107 episodes

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

Brave Widow Show Emily Tanner

    • Education
    • 5.0 • 8 Ratings

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

    BW 107: Grief and Relief: When Your Late Spouse was Abusive - with Jess

    BW 107: Grief and Relief: When Your Late Spouse was Abusive - with Jess

    Jess is a widow who has been navigating life after her abusive spouse passed away eight years ago. 

     

    Jess opens up about her complex journey, from meeting and marrying her husband to enduring years of emotional and verbal abuse, and finally coping with his sudden death from a work accident. 

     

    The episode addresses the nuanced challenges of grieving for someone who was both a significant part of one's life and a source of harm. By sharing her story, Jess aims to offer validation and support to other widows experiencing similar complex and disenfranchised grief. 

     

    The episode concludes with Jess offering advice for those in difficult relationships and navigating life after loss.

     

     

    Watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/519SYxceWZ4

     

    Jessica who is from Pennsylvania, is in her 8th year of widowhood, in fact today June 6th is the death anniversary of her husband, Chuck. Jess and Chuck were married 13yrs, together almost 15. Jessica’s journey into widowhood was tragic and sudden. The biggest difference between her journey and most other widow/widowers is that her husband was also narcissistic and emotionally abusive to her. For almost the entire length of their marriage she endured verbal lashings and controlling behavior from the man who was supposed to be her best friend, lover and protector. She wants to spread awareness and bring light to the harsh reality of the RELIEF and the GRIEF when losing a spouse who was abusive. 

    • 43 min
    BW 106: From Helicopter Tragedy to Resilience: Elaine’s Journey with Sudden Loss

    BW 106: From Helicopter Tragedy to Resilience: Elaine’s Journey with Sudden Loss

    Elaine shares her touching journey of grief, resilience, and finding a new normal after the tragic loss of her husband in a helicopter crash. Elaine discusses the initial shock, the community support she received, and how she's gradually adjusted to life without him while raising her daughters. She offers heartfelt advice for new widows, emphasizing the importance of taking things one day at a time and giving oneself grace.

     

     

    01:23 Meet Elaine: A Story of Resilience

    02:35 Elaine's Background and Family Life

    06:15 The Tragic Accident

    08:22 Coping with Loss and Immediate Aftermath

    12:59 Adjusting to a New Normal

    30:33 Support Systems and Community Help

    33:04 Advice for New Widows

    36:43 Conclusion and Membership Invitation

     

    Watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/NgQHLZ7ITYU

     

    You can find Elaine here: https://www.ivyrehab.com/location/king-of-prussia-pa-kids/

    • 37 min
    BW 105: The Power of Journaling and Rebuilding a Life After Loss - Shawn Dinneen’s Story

    BW 105: The Power of Journaling and Rebuilding a Life After Loss - Shawn Dinneen’s Story

    Shawn Dinneen is a beacon of resilience and positivity. In this episode, Shawn shares her transformative journey through grief after the loss of her fiancé, John, in 2022. This episode is packed with inspiration, practical advice, and hope for anyone navigating the complexities of loss.

     

    **Highlights:**

     

    - **Event Announcement:** Emily announces a week-long back-to-school bash for widows starting on August 19th. There will be live events to help you move forward through grief.

     

    - **Meet Shawn Dinneen:** Shawn shares her personal story of loss and the steps she took towards healing, including joining support groups and starting her own business, Heartstrings Journals. Learn about the powerful impact journaling has had on her journey.

     

    - **Personal Transformation:** Shawn opens up about how her fiancé's death profoundly changed her perspective on life. She talks about adopting a more outgoing, spontaneous approach to life, inspired by her late fiancé.

     

    - **Finding Hope and Healing:** Emily and Shawn discuss the importance of grief support groups, therapy, and journaling in finding a path to healing. Shawn emphasizes that grief and joy can coexist and shares tangible steps she took to build a supportive community.

     

    - **Creating Heartstrings Journals:** Discover the inspiration behind Shawn's business and how her journals are designed to help others navigate their own grief journeys. From serious grief journals to lighthearted, fun ones, there's something for everyone.

     

    - **Embracing a Positive Mindset:** Shawn shares strategies for maintaining a positive outlook and overcoming judgment, highlighting the importance of living a life that's true to oneself despite societal expectations.

     

    **Where to Find Shawn:**

    - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heart_strings_journals

    - Amazon: Search for 'Heartstrings Journals' or 'Shawn Dinneen'

     

    Instagram: @Heart_StringsJournals

    TikTok: HeartStringsJournals 

    Facebook: HeartStrings Journals

    Or at linktr.ee/HeartStringsJournals

     

     

     

    00:00 Introduction and Upcoming Event Announcement

    01:34 Meet Shawn: A Journey of Loss and Healing

    03:02 Shawn's Personal Transformation

    09:12 The Power of Journaling

    14:17 Building a Support System

    17:51 Creating Heartstrings Journals

    21:12 Embracing Positivity and Overcoming Judgment

    24:36 Conclusion and Where to Find Shawn

    25:38 Brave Widow Membership Community

     

    Watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/fMrgS7mnJ7I

    • 26 min
    BW 104:  Moving Forward: Melissa's Journey as a Widow Through Separation, Addiction, and Healing

    BW 104:  Moving Forward: Melissa's Journey as a Widow Through Separation, Addiction, and Healing

    Melissa, a solo mom of three young boys, shares her journey of separation, addiction, grief, and healing. Melissa candidly shares her experience of separating from her husband, who struggled with alcohol addiction, and the subsequent grief she navigated following his unexpected death in 2022 while they were still legally married. 

