Every Widow Thing

Every Widow Thing
Every Widow Thing

4 Austin moms, 4 dead husbands, 4 different approaches to grief. Life after death can seem impossible, overwhelming, and just sad. We get it. Only people who have experienced this kind of loss can truly understand. We share our experiences, show you what grief looks like a year from now, or 2 or 6...even 10 for not only you but your family. Every Widow Thing will remind you that you are stronger than you think and that this grief does get less deep, less dark, and less often. Come join our widows' circle where trauma meets humor and we can encourage you to not only survive but thrive!

  1. MAR 10

    Episode 49: From Therapist to Widow: Cheryl Martin's Journey Through Grief

    In this informative episode of "Every Widow Thing," Lacey , Whitney, Holly, and Keira speak with special guest Cheryl Martin, a retired grief therapist and recent widow. Together, they explore the complexities of grief, particularly the often-overlooked challenges of the second year after loss. Cheryl shares her personal journey of navigating widowhood and the insights she gained from her professional experience as a grief counselor. Throughout the conversation, they discuss the importance of empathy, the need for ongoing support, and the reality of living with grief long after the initial loss. Cheryl offers valuable tools for coping, including the significance of allowing oneself to feel a range of emotions, the power of community, and the necessity of seeking help when needed. Join us as we delve into the realities of grief, the importance of remembering our loved ones, and the ways we can support each other through this difficult journey. Whether you're a widow/widower, a friend, or someone looking to understand grief better, this episode is filled with compassion, wisdom, and hope. Topics Covered: ​The challenges of the second year of grief​The importance of empathy and support​Tools for coping with loss​The significance of remembering loved ones​Finding the right therapist and support groupsDon't forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments! ​00:00:00 - Introduction and Guest Introduction: Introduction of Cheryl Martin, a retired grief therapist and widow.​00:02:13 - Experiencing Grief as a Therapist vs. a Widow: Cheryl discusses her insights on grief after becoming a widow.​00:04:15 - The Challenge of Second Year Grief: Discussion of the difficulties of the second year of grief.​00:06:19 - The Marathon of Grief: Grief as an ongoing journey.​00:08:39 - The Importance of Remembering Loved Ones: Significance of remembering deceased loved ones.​00:10:11 - Navigating Conversations About Loss: How to approach conversations about deceased loved ones.​00:12:07 - Therapist Tools for Grief: Using therapy background to navigate grief.​00:13:26 - Allowing Grief Emotions to Surface: Importance of expressing all grief emotions.​00:15:33 - Self-Care and Grief: The necessity of self-care during grieving.​00:18:02 - Finding Support Groups: Benefits of joining support groups.​00:21:43 - Choosing the Right Therapist: Advice on finding a suitable therapist.​00:25:40 - The Goal of Therapy: Guiding individuals through their grief journey.​00:28:38 - Books and Resources for Grief: Recommended resources for grief.​00:30:10 - Grounding Techniques in Therapy: Grounding techniques related to EMDR and trauma.​00:34:05 - Understanding Dissociation: Explanation of dissociation during trauma.​00:39:13 - Reliving Trauma in Therapy: Discussion on reliving traumatic events in therapy.​00:41:14 - Navigating Medical Conversations: Challenges of discussing trauma with medical professionals.​00:45:02 - The Role of the Therapist in Grief: Therapist's role in holding space for clients' grief.

    1h 6m
  2. MAR 3

    Episode 48: Grief, Laughter and Streaming

    Okay, grab your comfiest blanket and a big ol' bowl of snacks, because the "Every Widow Thing" crew is spilling all their binge-watching addictions! Make sure to stick around until the end for some interesting new trends for those looking for love! They discuss everything from the fun and fantasy of "Younger" to the dark humor in "Bad Sisters" and the emotional rollercoaster of the new Bridget Jones movie, "Mad About the Boy." But it's not all fluff! We're also getting real about how shows like "Shrinking" and "Landman" tackle grief, and how those stories hit home for us. Plus, you won't believe the wild TikTok trend we found about love at... Home Depot?! Seriously. And why the local grocery store soup station might also be worth a shot! Whether you need a good laugh or something to make you think, this episode's got your back. So, hit play and join the pajama party! TIME STAMPS: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Lighthearted Topics 00:00:20 - Current Shows and Recommendations 00:01:30 - Younger: A Fun Fantasy 00:02:39 - Schitt's Creek and Bad Sisters 00:03:27 - Soothing True Crime Shows 00:04:02 - Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy 00:05:22 - Grief Themes in Movies 00:06:38 - Shrinking: A Grieving Perspective 00:08:00 - Handling Widowhood in TV Shows 00:10:42 - Cordially Invited: A Family Dynamic 00:12:02 - Landman: A Complex Narrative 00:15:25 - Virgin River: A Mixed Bag 00:16:10 - Home Depot Dating Trend 00:19:07 - Soup Flirting and Closing Thoughts

