Join Brave Through the Holidays: bravewidow.com/holidays   This 12-week pop-up group includes coaching, worksheets, community support, holiday planning, communication guidance, and vision planning for 2027.   The holidays can feel painful, overwhelming, and completely different after losing your spouse.   And the second year does not automatically feel easier.   Brave Widow Resources   Book a call with me to see if Academy is right for you: https://www.bravewidow.com/call Free, Live “Four Seasons of Grief” Training + Quiz: bravewidow.com/live Rebuild a Life You Can Love Again in the Brave Widow Academy (join the waitlist or book a call): https://bravewidow.com/academy Create Calm from Chaos and Heal Your Heart inside Brave Widow Foundations:👉 bravewidow.com/foundations Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free   In this episode of The Brave Widow Show, I share my personal experience navigating Thanksgiving and Christmas after Nathan died, including the year I canceled Thanksgiving and the year I created an entire project-management chart just to host Christmas dinner.   I also explain how widows and widowers can create a more peaceful holiday plan by deciding: Which traditions to maintain Which traditions to modify Which traditions to release How to communicate decisions with family What to do with loneliness and empty space How to create a Plan A, Plan B, and escape plan How to enter the new year without abandoning your person   You do not have to recreate the holidays exactly as they were. You are allowed to change your mind, set boundaries, participate differently, or take a break.   You do not need the perfect holiday plan. You need a plan that supports you.         Chapters 00:00 Why the holidays can feel harder after loss 00:55 An invitation from Stand in the Gap Ministries 02:00 Is the second year of grief harder? 03:12 My first Thanksgiving after Nathan died 04:25 When I tried to do everything for Christmas 06:20 The expectations widows put on themselves 08:00 Why avoiding holiday planning creates more stress 09:25 Create a Plan A, Plan B, and escape plan 11:15 Which traditions should you keep, change, or release? 13:20 Handling family expectations and guilt 14:30 Planning for loneliness and empty space 15:35 Join Brave Through the Holidays 21:20 A real-life donkey interruption  

 The holidays can bring grief, loneliness, family pressure, painful traditions, and the fear of facing another “first” without your person.   Ready to build your personalized holiday plan with support?   Brave Through the Holidays begins Wednesday, October 21, 2026, and includes 12 weeks of support, live sessions, replays, worksheets, and tools through January 31, 2027.   Join here: bravewidow.com/holidays   Brave Widow Resources   Book a call with me to see if Academy is right for you: https://www.bravewidow.com/call Free, Live “Four Seasons of Grief” Training + Quiz: bravewidow.com/live Rebuild a Life You Can Love Again in the Brave Widow Academy (join the waitlist or book a call): https://bravewidow.com/academy Create Calm from Chaos and Heal Your Heart inside Brave Widow Foundations:👉 bravewidow.com/foundations Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free     In this episode of The Brave Widow Show, Emily shares five ways widows and widowers can plan ahead and make the holiday season feel lighter, gentler, and more manageable.   You do not have to maintain every tradition. You don’t have to make everyone else comfortable. You’re allowed to create a holiday plan that supports your grief and your real capacity.   You’ll learn how to plan for: Family expectations and difficult conversations Traditions you want to keep, change, or release Grief triggers like music, decorations, and memories Loneliness and isolation on big days Entering the new year without feeling like you are leaving your person behind   You’ll also hear about creating a Plan A, Plan B, and an escape plan for overwhelming situations.   Chapters 00:00 Why the holidays can feel overwhelming after loss 02:00 Why holiday dread shows up 04:00 Five areas to plan for 05:20 Family expectations and pressure 10:45 Why delayed conflict becomes harder 14:00 Traditions: keep, change, or release 16:45 Planning for grief triggers 18:15 Loneliness, isolation, and support anchors 20:15 Entering the new year without leaving your person behind 23:15 Recap: the five-part holiday plan 24:00 Brave Through the Holidays invitation 25:30 Free Brave Widow community   💬 If this episode helped you, please:  Hit Subscribe  Leave a quick rating & review – it helps more widows find this support Share this with a friend who’s facing grief or the holidays without their person   If you’re new here, my name is Emily Tanner. I’m the founder of Brave Widow and Brave Widow Academy.   I help widows move from barely surviving their loss… to rebuilding a life they can actually love again without feeling like they’re betraying their person.   By day (and for 20+ years), I’ve led large teams and complex operations in the corporate world.    After my husband Nathan died in 2021, just shy of our 20-year anniversary, I took everything I knew about leadership, systems, and change — and started applying it to grief.   Since then, I’ve: Shared my story publicly to make widows feel less alone. Launched the Brave Widow podcast, now with 180+ episodes and listeners around the world. Coached hundreds of widows 1:1 and in groups, and talked with thousands more through the podcast, communities, and events. Built Brave Widow Academy, a 6-month coaching program with a clear framework for moving from deep grief to rebuilding a life you can love again.   I don’t teach “just think positive” grief tips.   