     

    Throughout the conversation, Melissa provides insight into the complexities of grieving a spouse from whom she was separated, addressing both the support and challenges she faced. She highlights the importance of therapy, open conversations with her children, and the crucial role of a supportive community. 

     

     Key Takeaways: 1. Navigating the grief of separation and unexpected loss. 2. The role of therapy and open communication in the healing process. 3. Importance and benefits of a supportive community. 4. Resources for widows, including therapy, Grief Share, and Safe Families. 5. Encouragement to join Brave Widow membership for support and connection. 

     

    Watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/IaSpb0MDam0

     

    Resources

     

    Safe Families: https://safe-families.org/

    (This is available in the US and also in a lot of countries all over the world)

     

    Grief Share: https://www.griefshare.org/

    (This is available all over the US)

     

    Facebook Group: Extremely Young & Widowed: https://www.facebook.com/share/ENDJbFYEy4eMrtTy/

     

    Facebook Group: Chicagoland Widows and Widowers: https://www.facebook.com/share/a9uTxwYU1sfYa8Wq/

     

    Facebook Group: Widows of Addiction: Safe Zone: https://www.facebook.com/share/XDSkThFhC4HK8y7h/

     

    Celebrate Recovery: https://www.celebraterecovery.com/

    (This is available all over the US)

     

    Some Books that were super helpful:

     

    For Young Kids:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400074460/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

     

    Kids Grief Journal:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08C7GVXCH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

     

    For Adults (any painful experience, not just death):

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0718039858/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

     

    Devotional:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400239087/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

     

    Hey hey, I’m Emily Tanner.  I was widowed at age 37, one month shy of our 20 year wedding anniversary.  Nathan and I have four beautiful children together, and my world was turned completely upside down when I lost him.  

     

    Now, I love my life again!  I’m able to experience joy, achieve goals and dreams I thought I’d lost, and rediscover this next version of me.

     

    I did the work.

    I invested in coaching for myself.

    I learned what I needed to do to move forward and took the steps.

    I implemented the tools and strategies that I use for my clients in my coaching program.

     

     

    This is for you, if:


     You want a faith-based approach to coaching
     You want to move forward after loss, and aren’t sure how
     You want to enjoy life without feeling weighed down by guilt, sadness, or regret
     You want a guide to help navigate this journey to the next version of you
     You want to rediscover who you are

     

    For 1-1 Coaching: https://www.bravewidow.com/coaching-options

     

    Find and take the next steps to move forward (without “moving on”).

    • 50 min
    BW 103: Living Through Loss: Rebecca’s Journey of Love and Grief

    BW 103: Living Through Loss: Rebecca’s Journey of Love and Grief

    Rebecca, a 46-year-old widow from Western Massachusetts, shares her journey through love, grief, and resilience. Listen in as Rebecca opens up about her life as a clinical social worker and grief counselor, and her relationship with her wife.

     

    Watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/FrT4zxMKzhs

     

     

    00:18 One-on-One Coaching vs. Membership Community

    01:18 Benefits of the Brave Widow Community

    02:34 Personal Coaching Experience

    03:37 Introducing Rebecca

    03:51 Rebecca's Background and Early Life

    05:22 Meeting and Marrying Her Wife

    09:36 Life Together and Initial Challenges

    11:32 Discovering the Illness

    13:09 Coping with the Diagnosis

    19:28 The Final Years

    27:43 Advice for Caregivers and Widows

    32:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    34:14 Join the Brave Widow Community

     

    Remember: you’re not alone. 

     

    1-1 Coaching Support: https://www.bravewidow.com/coaching-options

     

    Brave Widow Community: https://www.bravewidow.com/join

     

     

     

     

    ————————

     

     

     

    Hey hey, I’m Emily Tanner.  I was widowed at age 37, one month shy of our 20 year wedding anniversary.  Nathan and I have four beautiful children together, and my world was turned completely upside down when I lost him.  

     

    Now, I love my life again!  I’m able to experience joy, achieve goals and dreams I thought I’d lost, and rediscover this next version of me.

     

    I did the work.

    I invested in coaching for myself.

    I learned what I needed to do to move forward and took the steps.

    I implemented the tools and strategies that I use for my clients in my coaching program.

