The Widow Diaries

Opening your heart again – Kim Morgan-Short

Can you find the courage to love again when you know exactly how much loss can hurt? Dr Kim Morgan-Short shares a remarkable story of love, loss, resilience, and hope. A military doctor, mother of five, and widow twice over, Kim has experienced profound grief – first losing her husband "Shorty" in a plane crash, and years later losing her second husband Stewart to cancer. Yet despite the heartbreak she has endured, Kim continues to believe in the possibility of love. Her journey has taken her from solo parenting and rebuilding after loss to stepping back into the dating world, even appearing on national TV in search of companionship. This is an episode about courage, second chances, and the extraordinary capacity of the human heart to keep loving after loss. Together, Caroline and Kim chat about: * Life in the military and the family she built with Shorty * Navigating sudden loss and solo parenting three young children * Finding love again after widowhood * Experiencing grief a second time and what it taught her * Taking a chance on love through The Golden Bachelor * Why hope, joy, and companionship remain possible after profound loss  Quote that resonates with Kim “It is all about love, actually. Grief is just love with nowhere to go” About The Widow Diaries A podcast that holds space for the often-unspoken stories of grief, love, and life after loss - especially for those widowed young. Hosted by journalist and widow Caroline Winter and brought to you by First Light Widowed Support.  This is The Widow Diaries: Where no story is the same – and every story matters. Links * Learn more about First Light Widowed Support [https://firstlight.org.au] * Follow First Light on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/firstlightwidowedsupport] * Like First Light on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/firstlightwidowedsupport] * Connect with First Light on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-light-widowed-support] * Connect with Caroline Winter on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-winter-5a19369b/]

Beyond the headlines – Lee Lovell

What happens when the worst day of your life becomes a news story everyone else is talking about? In this deeply moving episode, Lee Lovell shares the story of losing his wife Emma during a violent home invasion in December 2022. While many Australians know the headlines, Lee offers a different perspective, that of a husband grieving the woman he loved, a father supporting his children through unimaginable loss, and a widower trying to rebuild a life forever changed. As legal proceedings continue, Lee has faced the unique challenge of grieving in public, navigating a justice system that can repeatedly bring trauma back into focus. Through it all, he remains committed to honouring Emma's memory beyond the circumstances of her death. This is an episode about love, loss, resilience, and the people left behind when tragedy becomes a headline. Together, Caroline and Lee chat about: * Emma's life, personality, and the family they built together * The impact of sudden and violent loss * Grieving while navigating the public spotlight and court process * Supporting children through trauma and heartbreak * The meaning of justice after loss * Remembering the person beyond the headlines and finding hope for the future  About The Widow Diaries A podcast that holds space for the often-unspoken stories of grief, love, and life after loss - especially for those widowed young. Hosted by journalist and widow Caroline Winter and brought to you by First Light Widowed Support.  This is The Widow Diaries: Where no story is the same – and every story matters. Links * Learn more about First Light Widowed Support [https://firstlight.org.au] * Follow First Light on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/firstlightwidowedsupport] * Like First Light on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/firstlightwidowedsupport] * Connect with First Light on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-light-widowed-support] * Connect with Caroline Winter on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-winter-5a19369b/]

Finding connection in grief - Anna Lees

What happens when your world changes in an instant and you’re left to navigate grief while still caring for the little people who need you most? In this deeply honest and heartfelt episode, Anna shares her story of losing her husband Chris suddenly in February 2023, while pregnant with their baby and already a mum to a young son. In the months that followed, Anna found herself navigating the intensity of grief alongside pregnancy, birth, and early motherhood – learning how to support her children while holding her own heartbreak. Along the way, she discovered the powerful role that connection can play, particularly through communities like First Light Widowed Support, where she found others who truly understood. This is an episode about solo parenting through grief, the complexity of holding joy and loss at the same time, and the comfort that comes from being seen by people who just get it. Together, Caroline and Anna chat about: * Life with Chris and the family they were building * Experiencing sudden and unexplained loss * Navigating pregnancy, birth, and early motherhood in grief * Supporting young children through the loss of a parent * Finding connection and understanding through the widowed community * Rebuilding, resilience, and finding a way forward Quote that resonates with Anna “Life is short – if you feel like doing it, just do it” About The Widow Diaries A podcast that holds space for the often-unspoken stories of grief, love, and life after loss - especially for those widowed young. Hosted by journalist and widow Caroline Winter and brought to you by First Light Widowed Support.  This is The Widow Diaries: Where no story is the same – and every story matters. Links * Learn more about First Light Widowed Support [https://firstlight.org.au] * Follow First Light on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/firstlightwidowedsupport] * Like First Light on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/firstlightwidowedsupport] * Connect with First Light on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-light-widowed-support] * Connect with Caroline Winter on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-winter-5a19369b/]

