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Widow 180 The Podcast with Jen Zwinck — Education
Widow 180 The Podcast with Jen Zwinck

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.

Latest Episodes:

291. Life Insurance Claim Denied or Delayed? What Every Widow Must Know About Life Insurance! - Interview With Stephie Prestridge of Life Claim Oct 09, 2026

Show notes

Your husband said there was a life insurance policy. Now you can't find it! The claim is delayed, or a denial letter just arrived! What now?

In this episode, we sit down with Stephanie Prestridge, attorney and founder of Life Claim, a law practice focused exclusively on life insurance disputes. After nearly two decades in estate planning, Stephanie knows where grieving families get blindsided: lost policies, missed premiums, the two-year contestability period, and the sympathetic phone call from a claims adjuster that may not be what it seems. Grab a pen and paper and take notes!

Timestamps

00:00 – Meet Stephanie Prestridge and why this topic matters
01:52 – How to have the hard conversations before it's too late
08:45 – Where to look when you suspect a policy exists
10:26 – The NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator, and why it's slow
12:27 – Do insurers have to find you? (The lawyer answer: it depends)
19:09 – Top reasons claims get denied, and the missed-premium trap
23:04 – The two-year contestability period explained
27:19 – What's happening when your claim is delayed
32:57 – Employer policies and ERISA: why you only get one appeal
37:28 – First steps after a denial, and why DIY appeals backfire
41:02 – The one thing Stephanie wishes every widow knew
43:14 – Leaving a legacy conversation, not a guessing game
46:15 – How to reach Life Claim

"Banking on your grief is an industry standard, and it should not be one." ~Stephie Prestridge

Five Key Takeaways

Have the conversation now. A spouse who refuses to talk about finances isn't protecting you. If they won't talk, have them write down what you need to know and tell you where it's stored.
Be careful what you tell the claims examiner. Their friendly questions can become grounds to investigate or deny. Keep it short: confirm the death, ask what forms are needed, and request everything in writing.
Watch the contestability period. If the insured dies within two years of the policy being issued or reinstated, the insurer can audit the application and medical records. Even an honest mistake can sink a claim.
Employer policies follow ERISA. You get one chance to appeal correctly and can't add evidence later, so get counsel immediately after a denial.
Prevent problems before they happen. Name a second person to receive missed-premium notices, review beneficiary designations every five years, and remember that life insurance bypasses your will.

Reach Stephie at www.lifeclaim.com

For more Widow 180 FREE resources go to www.widow180.com/freebies

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

290. A Grief Therapist on Widowhood: 'Embrace The Suck' And Other Hard Truths - Interview With Lauren White-May Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

"The hardest part about grief is adapting to your new reality, and adapting to your life without that person in it." - Lauren

Four months after losing her husband, Porter, therapist and grief educator Lauren joins us on Widow180 to talk about widowhood as it's happening. After a sudden medical emergency on their anniversary trip, Lauren had to make the hardest decision of her life. She shares what it's like to be a grief professional living through grief herself, and how she's rebuilding her home, her routines, and her identity.

Timestamps

0:46 - Lauren's story: Memorial Day weekend and losing Porter
5:14 - When the grief expert becomes the griever
7:29 - The tiny reminders no one prepares you for
11:57 - Helping her 10-year-old son through grief
14:50 - What's helping: restorative yoga, journaling, breath work, and re-nesting the home
19:20 - Loneliness, and the highs and lows after a good day out
23:34 - Holding on to his phone and talking to him in voice recordings
25:40 - How to support someone months into grief
30:06 - Working as a "wounded healer" one week after the loss
35:18 - Rebuilding identity as "widow Lauren"
38:53 - Losing your "history keeper"
41:40 - What Lauren would tell someone newly widowed
44:00 - Where to find Lauren

In this episode, you'll hear:

Why saying "he's in a better place" or looking for meaning can hurt more than help
Why you should show up and do the dishes instead of asking "what can I do?"
How to set firmer boundaries when everyone has an opinion about your grief

Connect with Lauren

Website: www.healingjourney.us
Email: thehealingjourney@laurenwhitemay.com
Facebook: The Healing Journey Lafayette
TikTok: That WooWooTherapist Lady

If you're grieving, you're not alone. Listen, share with someone who needs it, and subscribe to Widow180.

