Brave Widow Show

Emily Tanner
  • 5.0 (13)
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Inspiration for young widows to help heal their heart, find hope, and dream again for the future.

  1. BW 185: Am I Doing Grief Right? | The 4 Seasons Of Grief & How To Know You’re Really Healing

    5D AGO

    BW 185: Am I Doing Grief Right? | The 4 Seasons Of Grief & How To Know You’re Really Healing

    Are you afraid you’re “doing grief wrong”? In this episode, Emily breaks down the 4 Seasons of Grief and how to know if you’re actually healing or just staying busy. Take the free 4 Seasons of Grief Quiz here: https://bravewidow.com/quiz     In this episode of the Brave Widow Show, Emily answers a question so many widows ask in different ways: “Have I really done the work of grieving, or am I just pushing it down and keeping myself busy?” You’ll learn: Why there is no one “right” way to grieve, and what actually makes grief work helpful or harmful The 4 Seasons of Grief (Rawness, Isolation, Self-Discovery, Empowerment) and what each season looks like day-to-day How shoving emotions down can show up later in your body as pain, illness, or accidents The difference between staying busy to avoid grief vs. taking baby steps to build a new life How to carve out simple, intentional “grief time” even when you’re providing for a family and leading at work Why it’s normal not to have all your big life decisions (house, remarriage, future plans) figured out yet How to stabilize, explore, and then build a life you can actually love again with your person’s memory honored, not erased   Next steps: 🎯 Find your season of grief (free quiz): https://bravewidow.com/quiz 📅 Join the live “4 Seasons of Grief” webinar (Feb 17): https://bravewidow.com/live 🤍 Explore Brave Widow Academy and coaching: https://bravewidow.com/academy If you feel like “a shell of yourself,” lonely, or stuck walking in place, you’re not broken and you’re not alone. There is a gentle, faith-based path forward, one small step at a time.   Chapters 0:00 – Are you “doing grief right”? 1:00 – Listener question: “Have I really done the work of grieving?” 3:05 – The fear of doing grief wrong (and what others think) 5:10 – Why time alone does NOT heal grief 7:00 – What it means to “do the work” of grieving 9:05 – Grief needs a witness: why talking matters 11:00 – The 4 Seasons of Grief (R.I.S.E. overview) 13:20 – Season 1: Rawness & survival mode 16:00 – Stabilize: the Chaos to Calm Blueprint 18:30 – Season 2: Isolation & feeling like a “shell” 21:00 – Holding “and”: grieving AND feeling moments of joy 23:40 – Seasons 2–3: Scheduling grief vs. staying busy 27:10 – Season 4: Empowerment & building a new life 29:30 – Are you busy to avoid grief… or to build a future? 32:00 – Overachievers, martyrs, and burning yourself out 35:00 – 3-step path: Stabilize, Explore, Build 37:00 – Free 4 Seasons of Grief Quiz & live webinar invite     🌱 READY FOR DEEPER SUPPORT? If you’re tired of feeling lost, lonely, and second‑guessing every decision, Brave Widow Academy is a 6‑month, faith‑based coaching program to help you rebuild a life you can love again.   Learn more: https://bravewidow.com/academy Book a free no‑pressure consult: https://bravewidow.com/call   💬 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 white-knuckling their way through each day… and start rebuilding a life that makes them genuinely glad to be alive again.   You don’t have to do it alone. 💜