    20 min
  3. MAR 3

    Episode 47: Letting Go: Embracing the Let Them Theory in Widowhood

    Every Widow Thing enjoyed a super staycation at the charming Poppy Round Top Airbnb, just an hour and a half from Austin, Texas. Over Valentine's Day weekend, they dove into Mel Robbins' inspiring new book, The Let Them Theory. Listeners can expect a heartfelt and relatable discussion as the podcast explores how this book resonates with the widow community, tackling the pressures of people-pleasing and the importance of releasing control. With personal stories and laughs, they share how embracing the "let them" mindset empowers them to reclaim their lives and pursue dreams without the weight of judgment. This episode offers a fun and uplifting conversation, reminding listeners to focus on their own happiness and let others do their thing! Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Welcome to Poppy Round Top Introduction to the staycation and the setting for the podcast episode. 00:00:21 - Mel Robbins' The Let Them Theory Discussion about Mel Robbins' new book and its relevance to the hosts. 00:01:38 - Insights from the Book Exploration of key insights from the book and their application in daily life. 00:02:55 - Vulnerability and Control The impact of vulnerability on relationships and the desire for control, especially in the widow community. 00:03:47 - People-Pleasing Tendencies Discussion on the tendency to please others and the stress it causes, particularly for women. 00:04:41 - Empowerment Through Letting Go The empowering message of the book and the challenges of letting go of control. 00:05:56 - Navigating Widowhood How the book's concepts apply to the experiences of widows and their journeys. 00:07:07 - Judgment from Others Addressing the judgment widows face from others regarding their choices and timelines. 00:09:21 - Awareness of Control The importance of recognizing what is within one's control and what is not. 00:10:30 - Expressing Feelings The significance of expressing feelings rather than suppressing them to avoid resentment. 00:12:24 - Finding Balance The need for balance in caring for oneself while supporting children through trauma. 00:14:59 - Friendship Dynamics Reflections on friendships and feelings of exclusion after loss. 00:16:30 - Setting Boundaries The importance of setting boundaries in relationships and personal well-being. 00:19:06 - The Role of Change Understanding that change in others can only happen when they are ready. 00:20:38 - Parenting and Control The struggle of controlling children's lives and the realization of their independence. 00:22:38 - Self-Confidence Through Responsibility How allowing children to take responsibility fosters their self-confidence. 00:25:24 - The Power of Letting Go The transformative power of letting go of control and expectations. 00:27:05 - Taking Back Power The importance of reclaiming personal power after loss and trauma. 00:28:00 - Overcoming Fear of Judgment The journey of overcoming the fear of what others think and pursuing personal dreams. 00:29:07 - Final Thoughts on Dreams Encouragement to follow one's dreams and the freedom that comes from letting go of others' opinions.

    28 min
  4. FEB 13

    Episode 46: Red Porsche -Real Life

    Holly shares about a disappointing date with a man who drove a red Porsche. And, no, it wasn't Jake Ryan. ;) After the holidays, it appears that there are more men on the apps, but is the quality better? That remains to be seen. Hear the widows' take on their dating app experiences and dating overall. Keira met her fiancé on Hinge, so maybe there is hope. (We had a few technical difficulties with the microphones. We have addressed it going forward. Thanks for your patience.) 00:00:00 - The Struggles of Young WidowsDiscussion on societal expectations for young widows and the impact on their lives. 00:00:26 - Sound Issues AcknowledgmentIntroduction and acknowledgment of sound issues in the episode. 00:00:40 - Coping with WidowhoodConversations about coping mechanisms and the ongoing journey of widowhood. 00:01:13 - Dating Apps and ExperiencesDiscussion on the influx of people on dating apps in January and personal experiences with them. 00:01:39 - First Date ExperienceDetails of a first date at Jeffrey's and the expectations versus reality. 00:02:14 - Date DynamicsExploration of the conversation dynamics during the date and the focus on the male perspective. 00:03:48 - Revelation of WidowhoodThe challenge of discussing widowhood during the date and the missed opportunities for connection. 00:05:14 - Post-Date ReflectionsReactions and feelings after the date, including disappointment and frustration. 00:08:07 - Communication After the DateDiscussion on the importance of closing off communication after a date and the common rudeness in dating. 00:09:44 - Dating EtiquetteConversations about how to handle dating situations and the importance of being upfront. 00:10:56 - The Numbers Game in DatingDiscussion on the idea that dating can be a numbers game and the importance of experience. 00:12:11 - The Challenge of GrievingExploration of the complexities of dating while grieving and the emotional toll it takes. 00:14:10 - Past RelationshipsReflections on past relationships and the challenges of finding a meaningful connection. 00:15:46 - Navigating New RelationshipsDiscussion on the difficulties of dating someone who is also a widower and the complexities involved. 00:16:22 - Experiences with Arrogant DatesSharing of experiences with arrogant dates and the impact of their behavior. 00:18:04 - Listener Questions on DatingAddressing listener questions about dating and the challenges of blending families. 00:20:20 - Setting Boundaries in DatingDiscussion on the importance of setting boundaries when dating someone with children. 00:21:14 - Honesty in Dating ConversationsThe significance of being honest about intentions and desires in dating. 00:23:39 - Talking to Kids About DatingSharing experiences on how to approach the topic of dating with children. 00:25:02 - Keeping Kids Out of the LoopDiscussion on the decision to keep children unaware of dating until it becomes serious. 00:27:30 - The Complexity of Blending FamiliesExploration of the challenges faced when blending families and the impact of ex-partners. 00:30:25 - Reflections on Past RelationshipsReflections on the emotional challenges of past relationships and the importance of healing. 00:32:14 - The Journey of HealingDiscussion on the ongoing journey of healing and the complexities of moving forward. 00:35:17 - Future Dating OutlookConversations about future dating plans and the desire for meaningful connections. 00:36:40 - Community and SupportEncouragement to join the community for support and shared experiences among widows and widowers.

    37 min
5
out of 5
115 Ratings

About

4 Austin moms, 4 dead husbands, 4 different approaches to grief. Life after death can seem impossible, overwhelming, and just sad. We get it. Only people who have experienced this kind of loss can truly understand. We share our experiences, show you what grief looks like a year from now, or 2 or 6...even 10 for not only you but your family. Every Widow Thing will remind you that you are stronger than you think and that this grief does get less deep, less dark, and less often. Come join our widows' circle where trauma meets humor and we can encourage you to not only survive but thrive!

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