I teach widows how to: Heal their heart. Stop waiting on “time” to fix everything. Take small, brave steps toward a life that feels meaningful again.   How I Got Here…   2021: My husband Nathan dies unexpectedly. I’m 4 kids in, overwhelmed, and drowning in paperwork, decisions, and pain. Therapy helps, but I still feel stuck with no roadmap.   2021–2022: I start devouring books, interviewing widows, trying grief groups, and studying coaching — desperate to find something that actually helps me feel different.   2022: I start the Brave Widow podcast, recording episodes while terrified and crying between takes — but determined that no widow should feel as alone as I did.   Year 1: I begin coaching widows 1:1. Word spreads quietly. The same patterns and problems keep showing up, so I start building frameworks instead of one-off advice.   Year 2: I launch Brave Widow Academy — a structured, 6-month coaching program with a step-by-step path: from deep grief, to stability, to rebuilding.   Year 3: Brave Widow has listeners around the world. I’ve personally coached hundreds of widows and spoken with thousands more through consults, lives, emails, and DMs.    Today: My work is simple:   Help widows stop surviving each day… and start rebuilding a life that makes them genuinely glad to be alive again.  

Have you ever felt like you were finally doing better, only to be hit by an unexpected wave of grief?    Brave Widow Resources   Book a call with me to see if 1-1 Coaching or Academy is right for you: https://www.bravewidow.com/call Free, Live “Four Seasons of Grief” Training + Quiz: bravewidow.com/live Rebuild a Life You Can Love Again in the Brave Widow Academy (join the waitlist or book a call): https://bravewidow.com/academy Create Calm from Chaos and Heal Your Heart inside Brave Widow Foundations:👉 bravewidow.com/foundations Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free   You may wonder if you’re going backward, if your progress was fake, or if you’re doing grief “wrong.” You’re not. In this episode, Emily explains why grief is not linear, how memories and seasons can trigger intense grief waves, and what healing actually looks like after loss.   You’ll learn: Why a grief wave does not mean you are back at day one How grief can be triggered by sounds, smells, songs, seasons, and milestones Why your body can react strongly to memories How to name and acknowledge a grief wave Why you should lower expectations during difficult days How support and community help you recover Why you do not need to solve your future in the middle of a wave What “getting better” really means How to carry grief and gratitude at the same time How to begin learning to “ride the wave” instead of feeling destroyed by it     Chapters 00:00 When grief suddenly hits again 01:00 The power of one-on-one coaching 04:00 Choosing the right Brave Widow support 06:00 The myth of linear healing 08:00 Unexpected grief triggers 11:00 Learning to ride the waves 17:00 Why grief feels like going backward 23:00 What a grief wave does not mean 24:00 What to do when grief hits 29:00 Redefining healing and progress 31:00 You do not have to walk alone     💬 If this episode helped you, please:  Hit Subscribe  Leave a quick rating & review – it helps more widows find this support Share this with a friend who’s facing grief or the holidays without their person   If you’re new here, my name is Emily Tanner. I’m the founder of Brave Widow and Brave Widow Academy.   I help widows move from barely surviving their loss… to rebuilding a life they can actually love again without feeling like they’re betraying their person.   By day (and for 20+ years), I’ve led large teams and complex operations in the corporate world.    After my husband Nathan died in 2021, just shy of our 20-year anniversary, I took everything I knew about leadership, systems, and change — and started applying it to grief.   Since then, I’ve: Shared my story publicly to make widows feel less alone. Launched the Brave Widow podcast, now with 180+ episodes and listeners around the world. Coached hundreds of widows 1:1 and in groups, and talked with thousands more through the podcast, communities, and events. Built Brave Widow Academy, a 6-month coaching program with a clear framework for moving from deep grief to rebuilding a life you can love again.   I don’t teach “just think positive” grief tips.   I teach widows how to: Heal their heart. Stop waiting on “time” to fix everything. Take small, brave steps toward a life that feels meaningful again.   How I Got Here…   2021: My husband Nathan dies unexpectedly. I’m 4 kids in, overwhelmed, and drowning in paperwork, decisions, and pain. Therapy helps, but I still feel stuck with no roadmap.   2021–2022: I start devouring books, interviewing widows, trying grief groups, and studying coaching — desperate to find something that actually helps me feel different.   2022: I start the Brave Widow podcast, recording episodes while terrified and crying between takes — but determined that no widow should feel as alone as I did.   Year 1: I begin coaching widows 1:1. Word spreads quietly. The same patterns and problems keep showing up, so I start building frameworks instead of one-off advice.   Year 2: I launch Brave Widow Academy — a structured, 6-month coaching program with a step-by-step path: from deep grief, to stability, to rebuilding.   Year 3: Brave Widow has listeners around the world. I’ve personally coached hundreds of widows and spoken with thousands more through consults, lives, emails, and DMs.    Today: My work is simple:   Help widows stop surviving each day… and start rebuilding a life that makes them genuinely glad to be alive again.