    31 min
  2. BW 184: Stuck In The In‑Between: Hope For Widows Who Feel Forgotten

    FEB 3

    BW 184: Stuck In The In‑Between: Hope For Widows Who Feel Forgotten

    In this episode, Emily Tanner (founder of Brave Widow) talks about the “in‑between” season of widowhood: the space between the life you had and the life you can’t yet see. She unpacks why this hidden season is not a punishment but a place of formation, how to wrestle honestly with God without pretending, and a simple 3‑step framework to start moving forward, even when you still feel sad, foggy, or unsure. 00:00 – Living In The In‑Between 01:10 – When Your Old Life Is Gone And The Future Feels Blank 03:05 – Signs You’re In The In‑Between 04:10 – Feeling Forgotten By God 05:15 – Elijah, The Wilderness, And Hidden Seasons 06:20 – Israel In The Desert & Grief As Lament 07:15 – Can I Still Trust God After He Didn’t Answer My Prayer? 08:10 – Praying Through Tears Without Pretending 10:00 – “Waiting On God” vs Doing Nothing 11:10 – What Faithful Waiting Really Looks Like 14:00 – “If I’m Still Sad, I Shouldn’t Move Forward” 15:05 – Forcing Outcomes vs Faithful Action 16:00 – A 3‑Step Framework For The In‑Between: Anchor – Act – Attune 19:30 – What God’s Guidance Usually Feels Like 20:00 – The In‑Between As Formation, Not Failure 22:00 – Life Update: Nathan’s Birthday & Graveside Sunrise 23:20 – Holding Two Truths: Grieving Nathan & Loving Robert 27:00 – Growing Your Capacity To Hold Mixed Emotions 31:40 – Final Encouragement For The In‑Between In this episode, you’ll hear: * What the “in‑between” is * Not the crisis moment and not the fully rebuilt chapter * Signs you’re in it: you can function but feel hollow, invisible, or forgotten * Why decision‑making feels impossible when you don’t know who you are now * Hidden seasons in Scripture * Elijah in the wilderness and God’s slow rebuilding work * Israel in the desert learning to trust and depend on God daily * Jesus’ 30 hidden years, David’s years between anointing and the throne * Why being unseen doesn’t mean you’re unimportant or unproductive * Wrestling honestly with God * Confusion when God feels “good” on paper but not in your reality * Why biblical faith doesn’t skip pain; it brings pain to God * How stuffing questions and stopping prayer keeps you stuck * Waiting on God vs. taking action * Common trap: “If I move, I’m not trusting God” * What faithful waiting actually looks like: seeking, listening, obeying the next step * The difference between forcing outcomes vs. taking small, surrendered steps * A 3‑step framework for the in‑between * Anchor – simple daily anchors (prayer, Scripture, boundaries, movement) * Act – identify what you want “more of” (peace, gentleness, stability, purpose) and take tiny actions toward that * Attune – regularly ask: What brings peace vs. pressure? Where do I sense God inviting me? What lights even a small spark? * Growing your capacity to hold “both/and” * Emily’s story of honoring Nathan’s birthday while preparing to celebrate her anniversary with Robert * Learning to hold grief and joy, past love and new love, loss and hope, without one erasing the other * Why expanding your emotional capacity makes life feel lighter and more grounded * Life update * Visiting Nathan’s graveside on his birthday * Upcoming anniversary trip with Robert * A teaser for an upcoming Q&A episode with Robert on dating/marrying a widow Resources mentioned: * Elijah: Faith and Fire by Priscilla Shirer * Just Be Honest: How to Pray When You’re Suffering by Clint Watkins 🌱 READY FOR DEEPER SUPPORT? If you’re tired of feeling lost, lonely, and second‑guessing every decision, Brave Widow Academy is a 6‑month, faith‑based coaching program to help you rebuild a life you can love again. Learn more: https://bravewidow.com/academy
 Book a free no‑pressure consult:
https://bravewidow.com/call 💬 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 white-knuckling their way through each day… and start rebuilding a life that makes them genuinely glad to be alive again. You don’t have to do it alone. 💜

    33 min
  3. BW 183: A Simple Question That Makes Grief Easier To Share | Erin Clark on ‘How’s The Weather’

    JAN 27

    BW 183: A Simple Question That Makes Grief Easier To Share | Erin Clark on ‘How’s The Weather’

    Do you ever freeze when someone asks “How are you?” and you don’t know how to answer without either lying or trauma‑dumping?   Today, fellow widow Erin Clark shares the grief language she created after losing her husband Greg: “How’s the weather?” It’s a softer way for widows and grievers to name their inner landscape – from bright and sunny to dark and stormy – without pressure to be “fine” or “strong.”   We talk about how this simple question became a movement, how it’s changing conversations in families, schools, and hospitals, and how you can start using it with the people who love you.   🎧 IN THIS EPISODE 00:00 Intro: Why “How are you?” can feel impossible 02:00 Erin’s story of losing Greg and feeling alone in a full house 03:30 The moment “How’s the weather?” was born 05:00 What it actually sounds like in real conversations 07:30 Turning a private language into a public movement 09:30 Launching “How’s The Weather” in 15 weeks (as a brand‑new founder) 12:30 Sticky notes, three tiny tasks, and surviving early grief 16:00 Feeling alone even with a big family or church 18:00 Why this helps both the griever and the friend who wants to help 21:00 Erin’s vision: schools, hospitals, chemo rooms, everywhere 23:30 Practical advice if you’re scared to start using this language 27:00 Brave Widow giveaway + life update 31:00 What’s coming next inside Brave Widow   💛 ENTER THE HOW’S THE WEATHER MERCH GIVEAWAY If you’re in the US and want to win some How’s The Weather merch, enter here: https://bravewidow.com/183 (If you’re watching later, this link will tell you if the giveaway is still open.)   🧡 CONNECT WITH ERIN CLARK – HOW’S THE WEATHER Website: https://www.hows-the-weather.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wwwhowstheweather Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erin_clark_242 YouTube: search “How’s The Weather Erin Clark” or use handle @HowstheWeather-y3q   🤝 JOIN THE FREE BRAVE WIDOW COMMUNITY Get access to free calls, trainings, and guided meditations for widows: https://bravewidow.com/free   🌱 READY FOR DEEPER SUPPORT? If you’re tired of feeling lost, lonely, and second‑guessing every decision, Brave Widow Academy is a 6‑month, faith‑based coaching program to help you rebuild a life you can love again. Book a free no‑pressure consult: https://bravewidow.com   💬 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 white-knuckling their way through each day… and start rebuilding a life that makes them genuinely glad to be alive again.   You don’t have to do it alone. 💜

