Claim OwnershipWidow 180 The Podcast with Jen Zwinck
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© 2026 Widow 180 The Podcast with Jen Zwinck
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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.
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Welcome to this first ever Widow 180 roundtable discussion! We are bringing together an inspiring group of guests to explore the deeply personal process of rebuilding life after loss. Pam (4 years widowed), Becky (4 years widowed) and MaryBeth (14 years widowed), all bravely come forward today to share their unique stories of grief, resilience, rediscovering joy, and picking up the pieces of their shattered lives. The conversation covers: The overwhelming early days of widowhood and shifting ...
Get ready for an episode that’s as heartwarming as it is inspiring! In this week’s Widow 180 episode, I sit down with widow, author, and death doula Jackie Disch. Jackie takes us on a deeply personal journey through the loss of her beloved wife, Katie, during the pandemic. You’ll hear Jackie open up about: becoming a caregiver in the isolating days of lockdown navigating the practical “business side” of grief and the agony of probate! learning how to honor both her pain and he...
Have you found yourself wondering, "Am I doing this right?" or "Is what I feel normal?" after losing your spouse? You're not alone — and this episode is for you. Grief after losing a husband or wife is unlike almost any other loss. The silence in the house. The missing half of every plan. The strange, disorienting feeling of moving through the world as "I" when you were "we" for so long. It's exhausting, confusing, and deeply isolating — and so many widows and widowers are quietly askin...
Tammy and Bob Cranston join us on the podcast and open up about the tragedies that changed their lives—& the unexpected journey that brought them together! This episode is packed with wisdom on intentional grieving, goal-setting, and moving forward at your own pace—whether that means finding love again, creating new adventures, or embracing purpose in unexpected ways. Highlights include: Their individual journeys through spousal loss and support systemsMeeting in a bereavement group and t...
Join me as we sit down with the incredible Elle Davis—a mother, widow, professor, writer, and TEDx speaker! Elle bravely shares her deeply personal journey of the sudden loss of her husband Paul and the raw aftermath that followed as she navigated single motherhood with a toddler. Together Elle and I dive into the realities of widowhood: ~coping with overwhelming grief and parenting challenges ~finding support in friends and family ~grappling with identity after loss ~ seeking therapy f...
A heartfelt and encouraging message this week for anyone navigating widowhood! Drawing inspiration from the concept of "micro-dosing discomfort," this episode explores how small, courageous choices can make a big impact over time. The biggest takeaway: that healing and growth don’t require giant leaps, but rather gentle, manageable steps that build confidence and resilience. Listeners are invited to reflect on their own journey, identifying one tiny brave step they can take this week. W...
Ready to dip your toes—or maybe just test the water—when it comes to dating after loss? Get ready for a heartfelt crash course in venturing back into the dating world as a widow! This solo episode is filled with honest advice& relatable stories as we cover the three essential things every widow should consider before dating: timing, guilt, and redefining what you want in a new relationship. You'll hear real questions from listeners like Dan, discover how to navigate the complicated ...
To all the men who are questioning whether or not to date a widow, this is for you! And to all the widows who need to remember just how amazing they are - this is for you too! In terms of relationships and love, dating a widow just might be the best decision you'll ever make! Widows and widowers, not sure if you're ready to date? Take this QUIZ to find out: https://widow180.kit.com/datingquiz Watch the "Where Can I Meet A Partner?" Workshop 20 minute VIDEO at https://www.widow180.com/datingwo...
In the final 35 minutes of this heartfelt Widow 180 episode, I continue my deep and honest conversation with Courtney Pray Duke as we explore how to move forward after loss. Episode Highlights: Turning Pain Into Purpose: Courtney Pray Duke shares how her deepest wounds led her to discover her calling, emphasizing: "The thing that you thought was going to take you out might just be the very thing God uses to bring people all the way through their brokenness and into wholeness and victory...
Join us today for Part 1 of this heartfelt episode of Widow 180 as I sit down with guest Courtney Pray Duke for an incredibly raw and honest conversation about sudden loss, the journey through early widowhood, and finding faith in the darkest moments. Episode Highlights: Becoming a widow at just 29, Courtney was left to raise their kids alone.What the immediate aftermath of loss feels like. How "there's no way to plan for" that moment.Facing birthdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas just w...