If you’re functioning on the outside but barely surviving on the inside, this episode is for you.     Brave Widow Resources   Free, Live “Four Seasons of Grief” Training + Quiz: bravewidow.com/live Rebuild a Life You Can Love Again in the Brave Widow Academy (join the waitlist or book a call): https://bravewidow.com/academy Create Calm from Chaos and Heal Your Heart inside Brave Widow Foundations:👉 bravewidow.com/foundations Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free Book a call with me to see if Academy is right for you: https://www.bravewidow.com/call Emily’s amazing public speaking coach, Jen Gould: https://jengouldcoaching.com     After my husband died, I thought healing meant eventually returning to the person I used to be and the life I used to have. But grief does not work that way. Our old life is gone, and rebuilding requires a different kind of roadmap.   In this episode, I walk through the three phases many widows experience: Stabilize: Moving through the storm and creating a foundation for healing. Explore: Discovering who you are now and what kind of life you want to build. Rebuild: Creating a life you can love again while still carrying grief.   You’ll also learn why staying busy cannot help you outrun grief, how to grow your capacity for both grief and joy, and why being surrounded by the right people can change the direction of your life.     Chapters 00:00 When you look fine but are barely surviving 01:00 Phase One: Stabilize 03:00 Why staying busy does not heal grief 06:00 The Chaos to Calm blueprint 09:00 Building a foundation 10:30 Phase Two: Explore 12:00 Who am I now? 16:00 Experimenting with your new life 20:00 Grief, guilt, and learning to hold both 26:00 Phase Three: Rebuild 30:00 The “and” life 34:00 Why community helps you move forward 41:00 The three-phase roadmap and next steps   💬 If this episode helped you, please:  Hit Subscribe  Leave a quick rating & review – it helps more widows find this support Share this with a friend who’s facing grief or the holidays without their person   If you’re new here, my name is Emily Tanner. I’m the founder of Brave Widow and Brave Widow Academy.   I help widows move from barely surviving their loss… to rebuilding a life they can actually love again without feeling like they’re betraying their person.   By day (and for 20+ years), I’ve led large teams and complex operations in the corporate world.    After my husband Nathan died in 2021, just shy of our 20-year anniversary, I took everything I knew about leadership, systems, and change — and started applying it to grief.   Since then, I’ve: Shared my story publicly to make widows feel less alone. Launched the Brave Widow podcast, now with 180+ episodes and listeners around the world. Coached hundreds of widows 1:1 and in groups, and talked with thousands more through the podcast, communities, and events. Built Brave Widow Academy, a 6-month coaching program with a clear framework for moving from deep grief to rebuilding a life you can love again.   I don’t teach “just think positive” grief tips.   I teach widows how to: Heal their heart. Stop waiting on “time” to fix everything. Take small, brave steps toward a life that feels meaningful again.   How I Got Here…   2021: My husband Nathan dies unexpectedly. I’m 4 kids in, overwhelmed, and drowning in paperwork, decisions, and pain. Therapy helps, but I still feel stuck with no roadmap.   2021–2022: I start devouring books, interviewing widows, trying grief groups, and studying coaching — desperate to find something that actually helps me feel different.   2022: I start the Brave Widow podcast, recording episodes while terrified and crying between takes — but determined that no widow should feel as alone as I did.   Year 1: I begin coaching widows 1:1. Word spreads quietly. The same patterns and problems keep showing up, so I start building frameworks instead of one-off advice.   Year 2: I launch Brave Widow Academy — a structured, 6-month coaching program with a step-by-step path: from deep grief, to stability, to rebuilding.   Year 3: Brave Widow has listeners around the world. I’ve personally coached hundreds of widows and spoken with thousands more through consults, lives, emails, and DMs.    Today: My work is simple:   Help widows stop surviving each day… and start rebuilding a life that makes them genuinely glad to be alive again.          