    37 min
  4. BW 182: First New Year As A Widow: 5 Permission Slips For Your Heart

    JAN 13

    BW 182: First New Year As A Widow: 5 Permission Slips For Your Heart

    Are you facing your first New Year as a widow and feeling dread instead of hope? While everyone else is posting “New year, new me,” you might be thinking, “I didn’t even want this year. I just wanted my person back.” In this episode, Emily shares 5 “permission slips” for your heart so you can walk into a new year without your person with more gentleness, honesty, and faith. No pretending you’re okay. No pressure to set big goals. Just real talk, real grief, and real hope in Jesus. You’ll hear: Why the New Year can feel especially cruel and disorienting after loss Permission slip #1: Feel what you actually feel (even anger at God) Permission slip #2: Pause and lower expectations when grief waves hit Permission slip #3: Step forward without “leaving your person behind” Permission slip #4: Be deeply honest with God and with safe people Permission slip #5: Be guided instead of doing this alone To help you put this into practice, I created a free New Year Permission Slip Worksheet just for widows. 👉 Download your free worksheet: https://bravewidow.com/182 You can print it, fill it out, and literally sign the permission you’re giving your heart this year. Resources mentioned: Free New Year Permission Slip Worksheet: https://bravewidow.com/182 Brave Widow Academy (6‑month group coaching for widows): https://bravewidow.com/academy Book a free, no-pressure consult: https://bravewidow.com If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another widow who’s staring down January feeling alone. You don’t have to do this year by yourself.

    32 min
  5. BW 181: Don’t Want This New Year Without Him? How Widows Can Build a Life Better Than You Imagine.

    12/30/2025

    BW 181: Don’t Want This New Year Without Him? How Widows Can Build a Life Better Than You Imagine.

    MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: * Apply for the Brave Widow Academy Scholarship (applications open until January 2): bravewidow.com * Learn about the next Brave Widow Academy group starting Thursday, January 22 at bravewidow.com * Want more support rebuilding life after loss? Book a free consult at bravewidow.com * Curious about Grief Recovery Method® with Emily? https://www.bravewidow.com/offers/EPW2EeyT/checkout Everyone’s shouting “Happy New Year!” and making resolutions… and you’re thinking, I don’t even want this new year because he isn’t in it. If that’s you, this episode is for you. In Episode 181 of The Brave Widow Show, Emily talks about the strange, painful feeling of moving into a year your person will never see, and how to step into the future without feeling like you’re abandoning him in the past. You’ll hear: * Why entering a new year can feel surreal, unfair, and anxiety‑provoking for widows * A powerful reframe: if you believe you’ll see him again, each step forward can bring you closer, not further away * Emily’s story of feeling empty nearly two years out, and how Brave Widow slowly became more than she could have imagined * The “four seasons of grief” and why your life can one day feel better than you’re able to picture right now * How to “borrow belief” when you don’t have any hope left of your own You’ll leave with a tiny seed of hope that your life in the future can be gentler, fuller, and more meaningful than the gray, empty version your brain is predicting today. Get support as a widow If you’re a widow trying to rebuild a life you can love again, you don’t have to do it alone. Join the Brave Widow Academy for a proven path, live coaching, and a community of widows who truly get it: 👉 Learn more and join here: bravewidow.com/academy 💬 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

    36 min
  6. BW 180: First Christmas Without Your Husband? 3-Step Widow Survival Plan To Protect Your Heart