Can hope help us heal? Absolutely! Today's podcast dives deep into the healing power of hope as we approach 2026. We explore what hope really means—believing with confidence that good things are still possible—and why it’s such a vital part of moving forward after loss. There are challenges of holding onto hope while coping with grief, but hope can truly shift your perspective, inspire action, and help you find meaning and purpose in a new chapter of life. Learn practical ways to make hope a ...
Angela Enloe, a true adventurer at heart, joins us on the podcast today to share her incredible journey through love, loss, and rebuilding her life. Tragedy struck when her husband Dan passed away unexpectedly, leaving Angela to face the unimaginable: grief, uncertainty, and starting over without her life partner or even a home base. Hear Angela’s wisdom on facing fear, creating a new identity beyond being a widow, and the importance of embracing adventure—even through heartache. This episode...
I want to thank all of our amazing guests for coming on the podcast this year! Thank you for sharing your stories....the good, the bad, the ugly! Thank you for your honesty and most of all, thank you for your wisdom that you share with us from your own widowhood experiences. We learn so much from each other. In today's episode, we have a compilation of several pieces of advice from our guests on the podcast in 2025. I hope you find these helpful and if something resonates please go back and l...
The holidays can feel especially heavy after the loss of a loved one, and in this heartfelt episode, Jen opens up about her own journey through grief during Christmas. She shares honest reflections and personal lessons learned from her first Christmas as a widow—how the holidays transformed from a source of pain to a season of deeper meaning. Whether you’re facing your first holiday without your spouse or are years into your healing, this episode is here to remind you that you’re not alone. 3...
This week, I sat down with Haley Haight to share her extraordinary story of love, loss, and rebuilding in the face of unimaginable hardship. Haley opens up about life with her husband Don, the shock of his sudden terminal diagnosis, navigating the world as a young widow with 2 small boys, and the (literal!) wave of challenges that kept coming—from financial uncertainty to being flooded by a natural disaster! Through it all, Haley has gathered invaluable insights and practical tips every...
If you have been grieving a loss, then you know the intense feeling of isolation that can overcome you. It can make you feel like nobody else in the world understands what you're going through. But then you come across a line of poetry, a quote, a heartfelt phrase that captures EXACTLY what you're feeling and it doesn't just change your day, it changes your life! You realize: Wow, I'm not alone in this. Someone else has been where I am, and they found the words to express it...
Gratitude feels IMPOSSIBLE when your heart is broken! This episode offers hope and guidance for anyone navigating life after loss—especially as the holiday season approaches. This episode explores how gratitude can coexist with grief, even when it feels impossible. There are simple, authentic practices for noticing the small sparks of goodness in the darkness, like keeping a gratitude journal, writing letters, and daily rituals that support healing. You’ll learn why tiny act...
Are you facing Thanksgiving after the loss of a loved one? We are here to guide you through the heartache and help you create moments of comfort and connection. In this episode, we have five unique and meaningful ways to start your Thanksgiving meal, especially designed for widows, widowers, and anyone coping with grief during the holidays! From the powerful idea that “hope grows where gratitude is planted,” we discuss how gratitude can coexist with grief and be a key healing tool. Acti...
What to do when you're in the messy middle of grief? Sandi Waters' story highlights the complex challenges—and unexpected sources of strength—faced by widows. In this episode, she candidly describes the overwhelming experience of watching her partner’s abilities slip away, caring for him, and the support she received from Rodney’s family and their adult daughter, who moved in to help. Sandi and I talk about: Faith as Anchor: how faith became her main source of strength, especially in the...
After losing a spouse, many widows and widowers are haunted by guilt — guilt for what they did or didn’t do, guilt for surviving, or even guilt for feeling moments of happiness again. But what if that guilt isn’t proof of love, but a sign that your heart is still searching for peace? This eye-opening episode explores why widows hold onto guilt after loss and how it can become a false sense of control, loyalty, and purpose. Jen shares deep emotional insight into how guilt gives our pain...
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Hello, I’m Rizwan from XtraSaaS (https://xtrasaas.com). I just wanted to say that your podcast is amazing and very helpful. Sharon’s story is truly inspiring—her courage in choosing life after loss and the way she found healing and new love is something special. Thank you for sharing this heartfelt conversation!