What happens when grief, dark humor, motherhood, and entrepreneurship collide?   Connect With Lucy  Facebook: @jeannetterizzi  Instagram: @jeannetterizzi  Instagram: @puresweatwoodlandhills    Brave Widow Resources   Free, Live “Four Seasons of Grief” Training + Quiz: bravewidow.com/live Rebuild a Life You Can Love Again in the Brave Widow Academy (join the waitlist or book a call): https://bravewidow.com/academy Create Calm from Chaos and Heal Your Heart inside Brave Widow Foundations:👉 bravewidow.com/foundations Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free     In this episode, Jeannette Rizzi shares how losing two close friends to suicide as a teenager shaped her life, her relationships, and her work as a comedian. After years of silence and people avoiding difficult conversations, Jeannette found a way to process her grief by writing and performing a one-woman show.   She explains why sometimes the best thing you can do for someone grieving is simply sit beside them, why humor can create space for painful conversations, and how she turned her personal story into fundraisers supporting mental health, suicide prevention, and neurofibromatosis research.   Jeannette also shares the reality of performing vulnerable material, handling criticism, parenting through trauma, and choosing kindness when life feels heavy.   Content note: This episode discusses suicide loss, grief, mental health, and trauma. If you or someone else may be in immediate danger, contact emergency services or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the United States.   Chapters 00:00 Meet Jeannette Rizzi 01:30 Experiencing suicide loss as a teenager 04:00 When people avoid your grief 07:00 Why sitting beside someone matters 09:00 Turning grief into comedy 12:00 The power of dark humor 15:00 Giggles for Good and giving back 19:00 Writing a true story for the stage 24:00 Why writing can help process grief 27:00 Parenting, trauma, and difficult conversations 30:00 Finding the right professional support 34:00 Where to connect with Jeannette   💬 If this episode helped you, please:  Hit Subscribe  Leave a quick rating & review – it helps more widows find this support Share this with a friend who’s facing grief or the holidays without their person   If you’re new here, my name is Emily Tanner. I’m the founder of Brave Widow and Brave Widow Academy.   I help widows move from barely surviving their loss… to rebuilding a life they can actually love again without feeling like they’re betraying their person.   By day (and for 20+ years), I’ve led large teams and complex operations in the corporate world.    After my husband Nathan died in 2021, just shy of our 20-year anniversary, I took everything I knew about leadership, systems, and change — and started applying it to grief.   Since then, I’ve: Shared my story publicly to make widows feel less alone. Launched the Brave Widow podcast, now with 180+ episodes and listeners around the world. Coached hundreds of widows 1:1 and in groups, and talked with thousands more through the podcast, communities, and events. Built Brave Widow Academy, a 6-month coaching program with a clear framework for moving from deep grief to rebuilding a life you can love again.   I don’t teach “just think positive” grief tips.   I teach widows how to: Heal their heart. Stop waiting on “time” to fix everything. Take small, brave steps toward a life that feels meaningful again.   How I Got Here…   2021: My husband Nathan dies unexpectedly. I’m 4 kids in, overwhelmed, and drowning in paperwork, decisions, and pain. Therapy helps, but I still feel stuck with no roadmap.   2021–2022: I start devouring books, interviewing widows, trying grief groups, and studying coaching — desperate to find something that actually helps me feel different.   2022: I start the Brave Widow podcast, recording episodes while terrified and crying between takes — but determined that no widow should feel as alone as I did.   Year 1: I begin coaching widows 1:1. Word spreads quietly. The same patterns and problems keep showing up, so I start building frameworks instead of one-off advice.   Year 2: I launch Brave Widow Academy — a structured, 6-month coaching program with a step-by-step path: from deep grief, to stability, to rebuilding.   Year 3: Brave Widow has listeners around the world. I’ve personally coached hundreds of widows and spoken with thousands more through consults, lives, emails, and DMs.    Today: My work is simple:   Help widows stop surviving each day… and start rebuilding a life that makes them genuinely glad to be alive again.      

