Widow 180 The Podcast with Jen Zwinck

Jen Zwinck
  • 4.9 (89)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Biweekly

When you become a widow, the heartache can be overwhelming. You feel lost. You feel broken. You feel alone. And you find yourself trying to pick up the pieces of your life and function. But I believe that every widow has the capacity to endure, that every widow has the power to overcome and the determination to create a new life filled with meaning and purpose. The Widow 180 Podcast is about turning tragedy, loss and fear into strength and creativity and a new passion for life. It's about self-reflection and realizing that we only have this one precious life to live and that a new life and a new you is achievable.Each week I will be interviewing widows, incredible survivors of loss. These women have taken the lessons they've learned and the insights they've gained and used them to grow and transform themselves. Some have started businesses, went back to school, run marathons, lost 100 pounds, and moved across the world! They made a choice not to be held down.How did they do it? How did they get through their grief? What's their secret? What lessons can we learn from them that will transform our own lives? How can we write our own story because our story isn't over yet? How can we begin our Chapter 2? I hope that you are as inspired by these women as I am. And maybe hearing even just one story will be life-changing for you.

  1. 15h ago

    281. Sorting Through A Spouse's Belongings - A Widow (and Widower!) Roundtable Gets Real About Grief, Clutter, And Letting Go Of Things

    What do you do with the clothes still hanging in his closet?  The shoes that seem to multiply the moment you try to pack them away?!  In this raw, unfiltered Widow 180 roundtable, four guests — three widows and a widower — open up about one of the hardest, least-talked-about parts of loss: deciding what to do with a spouse's belongings. Lindsay Lawrence, Sarah Fox, Likisha Lefever, and psychologist Stephen Taylor share their timelines, triggers, and hard-won strategies — from turning t-shirts into memory bears, to donating shoes to strangers in need, to the surprising guilt that can surface over something as small as a comforter or an empty cologne bottle. They talk honestly about outside pressure and unsolicited opinions from family. As Lindsay puts it: "Until you are walking in my shoes, I really don't need to hear your opinion anymore."  And Stephen offers a piece of wisdom that reframes the whole conversation: "If you don't do something with your grief, your grief is gonna do something to you." This episode also covers the power of pre-loss conversations, the "widow brain" phenomenon, navigating family traditions around belongings, and two simple questions to help guide any decision: Will I ever actually use this? and Where is the right place for it to go? Whether your loss was sudden or came after years of illness, this conversation offers permission to move at your own pace — because when it comes to grief, there's no right way. There's just your way. For more support and guidance in widowhood, check out the Widow 180 Workbook series at www.widow180.com/workbooks What stage of widowhood are you in right now? Not sure? Click here to get the specific help you need for where you are right now on this journey. Go to www.widow180.com/stages Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927 Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/ Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com Questions? Email me at jen@widow180.com

  2. Jul 23

    280. Widow Brain Meets ADHD: Navigating Grief, Guilt, and Identity After Suicide Loss (with Jennifer Dall)

    What happens when widow brain and ADHD collide? In this episode, we sit down with Jennifer Dall — grief-informed neurodivergence specialist, founder of Curveball Press, and widow of four-plus years — to unpack how grief and neurodivergence amplify each other in ways almost no one talks about. Jennifer opens up about losing her husband to suicide, navigating grief alongside her adult daughter, and the messy, ongoing work of sorting through his belongings (tools, fishing gear, and all).  We dig into decision fatigue, executive dysfunction, and why "widow fog" hits differently when you're also managing ADHD — plus practical, compassionate strategies for getting through the hardest days, releasing guilt, and rebuilding an identity that's been completely upended. If you're in the thick of grief and wondering whether you'll ever feel capable again, this conversation is a reminder: you will. One day, one wave, one Netflix episode at a time! In this episode: Grief triggers, "random Tuesdays," and anticipating hard anniversariesWidow brain vs. ADHD — how they compound each otherPractical tools for decision fatigue and overwhelmReleasing guilt around big life decisionsRebuilding identity after lossWhat "mini survival mode" looks like — and how to get through it againConnect with Jennifer: adhdholistically.com  There are 5 stages of healing in widowhood. Not sure which one you're in? Go to www.widow180.com/stages to find out. Get a curated list of resources you need to start healing today! Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927 Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/ Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com Questions? Email me at jen@widow180.com

