Widow 180 The Podcast with Jen Zwinck
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
244. Real Talk About Sudden Spousal Loss: Coping Strategies, Talking to Kids, and Giving Yourself Grace - Interview With Amber Vogt
Widow 180: The Podcast welcomes Amber Vogt, a recent widow navigating life after the sudden loss of her husband, Jay, in April 2024. Amber opens up about the shock and trauma of that day, parenting through grief, and the unexpected challenges of solo adulthood. Her story is raw, vulnerable, and ultimately inspiring. Here are five standout takeaways from our conversation:
- Trusting Your Instincts: Amber shares how paying attention to a “weird feeling” caused her to go home from work and check on her husband—reminding us to listen to our gut, especially during uncertain times.
- The Fog of Grief: The initial days following loss can be a blur; Amber only remembers fragments and emphasizes that it’s normal to struggle with memory, planning, and focus after trauma.
- Importance of Hard Conversations: Having discussed funeral wishes and life plans with Jay helped tremendously—Amber encourages everyone to talk openly about end-of-life decisions, no matter how uncomfortable.
- Seeking Help and Letting Go: From home maintenance to parenting and finances, Amber’s journey highlights the value of asking for support and accepting that independence sometimes means leaning on others.
- Giving Yourself Grace in Change: Whether it’s tackling household projects as a form of coping, adapting to new routines, or learning to forgive yourself for not having all the answers—Amber’s story illustrates that healing requires patience, self-compassion, and permission to keep moving forward.
Tune in every week for honest widow talk and conversations about loss, resilience, and learning to rebuild life!
Get our latest workbook in the Widow 180 Workbook Series, The Let Go Of Guilt Workbook if you need help releasing the tiring burden of guilt after losing your spouse. Get all of the details at https://www.widow180.com/guilt
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Questions? Email me at jen@widow180.com