 What do you do when the person you love dies suddenly, your prayers seem unanswered, and everyone expects you to “move on”?   Connect With Lucy  Book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/046M4w5J Healing Journal: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LTPHopeShop Website: https://ltphopeauthor.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LTPHope Podcast: When Goodbye Comes Too Early, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio   Brave Widow Resources   Free, Live “Four Seasons of Grief” Training + Quiz: bravewidow.com/live Rebuild a Life You Can Love Again in the Brave Widow Academy (join the waitlist or book a call): https://bravewidow.com/academy Create Calm from Chaos and Heal Your Heart inside Brave Widow Foundations:👉 bravewidow.com/foundations Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free     In this deeply honest episode of The Brave Widow Show, Emily speaks with Lucy, also known by her pen name LTP Hope, about losing her husband, Tim, just four weeks after his diagnosis with stage four T-cell lymphoma.   Lucy shares: The shock of receiving a terminal diagnosis Why she refused to leave the hospital without answers Advocating fiercely for a loved one in medical care Wrestling with God after unanswered prayers The loneliness of coming home to an empty house Why functioning does not always mean you are okay How therapy, journaling, worship music, and community helped her cope The painful reality of grief in the second year How she transformed her loss into a memoir, podcast, and YouTube channel Why widows should take their time before making major decisions Practical reminders for handling finances, legal matters, belongings, and life insurance after a loss     Lucy’s message is simple but powerful: you do not have to rush grief, and you do not have to walk through it alone.     Chapters 00:00 Why this conversation matters 02:00 Lucy’s story and losing Tim 03:00 Receiving the cancer diagnosis 04:00 Fighting for answers and medical advocacy 05:00 Wrestling with God after loss 06:00 Tim’s final morning and the angel at the door 07:00 Coming home to an empty house 08:00 When friends disappear and grief is misunderstood 10:00 Functioning does not mean you are okay 11:00 Journaling, therapy, and learning to breathe again 15:00 Finding courage to share your story publicly 20:00 Practical advice for widows in early grief 24:00 Faith, hope, and surviving the second wave of grief 27:00 Upcoming Brave Widow events and resources     💬 If this episode helped you, please:  Hit Subscribe  Leave a quick rating & review – it helps more widows find this support Share this with a friend who’s facing grief or the holidays without their person   If you’re new here, my name is Emily Tanner. I’m the founder of Brave Widow and Brave Widow Academy.   I help widows move from barely surviving their loss… to rebuilding a life they can actually love again without feeling like they’re betraying their person.   By day (and for 20+ years), I’ve led large teams and complex operations in the corporate world.    After my husband Nathan died in 2021, just shy of our 20-year anniversary, I took everything I knew about leadership, systems, and change — and started applying it to grief.   Since then, I’ve: Shared my story publicly to make widows feel less alone. Launched the Brave Widow podcast, now with 180+ episodes and listeners around the world. Coached hundreds of widows 1:1 and in groups, and talked with thousands more through the podcast, communities, and events. Built Brave Widow Academy, a 6-month coaching program with a clear framework for moving from deep grief to rebuilding a life you can love again.   I don’t teach “just think positive” grief tips.   I teach widows how to: Heal their heart. Stop waiting on “time” to fix everything. Take small, brave steps toward a life that feels meaningful again.   How I Got Here…   2021: My husband Nathan dies unexpectedly. I’m 4 kids in, overwhelmed, and drowning in paperwork, decisions, and pain. Therapy helps, but I still feel stuck with no roadmap.   2021–2022: I start devouring books, interviewing widows, trying grief groups, and studying coaching — desperate to find something that actually helps me feel different.   2022: I start the Brave Widow podcast, recording episodes while terrified and crying between takes — but determined that no widow should feel as alone as I did.   Year 1: I begin coaching widows 1:1. Word spreads quietly. The same patterns and problems keep showing up, so I start building frameworks instead of one-off advice.   Year 2: I launch Brave Widow Academy — a structured, 6-month coaching program with a step-by-step path: from deep grief, to stability, to rebuilding.   Year 3: Brave Widow has listeners around the world. I’ve personally coached hundreds of widows and spoken with thousands more through consults, lives, emails, and DMs.    Today: My work is simple:   Help widows stop surviving each day… and start rebuilding a life that makes them genuinely glad to be alive again.  

