Brave Widow Show

Hope Is Coming: What Your Future Self Wants You To Know About Widowhood [Brave Widow Academy Stories]

Brave Widow Resources Mentioned * Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free * Brave Widow Academy (apply): https://bravewidow.com/academy * Renew: A Brave Widow Retreat: https://bravewidow.com/retreat [https://bravewidow.com/retreat] * Schedule a free, no-pressure call: https://bravewidow.com/call [https://bravewidow.com/call]   Description / Show Notes What if your future self could send you a 30-second video today and say, “Don’t give up. Hope is coming”?   In this episode, I share real (anonymous) stories and reflections from our most recent Brave Widow Academy graduates. You’ll hear what they wish they could go back and tell themselves six months ago, what they’re most proud of, and why walking with others through grief changes everything.   I’ll also break down who is typically in the Academy, what actually happens over those six months, and a special bonus for those who join the next round starting July 13.   Whether you ever join the Academy or not, I want you to walk away believing this: your future can feel very different from today.    Hope is coming!   Chapters: * 02:00 Why I’m sharing graduation stories (and your main takeaway) * 04:45 What it’s like when life starts to feel lighter again * 06:30 The visible shift from first call to graduation * 08:30 The power of proximity: who you’re “in the room” with * 11:00 The question I asked our graduates about their past selves * 15:00 What they’re most proud of: hard choices, boundaries, firsts * 18:00 Why “I care how I look again” is a massive win * 21:00 No widow left behind: when you feel “behind” or overwhelmed * 23:00 The real goal of Academy (for the rest of your life) * 26:00 Who is usually in the room? Real stats from all cohorts * 29:00 Details: July 13 cohort schedule & how to apply * 34:30 Early enrollment bonus: 4 private 1:1 coaching sessions * 36:00 Retreat invitation & why it pairs perfectly with Academy * 38:00 Faith, grief, and a God who can handle your pain       💛 Ready for deeper support? Brave Widow Academy is my 6‑month, faith‑based program to help you heal your heart and rebuild a life you can love again. Small group, step‑by‑step roadmap, and weekly support. Learn more and apply here: bravewidow.com/academy   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.

From Barely Surviving to Rebuilding: 5 Levels of Support for Widows - BW: 194

Brave Widow Resources Mentioned * Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free * Brave Widow Academy (apply): https://bravewidow.com/academy * Renew: A Brave Widow Retreat: https://bravewidow.com/retreat     Description / Show Notes In today’s episode, I walk you through the exact ways you can get support inside Brave Widow – from completely free resources to the most personalized, hands-on coaching – so you can stop guessing and know which next step is right for you.   If you’re somewhere between barely surviving and starting to wonder if there’s more than just “getting through the day,” this is for you.    We’ll talk about: * A totally free community where you don’t have to do this alone * A gentle new space (Foundations) for deep grief and overwhelm * Brave Widow Academy for widows who are ready to rebuild * 1:1 coaching for the most tailored support * Our in‑person Renew retreat for widows ready to recenter and rise   You do not have to do all of these. My goal is to help you see the “support ladder” and pick the one step that fits where you are right now.   Chapters: 02:00 – Why I’m creating a “support ladder” for widows 03:20 – Level 1: Free Brave Widow Community (what you get & who it’s for) 09:20 – Level 2: Introducing Brave Widow Foundations 22:40 – Level 3: Brave Widow Academy – when you’re ready to rebuild 46:00 – Level 4: 1‑1 coaching – when you want a guide just for you 60:00 – Level 5: Renew – the Brave Widow Retreat 66:00 – Feeling overwhelmed? Here’s the one step to take 69:00 – Final encouragement: don’t do this alone     💛 Ready for deeper support? Brave Widow Academy is my 6‑month, faith‑based program to help you heal your heart and rebuild a life you can love again. Small group, step‑by‑step roadmap, and weekly support. Learn more and apply here: bravewidow.com/academy   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.

