190 episodes

When you become a widow, the heartache can be overwhelming. You feel lost. You feel broken. You feel alone. And you find yourself trying to pick up the pieces of your life and function. But I believe that every widow has the capacity to endure, that every widow has the power to overcome and the determination to create a new life filled with meaning and purpose. The Widow 180 Podcast is about turning tragedy, loss and fear into strength and creativity and a new passion for life. It's about self-reflection and realizing that we only have this one precious life to live and that a new life and a new you is achievable.Each week I will be interviewing widows, incredible survivors of loss. These women have taken the lessons they've learned and the insights they've gained and used them to grow and transform themselves. Some have started businesses, went back to school, run marathons, lost 100 pounds, and moved across the world! They made a choice not to be held down.How did they do it? How did they get through their grief? What's their secret? What lessons can we learn from them that will transform our own lives? How can we write our own story because our story isn't over yet? How can we begin our Chapter 2? I hope that you are as inspired by these women as I am. And maybe hearing even just one story will be life-changing for you.

Widow 180 The Podcast with Jen Zwinck Jen Zwinck

    • Health & Fitness
    • 4.9 • 79 Ratings

When you become a widow, the heartache can be overwhelming. You feel lost. You feel broken. You feel alone. And you find yourself trying to pick up the pieces of your life and function. But I believe that every widow has the capacity to endure, that every widow has the power to overcome and the determination to create a new life filled with meaning and purpose. The Widow 180 Podcast is about turning tragedy, loss and fear into strength and creativity and a new passion for life. It's about self-reflection and realizing that we only have this one precious life to live and that a new life and a new you is achievable.Each week I will be interviewing widows, incredible survivors of loss. These women have taken the lessons they've learned and the insights they've gained and used them to grow and transform themselves. Some have started businesses, went back to school, run marathons, lost 100 pounds, and moved across the world! They made a choice not to be held down.How did they do it? How did they get through their grief? What's their secret? What lessons can we learn from them that will transform our own lives? How can we write our own story because our story isn't over yet? How can we begin our Chapter 2? I hope that you are as inspired by these women as I am. And maybe hearing even just one story will be life-changing for you.

    189. Journey Through Cancer, Chaos, Canada, Then Colombia! - Interview With Eva Still (Part2)

    189. Journey Through Cancer, Chaos, Canada, Then Colombia! - Interview With Eva Still (Part2)

    This is Part 2 of my interview with Eva Still, widow, author, yoga therapist, and retreat leader.

    In this episode, Eva walks us through some helpful breathing exercises to calm and regulate our nervous system when we feel anxious.
    She also mentions several books that she recommends for grief and mindfulness. Here's a list:
    Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief (David Kessler)
    Writing to Heal the Soul: Transforming Grief & Loss Through Writing (Susan Zimmerman)
    Anxious Grief: A Clinician's Guide to Supporting Grieving Clients Experiencing Anxiety, Panic & Fear(Claire Bidwell Smith)
    Anchored: How to Befriend Your Nervous System Using Polyvagal Theory (Deb Dana)
    When Life Hits Hard: How to Transcend Grief, Crisis & Loss with Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (Russ Harris)
    The Chakras in Grief & Trauma (Karla Helbert)
    In Spanish... El Duelo Duele... y eso está bien (grief hurts... and that's ok) (Camilo Russi)

    Breath techniques:
    Physiologica sigh - two sips in through the nose, filling the lungs, long slow exhale through the mouth
    Lengthen the exhale - inhale for four, exhale for five, six or seven
    Box breathing - inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 4, inhale 4... etc.


    Grounding/self-soothing
    Butterfly hug - bilateral stimulation, hands crossed on the chest or to the opposite shoulder, gently tapping while breathing deeply
    Orienting - look around your space and name three things you see
    5 senses orienting - name something you can see, hear, smell, feel touch

    You can reach Eva at:
    Instagram @evastillyoga
    Website: https://www.evastill.com
    Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927

    Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/

    Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ

    For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com

    Questions? Email me at jen@widow180.com

    • 26 min
    188. Journey Through Cancer, Chaos, Canada, then Colombia! Interview With Eva Still (Part 1)

    188. Journey Through Cancer, Chaos, Canada, then Colombia! Interview With Eva Still (Part 1)

    Today's podcast guest, Eva Still, has an incredible story to share! Her life has taken her down so many different, unexpected paths and I can't wait for you to hear all about her adventures!

    This interview is broken up into 2 parts, so you will hear the first half today, where Eva talks about:
    ~visits from her late husband and the conversations they had!
    ~Her take on how the universe is always guiding you in the right direction.
    ~ how she turned to yoga as a "safe place" to grieve
    ~ how she spent over a month in Bali getting her yoga training.
    ~how she quit her job and spent 7months backpacking in South America before settling in Colombia!

    I hope you find her story inspiring! I know I did! I hope this motivates you to go out and have your own adventures because life is too short to miss out!

