feelings be a check engine light, not the driver 19:15 Exercise: notice desire & write down your guilty thoughts 21:40 Reframing beliefs & giving yourself permission to want more 23:30 Building a life big enough to hold grief, love, and what comes next
💬 If this episode helped you, please:
Hit Subscribe
Leave a quick rating & review – it helps more widows find this support
Share this with a friend who’s facing grief or the holidays without their person
If you’re new here, my name is Emily Tanner. I’m the founder of Brave Widow and Brave Widow Academy.
I help widows move from barely surviving their loss… to rebuilding a life they can actually love again without feeling like they’re betraying their person.
By day (and for 20+ years), I’ve led large teams and complex operations in the corporate world.
After my husband Nathan died in 2021, just shy of our 20-year anniversary, I took everything I knew about leadership, systems, and change — and started applying it to grief.
Since then, I’ve:
Shared my story publicly to make widows feel less alone.
Launched the Brave Widow podcast, now with 180+ episodes and listeners around the world.
Coached hundreds of widows 1:1 and in groups, and talked with thousands more through the podcast, communities, and events.
Built Brave Widow Academy, a 6-month coaching program with a clear framework for moving from deep grief to rebuilding a life you can love again.
I don’t teach “just think positive” grief tips.
I teach widows how to:
Heal their heart.
Stop waiting on “time” to fix everything.
Take small, brave steps toward a life that feels meaningful again.
How I Got Here…
2021: My husband Nathan dies unexpectedly. I’m 4 kids in, overwhelmed, and drowning in paperwork, decisions, and pain. Therapy helps, but I still feel stuck with no roadmap.
2021–2022: I start devouring books, interviewing widows, trying grief groups, and studying coaching — desperate to find something that actually helps me feel different.
2022: I start the Brave Widow podcast, recording episodes while terrified and crying between takes — but determined that no widow should feel as alone as I did.
Year 1: I begin coaching widows 1:1. Word spreads quietly. The same patterns and problems keep showing up, so I start building frameworks instead of one-off advice.
Year 2: I launch Brave Widow Academy — a structured, 6-month coaching program with a step-by-step path: from deep grief, to stability, to rebuilding.
Year 3: Brave Widow has listeners around the world. I’ve personally coached hundreds of widows and spoken with thousands more through consults, lives, emails, and DMs.
Today: My work is simple:
Help widows stop surviving each day… and start rebuilding a life that makes them genuinely glad to be alive again.
How a Widow Keeps Her Husband's Memory Alive 10 Years Later with Author Dori Ann Dupré | BW: 208
2026/08/18
If you’ve ever wondered what life might look like 10 years after losing your spouse, this conversation will feel like a deep breath.
Connect with Dori Ann Dupré
Instagram: @Author.DoriAnnDupre
Facebook: @AuthorDoriAnnDupre
Website: https://dorianndupre.wixsite.com/books
Brave Widow Resources
Free, Live “Four Seasons of Grief” Training + Quiz: bravewidow.com/live
Held in Hope Conference (Oct 8–9, Jenks, OK): https://www.standinthegap.org/heldinhope/
Brave Widow Academy (join the waitlist or book a call): https://bravewidow.com/academy
Join Brave Widow Foundations (gentle, faith‑based support for the first seasons of grief):👉 bravewidow.com/foundations
Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free
In this episode, Emily talks with author and widow Dori Ann Dupré about growing up in a family of widows, losing her husband to colon cancer, raising daughters without their dad, and turning generational grief into legacy through her new novel “Widows and Children” and an upcoming children’s book about a grandfather her granddaughter never met.
You’ll hear how writing became “medicine,” why grief feels like a heavy backpack you learn to carry, and the small, sacred ways we can keep our person’s memory alive for future generations.
In this episode:
What it’s like to be widowed in a line of widows
Loving and losing Eric: husband, dad, stepdad, West Point grad
Writing her first two novels while caregiving through cancer
How her daughter lost both her dad and first love in the same year
The inspiration behind Widows and Children
The “grief backpack” analogy and why you’re not going backwards
Practical ways to weave your person into your kids’ and grandkids’ lives
Hope from 10 years out: what gets lighter, what still hurts, and what’s possible
Chapters
00:00 – When your widow story spans generations 02:38 – Meeting Eric: love, integrity & young-onset colon cancer 06:25 – Keeping “Pop” alive for a granddaughter he never met 08:10 – Writing through cancer and finishing a book before he died 12:40 – Stepdads who stand in the gap (and the story behind Good Buddy) 15:05 – The “widow curse” in one family & the new novel Widows and Children 18:45 – Double loss: her daughter’s first love and her dad in the same year 21:40 – What widows recognize in each other across a room 22:55 – The grief backpack: learning to carry a weight that never fully leaves 24:35 – Hope for new widows + how to connect with Dori
💬 If this episode helped you, please:
Hit Subscribe
Leave a quick rating & review – it helps more widows find this support
Share this with a friend who’s facing grief or the holidays without their person
If you’re new here, my name is Emily Tanner. I’m the founder of Brave Widow and Brave Widow Academy.