Stuck In Grief After Losing Your Spouse? 4 Steps To Rebuild Your Life | BW 193

Brave Widow Resources Mentioned * Apply for Brave Widow Academy (next group starts July) https://bravewidow.com/academy * Join the free Brave Widow Community + weekly calls and prayer nights - https://bravewidow.com/free * Schedule a no-pressure call with Emily to figure out your best next step - https://bravewidow.com/call     Description / Show Notes If you’ve ever thought, “Surely this can’t be the rest of my life… but I have no idea what’s next,” this episode is for you.   After coaching hundreds of widows, I’ve seen the same pattern over and over. It’s not “time heals all wounds.”    It’s a simple 4-step path: 1. Stabilize 2. Explore 3. Build 4. Expand   In this episode of The Brave Widow Show, I walk you through each step so you can find where you are and what to focus on next, without guilt, pressure, or rushing your grief.   You’ll hear: * Why “being strong” is the opposite of what your heart and nervous system need in early grief * What to do when life feels like a blurry maintenance mode and you’re just “walking in place” * How to treat trying new things as experiments, not pass/fail tests of whether you’re “doing widowhood right” * The shift from simply surviving each day… to actually feeling glimmers of excitement about your future again * What “expansion” looks like (from new friendships to writing books to becoming a Brave Widow coach)   And I’ll invite you into our always-free Brave Widow community so you don’t have to walk this road alone.   Join the free Brave Widow Community: 👉 https://bravewidow.com/free   Learn about Brave Widow Academy: 👉https://bravewidow.com/academy   Chapter Timestamps 00:00 – Why I’m “on fire” today & my heart for widows 01:10 – My “secret agenda” behind the always-free Brave Widow community 04:05 – Time doesn’t magically heal: the real reason you still feel stuck 05:40 – Step 1: Stabilize (getting out of survival mode without guilt) 11:20 – Step 2: Explore (treating new experiences as experiments, not failures) 15:05 – Step 3: Build (creating a routine and life that finally feels like you) 17:40 – Step 4: Expand (growing into dreams you never thought possible) 22:20 – How long stabilization takes & why it’s different for everyone 24:00 – Your next brave step: free community & Brave Widow Academy   💛 Ready for deeper support? Brave Widow Academy is my 6‑month, faith‑based program to help you heal your heart and rebuild a life you can love again. Small group, step‑by‑step roadmap, and weekly support. Learn more and apply here: bravewidow.com/academy   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.

BW 192: He Died On Our Dream Trip To Greece: Jen’s Widow Story & Finding Community Again

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE   Connect with Jen * Website & contact: https://www.itslifey.com [https://www.itslifey.com] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573198074373 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573198074373] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itslifeyco/ [https://www.instagram.com/itslifeyco/] * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ItsLifey-co [https://www.youtube.com/@ItsLifey-co]   Brave Widow Resources Mentioned * Apply for Brave Widow Academy (next group starts July) https://bravewidow.com/academy * Join the free Brave Widow Community + weekly calls and prayer nights - https://bravewidow.com/free * Schedule a no-pressure call with Emily to figure out your best next step - https://bravewidow.com/call   What happens when your husband dies in front of you on your dream vacation in Greece… and you’re completely alone on an island with no 911?   In this episode, Jen Newberg, founder of It’s Lifey, shares the night her husband Jack died in their hotel room, the chaos of navigating police and embassies in a foreign country, the crash that came when she tried to “go back to normal,” and how that pain turned into a lifeline of retreats and community for widows who feel alone.   If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I normal? Will I ever feel like myself again?” this conversation is for you.   In this episode: * The night everything changed on a “perfect” trip to Greece * Trying to save Jack with CPR while medics were still being found * Coming home to 850 people at the wake and an empty bed at night * The panic attack that sent Jen to the ER and why she took short‑term disability * Why “you cannot do this alone” became the heartbeat of It’s Lifey * How retreats, support circles, and vetted resources help widows breathe again * Practical ways to ask for the help you actually need (beyond flowers)   Chapters:  0:00 – Welcome & Brave Widow Academy July 13 invite 2:32 – Meet Jen Newberg, founder of It’s Lifey 3:18 – Jen’s blended family & “imperfect” but loving marriage 6:55 – “I think I’m having a heart attack” on a Greek island 7:40 – No 911, scrambling for help & Jack’s final moments 9:58 – Flying home alone & facing the wake and funeral 15:45 – Panic attack, ER visit & taking short‑term disability 18:20 – The retreat that inspired It’s Lifey for widows 19:15 – Widow retreats, support circles & community that “gets it” 22:30 – Building a trusted resource network for widows 27:55 – Becoming more whole and confident after loss 29:05 – How to connect with Jen & It’s Lifey 32:40 – Brave Widow Academy: next steps if you want a roadmap and community   💛 Ready for deeper support? Brave Widow Academy is my 6‑month, faith‑based program to help you heal your heart and rebuild a life you can love again. Small group, step‑by‑step roadmap, and weekly support. Learn more and apply here: bravewidow.com/academy   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.

