What happens when your worst nightmare becomes reality… on a dream trip? In this powerful episode of Inspire & Impact, host Daniel Rosenstein sits down with Jen Newberg, founder of It’s Lifey—a mission-driven community for widows built on one core belief: connection is the antidote to loneliness. In May 2024, while on a long-awaited vacation in Greece, Jen woke up to her husband Jack clutching his chest in the middle of the night. On a small island with no 911, limited medical resources, and no family nearby, she did everything she could to save him—but within minutes, he was gone. In the days that followed, Jen had to navigate the unthinkable: • Handling autopsy and legal paperwork in a foreign country • Calling her children to tell them their father had died • Flying home alone, in shock, to a life forever changed This loss was devastating—but it wasn’t the first time Jen had been forced to rebuild. Before widowhood, she had already experienced divorce, addiction, sobriety, and blended family life. When Jack died at 49, it shattered everything again and raised painful questions: How do you live in a world that expects you to “move on” after 3–5 days of bereavement leave? What happens when everyone else returns to normal—but your normal is gone forever? Instead of isolating, Jen chose to turn her pain into purpose. From her own loneliness, she created It’s Lifey and is now launching Hope Hub, a global online community for widows offering: • Support groups and honest conversations about grief • A safe space for anger, regret, and “grief bombs” • Expert interviews with attorneys, therapists, and financial professionals • Real tools, resources, and connection—so no one grieves alone In this episode, we explore: 🕊 Grief & the Myth of “Moving On” Why our culture isn’t grief-accepting and how life can grow around grief, not erase it. 💔 Loneliness vs. Being Alone Why loneliness is an epidemic—and how community can be lifesaving. 🌱 Turning Pain Into Purpose How one retreat sparked a movement, and why you don’t need all the answers to help others. 🤝 What Truly Helps Someone in Grief Small moments of compassion that mattered—and why “me too” comments aren’t enough. 🏡 Building Real Community Why Hope Hub is more than another Facebook group, and how widows at different stages of grief can feel understood together. If you’re grieving, feeling disconnected, or supporting someone who is, this conversation is for you. You’ll walk away with: • Language to better understand grief • Permission to hold more than one emotion at once • Hope that even when life gets lifey, you don’t have to walk alone 🔗 Connect with Jen Newberg & It’s Lifey Website: https://itslifey.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itslifeyco/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573198074373 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-newberg-0b25b12/ 🎙 About Inspire & Impact Inspire & Impact features real people turning hardship into purpose and stories into impact. If this episode resonated, please like, comment, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs connection. 💛 Tell us in the comments: ➡️ What do you wish people understood about grief? ➡️ Where have you found unexpected connection? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
