Widow We Do Now?

When your husband was a deeply kind and loving person who brought joy and warmth into the lives of the people around him, it goes without saying that this is the kind of person everyone needs. Katie Goetz shares with Anita and Mel how the complications of addiction came as a shock, because she didn’t know he had been struggling until he became seriously ill. The addiction had been hidden, largely because of the shame and fear he ca...

Julia Robinson is not here to fit in a box — and she’s definitely not here to let widowhood be reduced to a single storyline. As an AuDHD widow, mom to a non-binary child, and someone who was in an open marriage before her husband’s death, Julia brings sharp wit, self-awareness, and zero interest in changing herself to make other people comfortable.

In this episode, she talks about navigating loss while living outside conventional e...

It's not an uncommon phrase: "I felt like I got hit by a truck." But Jessica Medlin, school principal, avid runner, and recent widow actually DID get hit by a truck. Join Jessica, Anita, and Mel as they discuss widowhood, kids, work, what it's like to wake up in the hospital with crushed body parts, the criminal justice system, and whether or not you'd want a gold or platinum-filled eyelid if you had the ch...

Erin Clark, the widowed creator behind How’s the Weather,  joins Anita and Mel to talk about life after losing her husband, the emotional whiplash of grief, and how widowhood can shift from “I’m fine” to “I’m not okay” faster than anyone sees coming.

Together, they unpack the daily realities: navigating triggers, handling the well-meaning check-ins, and learning how to answer the simplest question—how are you?—when the truth is comp...

Fiona de la Mezzo joins Anita and Mel all the way from Australia to talk about life after loss, love after cancer, and what happens when you decide to date again before you’re remotely ready. After losing her husband to cancer, Fiona opens up about the strange pressure to “make memories” while someone is dying, and how that expectation can feel heavy, performative, and impossible in the middle of anticipatory grief and caretaking. ...

In this episode, Anita and Mel get together to discuss current widow happenings. Anita shares one of her wildest post-widowhood adventures yet—getting asked to dance. Meanwhile, Mel dives into the growing conversation around AI awareness and what it means for regular people, independent creators, and big businesses. 

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Anita and Mel are joined by guest Tina Newman for a real-talk episode on dating after widowhood—because it’s never as simple as “moving on.” They chat about how Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) can turn life upside down, what widows actually want, and how we decide what to do with our past when we start over.

This episode also gets into messy blended family stuff—stepkid issues, what happens when there’s no relationship with stepchil...

Meet our friend Kate. She's that cute friend that can fit in Anita's pocket but will pack a hefty throat punch if warranted. Kate's husband, Jeff, died by suicide at his place of work in 2024 after ingesting something called Kratom. In this episode, Kate shares what happened, what she wants people to understand about kratom, and the complex mental health struggles Jeff faced.

This is a raw conversation about what it m...

Kim Walker never expected to become a widow—especially not in the middle of an ordinary day. In this episode, Kim joins Anita and Mel from Germany to share the story of losing her husband, Lee, unexpectedly just one year ago as he was on his way to work.  Whether it's Formula 1 racing, traveling the world, or spending time with her dog Lando, Kim is showing up for life while carrying heavy grief. Kim also opens up about someth...

Anita never thought she’d still be standing seven years after Jason’s death—but here she is. And in a strange twist, it wasn’t grief that almost took her out—it was something else in an adventurous jaunt on New Years Eve. In this episode, Anita and Mel also talk about what they’re choosing to bring into the new year, and what they’re ready to leave behind. 

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You've heard a bit of of her story in part 1 (Episode 260), and now it's time for the part where Anita and Mel find out what it's like for a medium to experience partner loss. Not only did Michelle experience partner loss - she experienced partner loss via suicide. In this episode, Michelle discusses her journey through grief, how it's affected her mediumship, and the power of "For Now".

*PLEASE TAKE CA...

This episode is the prequel to the most recent happenings in the life of medium, Michelle Clare. Anita and Mel had fun while interviewing Michelle Clare, the woman who fell into mediumship after literally falling off a ladder and surviving three near-death experiences. This episode was originally released as Ep. 95 on Nov. 8, 2021. Stay tuned for next week's episode: part 2 of Michelle’s story.

Michelle Clare's website: ht...

Anita and Mel discuss the 2025 holiday season, which of course includes an Austrian Krampus Festival. When you aren't sure what to do when the price of ornaments are sky high, never fear - captain Anita comes to the rescue with a brilliant solution. And, saving the best for last, please enjoy a fan favorite: the  encore of Ten Tips To Survive The Holidays.

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If you are ever in need of a tale full of twists, turns, randomness, and quirky hilarity, this episode is for you. From being in foster care to finding a supportive birth mom community, having a not-so-planned surprise at Disneyland, meeting young widow friends, and being asked to go look at ethical and sustainable diamonds made in the Pacific Northwest, Marilee's story has it all. You'll love this lady and will be rivete...

Mel has officially been widowed 8 years, some of Anita's kids want a new (alive) dad, grief dreams happen, Broadway and wayyyyyy off Broadway productions happen, and Anita finds herself considering joining the ranks of lighting directors everywhere. The question "would you get married again" also takes this duo down an interesting road of conversation. Join us for our online hangout this Friday - info in the Widow Wi...

Amber’s husband, a Gulf War veteran, died from adenocarcinoma caused by toxic exposure during his military service. Thirteen months into widowhood, Amber shares the realities of watching illness unfold, raising awareness about the long-term effects of service, and learning how to rebuild life after loss. She's even got some good widow-brain stories, plus a very lovely selection of favorite cheeses.  IYKYK.

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When 29-year old Skyler woke up one day seventeen months ago, she never would have imagined her world would change so drastically. Later that day, her husband was in a head-on collision while driving his big lowboy trailer, leaving Skyler with a lot of shock, grief, and a 2 year old. With their toddler to raise and a future she never imagined facing alone, she shares with Anita and Mel what it's like to face widowhood. And, if...

It's Halloween week, and that time of year where listeners write in to tell Anita and Mel of their personal paranormal experiences that have happened to them since their loved ones' passing. You won't want to miss this one!

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The story of how this interview came to be has something to do with Anita's exercise regimen, Hawaii 5-0, and little bit of woo woo. Meet Scott. Scott and his wife Donna built a life in Hawaii grounded in love, music, and the spirit of aloha. When Donna was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, everything changed — but her optimism, strength, and warmth continued to guide Scott long after she was gone. Join Anita and Mel d...