The Cooking For One After Loss - Widow 180 Cooking Workbook is available now for instant download! Get the cookbook at www.widow180.kit.com/products/cooking

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

289. Why Cooking After Losing Your Spouse Feels So Hard! (And What Actually Helps) Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

Nobody warns you that grief shows up in your kitchen!

If you've lost your spouse and suddenly can't figure out what to make for dinner — or don't even want to try — you're not alone, and you're not doing anything wrong!

In this episode, we talk through the real, often unspoken emotional side of cooking for one after loss: the guilt of eating a favorite meal without them, the apathy that makes food feel pointless, the overwhelm of grocery shopping for one, and the way a single smell or recipe can bring grief rushing back out of nowhere.

You'll learn why this happens, why it's a completely normal part of grief (not a personal failing), and a few practical ways to start taking care of yourself again — even on the nights you have almost nothing left to give.

The Cooking for One After Loss - Widow 180 Cooking Workbook, the newest Widow 180 workbook was built specifically to help with this exact struggle — simple recipes organized by energy level, a starting-point quiz, and real support for the emotional side of eating alone. Get the workbook at https://www.widow180.com/cooking

If this episode speaks to where you are right now, you're not alone — and you don't have to figure it out today.

Timestamps

0:00 — Introduction: the grief nobody warns you about
1:15 — The four feelings most widows have around food (guilt, apathy, overwhelm, memory triggers)
4:15 — Why grief fatigue makes cooking feel impossible some days
6:15 — Introducing A Table for One: a workbook built for this exact struggle
8:15 — Where to find support and get your copy

🔗 Check out all of the workbooks in the Widow 180 Workbook Series at 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

288. Premonitions, 3 Promises, and The Gift Of Permission: Interview With Stephanie Edens Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Widow 180, listeners are invited into the deeply personal journey of Stephanie Edens as she recounts the day her world changed forever with the sudden loss of her husband, Peter. The conversation focused on the intense shock of unexpected tragedy, the struggle to process loss, and the profound impact on her and her young children.

A key theme that emerged was the remarkable timing of a critical conversation Stephanie and Peter had the night before his death—one in which Peter made her promise to remarry, sell the family’s fishing boat, and move away for a fresh start. The discussion explored how this candid exchange ultimately became a guiding light for Stephanie as she navigated solo parenting, grief, and community judgments regarding her choices.

Several points were raised, including the importance of setting personal boundaries, the role of family counseling in healing, and creative approaches to milestone days—like transforming the anniversary of Peter’s death into a celebration of his “birthday in heaven.” The episode delves into honoring a loved one through new traditions, starting a scholarship, and ultimately, finding the courage to date and remarry, with honesty about the unique challenges widows face.

Stephanie also shares the process and meaning behind her memoir, “Don’t Worry, I Have a Plan,” offering wisdom for others feeling stuck in grief. She encourages widows to embrace living forward, seek guidance within, and remember that life after loss, while forever changed, can be lived with hope and purpose.

FREE Postcards for you: https://widow180.kit.com/postcards

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

287. Surviving Anniversaries And Birthdays After Losing A Spouse! Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

In Episode 287 of Widow 180: The Podcast, we take on one of the most challenging and emotionally charged topics for widows: navigating those significant dates on the calendar after loss.

Whether it’s wedding anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, or family milestones like graduations, facing them without your spouse can feel overwhelming and isolating.

Drawing from my own recent experiences (my daughter Claire is about to graduate high school!), I address the unique anxiety and grief that anticipation brings.

This key insight is echoed by members of the Widow 180 Community Facebook group: the dread leading up to these hard days is often worse than the day itself!

But that doesn’t mean the actual day is easy. Feeling hit hard or temporarily set back is entirely normal, not a sign of failure or regression.

This episode offers hope and practical strategies for surviving those big milestone days, with three actionable tips:

Pick one intentional way to feel connected to your person (00:04:31).
Tell one or two people exactly what you need for support on that day (00:04:58).
Give yourself permission to say no to anyone else’s expectations or plans (00:05:35).

