Brave Widow Show

Widowed After 29 Years: Dr. Tina’s Raw Journey Through Loss, Faith & Finding Purpose Again | BW: 199

Quick note: We had a weird static issue on this recording. We cleaned it up as much as possible, and the conversation with Dr. Tina was too powerful not to share.   Connect with Tina: Website - https://tinafornwald.com/ [https://tinafornwald.com/] https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/ [https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/]  Children’s Secret Santa - https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/children-of-widowhood/  Three-Night Healing Retreat - https://widowhood-realtalkwithtina.org/real-widowhood-weekend-nextyou-experience/ Link For Free Gift Or Offer (If Any): https://tinafornwald.com/where-grief-gets-stuck/ [https://tinafornwald.com/where-grief-gets-stuck/] Free Gift/Offer Description (If Any): Discover which of the Five Survival Patterns may be keeping you stuck in grief. Complete the free self-assessment and instantly receive a downloadable guide with practical insights, reflection questions, and next steps to help you reconnect with hope, purpose, and healing.   Brave Widow Resources Mentioned  * Learn more about Brave Widow Foundations (gentle, faith‑based support for the first seasons of grief):👉 bravewidow.com/foundations [http://bravewidow.com/foundations] * Join us for Renew: A Brave Widow Retreat: https://bravewidow.com/retreat [https://bravewidow.com/retreat] * Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free * Brave Widow Academy (apply): https://bravewidow.com/academy * Schedule a free, no-pressure call: https://bravewidow.com/call [https://bravewidow.com/call]   What do you do when it feels like life just keeps hitting you with loss after loss?   In today’s episode, I’m joined by Dr. Tina Fornwald: retired Army officer, breast cancer survivor, and widow after a 29‑year marriage. We talk honestly about stacked suffering, listening to God’s promptings, surviving those first months when simply bathing feels impossible, and how she slowly rebuilt a life that now includes a nonprofit, a Secret Santa program for widowed families, a memorial garden, and her new novel The Five Widows Club.   If you’ve ever wondered, “Does this ever get better?” this conversation is for you.   Chapters 0:00 – Intro, Renew Retreat & Foundations announcements 3:00 – Dr. Tina’s story: 29‑year marriage, Army life & sudden loss 8:00 – Breast cancer, stacked suffering & surviving the first few months 14:00 – Wrestling with God, honesty in grief & when hope starts to return 21:00 – Secret Santa, memorial garden & The Five Widows Club 30:00 – Purpose, pressure & encouragement for years 1–10 of widowhood     Links & Next Steps Learn more about Brave Widow Foundations (gentle, faith‑based support for the first seasons of grief): 👉 bravewidow.com/foundations Join the free Brave Widow Community and get Momentum Monday calls: 👉 bravewidow.com/free     💛 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.

5 Foundations for Widows Stuck in Grief | How to Breathe Again When Life Feels Overwhelming | BW 198

* Learn more about Brave Widow Foundations (gentle, faith‑based support for the first seasons of grief):👉 bravewidow.com/foundations [http://bravewidow.com/foundations] * Join us for Renew: A Brave Widow Retreat: https://bravewidow.com/retreat [https://bravewidow.com/retreat] * Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free * Brave Widow Academy (apply): https://bravewidow.com/academy * Schedule a free, no-pressure call: https://bravewidow.com/call [https://bravewidow.com/call]   If getting through the day feels like your new full‑time job, this episode is for you.   In this faith‑based conversation, Emily shares the 5 Foundations she uses to help widows move from pure survival mode into a little more stability, structure, and hope.    If you’re tired of people telling you to “just give it time,” you’ll learn what to focus on instead so you can actually breathe again.   You’ll learn: * Why time alone doesn’t heal grief (and what does) * The 5 Foundations that steady you when life feels relentlessly hard * How to calm your nervous system when you feel constantly on edge * Why doing less (not more) is actually wise in early grief * How to rebuild routine, connection, hope, and identity without leaving your person behind * What the new Brave Widow Foundations program is and who it’s for   Foundations is a gentle, faith‑centered container for widows and widowers in the “rawness” and “isolation” seasons of grief who need stability and support before they’re ready to fully rebuild life again.   Chapters 0:00 – When getting through the day feels like a full‑time job 6:45 – Why “just give it time” isn’t working 10:30 – The 5 Foundations that help you breathe again 37:10 – “Too broken / too early / I should do this alone” and other stories we tell ourselves 48:10 – Inside the Brave Widow Foundations program and how to join   Links & Next Steps Learn more about Brave Widow Foundations (gentle, faith‑based support for the first seasons of grief): 👉 bravewidow.com/foundations Join the free Brave Widow Community and get Momentum Monday calls: 👉 bravewidow.com/free     💛 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.