BW 191: Death Doula Shares How To Face Death, Grief & Love Without Fear | Julie Wright Halbert

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE   Connect with Julie * Website & contact: risingphoenixlife.com * Email: Julie@risingphoenixlife.com * Substack: “Live Awake” by Julie Wright Halbert * Free meditation & book updates: link in the description   Brave Widow Resources Mentioned * Apply for Brave Widow Academy (next group starts July) https://bravewidow.com/academy * Join the free Brave Widow Community + weekly calls and prayer nights - https://bravewidow.com/free * Schedule a no-pressure call with Emily to figure out your best next step - https://bravewidow.com/call * Get updates on the RENEW in-person retreat and the new deep-grief space (Retreat + program updates coming soon on the Brave Widow website.)   New here? Start with the free community and let us walk with you. You don’t have to do widowhood alone.       What if death, grief, and love could all live in the same room… and it didn’t feel so terrifying? In this powerful conversation, I sit down with death doula, transformational soul coach, and grief-literacy advocate Julie Wright Halbert to talk about walking with our loved ones at the end of life, honoring our own grief, and why we are never as alone as we feel. Julie shares how the sudden death of her young husband shattered her old life as a national education attorney and led her into sacred work at the bedside of the dying. We talk about identity after loss, “living and dying awake,” and very practical ways to support someone who is transitioning… without losing yourself. We also wrap up with some big Brave Widow updates: our first in-person retreat, a new space for widows in deep grief, and what’s next for the Academy.   In this episode, we cover: * Julie’s story: from national education attorney and young wife to sudden widow * What a death doula actually does (and why this role matters for widows) * How to sit with someone who is dying without trying to “fix” anything * The difference between taking on someone’s grief vs. holding sacred space * Why we avoid talking about death… and how that makes widowhood even lonelier * How Julie talks to her own children about their dad’s death and legacy * Simple practices to bring more presence, love, and peace into the room * Practical Brave Widow updates: retreat, deep-grief space, Academy, and free support   Time Stamps * 00:00 – Welcome + Brave Widow updates teaser * 01:00 – Meet Julie: attorney, wife, widow, and now death doula * 03:00 – Jim’s sudden illness, rapid decline, and death at home * 05:00 – From “serious law career” to transformational soul coach * 07:30 – What is a death doula and how do they help families? * 10:00 – Planning for end of life: senses, setting, and spiritual support * 12:00 – How Julie doesn’t “take on” every family’s grief * 15:00 – Love at birth, love at death: a powerful bedside story * 18:00 – Julie’s book Divine Ashes Ascending and how it guides your own healing * 22:00 – Helping children say goodbye and capture legacy * 24:00 – How to connect with Julie + her free meditation * 25:00 – Brave Widow Retreat “RENEW” in southern Oregon (June 28–July 1) * 27:00 – New space for widows in deep grief (no timelines, no pressure) * 28:30 – Next Brave Widow Academy cohort (starting July – applications open) * 32:00 – Always-free Brave Widow community + weekly calls * 34:00 – How investing in yourself also blesses other widows     💛 Ready for deeper support? Brave Widow Academy is my 6‑month, faith‑based program to help you heal your heart and rebuild a life you can love again. Small group, step‑by‑step roadmap, and weekly support. Learn more and apply here: bravewidow.com/academy   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.