Ultimately, this is about self-compassion and flexibility.

There is no wrong way to mark these days—each year may feel different, and that’s okay (00:06:25).

Whether you spend the day in quiet remembrance or surrounded by others, this episode will leave you feeling seen, understood, and a little more prepared to get through the hard days ahead.

Check out the Widow 180 FREEBIES at www.widow180.com/freebies

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

286. Navigating In-Law Drama After Loss: Real Widow Stories of Family, Grief, and Boundaries Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

Relationships with in-laws can be complicated! But after the death of a spouse, things can really go off the rails!

In this emotional and eye-opening episode of Widow 180, we gather two widows, Renee and Gretchen, for a candid roundtable discussion about the ways their connections to their late husbands’ families changed after loss, and the surprising, sometimes painful, ways in-laws can impact the grieving process.

We explore how cherished extended family ties often dissolve or morph at the very moment widows need support most. Gretchen shares the contrast between her two sets of in-laws: one side offering comfort, boundaries, and ongoing connection, while the other brought stress with overbearing involvement and competitive grief. She recounts the heartbreak and shock when her mother-in-law skipped her son’s funeral, and how she navigated complex expectations about maintaining family ties for her children’s sake.

Renee opens up about her devastating experience with a financial betrayal: her sister-in-law, once named the beneficiary on an old IRA, agreed to transfer the funds to Renee’s children—only to keep the six-figure inheritance for herself. Despite attempts at family intervention, Renee was left feeling isolated, let down by in-laws who refused to get involved, and forced to protect her children from further harm.

The discussion delves into setting boundaries, communicating through high-emotion situations, and the heartbreaking financial complexities widows may face, often learning the heard way.

Want some practical scripts for difficult conversations? We have them here!

This conversation is for anyone who has felt “family” slip away at the worst possible time, or needs guidance for tackling tough relationships and decisions after loss. Tune in to hear honest stories and actionable advice for protecting what matters most.

Want the "Get Your Life Back Together After Loss" freebie? Click HERE!

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

285. How To Cope When Life Feels Overwhelmingly "Griefy"! - A Quick Tip Tuesday Episode Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

Life can feel "griefy". You know what I mean! Some days are heavy in a way that's hard to explain — not a crisis, exactly, just "griefy".

And then there are the moments a wave hits out of nowhere: a song, a habit, reaching for the phone to tell them something, or nothing you can even pinpoint.

In this episode, we talk honestly about both kinds of days — the low, gray-cloud heaviness that settles in for hours, and the sudden waves that can knock you off your feet. You'll hear why grief doesn't move like a project with a finish line, and why a hard day doesn't mean you're grieving wrong.

We cover practical ways to get through the heavier days: lowering the bar for what counts as "getting through it," keeping one small anchor of routine, asking for specific help instead of a vague offer, and understanding why grief shows up in your body — the exhaustion, the forgetfulness, the disrupted sleep — just as much as in your mind.

Then we walk through a simple four-step practice designed for the exact moment a wave of grief hits and you feel overwhelmed:

Name it, don't fight it
Put your feet on the ground
Breathe out longer than you breathe in
Let the wave move through, then do one small next thing

It's short enough to remember in the grocery store, at your desk, or lying awake at 3 a.m. — anywhere grief catches you off guard.

This episode is for anyone who's lost a spouse or partner and is looking for something steadier than "just give it time." It won't make the grief disappear, and it isn't meant to. It's meant to help you stay standing inside it — one wave, one small next step, at a time.

If grief is showing up often, lasting a long time, or making it hard to function, we also talk about when it's worth bringing to a grief counselor or therapist — not because anything is wrong with you, but because what you're carrying deserves support sized to match it.

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

284. From Suicide Widow To Remarried & Thriving! Rachel Powell On Grief, Healing & Finding Hope Again Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

In this deeply honest and moving episode, I sit down with Rachel Powell — widow, remarried wife, mother of a "super blended" family, and founder of Hope Speaker — to talk about the messy, complicated, and ultimately hope-filled path she's walked since losing her husband.

