The Widowed Mom Podcast

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 - and what I’ve come to understand about this fear. Tune in this week to learn why forgetting details is completely human and doesn’t mean you’re losing your person. We’ll also talk about how connection evolves over time, and releasing the pressure to remember everything and embracing new ways to stay connected without fear. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/358 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/Mentioned in this episode:Save your spot for The Widow Conference Reset!The Widow Confidence Reset is a free 3-day live event where I’ll teach you why confidence drops after loss, why your brain keeps making you second-guess yourself, and how to begin trusting yourself again. It’s simple, practical, and designed to help you feel steadier and clearer. Save your spot here: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/resetSave your spot at The Widow Confidence Reset!

The Widow Confidence Reset is a free 3-day live event where I’ll teach you why confidence drops after loss, why your brain keeps making you second-guess yourself, and how to begin trusting yourself again.It’s simple, practical, and designed to help you feel steadier and clearer. Click here to save your spot: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/reset

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 getting stuck in the “ick” of dating apps and instead focus on eliminating red flags with confidence. By the end of the episode, you’ll have a solid understanding of how to approach online dating with less anxiety, more clarity, and greater safety. Whether you’re ready to date or just considering it, Jennie’s method will give you the tools to navigate the dating world with confidence. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/357 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/ Check out Jennie's work here: https://www.jennieyoung.com/Mentioned in this episode:Save your spot for The Widow Conference Reset!The Widow Confidence Reset is a free 3-day live event where I’ll teach you why confidence drops after loss, why your brain keeps making you second-guess yourself, and how to begin trusting yourself again. It’s simple, practical, and designed to help you feel steadier and clearer. Save your spot here: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/resetSave your spot at The Widow Confidence Reset!

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 emotions, make sense of their thoughts, and navigate life after loss with more clarity and less unnecessary suffering. Join me today to hear how grief coaching helps you allow emotions instead of avoiding them, understand how your brain shapes your experience, reduce added suffering, and begin rebuilding a meaningful life. I also walk you through what actually happens in a coaching session and why group coaching can be so powerful in helping widows feel less alone. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/356 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/Mentioned in this episode:Save your spot for The Widow Conference Reset!The Widow Confidence Reset is a free 3-day live event where I’ll teach you why confidence drops after loss, why your brain keeps making you second-guess yourself, and how to begin trusting yourself again. It’s simple, practical, and designed to help you feel steadier and clearer. Save your spot here: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/resetSave your spot at The Widow Confidence Reset!

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 grief and why it’s far more common and often healthier than you might think. You’ll learn the three different experiences we often label as isolation, how to tell whether avoiding everyone is nourishing solitude or protective avoidance, and how to check in with yourself without judgment. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/355 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/Mentioned in this episode:Save your spot for The Widow Conference Reset!The Widow Confidence Reset is a free 3-day live event where I’ll teach you why confidence drops after loss, why your brain keeps making you second-guess yourself, and how to begin trusting yourself again. It’s simple, practical, and designed to help you feel steadier and clearer. Save your spot here: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/resetSave your spot at The Widow Confidence Reset!

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, vulnerabilities, and unexpected moments of grace that come with dating a widow. You’ll hear about the emotional complexities of blending families, honoring the memory of a lost spouse, and understanding grief’s non-linear path. Brad also offers advice for others in relationships with widows, emphasizing the importance of patience, open communication, and embracing the shared space of love and loss. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/354 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/ Mentioned in this episode:Save your spot for The Widow Conference Reset!The Widow Confidence Reset is a free 3-day live event where I’ll teach you why confidence drops after loss, why your brain keeps making you second-guess yourself, and how to begin trusting yourself again. It’s simple, practical, and designed to help you feel steadier and clearer. Save your spot here: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/resetSave your spot at The Widow Confidence Reset!

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 shift in all directions. Join me this week to hear why time alone doesn’t heal, why comparing your grief to a timeline sets you up for self-judgment, and questions to ask yourself to figure out what will actually support you during the first year. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/353 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/Mentioned in this episode:Save your spot for The Widow Conference Reset!The Widow Confidence Reset is a free 3-day live event where I’ll teach you why confidence drops after loss, why your brain keeps making you second-guess yourself, and how to begin trusting yourself again. It’s simple, practical, and designed to help you feel steadier and clearer. Save your spot here: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/resetSave your spot at The Widow Confidence Reset!

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 comfort. Others explain the brain science and body responses behind grief. A few gently challenge us to think differently about suffering, resilience, and post-traumatic growth. Tune in this week to learn which books are best for early grief, which ones normalize what’s happening in your brain and body, and which ones explore resilience and growth without toxic positivity. Most importantly, I explain why reading about grief and learning to live with grief are two very different things, and why nothing has gone wrong if you’ve read all the books and still feel stuck. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/352 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/Mentioned in this episode:Save your spot for The Widow Conference Reset!The Widow Confidence Reset is a free 3-day live event where I’ll teach you why confidence drops after loss, why your brain keeps making you second-guess yourself, and how to begin trusting yourself again. It’s simple, practical, and designed to help you feel steadier and clearer. Save your spot here: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/resetSave your spot at The Widow Confidence Reset!