I help widows move from barely surviving their loss… to rebuilding a life they can actually love again without feeling like they’re betraying their person.
By day (and for 20+ years), I’ve led large teams and complex operations in the corporate world.
After my husband Nathan died in 2021, just shy of our 20-year anniversary, I took everything I knew about leadership, systems, and change — and started applying it to grief.
Since then, I’ve:
Shared my story publicly to make widows feel less alone.
Launched the Brave Widow podcast, now with 180+ episodes and listeners around the world.
Coached hundreds of widows 1:1 and in groups, and talked with thousands more through the podcast, communities, and events.
Built Brave Widow Academy, a 6-month coaching program with a clear framework for moving from deep grief to rebuilding a life you can love again.
I don’t teach “just think positive” grief tips.
I teach widows how to:
Heal their heart.
Stop waiting on “time” to fix everything.
Take small, brave steps toward a life that feels meaningful again.
How I Got Here…
2021: My husband Nathan dies unexpectedly. I’m 4 kids in, overwhelmed, and drowning in paperwork, decisions, and pain. Therapy helps, but I still feel stuck with no roadmap.
2021–2022: I start devouring books, interviewing widows, trying grief groups, and studying coaching — desperate to find something that actually helps me feel different.
2022: I start the Brave Widow podcast, recording episodes while terrified and crying between takes — but determined that no widow should feel as alone as I did.
Year 1: I begin coaching widows 1:1. Word spreads quietly. The same patterns and problems keep showing up, so I start building frameworks instead of one-off advice.
Year 2: I launch Brave Widow Academy — a structured, 6-month coaching program with a step-by-step path: from deep grief, to stability, to rebuilding.
Year 3: Brave Widow has listeners around the world. I’ve personally coached hundreds of widows and spoken with thousands more through consults, lives, emails, and DMs.
Today: My work is simple:
Help widows stop surviving each day… and start rebuilding a life that makes them genuinely glad to be alive again.
How To Start Wanting Life Again After Widow Grief (Without Big Dreams) | BW: 207
2026/08/11
Brave Widow Resources
Brave Widow Academy (join the waitlist or book a call): https://bravewidow.com/academy
Join Brave Widow Foundations (gentle, faith‑based support for the first seasons of grief):👉 bravewidow.com/foundations
Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free
📍 In‑Person Events Mentioned: • Held in Hope Conference – Jenks, OK – Oct 8–9, 2026: https://www.standinthegap.org/heldinhope/ • San Antonio, TX meetup (September 2026) • Faith and Growth Summit – Miami, FL – Dec 3, 2026: https://faithbasedcoachingacademy.com/faith-and-growth-summit/
If you stand in front of the fridge asking, “What do I want?” and come up blank – not just about food, but about life – this episode is for you.
After losing your person, wanting anything can feel numb, wrong, or like a betrayal. In this Brave Widow episode, Emily gently helps you practice wanting again without forcing yourself into big dreams or a brand-new life purpose.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
Why grief flattens desire and makes “neutral” feel safer than hope
How to start with “coffee-level” wants instead of life purpose
A simple way to design 90 minutes of your weekend to feel more like you
How to try new things without promising an outcome
A new way to see old dreams, shared dreams, and the dreams that belong to you now
🎁 Free “Desire Again” Worksheet
Want help unpacking your own resistance and desires as you listen?
Grab the free worksheet that goes with this episode:
Click here to download: https://bravewidow.com/want
Chapters:
00:00 – “What do I want?” when the fridge question is really about life 01:18 – How grief suppresses desire and makes “neutral” feel safe 04:05 – Practicing tiny wants: coffee, mornings, and dinner plans 07:02 – Not “What do I want out of life?” but “What do I want more of?” 08:45 – Redesigning your weekends: three words and a 90‑minute block 11:35 – Trying without guarantees: experiments vs promised outcomes 13:40 – Frozen vs healing: numbness, overwhelm, and timing in grief 15:35 – Old dreams, shared dreams, and the dreams that are yours now 17:25 – “I’m allowed to want…” and giving yourself permission 18:40 – How to get the worksheet, join the community, and live events
Subscribe for more faith‑based, hopeful grief support for widows: @BraveWidow on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram & Facebook
💬 If this episode helped you, please:
Hit Subscribe
Leave a quick rating & review – it helps more widows find this support
Share this with a friend who’s facing grief or the holidays without their person
If you’re new here, my name is Emily Tanner. I’m the founder of Brave Widow and Brave Widow Academy.