Returning to work after loss - Kate Nuttall

What does it look like to return to work after losing your partner, when grief is still sitting just beneath the surface of every day? In this honest and practical conversation, Kate Nuttall shares her experience of going back to work after the sudden death of her husband Tim. Balancing grief, parenting, and professional life, Kate reflects on the emotional reality of those early days, and what it takes to keep showing up when everything inside you has changed. As an HR professional and widow, Kate offers a unique perspective on both sides of the workplace – what support can look like, where systems fall short, and how organisations can better respond to people navigating profound loss. She also shares what it was like to eventually begin a new chapter, while still carrying the memory of the life she had with Tim. This is an episode about grief in the workplace, the pressure to “function” while broken, and the practical, human supports that can make a real difference in returning to work after loss. Together, Caroline and Kate chat about: * Life with Tim and the impact of his sudden death * The reality of returning to work just weeks after loss * Emotional and practical challenges of showing up at work while grieving * How workplaces can better support grieving employees * Navigating conversations, boundaries, and difficult questions * Balancing work, parenting, and grief in everyday life Quote that resonates with Kate: “Grief is the profound lasting expression of love after loss” About The Widow Diaries A podcast that holds space for the often-unspoken stories of grief, love, and life after loss - especially for those widowed young. Hosted by journalist and widow Caroline Winter and brought to you by First Light Widowed Support.  This is The Widow Diaries: Where no story is the same – and every story matters. Links * Learn more about First Light Widowed Support [https://firstlight.org.au] * Follow First Light on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/firstlightwidowedsupport] * Like First Light on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/firstlightwidowedsupport] * Connect with First Light on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-light-widowed-support] * Connect with Caroline Winter on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-winter-5a19369b/]

When life comes full circle - Kelli McCombe

There’s something profound about a life ending on the same date it began, and in the same place it started. In this deeply raw conversation, Kelli McCombe shares the story of losing her husband suddenly on his birthday in 2024 and in Papua New Guinea, the place he was born. A devoted husband, father, and well-known member of his community, his death left Kelli navigating shock, trauma, and an overwhelming new reality. As a registered psychiatric nurse, Kelli understands trauma from a clinical perspective — but here she speaks as a widow living it. She reflects on the disorientation of early grief, the weight of responsibility that followed, and the complexity of trying to function while everything inside her was unravelling. This is an episode about sudden loss, trauma responses, and the fragile early months of grief — and the small anchors of love and support that can sometimes keep you going. Together, Caroline and Kelli chat about: * The day everything changed and the shock of sudden loss * The significance of his death occurring in his birthplace * Experiencing grief while also understanding trauma clinically * Memory, confusion, and early grief decision-making * Carrying responsibility for business and life admin in shock * Isolation, support, and finding small anchors to survive each day Quote that resonates with Kelli: “After everything I’ve lost, I still believe there’s beauty in the world and choosing to notice it, is part of how I keep going” About The Widow Diaries A podcast that holds space for the often-unspoken stories of grief, love, and life after loss - especially for those widowed young. Hosted by journalist and widow Caroline Winter and brought to you by First Light Widowed Support.  This is The Widow Diaries: Where no story is the same – and every story matters. Links * Learn more about First Light Widowed Support [https://firstlight.org.au] * Follow First Light on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/firstlightwidowedsupport] * Like First Light on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/firstlightwidowedsupport] * Connect with First Light on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-light-widowed-support] * Connect with Caroline Winter on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-winter-5a19369b/]