  3. Jul 16

    279. The 5 Stages of Widowhood Healing (Not the Grief Stages You've Heard Before)

    If you're listening to this at 2am because grief won't let you sleep, or three years out wondering why you still don't feel like yourself — this episode is for you! Forget the 5 stages of grief you've heard about a hundred times.  In this episode, we are breaking down the 5 stages of healing in widowhood — a framework built specifically for what it actually looks like to lose your spouse and rebuild a life afterward: In the Thick of It — raw, early grief and survival modeFinding Your Footing — small wins and the guilt of feeling capable againSearching for Yourself — the identity work of figuring out who you are nowStepping into Chapter Two — building a new life on purpose, joy and grief coexistingThriving and Paying It Forward — a new relationship with your loss, and helping others through theirsThese stages aren't a ladder you climb in order, rather, you can move back and forth between them, sometimes in the same week. We walk through what each stage actually feels like, what it looks like from the outside, and exactly what you need in each one. Whether you're in the fog of week one or years into rebuilding, this episode will help you understand exactly where you are and know that where you're headed is real. FIND YOUR STAGE: Head to https://www.widow180.com/stages to find your stage and get a personalized list of resources to support you right where you are! For all Widow 180 Workbooks in the series, go to https://www.widow180.com/workbooks Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927 Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/ Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com Questions? Email me at jen@widow180.com

  4. Jul 9

    278. "He Died 3 Weeks After Diagnosis"- Julie Wright Halbert on Sudden Loss, Grief Literacy, and Transformational Healing

    Julie Wright Halbert was a national education attorney, married 22 years, when her husband Jim started losing weight and running a fever — symptoms doctors first mistook for an infection.  Three weeks later, he was gone.  In this raw, wide-ranging conversation, Julie shares what it's really like to lose a spouse to a fast-moving, hard-to-diagnose cancer (later identified as cholangiocarcinoma), how she held two teenage sons together while barely holding herself together, and the winding path — through grief therapy, a chance encounter with a life coach in Colorado, a medium session that left her laughing and crying, and healing retreats in Sedona — that led her to become a transformational soul coach, death doula, and author of the forthcoming book Live and Die Awake (releasing November 4, 2026). This episode isn't just about how Jim died — it's about how Julie learned to live. In this episode, we chat about: The frightening weeks between Jim's first symptoms and his cholangiocarcinoma diagnosis at MD AndersonThe "angel medevac" flight that got the family home to say goodbyeGoing back to work as an attorney while still in early, acute griefThe synchronicities — a stranger's conversation, a medium's prediction — that led her to coachingHow her book Live and Die Awake came together, chapter by chapter, as a healing tool for any kind of lossWhat she looks for first when guiding a new grief client through an identity shiftHer thoughts on group retreats, Sedona's "vortex energy," and communal healingTimestamps: 00:00 – Intro 00:23 – Jim's first symptoms and the early misdiagnosis 03:30 – The diagnosis: cholangiocarcinoma at MD Anderson 06:07 – The angel medevac flight home 06:43 – Jim passes away, December 6, 2018 07:23 – The raw grief of losing someone in three weeks 11:15 – Returning to work as an attorney while grieving 20:12 – The Colorado synchronicity that led to her life coach 24:20 – How her book Live and Die Awake began taking shape 27:03 – Connecting with medium Tina Powers 34:45 – Founding Rising Phoenix Life coaching 37:03 – Guiding clients through identity shifts after loss 40:27 – Is there a "too soon" for grief transformation? 44:45 – Sedona retreats and communal healing 59:16 – Where to find Julie + closing thoughts Connect with Julie Wright Halbert: 🌐 Website: risingphoenix.life 📖 Substack: Living and Dying Awake 💼 LinkedIn: Julie Wright Halbert 📧 Email: julie@risingphoenix.life 📚 Book: Live and Die Awake — releasing November 4, 2026 What stage are you on this widow journey? Not sure? Find out at https://www.widow180.com/stages and get the tailored grief support you need. Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927 Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/ Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com Questions? Email me at jen@widow180.com

  5. Jul 2

    277. "I'm Not the Mom I Used to Be": Grief, Identity & Solo Parenting After Widowhood - What Widows Are Really Thinking with Priya Menon

    Losing a spouse doesn't just take your partner - it can take your identity, too. In this deeply honest post-interview chat, guest Priya opens up about what it really means to rebuild your life as a widowed mom: the loneliness of making every decision alone, the guilt of not being the same parent you used to be, and the quiet grief of watching your kids adjust to a version of you that's stretched between every role as mom, dad, caregiver, provider. Priya shares how her work and her children became her anchors when everything else felt uncertain, why surrounding yourself with positive people is non-negotiable after loss, and the moment her own daughter told her therapist that losing her mom's old self was harder than losing her dad. It's a raw look at self-doubt, resilience, and learning to trust yourself again when the person you used to lean on is gone. If you're a widow struggling with identity loss, solo parenting, or rebuilding confidence after the death of a spouse, this episode will remind you that you're not alone — and that you already know how to make the right decisions for your family. In this episode: Why losing a spouse means losing your built-in "sounding board"How grief changes your identity as a parentLearning to trust your own decisions againWhy your social circle often shifts after loss  and why that's okay!What kids really feel when a widowed parent changesWhere are you on this widow journey? Not sure?  We have identified 5 common stages of healing, from the thick of early grief to truly thriving again. Wherever you are, there's a name for it, and there are other widows who've been exactly there too. Find your stage and get personalized grief support that meets you exactly where you are at https://www.widow180.com/stages Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927 Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/ Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com Questions? Email me at jen@widow180.com