I help widows move from barely surviving their loss… to rebuilding a life they can actually love again without feeling like they’re betraying their person.
By day (and for 20+ years), I’ve led large teams and complex operations in the corporate world.
After my husband Nathan died in 2021, just shy of our 20-year anniversary, I took everything I knew about leadership, systems, and change — and started applying it to grief.
Since then, I’ve:
Shared my story publicly to make widows feel less alone.
Launched the Brave Widow podcast, now with 180+ episodes and listeners around the world.
Coached hundreds of widows 1:1 and in groups, and talked with thousands more through the podcast, communities, and events.
Built Brave Widow Academy, a 6-month coaching program with a clear framework for moving from deep grief to rebuilding a life you can love again.
I don’t teach “just think positive” grief tips.
I teach widows how to:
Heal their heart.
Stop waiting on “time” to fix everything.
Take small, brave steps toward a life that feels meaningful again.
How I Got Here…
2021: My husband Nathan dies unexpectedly. I’m 4 kids in, overwhelmed, and drowning in paperwork, decisions, and pain. Therapy helps, but I still feel stuck with no roadmap.
2021–2022: I start devouring books, interviewing widows, trying grief groups, and studying coaching — desperate to find something that actually helps me feel different.
2022: I start the Brave Widow podcast, recording episodes while terrified and crying between takes — but determined that no widow should feel as alone as I did.
Year 1: I begin coaching widows 1:1. Word spreads quietly. The same patterns and problems keep showing up, so I start building frameworks instead of one-off advice.
Year 2: I launch Brave Widow Academy — a structured, 6-month coaching program with a step-by-step path: from deep grief, to stability, to rebuilding.
Year 3: Brave Widow has listeners around the world. I’ve personally coached hundreds of widows and spoken with thousands more through consults, lives, emails, and DMs.
Today: My work is simple:
Help widows stop surviving each day… and start rebuilding a life that makes them genuinely glad to be alive again.
Widow Grief: Everyone Thinks I’m Okay, But I Feel Empty | BW: 206
2026/08/04
10 Things I Wish I Knew As A New Widow | 5 Years Later, What Actually Helps| BW: 205
2026/07/28
If you’ve ever wondered what your future self would say to you 5 years after losing your spouse, this episode is for you. July 17 marked 5 years since my husband Nathan died, and I sat down with our Momentum Monday community to share the 10 things I wish I had known as a brand‑new widow.
Brave Widow Resources
Brave Widow Academy (apply or book a call): https://bravewidow.com/academy
Learn more about Brave Widow Foundations (gentle, faith‑based support for the first seasons of grief):👉 bravewidow.com/foundations
Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free
We talk about feeling like a zombie, wondering if you’ll ever laugh and mean it again, how unprocessed grief can show up in your body, why “bad days” don’t mean you’re going backwards, and the brutal belief that moving forward means leaving your person behind. I also share how my faith shaped the way I think about time, legacy, and building a life Nathan would be proud of.
You will hear live reactions and questions from other widows who joined this Momentum Monday call, so you can imagine your future self and your widow friends sitting with you as you listen.
Chapters
0:00 Five Years Out: A Message From Your Future Widow Self 2:00 1 - You Really Can Feel Like A “Normal” Human Again 4:00 2 - When Unprocessed Grief Shows Up In Your Body 7:30 3 - You’re Not Going Backwards In Your Grief 11:30 4 - Moving Forward Is Not Leaving Them Behind 16:00 5 - Healing Comes From Action, Not Just Time 21:30 6 - Expanding Your Capacity For Grief And Joy 25:30 7 - Your Life Grows Where Your Attention Goes 30:00 8 - You Don’t Have To “Find Yourself” – You Decide Who You’ll Be 36:00 9 - The Story You Tell Matters More Than What Happened 39:00 10 - Not Everyone Will Understand (And That’s Okay) 43:00 Bonus - You Were Never Meant To Do This Alone 46:00 How To Get Support Inside The Brave Widow Community
Subscribe for more faith‑based, hopeful grief support for widows: @BraveWidow on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram & Facebook
💬 If this episode helped you, please:
Hit Subscribe
Leave a quick rating & review – it helps more widows find this support
Share this with a friend who’s facing grief or the holidays without their person
If you’re new here, my name is Emily Tanner. I’m the founder of Brave Widow and Brave Widow Academy.