If a small part of you is whispering, “There has to be more than just surviving,” this episode is for you.   Brave Widow Resources   Free, Live “Four Seasons of Grief” Training + Quiz: bravewidow.com/live Rebuild a Life You Can Love Again in the Brave Widow Academy (join the waitlist or book a call): https://bravewidow.com/academy Create Calm from Chaos and Heal Your Heart inside Brave Widow Foundations:👉 bravewidow.com/foundations Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free   If you’ve ever wanted more from life after losing your spouse then immediately felt guilty for even thinking it… you’re not alone.   In this episode, I share my honest story of wanting more after my husband died, the shame that wouldn’t leave, and what finally helped me see that wanting a full, vibrant life is not betraying his memory.   We’ll talk about: Why widow guilt is so heavy when you start to want more The “loyalty myth” that says enjoying life means you’ve moved on How grief is both/and (you can miss your person and still build something beautiful) Three big sources of guilt: loyalty, comparison, and lost identity A simple two-part challenge to notice your thoughts and give yourself permission to want one thing without apology     CHAPTERS 00:00 Feeling guilty for wanting more after loss 01:08 “Is this my life now?” internal conflict 03:20 Grief is both/and, not either/or 05:15 Can I enjoy life if my person isn’t here? 06:40 Where widow guilt really comes from 09:05 The loyalty myth: am I leaving them behind? 12:10 Comparison trap: “It never gets better” messages 14:40 Who am I without my spouse? Identity after widowhood 17:05 Letting feelings be a check engine light, not the driver 19:15 Exercise: notice desire & write down your guilty thoughts 21:40 Reframing beliefs & giving yourself permission to want more 23:30 Building a life big enough to hold grief, love, and what comes next         💬 If this episode helped you, please:  Hit Subscribe  Leave a quick rating & review – it helps more widows find this support Share this with a friend who’s facing grief or the holidays without their person   If you’re new here, my name is Emily Tanner. I’m the founder of Brave Widow and Brave Widow Academy.   I help widows move from barely surviving their loss… to rebuilding a life they can actually love again without feeling like they’re betraying their person.   By day (and for 20+ years), I’ve led large teams and complex operations in the corporate world.    After my husband Nathan died in 2021, just shy of our 20-year anniversary, I took everything I knew about leadership, systems, and change — and started applying it to grief.   Since then, I’ve: Shared my story publicly to make widows feel less alone. Launched the Brave Widow podcast, now with 180+ episodes and listeners around the world. Coached hundreds of widows 1:1 and in groups, and talked with thousands more through the podcast, communities, and events. Built Brave Widow Academy, a 6-month coaching program with a clear framework for moving from deep grief to rebuilding a life you can love again.   I don’t teach “just think positive” grief tips.   I teach widows how to: Heal their heart. Stop waiting on “time” to fix everything. Take small, brave steps toward a life that feels meaningful again.   How I Got Here…   2021: My husband Nathan dies unexpectedly. I’m 4 kids in, overwhelmed, and drowning in paperwork, decisions, and pain. Therapy helps, but I still feel stuck with no roadmap.   2021–2022: I start devouring books, interviewing widows, trying grief groups, and studying coaching — desperate to find something that actually helps me feel different.   2022: I start the Brave Widow podcast, recording episodes while terrified and crying between takes — but determined that no widow should feel as alone as I did.   Year 1: I begin coaching widows 1:1. Word spreads quietly. The same patterns and problems keep showing up, so I start building frameworks instead of one-off advice.   Year 2: I launch Brave Widow Academy — a structured, 6-month coaching program with a step-by-step path: from deep grief, to stability, to rebuilding.   Year 3: Brave Widow has listeners around the world. I’ve personally coached hundreds of widows and spoken with thousands more through consults, lives, emails, and DMs.    Today: My work is simple:   Help widows stop surviving each day… and start rebuilding a life that makes them genuinely glad to be alive again.