    12/23/2025

    BW 180: First Christmas Without Your Husband? 3-Step Widow Survival Plan To Protect Your Heart

    MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:    Learn more about Brave Widow Academy and current scholarship details: bravewidow.com  Ready for more support? Book a free consult at bravewidow.com to see if the Academy or 1:1 coaching is a fit  Grief Recovery Method with Emily Tanner: https://www.bravewidow.com/offers/EPW2EeyT/checkout   If this is your first Christmas without your husband and you already feel that knot in your stomach… this episode is for you.   In Episode 180 of The Brave Widow Show, Emily shares a gentle 3-step survival plan to help you get through what is often one of the hardest days in a widow’s first year: the first Christmas without him.   You’ll learn how to:  Protect your heart instead of powering through and pretending to be “okay”  Plan your exit so you can leave events without guilt, panic, or drama  Choose one meaningful moment to honor your person without trying to make the whole holiday “magical”   We talk about:  Why the holidays can feel like emotional whiplash when you’re newly widowed  Guilt, “wearing a mask,” and feeling pressure to make it special for everyone else  How to simplify traditions, set boundaries, and bow out gracefully  Practical ideas for honoring your spouse in a way that doesn’t shatter you   If you’re facing your first Christmas as a widow and feel fragile, numb, or like you might break at any moment… you are not alone, and there is a gentler way through this season.     Get support as a widow If you’re a widow in your 40s–60s trying to rebuild a life you can love again, you don’t have to do it alone. Join the Brave Widow Academy for a proven path, live coaching, and a community of widows who truly get it:   👉 Learn more and join here: bravewidow.com/academy   💬 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

    19 min
  7. BONUS: 2025 Widow Winter Solstice: Longest Night Of Grief | Christian Widows On Loneliness, Holidays & Hope

    12/22/2025

    BONUS: 2025 Widow Winter Solstice: Longest Night Of Grief | Christian Widows On Loneliness, Holidays & Hope

    Apply for the Brave Widow Academy scholarship before midnight, Friday, January 2nd: https://www.bravewidow.com/scholarship   If you’re ready for more support, learn about Brave Widow Academy here: https://www.bravewidow.com/academy   The longest night of the year can feel even darker when your person is gone.   In this special 2025 Widow Winter Solstice gathering, Emily and a panel of Christian widows share honest stories about loneliness, surviving the holidays, feeling misunderstood, wrestling with God, and answering the question: “Will I always feel this way?”   You’ll hear real, unpolished conversations from women in different seasons of widowhood who have walked through the same sleepless nights, empty chairs, and “I don’t know who I am anymore” moments you may be living right now.   In this episode you’ll hear: -Why we honor Winter Solstice as “the longest night” for widows -Raw stories of loneliness in grief: empty houses, changing friendships, family let-downs -How faith, prayer, and Scripture show up when you’re angry, numb, or confused with God -What helped each widow move from “just surviving” to taking tiny brave steps again -Guided reflection prompts you can use tonight to process your own grief -How joy and sorrow can coexist without betraying your person’s memory -An invitation to go deeper inside Brave Widow Academy and our scholarship opportunity   Next steps -Watch / listen and journal through the reflection prompts -Share your person’s name in the comments so we can honor them with you   Chapters  00:00 Welcome & Why Winter Solstice matters for widows 09:00 Panel introductions & love stories 28:00 Loneliness in the new normal 1:22:00 Guided reflection time 1:35:00 “Will I always feel this way?” 2:25:00 Q&A on anger, boundaries, and kids

    2h 51m

  8. 12/17/2025

    BONUS: When The Holidays Hurt: Widow Winter Solstice Gathering On The Longest Night (Free Online Event)

    The holidays can feel brutal after your spouse dies. While the world is twinkling with lights and parties, you’re just trying to get through the longest nights. I’m inviting you to Widow Winter Solstice, a free online gathering on Sunday, December 21, 6–8 pm Central for widows and widowers on the longest night of the year. You’ll be able to: Cozy up at home in PJs (you’re not on camera) Hear from a panel of widows at different stages of loss Ask questions live in the chat or simply listen Join giveaways (books, gift cards, and Brave Widow surprises) Remember your person and be reminded: it will not always feel like this 👉 Register & get the replay + giveaways: https://www.bravewidow.com/winter

    3 min
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out of 5
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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
    193
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Brave Widow. All Rights Reserved.
  • Show Website
    Brave Widow Show