The Widowed Mom Podcast

What if understanding your nervous system in grief could completely change how you experience loss, healing, and emotional overwhelm?

This week, I sit down with Deb Dana, a renowned clinician, author, and polyvagal expert, best known for translating Dr. Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory into practical, accessible tools for clinicians and the public.

Join us as we explore how grief impacts the nervous system and why so many widows f...

What if your grief could become part of an intentional, meaningful next chapter?

In this powerful conversation, I sit down with my client Wendy Veazie as she shares her deeply personal journey after the sudden loss of her husband, Peter, and how she learned to reframe her grief story and navigate unimaginable pain without losing herself.

In this episode, Wendy opens up about the shock of sudden loss, the physical reality of grief,...

Have you ever thought, “I was doing better, so why am I falling apart again?”

In this episode, I want to reassure you that you are not back at the beginning, you are not failing, and you are not doing grief wrong. Grief was never meant to move in a straight line.

Tune in this week to learn why grief isn’t linear, why the traditional idea of “stages” can make us judge ourselves, and why recurring grief waves do not mean something h...

What if grief journaling - something everyone seems to recommend - might actually be keeping you stuck instead of helping you heal?

In this episode, I challenge the idea that journaling is always beneficial, and explain why it sometimes leaves you feeling worse instead of better.

Tune in to learn how to shift from unintentional journaling to purposeful grief journaling. I’ll show you how to question your thoughts, create space from...

How do widows build real resilience?

It's not about "getting over it" or putting on a brave face; resilience is a skill you can develop. Whether you’re in the early stages of grief or looking to strengthen your emotional toolkit, this episode provides actionable strategies to build resilience from the inside out.

Tune in this week as I break down five key ways widows can build real resilience, and show you how they’ll help you take...

What if you could calm overwhelming emotions in just a few minutes - anytime, anywhere?

In this episode, I share one of the simplest and most powerful tools I use daily to help regulate emotions: EFT tapping. I’ll show you why it works, how it helps calm the nervous system, and why it can be especially powerful when you’re navigating grief, anxiety, or emotional overwhelm.

Listen in this week to learn exactly how to practice EFT ...

What if the memories you hold most dear started to fade? Would that mean losing your person all over again?

The fear of forgetting your person is something many widows quietly carry, and it can feel just as painful as the loss itself. In this episode, I share my own experience with the fear of forgetting your person - worrying about losing the sound of their voice, their quirks, and the tiny details that made them who they were - ...

Are you ready to date again but feeling overwhelmed by the process?

In this episode, you’ll meet Jennie Young: the professor and rhetorician turning the dating world upside down with her Burned Haystack Dating Method. Jennie explains why this method works, offering clear steps on how to identify dangerous patterns and why blocking unwanted matches can help you find your ideal partner.

Join us this week to learn how to stop getti...

What does a grief life coach actually do, and could it change how you experience grief? If you’ve ever wondered whether coaching is just listening, advice-giving, or something more, this episode pulls back the curtain.

In this episode, I explain what grief life coaching really is (and what it isn’t). Grief isn’t a problem to fix. It’s a natural response to loss. As a grief life coach, my role is to help widows understand their emot...

Have you noticed yourself avoiding everyone lately, wondering if something might be wrong?

After the loss of your person, even simple social interactions can suddenly feel overwhelming. If invitations feel heavy, texts go unanswered, or you just want more time alone, you might worry that you're isolating too much or doing grief “wrong.”

Join me this week as I dive into what it really means when you're avoiding everyone during grie...

Dating a widow can be a complex yet rewarding journey, and it's often not what you expect.

This week, I sit down with Brad Judy, the husband of Jamie Galyon, a longtime member of our Mom Goes On community. Brad shares his experience of dating a widow, navigating the unique challenges that come with grief, blending families, and the ongoing presence of a lost loved one.

Join us on this episode as Brad opens up about the challenges,...

I used to think grief was something you “get through,” but what I’ve learned, and what I share in this episode, is that the first year isn’t about hitting milestones. It’s about your nervous system adjusting to a new reality you never chose.

In this episode, I break down what many widows aren’t told ahead of time: grief is deeply physical; your body reacts; decision-making gets harder; confidence feels shaky; and relationships shif...

Are you searching for the right books for widows, hoping one of them will finally show you how to “do grief” the right way? I remember desperately wanting a roadmap or something that would tell me how to get to the end of grief successfully.

In this episode, I share my top eight books for widows that have shaped how I understand grief, resilience, and growth in the nearly ten years since Hugo died. Some offer validation and comfor...

Have you ever wondered if it’s selfish to want more for your life after your person dies? If the desire to date again, set boundaries, rest, or feel joy brings up guilt or heaviness, you are not alone.

In this episode, I unpack the question so many widows quietly wrestle with: Is it selfish to want to move on?

Tune in this week as I help you redefine what selfish really means, recognize internalized conditioning, and reclaim you...

Have you been wondering why you can’t think clearly, remember simple things, or focus the way you used to since your person died? If grief has left you feeling foggy, slow, or disconnected from your own brain, you’re not alone—and nothing has gone wrong.

In this episode, I’m talking about grief brain, often called widow fog, and why brain fog is such a common experience after loss. This experience is not a sign that you’re broken o...

Does the thought of your wedding anniversary send a wave of dread through your body? You’re not alone.

For many widows, the anniversary of their wedding can feel even harder than the day their partner passed. But no matter what you’re feeling - dread, sadness, confusion - there are no rules for how to experience the day.

Tune in this week as I guide you through the emotional landscape of your wedding anniversary and offer practi...

If life feels harder in your body since your person died, if you notice yourself feeling grumpy, exhausted, numb, or overwhelmed in ways that don't always make sense, you’re not imagining it.

When your person dies, your nervous system loses something foundational that you may not have even realized you had. Suddenly, things that used to feel easy feel hard, everything feels out of whack, and we don't feel at home in our bodies the...

What happens when a teenager loses a parent?

In this episode, I sit down with Aubrey Galyon, daughter of longtime Mom Goes On member and coach Jamie Galyon, to hear her perspective on losing her dad when she was just nine years old. Aubrey's journey through grief led her to write a poetry book called Prevernal Winds, which captures her experience from diagnosis through the intensity of early grief to learning to live with loss.

Li...