If you’ve ever wondered what life might look like 10 years after losing your spouse, this conversation will feel like a deep breath.   Connect with Dori Ann Dupré Instagram: @Author.DoriAnnDupre Facebook: @AuthorDoriAnnDupre Website: https://dorianndupre.wixsite.com/books   Brave Widow Resources   Free, Live “Four Seasons of Grief” Training + Quiz: bravewidow.com/live Held in Hope Conference (Oct 8–9, Jenks, OK): https://www.standinthegap.org/heldinhope/ Brave Widow Academy (join the waitlist or book a call): https://bravewidow.com/academy Join Brave Widow Foundations (gentle, faith‑based support for the first seasons of grief):👉 bravewidow.com/foundations Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free     In this episode, Emily talks with author and widow Dori Ann Dupré about growing up in a family of widows, losing her husband to colon cancer, raising daughters without their dad, and turning generational grief into legacy through her new novel “Widows and Children” and an upcoming children’s book about a grandfather her granddaughter never met.   You’ll hear how writing became “medicine,” why grief feels like a heavy backpack you learn to carry, and the small, sacred ways we can keep our person’s memory alive for future generations.   In this episode: What it’s like to be widowed in a line of widows Loving and losing Eric: husband, dad, stepdad, West Point grad Writing her first two novels while caregiving through cancer How her daughter lost both her dad and first love in the same year The inspiration behind Widows and Children The “grief backpack” analogy and why you’re not going backwards Practical ways to weave your person into your kids’ and grandkids’ lives Hope from 10 years out: what gets lighter, what still hurts, and what’s possible   Chapters 00:00 – When your widow story spans generations 02:38 – Meeting Eric: love, integrity & young-onset colon cancer 06:25 – Keeping “Pop” alive for a granddaughter he never met 08:10 – Writing through cancer and finishing a book before he died 12:40 – Stepdads who stand in the gap (and the story behind Good Buddy) 15:05 – The “widow curse” in one family & the new novel Widows and Children 18:45 – Double loss: her daughter’s first love and her dad in the same year 21:40 – What widows recognize in each other across a room 22:55 – The grief backpack: learning to carry a weight that never fully leaves 24:35 – Hope for new widows + how to connect with Dori     💬 If this episode helped you, please:  Hit Subscribe  Leave a quick rating & review – it helps more widows find this support Share this with a friend who’s facing grief or the holidays without their person   If you’re new here, my name is Emily Tanner. I’m the founder of Brave Widow and Brave Widow Academy.   I help widows move from barely surviving their loss… to rebuilding a life they can actually love again without feeling like they’re betraying their person.   By day (and for 20+ years), I’ve led large teams and complex operations in the corporate world.    After my husband Nathan died in 2021, just shy of our 20-year anniversary, I took everything I knew about leadership, systems, and change — and started applying it to grief.   Since then, I’ve: Shared my story publicly to make widows feel less alone. Launched the Brave Widow podcast, now with 180+ episodes and listeners around the world. Coached hundreds of widows 1:1 and in groups, and talked with thousands more through the podcast, communities, and events. Built Brave Widow Academy, a 6-month coaching program with a clear framework for moving from deep grief to rebuilding a life you can love again.   I don’t teach “just think positive” grief tips.   I teach widows how to: Heal their heart. Stop waiting on “time” to fix everything. Take small, brave steps toward a life that feels meaningful again.   How I Got Here…   2021: My husband Nathan dies unexpectedly. I’m 4 kids in, overwhelmed, and drowning in paperwork, decisions, and pain. Therapy helps, but I still feel stuck with no roadmap.   2021–2022: I start devouring books, interviewing widows, trying grief groups, and studying coaching — desperate to find something that actually helps me feel different.   2022: I start the Brave Widow podcast, recording episodes while terrified and crying between takes — but determined that no widow should feel as alone as I did.   Year 1: I begin coaching widows 1:1. Word spreads quietly. The same patterns and problems keep showing up, so I start building frameworks instead of one-off advice.   Year 2: I launch Brave Widow Academy — a structured, 6-month coaching program with a step-by-step path: from deep grief, to stability, to rebuilding.   Year 3: Brave Widow has listeners around the world. I’ve personally coached hundreds of widows and spoken with thousands more through consults, lives, emails, and DMs.    Today: My work is simple:   Help widows stop surviving each day… and start rebuilding a life that makes them genuinely glad to be alive again.