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 your agency without shame. You’ll hear why the phrase “moving on” can feel triggering, why “moving forward” is different, and how the fear of being selfish is often rooted in lifelong social conditioning, not truth. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/351 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/Mentioned in this episode:Save your spot for The Widow Conference Reset!The Widow Confidence Reset is a free 3-day live event where I’ll teach you why confidence drops after loss, why your brain keeps making you second-guess yourself, and how to begin trusting yourself again. It’s simple, practical, and designed to help you feel steadier and clearer. Save your spot here: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/resetSave your spot at The Widow Confidence Reset!

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 or failing at grief. Your brain is doing exactly what it was designed to do in the face of a profound rupture in safety. Tune in this week as I help you understand why grief feels like brain fog, how self-judgment makes it harder, and what truly helps. You’ll learn practical, compassionate ways to support your nervous system, reduce unnecessary suffering, and trust that clarity will return without forcing, fixing, or pushing yourself before you’re ready. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/350 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/Mentioned in this episode:Save your spot for The Widow Conference Reset!The Widow Confidence Reset is a free 3-day live event where I’ll teach you why confidence drops after loss, why your brain keeps making you second-guess yourself, and how to begin trusting yourself again. It’s simple, practical, and designed to help you feel steadier and clearer. Save your spot here: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/resetSave your spot at The Widow Confidence Reset!

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 practical tools to survive it with kindness toward yourself.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/349 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/Mentioned in this episode:Save your spot for The Widow Conference Reset!The Widow Confidence Reset is a free 3-day live event where I’ll teach you why confidence drops after loss, why your brain keeps making you second-guess yourself, and how to begin trusting yourself again. It’s simple, practical, and designed to help you feel steadier and clearer. Save your spot here: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/resetSave your spot at The Widow Confidence Reset!

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 way we're used to. Join me this week as I help you understand what's happening inside your nervous system after loss, how to recognize different nervous system states when they show up, and how to support yourself in ways that actually help. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/348 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/Mentioned in this episode:Save your spot for The Widow Conference Reset!The Widow Confidence Reset is a free 3-day live event where I’ll teach you why confidence drops after loss, why your brain keeps making you second-guess yourself, and how to begin trusting yourself again. It’s simple, practical, and designed to help you feel steadier and clearer. Save your spot here: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/resetSave your spot at The Widow Confidence Reset!

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. Listen in as Aubrey shares openly about the confusion she felt during her dad’s illness and passing, the guilt she carried about how she spent her time with him, and what actually helped her process her grief over the years. Whether you're a widowed mom wondering how to support your teenager or simply want to understand what grief can look like through a young person's eyes, this conversation offers a rare and valuable perspective. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/347 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/ Check out Aubrey's poetry book here: https://www.agsprouting.com/body-of-work/prevernal-windsMentioned in this episode:Save your spot for The Widow Conference Reset!The Widow Confidence Reset is a free 3-day live event where I’ll teach you why confidence drops after loss, why your brain keeps making you second-guess yourself, and how to begin trusting yourself again. It’s simple, practical, and designed to help you feel steadier and clearer. Save your spot here: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/resetSave your spot at The Widow Confidence Reset!

When you've lost your person, the question of whether you're ready to love again can stir up so many emotions all at once.In this episode, I explore this tender question that might be quietly lingering in your mind, whether you've said it out loud or not.Join me this week to discover why feeling sad about your person's death doesn't mean you're not ready for another relationship, and how wanting love has nothing to do with how much you loved your person. Most importantly, you'll learn what readiness actually looks like so you can answer this question in a way that feels aligned with who you want to be.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/346 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/Mentioned in this episode:Save your spot for The Widow Conference Reset!The Widow Confidence Reset is a free 3-day live event where I’ll teach you why confidence drops after loss, why your brain keeps making you second-guess yourself, and how to begin trusting yourself again. It’s simple, practical, and designed to help you feel steadier and clearer. Save your spot here: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/resetSave your spot at The Widow Confidence Reset!

What if being single isn't something to fix or change, but actually a valid life choice worth celebrating? Maybe you're feeling pressure from family and friends to start dating. Or perhaps you're wondering if it's even possible to truly thrive on your own. Here's what I know: the narrative that we need to be coupled to be happy is just that: a narrative. And it's one we can rewrite. This week, I’ve invited Lucy Meggeson, author of Thrive Solo and host of the Thrive Solo podcast, to join me for this week's episode. Lucy has been single for over 8 years and she's living proof that solo life can be just as joyful, meaningful, and fulfilling as being partnered. Join us on this episode to hear Lucy’s own revolutionary approach to single life, and how being single can be just as meaningful and joyful as partnered life, with its own unique freedoms and opportunities. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/345 Check out Lucy's work here: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/Mentioned in this episode:Save your spot for The Widow Conference Reset!The Widow Confidence Reset is a free 3-day live event where I’ll teach you why confidence drops after loss, why your brain keeps making you second-guess yourself, and how to begin trusting yourself again. It’s simple, practical, and designed to help you feel steadier and clearer. Save your spot here: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/resetSave your spot at The Widow Confidence Reset!