I help widows move from barely surviving their loss… to rebuilding a life they can actually love again without feeling like they’re betraying their person.
By day (and for 20+ years), I’ve led large teams and complex operations in the corporate world.
After my husband Nathan died in 2021, just shy of our 20-year anniversary, I took everything I knew about leadership, systems, and change — and started applying it to grief.
Since then, I’ve:
Shared my story publicly to make widows feel less alone.
Launched the Brave Widow podcast, now with 180+ episodes and listeners around the world.
Coached hundreds of widows 1:1 and in groups, and talked with thousands more through the podcast, communities, and events.
Built Brave Widow Academy, a 6-month coaching program with a clear framework for moving from deep grief to rebuilding a life you can love again.
I don’t teach “just think positive” grief tips.
I teach widows how to:
Heal their heart.
Stop waiting on “time” to fix everything.
Take small, brave steps toward a life that feels meaningful again.
How I Got Here…
2021: My husband Nathan dies unexpectedly. I’m 4 kids in, overwhelmed, and drowning in paperwork, decisions, and pain. Therapy helps, but I still feel stuck with no roadmap.
2021–2022: I start devouring books, interviewing widows, trying grief groups, and studying coaching — desperate to find something that actually helps me feel different.
2022: I start the Brave Widow podcast, recording episodes while terrified and crying between takes — but determined that no widow should feel as alone as I did.
Year 1: I begin coaching widows 1:1. Word spreads quietly. The same patterns and problems keep showing up, so I start building frameworks instead of one-off advice.
Year 2: I launch Brave Widow Academy — a structured, 6-month coaching program with a step-by-step path: from deep grief, to stability, to rebuilding.
Year 3: Brave Widow has listeners around the world. I’ve personally coached hundreds of widows and spoken with thousands more through consults, lives, emails, and DMs.
Today: My work is simple:
Help widows stop surviving each day… and start rebuilding a life that makes them genuinely glad to be alive again.
From Alone to Supported: Building Widows Ministry in Your Church | Amy Woody | BW: 204
2026/07/21
If you’ve ever felt invisible at church after your spouse died, this episode is for you.
Emily talks with Amy Woody, Director of the Widows Program at Stand In The Gap Ministries in Tulsa, OK. After losing her husband suddenly at 36, Amy went from feeling totally alone to helping churches around the world build intentional widows ministries so that no widow grieves in isolation.
We talk about:
What to do when your church doesn’t know how to support widows
How you (yes, you) can help start a widows ministry in your church
Practical ways churches can care for widows in the first year and beyond
The upcoming Held in Hope widows conference (October 8–9 in the Tulsa, OK area)
If you’ve been waiting for someone to “fix” your church… this may be your invitation to stand in the gap.
Learn more about Stand In The Gap & Held in Hope: Website: Stand in the Gap Ministries – https://www.standinthegap.org Held in Hope Conference (Jenks, OK) October 8–9: https://www.standinthegap.org/heldinhope/
Amy’s Book: What I Wish I Could Tell Myself: My Journey Through Grief: https://a.co/d/00KBgecL
Connect with Amy & Stand in the Gap Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StandintheGapMinistries/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standinthegapministries/
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro: When church doesn’t know how to help widows 02:30 Amy’s sudden loss at 36 and feeling completely alone 06:45 “It won’t always feel this way” – 10 years of perspective on grief 10:20 How Stand In The Gap equips churches to care for widows 14:40 Plug‑and‑play tools for starting a widows ministry at your church 18:30 From deep hurt to leading: God using broken pieces to serve others 21:10 Why widows are some of the most generous, resilient people 22:40 Held in Hope Conference: who it’s for and what to expect 25:45 How churches, leaders, and widows can get involved 28:30 Brave Widow: next steps if you don’t want to grieve alone
Brave Widow Resources
Brave Widow Academy (apply or book a call): https://bravewidow.com/academy
Learn more about Brave Widow Foundations (gentle, faith‑based support for the first seasons of grief):👉 bravewidow.com/foundations
Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free
Subscribe for more faith‑based, hopeful grief support for widows: @BraveWidow on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram & Facebook
💬 If this episode helped you, please:
Hit Subscribe
Leave a quick rating & review – it helps more widows find this support
Share this with a friend who’s facing grief or the holidays without their person
If you’re new here, my name is Emily Tanner. I’m the founder of Brave Widow and Brave Widow Academy.