     

     

    This is for you, if:


     You want a faith-based approach to coaching
     You want to move forward after loss, and aren’t sure how
     You want to enjoy life without feeling weighed down by guilt, sadness, or regret
     You want a guide to help navigate this journey to the next version of you
     You want to rediscover who you are

     

    For 1-1 Coaching: https://www.bravewidow.com/coaching-options

     

    Find and take the next steps to move forward (without “moving on”).

     

     

     

    FOLLOW me on SOCIAL:

     

    Twitter | @brave_widow

     

    Instagram | @brave_widow

     

    Facebook |   / bravewidow  

     

    YouTube | @bravewidow

     

     

    Don't forget to give this video a thumbs up if it helped you today, subscribe to the channel, hit that notification bell so you don't miss a single question, and if you have any additional questions ask in the comments (I monitor them daily)!

     

     

     

    Watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/FrT4zxMKzhs

     

    #widow #widowed #widowhood #widowlife #widowsofinstagram #widowshelpingwidows #grief #griefcoach #griefshare #griefsucks #griefquotes #griefsupport #griefjourney #griefandloss #griefrecovery #lifecoaching #lifecoach 

     

    • 35 min
    BW 102: Finding Love After Loss: Expert Insights on Dating as a Widow Later in Life with Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Frank Powers

    BW 102: Finding Love After Loss: Expert Insights on Dating as a Widow Later in Life with Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Frank Powers

    In this episode of The Brave Widow Show, host Emily sits down with Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Frank Powers to dive into their journey of finding love after loss. They share personal stories, tips, and insights into navigating the dating world as seniors, as well as advice on dealing with grief, writing compelling dating profiles, and overcoming loneliness.

     

    You can find Dr. Gloria and Dr. Frank here:

     

    WEBSITE: https://www.goldendatingdoctors.com/ and https://www.opentohope.com/

    INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/goldendatingdoctors/ 

    FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/thegoldendoctors/ 

     

     

    ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Dr. Gloria Horsley, Ph.D., is a licensed marriage and family therapist and clinical nurse specialist. She is the president and co-founder of the Open to Hope Foundation and co-hosts the award-winning “Open to Hope” TV series and podcast. A former faculty member at the University of Rochester School of Nursing and the Academy of Intuition Medicine, she has co-authored 10 books and written numerous articles. 

     

    She is a member of the Forbes Nonprofit Council and serves on the advisory boards for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) and the Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Foundation. Widowed after 60 years of marriage, she has four children, including a deceased son, and 10 grandchildren. She and her partner Dr. Frank Powers mostly split their time between Palo Alto, California, and Scottsdale, Arizona. 

     

    Dr. Frank Powers, Ph.D., has been a licensed psychologist with a private practice in Scottsdale, Arizona, for the last 30 years. He served as the chairman of the Psychiatric Security Review Board for the State of Arizona and is a past psychology professor at Scottsdale Community College. He studied sexuality under William H. Masters and Virginia E. Johnson and received advanced training in couples therapy with the Imago Institute of Harvel Hendrix. 

     

    He has published numerous articles on the subjects. A graduate of George Williams College, he holds master’s degrees from Arizona State University and Columbia University and a doctorate in psychology from Union Institute. He is an award-winning sculptor, and in his spare time, he enjoys golf, pickleball and tennis. He has two stepdaughters and one step-grandson from a previous marriage. 

     

    ABOUT OPEN TO HOPE®: Open to Hope® is an international non-profit organization with the mission of helping people find hope after loss. The organization features an online community offering inspirational stories of loss, hope and recovery, as well as an award-winning television talk series, a podcast, books and articles. In parallel with the non-profit, Open to Hope® president and cofounder Dr. Gloria Horsley and her partner Dr. Franks Powers co-wrote Open to Love: The Secrets of Senior Dating. For more information on Open to Hope®, visit https://www.opentohope.com/. 

     

    Watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/PqBFu6HNriU

     

     

    00:14 Addressing Common Dating Concerns for Widows

    03:29 Introducing Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Frank Powers

    03:57 Dr. Gloria and Dr. Frank's Love Story

    04:41 Insights on Senior Dating

    04:54 Dr. Gloria's Background and Achievements

    05:45 Dr. Frank's Background and Achievements

    06:37 The Open to Hope Foundation

    07:20 Interview with Dr. Gloria and Dr. Frank

    08:06 Dr. Gloria's Journey After Loss

    14:48 The Importance of a Dating Buddy

    15:40 Dr. Frank's Online Dating Experience

    18:07 Overcoming Dating Insecurities

    23:55 Finding Compatible Partners

    24:33 The Role of Dating Buddies

    26:13 Online Dating Experiences

    29:11 Creating an Effective Dating Profile

    30:44 Dealing with Grief and Loss

    34:58 Support Systems and Moving Forward

    40:11 Final Thoughts and Resources

    • 43 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
8 Ratings

8 Ratings

Betsy Guerra ,

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 feel so heard and seen. Her stories are relatable and the wisdom she shares is deeply practical and empowering. Thank you for all you do to help and elevate!

Lauren330 ,

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 for Emily and such a great podcast! 🖤✨

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