Brave Widow Resources   Brave Widow Academy (join the waitlist or book a call): https://bravewidow.com/academy Join Brave Widow Foundations (gentle, faith‑based support for the first seasons of grief):👉 bravewidow.com/foundations Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free   📍 In‑Person Events Mentioned: • Held in Hope Conference – Jenks, OK – Oct 8–9, 2026: https://www.standinthegap.org/heldinhope/ • San Antonio, TX meetup (September 2026) • Faith and Growth Summit – Miami, FL – Dec 3, 2026: https://faithbasedcoachingacademy.com/faith-and-growth-summit/     If you stand in front of the fridge asking, “What do I want?” and come up blank – not just about food, but about life – this episode is for you.   After losing your person, wanting anything can feel numb, wrong, or like a betrayal. In this Brave Widow episode, Emily gently helps you practice wanting again without forcing yourself into big dreams or a brand-new life purpose.   In this episode, you’ll hear: Why grief flattens desire and makes “neutral” feel safer than hope How to start with “coffee-level” wants instead of life purpose A simple way to design 90 minutes of your weekend to feel more like you How to try new things without promising an outcome A new way to see old dreams, shared dreams, and the dreams that belong to you now   🎁 Free “Desire Again” Worksheet Want help unpacking your own resistance and desires as you listen? Grab the free worksheet that goes with this episode: Click here to download: https://bravewidow.com/want     Chapters: 00:00 – “What do I want?” when the fridge question is really about life 01:18 – How grief suppresses desire and makes “neutral” feel safe 04:05 – Practicing tiny wants: coffee, mornings, and dinner plans 07:02 – Not “What do I want out of life?” but “What do I want more of?” 08:45 – Redesigning your weekends: three words and a 90‑minute block 11:35 – Trying without guarantees: experiments vs promised outcomes 13:40 – Frozen vs healing: numbness, overwhelm, and timing in grief 15:35 – Old dreams, shared dreams, and the dreams that are yours now 17:25 – “I’m allowed to want…” and giving yourself permission 18:40 – How to get the worksheet, join the community, and live events     Subscribe for more faith‑based, hopeful grief support for widows: @BraveWidow on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram & Facebook   💬 If this episode helped you, please:  Hit Subscribe  Leave a quick rating & review – it helps more widows find this support Share this with a friend who’s facing grief or the holidays without their person   If you’re new here, my name is Emily Tanner. I’m the founder of Brave Widow and Brave Widow Academy.   I help widows move from barely surviving their loss… to rebuilding a life they can actually love again without feeling like they’re betraying their person.   By day (and for 20+ years), I’ve led large teams and complex operations in the corporate world.    After my husband Nathan died in 2021, just shy of our 20-year anniversary, I took everything I knew about leadership, systems, and change — and started applying it to grief.   Since then, I’ve: Shared my story publicly to make widows feel less alone. Launched the Brave Widow podcast, now with 180+ episodes and listeners around the world. Coached hundreds of widows 1:1 and in groups, and talked with thousands more through the podcast, communities, and events. Built Brave Widow Academy, a 6-month coaching program with a clear framework for moving from deep grief to rebuilding a life you can love again.   I don’t teach “just think positive” grief tips.   I teach widows how to: Heal their heart. Stop waiting on “time” to fix everything. Take small, brave steps toward a life that feels meaningful again.   How I Got Here…   2021: My husband Nathan dies unexpectedly. I’m 4 kids in, overwhelmed, and drowning in paperwork, decisions, and pain. Therapy helps, but I still feel stuck with no roadmap.   2021–2022: I start devouring books, interviewing widows, trying grief groups, and studying coaching — desperate to find something that actually helps me feel different.   2022: I start the Brave Widow podcast, recording episodes while terrified and crying between takes — but determined that no widow should feel as alone as I did.   Year 1: I begin coaching widows 1:1. Word spreads quietly. The same patterns and problems keep showing up, so I start building frameworks instead of one-off advice.   Year 2: I launch Brave Widow Academy — a structured, 6-month coaching program with a step-by-step path: from deep grief, to stability, to rebuilding.   Year 3: Brave Widow has listeners around the world. I’ve personally coached hundreds of widows and spoken with thousands more through consults, lives, emails, and DMs.    Today: My work is simple:   Help widows stop surviving each day… and start rebuilding a life that makes them genuinely glad to be alive again.