I help widows move from barely surviving their loss… to rebuilding a life they can actually love again without feeling like they’re betraying their person.
By day (and for 20+ years), I’ve led large teams and complex operations in the corporate world.
After my husband Nathan died in 2021, just shy of our 20-year anniversary, I took everything I knew about leadership, systems, and change — and started applying it to grief.
Since then, I’ve:
Shared my story publicly to make widows feel less alone.
Launched the Brave Widow podcast, now with 180+ episodes and listeners around the world.
Coached hundreds of widows 1:1 and in groups, and talked with thousands more through the podcast, communities, and events.
Built Brave Widow Academy, a 6-month coaching program with a clear framework for moving from deep grief to rebuilding a life you can love again.
I don’t teach “just think positive” grief tips.
I teach widows how to:
Heal their heart.
Stop waiting on “time” to fix everything.
Take small, brave steps toward a life that feels meaningful again.
How I Got Here…
2021: My husband Nathan dies unexpectedly. I’m 4 kids in, overwhelmed, and drowning in paperwork, decisions, and pain. Therapy helps, but I still feel stuck with no roadmap.
2021–2022: I start devouring books, interviewing widows, trying grief groups, and studying coaching — desperate to find something that actually helps me feel different.
2022: I start the Brave Widow podcast, recording episodes while terrified and crying between takes — but determined that no widow should feel as alone as I did.
Year 1: I begin coaching widows 1:1. Word spreads quietly. The same patterns and problems keep showing up, so I start building frameworks instead of one-off advice.
Year 2: I launch Brave Widow Academy — a structured, 6-month coaching program with a step-by-step path: from deep grief, to stability, to rebuilding.
Year 3: Brave Widow has listeners around the world. I’ve personally coached hundreds of widows and spoken with thousands more through consults, lives, emails, and DMs.
Today: My work is simple:
Help widows stop surviving each day… and start rebuilding a life that makes them genuinely glad to be alive again.
Love Doesn’t Die: A Widow’s Story of Grief, Faith, and Healing Through Music | BW: 203
2026/07/14
If music has been part of your healing, or you wish it could be, this conversation will feel like a deep exhale.
In this episode, I’m talking with Victoria (artist name: SH3), a music therapist, grief counselor, and widow who created The Blue Album after the sudden loss of her partner.
We talk about using music to process grief, the power of community and support groups, continuing bonds with your person, and why love truly doesn’t die.
IN THIS EPISODE:
• Victoria’s story of sudden loss and turning to music for survival
• How being a grief counselor did (and didn’t) prepare her for her own grief
• Why grief support groups and community changed the way she practices
• The faith and meaning that keep her grounded working in hospice
• How The Blue Album maps to Worden’s Tasks of Mourning
• The story behind “Love Doesn’t Die” and continuing your bond
• Finding real hope that this is not the end of your story together
CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Music, grief, and why this episode matters if you’re hurting
01:12 – Victoria’s loss story and turning to music after her partner died
03:35 – Grief groups, community, and how support changed her work
06:10 – Hospice work, faith, and going back to supporting other grievers
08:32 – Creating The Blue Album using the Tasks of Mourning
13:40 – “Love Doesn’t Die”: continuing bonds instead of “goodbye”
19:05 – Hope, reunion, and how to connect with Victoria + next steps
LINKS MENTIONED:
Learn more about SH3 (Victoria) + her music:
https://www.sh3official.com
Follow SH3 on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/sh3official
Link to stream The Blue Album:
https://li.sten.to/apjayenf?fbclid=PAVERFWASqAIlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAaf9GjSfdnsHMRwRzo1derS1-LF46s5U-Iu19dwjsKkO1wk1UnlX1sY8LS7YbA_aem_JDtvN9ihPugXtZTwzeYr0A
If this helped you, please:
• Hit Subscribe
• Leave a quick rating & review
• Share this episode with a widow who needs hope today
Podcast reviews
Read Brave Widow Show podcast reviews
Betsy Guerra 2024/03/08
So much wisdom and love!
Emily gives incredible value and support with practical tools for widows. I’m a therapist and I have all my clients listen in because she makes them f...
Lauren330 2023/10/12
Wonderful
Love the relatable stories and all the different advice given. While all our losses are different, we experience a lot of the same feelings. Grateful ...
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