5 Widow Coaches Share What Finally Helped Them Heal (Faith + Real Stories) BW: 197

Brave Widow Resources Mentioned  * Join us for Renew: A Brave Widow Retreat: https://bravewidow.com/retreat [https://bravewidow.com/retreat] * Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free * Brave Widow Academy (apply): https://bravewidow.com/academy * Schedule a free, no-pressure call: https://bravewidow.com/call [https://bravewidow.com/call]   Description / Show Notes When you hear “widow,” do you picture old, sad, and alone? These 5 faith-based widows will change that perspective.   In this roundtable, Brave Widow coaches share raw, faith-filled stories of losing their husbands, feeling shattered, trying counseling, books, GriefShare, and groups… and still feeling stuck.    Then they talk about how finding a like-minded widow community, real tools, and tiny brave steps helped them rebuild confidence, purpose, and hope.     If you’re a widow who feels lost, lonely, and “not truly living,” this is for you.   In this episode you’ll hear: * Why so many of us hated the word “widow” * What life looked like before Brave Widow (brain fog, isolation, “walking in place”) * How faith-based community felt different from therapy and generic grief groups * Specific tiny steps that rebuilt confidence, identity, and friendships * How tools like Grief Recovery Method created peace with “unsaid” conversations * The choices widows make when they experience the biggest transformation * What our coaches would say to the widow who thinks she’s “too broken” or “too late”   Chapters * 02:00 – Meet the 5 Brave Widow coaches * 10:30 – Life before Brave Widow: grief groups, therapy, and feeling stuck * 22:00 – Finding a faith-based widow community online * 32:00 – Tiny brave steps: leaving the house, trying new groups, asking for help * 44:00 – Grief Recovery Method and completing “unsaid” conversations * 55:00 – Rebuilding confidence, boundaries, and a new relationship with God * 1:05:00 – What transformed widows do differently * 1:09:00 – An invitation if you feel “too broken” or “too far gone”   Call to action If you’re tired of feeling lost and alone and want a structured, faith-based plan to move forward, book a free consult at BraveWidow.com and see if Brave Widow Academy is a fit for you.       💛 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.

“You Don’t Have To Be Strong Here” | Renew Retreat For Widows In Oregon BW: 196

Brave Widow Resources Mentioned * Join us for Renew: A Brave Widow Retreat: https://bravewidow.com/retreat * Join the free Brave Widow Community: https://bravewidow.com/free * Brave Widow Academy (apply): https://bravewidow.com/academy * Schedule a free, no-pressure call: https://bravewidow.com/call Description / Show Notes This conversation with Denise, a first-year widow and retreat planner, is a behind-the-scenes look at the Brave Widow Renew Retreat in Southern Oregon. We talk about the shock of “the business of widowhood,” surviving the first holidays, and why a quiet, beautiful place in nature can help your nervous system finally exhale. If you’re tired of being “the strong one” and want three days where someone else handles the logistics so you can rest, grieve, and re-center with widows who truly understand, this episode is for you. In this episode, you’ll hear: * Denise’s fast, heartbreaking loss and the “business of widowhood” that stole her space to grieve * How she found Brave Widow right before the holidays and finally let herself fall apart * Why this unexpected Oregon resort has become a place of deep peace and healing * The vision behind the Renew Retreat: rest, renewal, and baby steps into your next season * What to actually expect: travel, lodging, Crater Lake, spa time, stargazing, and more * How to know if Renew Retreat is the right next step for you Chapters (approximate): * 00:00 – Meeting Denise & “this was such a God thing” * 02:00 – Their love story, sudden cancer, and becoming a widow overnight * 05:30 – The business of widowhood: passwords, bills, and no space to grieve * 08:30 – Finding Brave Widow before the holidays & finally collapsing at mom’s house * 13:30 – Why this small Oregon resort became a place of peace and healing * 23:00 – The heart of Renew Retreat: rest, renewal, and baby-deer next steps * 34:00 – What you’ll experience: Crater Lake, spa, trails, stargazing, community * 39:30 – How to join us at Renew Retreat 💛 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.

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.