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
252. Practical Advice For Widows Facing Unimaginable Loss - Interview With Haley Haight
This week, I sat down with Haley Haight to share her extraordinary story of love, loss, and rebuilding in the face of unimaginable hardship. Haley opens up about life with her husband Don, the shock of his sudden terminal diagnosis, navigating the world as a young widow with 2 small boys, and the (literal!) wave of challenges that kept coming—from financial uncertainty to being flooded by a natural disaster!
Through it all, Haley has gathered invaluable insights and practical tips every widow or widower should know! Grab a pen and take notes from this one!
We chat about:
- The experience of receiving a terminal diagnosis during COVID-19, becoming a caretaker, and balancing motherhood, work, and grief
- Vital financial steps after a diagnosis—like applying for Social Security Disability, seeking final expense insurance, and securing veterans’ benefits
- The critical importance of gathering passwords, securing death certificates, and understanding the fine print on life insurance and employment transitions
- Haley’s role as a personal representative in a federal whistleblowing case and how a legal settlement became an unexpected financial lifeline
- The impact of losing cherished possessions to a hurricane, rebuilding for her children, and finding strength, support, and perspective through her community and personal self-care
Whether you’re walking a similar path or supporting someone who is, Haley’s insights on resilience, resources, and self-care will leave you inspired and better prepared for life’s hardest moments.
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Questions? Email me at jen@widow180.com