Brave Widow Show

Emily Tanner
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Inspiration for young widows to help heal their heart, find hope, and dream again for the future.

  1. 6d ago

    From Alone to Supported: Building Widows Ministry in Your Church | Amy Woody | BW: 204

    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: widows@sitgm.org 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.

  2. Jul 14

    Love Doesn’t Die: A Widow’s Story of Grief, Faith, and Healing Through Music | BW: 203

    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

  3. Jul 10

    BONUS: The Energy of It's Already Done

    Brave Widow Show

  4. Jul 7

    Life After Losing Your Spouse: How Widows Are Rebuilding Purpose | Brave Widow Academy | BW: 202

    Brave Widow Resources Mentioned  Brave Widow Academy (apply or book a call): https://bravewidow.com/academy Scholarship Application for Academy: https://www.bravewidow.com/scholarships1 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     If you’re a widow who looks “fine” on the outside but feels empty, stuck, or like you’re just getting through the day, this episode is for you.   In this deep dive, I walk you through: Who Brave Widow Academy is really for (and who it’s not for) The 5 areas widows struggle with most after the early grief fog lifts Real data from Academy graduates (how their scores actually changed over 6 months) Honest stories from widows who went from “What’s the point?” to waking up with purpose again How our scholarships work, including how much we’ve already awarded and what’s available for this cohort   If you’ve done GriefShare, counseling, or Facebook groups and you’re still asking, “Now what? Is this really the rest of my life?” I made this episode for you.   Our next Brave Widow Academy cohort starts Monday, July 13 at 5–7 pm Central.   Chapters 0:00 – Are you “functioning” but not really living? 2:18 – Why I created Brave Widow Academy (and where I was in my grief) 10:20 – Foundations vs Academy: which season of grief are you in? 17:45 – What you actually get inside Academy (structure, calls, community) 26:30 – How we measure “intangibles” like confidence, purpose, and moving forward 35:40 – Real student results: from dreading days to wanting to live 90% of them 47:05 – Midpoint check‑ins: what current students are noticing in real time 59:10 – Objections: money, time, “maybe it’s been too long,” “maybe I’m broken” 1:09:35 – Scholarships: how they work and what’s available this round 1:16:50 – How to apply and how to know if Academy is your next step If you’re ready to stop just surviving and start intentionally rebuilding a life you could actually love again, apply for the next Brave Widow Academy cohort (starting Monday, July 13, 5–7 pm CT with coaches Allyson and Nicole). Apply here: bravewidow.com/academy     Links & Next Steps 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 and get Momentum Monday calls: 👉 bravewidow.com/free 💛 Ready for deeper support? Brave Widow Academy is my 6‑month, faith‑based program to help you heal your heart and rebuild a life you can love again. Small group, step‑by‑step roadmap, and weekly support. Learn more and apply here: bravewidow.com/academy   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.

  5. Jun 30

    For Widows Who Feel Stuck After Loss: Why “Time” Won’t Heal This (And How To Rebuild Your Life) | BW: 201

    Brave Widow Resources Mentioned  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 Brave Widow Academy (apply): https://bravewidow.com/academy   If you’re a widow who isn’t in raw, early grief anymore but still feels stuck, hollow, and thinking, “Is this really it for the rest of my life?”… this episode is for you.   Emily shares why simply “giving it time” will only give you MORE of what you have today, how unprocessed grief shows up in your body, and the exact small, brave steps she took to go from floating through life to genuinely feeling alive again.   You’ll also hear why most grief support stops too early, what makes Brave Widow different, and how Brave Widow Academy helps widows collapse their timeline and intentionally rebuild a life they can actually love again without betraying their person.   In this episode you’ll learn: Who this message is not for (and why that matters) The brutal truth about “time heals all wounds” How unprocessed grief sits in your body and life Why grief groups are only the first stage of healing Practical examples of stepping into your future identity How widows in Brave Widow Academy are measurably changing their lives in 6 months   Chapters: 00:00 – Who this episode is (and isn’t) for 04:00 – “There has to be more than this” widow: stuck, frozen, existing 10:00 – The lie of “just give it time” and what time actually multiplies 19:00 – Emily’s small, brave steps: solo symphony nights, dinner dates, and dating again 32:00 – Collapsing the timeline: from 10+ years of thinking to 4 months of doing (real estate story) 36:00 – What happens inside Brave Widow Academy + real client progress numbers 48:00 – Your invitation to stop floating and start rebuilding on purpose If you’re ready to stop just surviving and start intentionally rebuilding a life you could actually love again, apply for the next Brave Widow Academy cohort (starting Monday, July 13, 5–7 pm CT with coaches Allyson and Nicole). Apply here: bravewidow.com/academy     Links & Next Steps 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 and get Momentum Monday calls: 👉 bravewidow.com/free 💛 Ready for deeper support? Brave Widow Academy is my 6‑month, faith‑based program to help you heal your heart and rebuild a life you can love again. Small group, step‑by‑step roadmap, and weekly support. Learn more and apply here: bravewidow.com/academy   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.