After 343 episodes of The Widowed Mom Podcast, my team and I decided to do something special for the holidays.We pulled together the moments that have resonated most deeply with my community: the insights that have helped thousands of widowed moms navigate their grief journey.This episode is a powerful reminder that grief doesn't follow a timeline, that post-traumatic growth is possible for ALL of us, and that your worthiness remains fully intact, no matter how you're feeling today. Whether you're new to the podcast or have been with me since episode 1, this collection offers both comfort and practical wisdom for wherever you are in your journey.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/344 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/Mentioned in this episode:Save your spot for The Widow Conference Reset!The Widow Confidence Reset is a free 3-day live event where I’ll teach you why confidence drops after loss, why your brain keeps making you second-guess yourself, and how to begin trusting yourself again. It’s simple, practical, and designed to help you feel steadier and clearer. Save your spot here: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/resetSave your spot at The Widow Confidence Reset!

Does grief feel like you're missing a limb? Like phantom pain that won't go away? When someone dies, we experience what's called a "social amputation." We literally lose a piece of ourselves, and our brain keeps searching for that missing connection. The good news? There's a powerful healing tool you already use every day - music.This week, I'm joined by board-certified music therapist Tim Ringgold for a conversation that opened my eyes to something I knew nothing about: how music can actually help us process grief. Tim brings not just professional expertise but deep personal understanding, having lost five of his best friends, his dad, and one of his daughters. His journey from aspiring rock star to music therapist began when he discovered that music was the only thing that brought him peace after experiencing profound loss.Join us to discover why all humans are inherently musical, practical tools you can start using today to bring your mind to the present moment, and the role that music can play in your grief journey.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/343 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/Mentioned in this episode:Save your spot for The Widow Conference Reset!The Widow Confidence Reset is a free 3-day live event where I’ll teach you why confidence drops after loss, why your brain keeps making you second-guess yourself, and how to begin trusting yourself again. It’s simple, practical, and designed to help you feel steadier and clearer. Save your spot here: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/resetSave your spot at The Widow Confidence Reset!

Are the holidays feeling heavy this year? Maybe you're dreading the traditions that used to bring joy. Maybe you're wondering how to navigate celebrations that feel incomplete without your person. Here's what I want you to know: You're allowed to do things differently. Listen in this week as I share five ideas for creating new traditions after loss, not because we need to replace what we had, but because sometimes we need space for something different that fits who we are now. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/342 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/Mentioned in this episode:Save your spot for The Widow Conference Reset!The Widow Confidence Reset is a free 3-day live event where I’ll teach you why confidence drops after loss, why your brain keeps making you second-guess yourself, and how to begin trusting yourself again. It’s simple, practical, and designed to help you feel steadier and clearer. Save your spot here: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/resetSave your spot at The Widow Confidence Reset!

Do you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, angry, or deeply tired as you navigate solo parenting after loss?Maybe you judge yourself for those feelings. Maybe you worry that you're barely holding it together. Here's what I need you to hear: You are not doing it wrong. You are not failing. You are simply a human doing something that is incredibly hard.Listen in this week to hear five key insights about parenting while grieving that will help you give yourself the credit, permission, and support you deserve.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/341 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/Mentioned in this episode:Save your spot for The Widow Conference Reset!The Widow Confidence Reset is a free 3-day live event where I’ll teach you why confidence drops after loss, why your brain keeps making you second-guess yourself, and how to begin trusting yourself again. It’s simple, practical, and designed to help you feel steadier and clearer. Save your spot here: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/resetSave your spot at The Widow Confidence Reset!

When it comes to talking to children about death, most of us freeze. We worry we'll say the wrong thing. We want to protect them from pain. We fear making it worse.The truth is, talking to children about death doesn't have to feel overwhelming. In this episode, I'm sharing a simple framework that you can return to again and again. Whether you're a new widow navigating this territory or someone supporting a friend who needs guidance, this episode offers practical tools for having these difficult but necessary conversations.Tune in this week to discover a three-part approach that takes the mystery out of these conversations. I walk you through exactly what to say, what to avoid, and how to support children of any age as they navigate their grief.Want a taste of Mom Goes On? The Holiday Pass gives you two weeks of access to Mom Goes On, beginning on December 3rd, 2025. This low-commitment trial provides support for the holidays, including access to life coaching and tapping calls, and community experience. Click here to join: https://coachingwithkrista.com/holidaypass Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/340 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/Mentioned in this episode:Save your spot for The Widow Conference Reset!The Widow Confidence Reset is a free 3-day live event where I’ll teach you why confidence drops after loss, why your brain keeps making you second-guess yourself, and how to begin trusting yourself again. It’s simple, practical, and designed to help you feel steadier and clearer. Save your spot here: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/resetSave your spot at The Widow Confidence Reset!