     
    Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927

    Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/

    Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ

    For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com

    Questions? Email me at jen@widow180.com

    • 30 min
    187. Loneliness Quotes To Help You Feel Less Alone!

    187. Loneliness Quotes To Help You Feel Less Alone!

    Feeling isolated and lonely can be one of the most challenging parts of widowhood. But, that's actually putting it lightly, right?
    I know that loneliness is not just a "challenge". It's all-encompassing. It's life-altering. It's anxiety-inducing and triggering.

    I also know that a really good quote has the power to to get you through a really bad day.

    So, today on episode 187 of Widow 180: The Podcast, I am sharing a selection of quotes that will hopefully strike a chord with you, help bring some self-awareness to your situation, cause some perspective shifts, and give you something to hold onto during this difficult time in your life.

    If you would like more help and support with loneliness, be sure to sign up for The Overcoming Loneliness Workshop for Widows.
    The LIVE Zoom session will be held on Sunday April 21, 2024 at 8pm EST!
    Join us at https://www.widow180.com/lonely





    Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927

    Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/

    Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ

    For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com

    Questions? Email me at jen@widow180.com

    • 14 min
    186. What To Do When You Feel Left Out!

    186. What To Do When You Feel Left Out!

    You know that awful feeling when you find out after the fact that there was a party or a get-together thrown by a friend or family member?
    It's the dreadful, gut-wrenching feeling of being left out.
    It stings.

    Today, I want to offer you 7 tips on how to deal with feeling left out.
    These are some things you can do to help soothe the sting of rejection.

    For more help and guidance with loneliness, be sure to sign up for our upcoming workshop, Overcoming Loneliness Workshop for Widows.
    It's happening on Sunday April 21, 2024 at 8pm EST. This LIVE 60-90 minutes Zoom session will cover ways to help you stop feeling lonely.

    Sign up at https://www.widow180.com/lonely


    Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927

    Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/

    Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ

    For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com

    Questions? Email me at jen@widow180.com

    • 21 min
    185. New House, New Car, New Career, New Partner! A Total Life Transformation For This Widow! - Interview With Julie Hanrahan

    185. New House, New Car, New Career, New Partner! A Total Life Transformation For This Widow! - Interview With Julie Hanrahan

    "Stay open to the universe and the void gets filled."
    These are the wise and brilliant words of advice from this week's guest, Julie Hanrahan.

    Julie lost her husband Paul suddenly and unexpectedly on October 27, 2021 at only 33 years old. Julie's life went into a tailspin.
    In today's episode she shares:

    ~how she was struck with PTSD, panic attacks, and breathing problems following the loss of her husband.

    ~how she decided immediately to sell her house and move to the next town over to start a new life.

    ~how she had to pivot from her high-stress career in social work to now teaching yoga classes.

    ~ how she was able to boost her confidence by travelling the world.

    ~ how her relationship with her dad strengthened after living with him for 6 months.

    ~how she was able to open her heart to a new love with a new partner!

    ~ how she is still struggling with the fact that Paul passed away on the same day as her birthday.

    ~how she is paving her own way in her new life!



    Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927

    Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/

    Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ

    For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com

    Questions? Email me at jen@widow180.com

    • 1 hr 26 min
    184. Is Social Media Helping You? Find Out Here!

    184. Is Social Media Helping You? Find Out Here!

    Is social media slowing down your grieving process? Find out here!

    Do you LOVE Facebook? Are you obsessed with Instagram? Social media has changed everything about the way we interact with each other.
    You may see on Facebook that you have hundreds, maybe even thousands of Facebook "friends". But how many of those people really know you? Do they know the struggles you're going through? 

    Social media can give us a false sense of connection to others.

    Find out in this episode how social media could be hindering your healing process.

    Key takeaways from this episode:
    ~ Start noticing how social media is making you feel. Is it uplifting? Or is it bringing you down?
    ~ Make an intention to have more face-to-face interactions with those Facebook friends! That's where the true connection happens!


    Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927

    Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/

    Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ

    For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com

    Questions? Email me at jen@widow180.com

    • 19 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
79 Ratings

79 Ratings

Melza P ,

Such an inspiration!

Jen is an inspirational interviewer and I love to hear stories about other widows. Such a wonderful resource for widows!

Jeannette527 ,

Thankful

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this podcast. My husband passed away in May 2022. I was so lost and confused and lonely. Then I found your podcast and immediately felt like a found a new family, people who understand my pain. I’m so thankful for you.
Please keep on doing this
Best regards
Jeannette

#1G1Cfan ,

Thank you!

Jen, thank you so much for this podcast. I lost my husband of 29 years 2.5 months ago. I started listening 4 months ago while he was sick knowing I was a widow in waiting. He suffered from an extremely rare neurological disease for 3 years. The comfort and knowledge shared here has been indispensable and has brought hope and light in the midst of so much pain to me.

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