Rachel shares the story of meeting her late husband Andre in high school youth group, building a life together that included raising four children (three nieces and nephews plus their biological daughter), and the devastating final year of their marriage marked by addiction, undiagnosed mental health struggles, and abuse — before losing him to suicide in June 2019.

She opens up candidly about the darkest chapter that followed: navigating single parenthood during the COVID pandemic, wrestling with guilt and shame, surviving two suicide attempts of her own, and the pivotal turning point that led her to prioritize her own healing. Rachel discusses:

~the tools that helped her rebuild, including the Grief Recovery Method

~holistic approaches to healing body, mind, and spirit

~vagus nerve regulation work

~her journey into remarriage — meeting her husband Mike online, navigating a cross-state relationship, and blending their families

~encouragement for widows considering dating again.

She closes with a powerful reminder: today's reality is not your forever reality!

Rachel also speaks to the urgent, under-resourced needs of the widowed community, sharing striking statistics about how little nonprofit support exists for the 11.6 million widows in the U.S., and the work she's doing through her coaching practice and the Hope Stronghold community to change that.

This episode is a raw, faith-centered conversation about grief, resilience, and finding purpose on the other side of unimaginable loss.

Connect with Rachel: hopespeaker.com | hopespeaker.com/coaching
The community: hopestronghold.com

A note: this episode discusses suicide loss and suicidal ideation in detail. If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) is available 24/7.

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

283. Finding Purpose After Loss: A Widow's Guide to Choosing Joy Again! Aug 13, 2026

Show notes

Losing a spouse is one of the most disorienting experiences a person can go through, but grief doesn't have to be the end of your story. In this uplifting episode, we explore what it really means to find purpose and meaning after loss, and why choosing happiness again isn't a betrayal of the person you lost, it's an honor to them.

We talk honestly about the danger of staying stuck in grief, why "waiting for the right time" to move forward often means waiting forever, and how rediscovering who you are after loss can become one of the most unexpected gifts hidden inside your grief journey. You'll hear practical, heartfelt encouragement for widows and widowers who are ready to stop surviving and start truly living again — building a life filled with purpose, joy, and possibility.

The Finding Purpose and Meaning After Loss Workbook, a 43-page guided resource full of journal prompts and reflective exercises designed to help you rediscover yourself and reconnect with what makes life meaningful, one page at a time! Find the workbook at www.widow180.com/purpose

If you're a widow or widower feeling stuck between honoring your past and building your future, this episode is your reminder: your story isn't over!

Grief and growth can coexist. Life — even after profound loss — is still amazing, and it's still yours to shape!

Tune in for a warm, honest conversation about healing, resilience, and choosing joy on purpose.

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

282. "He Built His Dream in Tanzania — Then I Got the Call" Interview With Gia Ilole Aug 06, 2026

Show notes

Gia was 19 when she met Jonas and she loved him almost from the start, even though fate took a few tries to bring them together. What followed was a whirlwind life: a blended family, two kids ten years apart, constant moves, and a marriage built on Jonas's fearless, say-yes-to-everything spirit. His biggest dream was returning to his native Tanzania to build a business, and after the pandemic hit, he finally got his shot — opening a boutique hotel and tour company he poured his heart into.

Then, in April 2024, everything changed. Gia describes the surreal morning she couldn't reach him, the strange phone call from their housekeeper delivering the impossible news, and the disorienting hours that followed as she tried to get answers from thousands of miles away.

She opens up about:

~the altercation that took Jonas's life

~the confusion and misinformation that clouded the early days

~leaning on her widow community during the darkest moments

~carrying a business she never intended to run

~starting Seasons Of Life Celebrations to honor life-changing moments

~the excruciating wait for legal answers that, over two years later, still aren't fully resolved

~finding her footing again while still living inside the unknown

In this deeply honest conversation, Gia shares what it's like to grieve not just a husband, but the future they'd planned together — the "empty nest" chapter she never got to have.

This is a story about love, sudden loss, resilience, and the long, uneven road toward healing.

Find Gia at www.SeasonsOfLifeCelebrations.com.

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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