  6. Jun 26

    276. "Are You the Wife?" - One Widow's Raw Story Of Sudden Loss, Grief, And Finding Meaning Again

    In this deeply moving episode of Widow 180: The Podcast, occupational therapist, author, and widow Rondalyn Whitney shares the raw story of losing her husband Bill in a sudden car accident during the COVID-19 pandemic.  She opens up about how she rebuilt her life from "Day Zero" forward. Drawing on her background in narrative medicine and occupational therapy, Rondalyn offers widows practical, evidence-based tools for navigating grief: from journaling techniques backed by research, to reframing mourning as an "occupation" requiring structure, habits, and routines, to finding the courage to rebuild identity after loss.  She opens up about: ~parenting a grieving teenager ~the power of small rituals ~how she learned to "be her own Bill" and be her own cheerleader ~how she found the courage to step out and do things on her own, like dining out Whether you're newly widowed or years into your grief journey, this conversation offers both permission to feel and concrete steps toward healing.  Connect with Rondalyn Whitney at RondalynWhitney.com She's also on LinkedIn, Facebook, or find her published books and articles on her Amazon author page.  Join the Widow 180 community for the 60 Days of Summer Healing Quest on YouTube (a video series for widows and widowers) and get your FREE progress tracker here: https://widow180.kit.com/healingquest Find the newest Widow 180 workbook, the Who Am I Now? Workbook at https://widow180.kit.com/whoaminow Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927 Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/ Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com Questions? Email me at jen@widow180.com

  7. Jun 19

    275. Words Of Encouragement For Widows This Father's Day Weekend!

    I want to offer you some words of encouragement on this Father's Day weekend. Maybe this is your first Father's Day without your spouse. Or maybe it's the second, or the fifth, and it still feels just as painful as the first. Whether you choose to celebrate this weekend in some way or you choose to ignore it completely, it's okay. Both decisions are the right decisions if it feels right to you. Getting through holidays like this one are tough. But you're here and you're doing it. And you're doing so much better than you think! If you need more support and encouragement this summer, I encourage you to check out the 60 Days of summer Healing Quest!  60 days of short, inspiring YouTube videos to get you through this summer. Go to https://widow180.kit.com/healingquest Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927 Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/ Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com Questions? Email me at jen@widow180.com

  8. Jun 11

    274. Should I Take Off My Wedding Ring After Loss? Widow Roundtable #2 on Timing, Guilt & Moving Forward

    "When should I take off my wedding ring?" Most widows face this question at some point after loss. In this second roundtable discussion episode of Widow 180, three widows—Melissa, Tracy, and Danette—join the conversation to discuss the deeply personal decision of taking off a wedding ring after loss.  They each share their unique experiences: from moving their rings to different hands, repurposing them into new jewelry, keeping them as special keepsakes for family, to deciding when and how to take this significant step.  The discussion delves into feelings of guilt, societal expectations, handling others’ opinions, and the importance of doing what feels right for each individual.  Whether you’re wrestling with this decision yourself or supporting someone who is, this episode offers comfort, understanding, and practical ideas for navigating the path forward! Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927 Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/ Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com Questions? Email me at jen@widow180.com

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About

When you become a widow, the heartache can be overwhelming. You feel lost. You feel broken. You feel alone. And you find yourself trying to pick up the pieces of your life and function. But I believe that every widow has the capacity to endure, that every widow has the power to overcome and the determination to create a new life filled with meaning and purpose. The Widow 180 Podcast is about turning tragedy, loss and fear into strength and creativity and a new passion for life. It's about self-reflection and realizing that we only have this one precious life to live and that a new life and a new you is achievable.Each week I will be interviewing widows, incredible survivors of loss. These women have taken the lessons they've learned and the insights they've gained and used them to grow and transform themselves. Some have started businesses, went back to school, run marathons, lost 100 pounds, and moved across the world! They made a choice not to be held down.How did they do it? How did they get through their grief? What's their secret? What lessons can we learn from them that will transform our own lives? How can we write our own story because our story isn't over yet? How can we begin our Chapter 2? I hope that you are as inspired by these women as I am. And maybe hearing even just one story will be life-changing for you.

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