  6. Jun 23

    3 Widows Share How Grief Can Actually Get Better After Loss | Stories of Brave Widows | BW: 200

    Brave Widow Resources Mentioned  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 Brave Widow Academy (apply): https://bravewidow.com/academy   In this special 200th episode of The Brave Widow Show, Emily is joined by three members of the Brave Widow community – Carrie, Tammie, and Mary – who openly share their journeys through grief, anxiety, faith, and slow-but-real transformation.   They talk about the darkest days after loss, the guilt of investing in themselves, the concrete changes they’ve experienced since joining Brave Widow, and the ordinary moments when they realized, “I’m actually living again.”   If you’ve ever worried you’re “doing widowhood wrong” or that this is as good as it gets, this episode is for you.   Chapters: 00:00 – Why this episode matters + Foundations invitation 03:30 – Meet Carrie, Tammie & Mary: where they are now 08:30 – The hardest days after loss & feeling stuck in grief 20:00 – Finding Brave Widow, GriefShare, and hesitating to invest in themselves 32:00 – Concrete changes: routines, community, less anxiety, big moves & trips 46:30 – Moments of “I’m actually living again” & what their husbands would say 51:30 – What they’d tell the widow who thinks “this is as good as it gets” + how Foundations can help   Links & Next Steps 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 and get Momentum Monday calls: 👉 bravewidow.com/free 💛 Ready for deeper support? Brave Widow Academy is my 6‑month, faith‑based program to help you heal your heart and rebuild a life you can love again. Small group, step‑by‑step roadmap, and weekly support. Learn more and apply here: bravewidow.com/academy   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.

  7. Jun 11

    Widowed After 29 Years: Dr. Tina’s Raw Journey Through Loss, Faith & Finding Purpose Again | BW: 199

    Quick note: We had a weird static issue on this recording. We cleaned it up as much as possible, and the conversation with Dr. Tina was too powerful not to share.   Connect with Tina: Website - https://tinafornwald.com/ https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/  Children’s Secret Santa - https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/children-of-widowhood/  Three-Night Healing Retreat - https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/real-widowhood-weekend-nextyou-experience/ Link For Free Gift Or Offer (If Any): https://tinafornwald.com/where-grief-gets-stuck/ Free Gift/Offer Description (If Any): Discover which of the Five Survival Patterns may be keeping you stuck in grief. Complete the free self-assessment and instantly receive a downloadable guide with practical insights, reflection questions, and next steps to help you reconnect with hope, purpose, and healing.   Brave Widow Resources Mentioned  Learn more about Brave Widow Foundations (gentle, faith‑based support for the first seasons of grief):👉 bravewidow.com/foundations Join us for Renew: A Brave Widow Retreat: https://bravewidow.com/retreat Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free Brave Widow Academy (apply): https://bravewidow.com/academy Schedule a free, no-pressure call: https://bravewidow.com/call   What do you do when it feels like life just keeps hitting you with loss after loss?   In today’s episode, I’m joined by Dr. Tina Fornwald: retired Army officer, breast cancer survivor, and widow after a 29‑year marriage. We talk honestly about stacked suffering, listening to God’s promptings, surviving those first months when simply bathing feels impossible, and how she slowly rebuilt a life that now includes a nonprofit, a Secret Santa program for widowed families, a memorial garden, and her new novel The Five Widows Club.   If you’ve ever wondered, “Does this ever get better?” this conversation is for you.   Chapters 0:00 – Intro, Renew Retreat & Foundations announcements 3:00 – Dr. Tina’s story: 29‑year marriage, Army life & sudden loss 8:00 – Breast cancer, stacked suffering & surviving the first few months 14:00 – Wrestling with God, honesty in grief & when hope starts to return 21:00 – Secret Santa, memorial garden & The Five Widows Club 30:00 – Purpose, pressure & encouragement for years 1–10 of widowhood     Links & Next Steps 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 and get Momentum Monday calls: 👉 bravewidow.com/free     💛 Ready for deeper support? Brave Widow Academy is my 6‑month, faith‑based program to help you heal your heart and rebuild a life you can love again. Small group, step‑by‑step roadmap, and weekly support. Learn more and apply here: bravewidow.com/academy   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.

  8. Jun 2

    5 Foundations for Widows Stuck in Grief | How to Breathe Again When Life Feels Overwhelming | BW 198

    Learn more about Brave Widow Foundations (gentle, faith‑based support for the first seasons of grief):👉 bravewidow.com/foundations Join us for Renew: A Brave Widow Retreat: https://bravewidow.com/retreat Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free Brave Widow Academy (apply): https://bravewidow.com/academy Schedule a free, no-pressure call: https://bravewidow.com/call   If getting through the day feels like your new full‑time job, this episode is for you.   In this faith‑based conversation, Emily shares the 5 Foundations she uses to help widows move from pure survival mode into a little more stability, structure, and hope.    If you’re tired of people telling you to “just give it time,” you’ll learn what to focus on instead so you can actually breathe again.   You’ll learn: Why time alone doesn’t heal grief (and what does) The 5 Foundations that steady you when life feels relentlessly hard How to calm your nervous system when you feel constantly on edge Why doing less (not more) is actually wise in early grief How to rebuild routine, connection, hope, and identity without leaving your person behind What the new Brave Widow Foundations program is and who it’s for   Foundations is a gentle, faith‑centered container for widows and widowers in the “rawness” and “isolation” seasons of grief who need stability and support before they’re ready to fully rebuild life again.   Chapters 0:00 – When getting through the day feels like a full‑time job 6:45 – Why “just give it time” isn’t working 10:30 – The 5 Foundations that help you breathe again 37:10 – “Too broken / too early / I should do this alone” and other stories we tell ourselves 48:10 – Inside the Brave Widow Foundations program and how to join   Links & Next Steps 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 and get Momentum Monday calls: 👉 bravewidow.com/free     💛 Ready for deeper support? Brave Widow Academy is my 6‑month, faith‑based program to help you heal your heart and rebuild a life you can love again. Small group, step‑by‑step roadmap, and weekly support. Learn more and apply here: bravewidow.com/academy   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.

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About

Inspiration for young widows to help heal their heart, find hope, and dream again for the future.

Information

  • Creator
    Emily Tanner
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    213
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Brave Widow. All Rights Reserved.
  • Show Website
    Brave Widow Show

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