Widowhood Real Talk with Dr. Tina
Many people talk about the ups and downs of married life, but few prepare for the worst-case scenario when a spouse passes away. Marriage is a journey, a stage in life shared by two people on a path that is meant to be walked together. But what happens when you lose your partner? How does one deal with this permanent separation?
Welcome to Dr. Tina’s Widowhood Real Talk, a safe space for widows and widowers, as well as their loved ones, to talk and listen to stories of love and loss.
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Navigating spousal loss can leave you feeling disoriented, exhausted, and completely isolated in survival mode. Rebuilding life after loss isn’t about rushing to feel okay, but about discovering compassionate space to honor your pain at your own pace. In this heartfelt conversation, host Dr. Tina Fornwald welcomes Anita and Mel, hosts of the podcast Widow We Do Now. Together, they discuss the physical reality of trauma, passive suicidality, and why dark humor often becomes a vital lifeline. They reveal practical ways to support a grieving friend without offering shallow platitudes that do more harm than good. You’ll learn how...
Host Dr. Tina Fornwald welcomes author and grief educator Natasha Smith to discuss how loss impacts individuals through a distinct cultural lens. Why is grief experienced differently by Black women, and what do we need to understand that we’ve been missing. Natasha Smith shares her personal story of carrying decades of unspoken loss, including family deaths, pregnancy loss, and silent caregiving. Together, they break down the cultural expectations of being the strong Black woman and explore how faith communities can create safer places for emotional healing. This powerful conversation offers practical guidance for releasing internal pressure and giving yourself...
In this inspiring episode of Widowhood Real Talk with Dr. Tina, Dr. Tina welcomes Chanoa Inez, author of Dream On: How to Create the New Life of Your Dreams After Upheaval or Loss. Chanoa shares her remarkable journey after the sudden loss of her partner while traveling abroad and the long road of healing that followed. Together, they discuss what it takes to move beyond survival mode, rediscover hope, and intentionally create a meaningful life after devastating loss. Whether you’re newly widowed or years into your grief journey, this conversation offers practical strategies, heartfelt encouragement, and the reminder that...
In this heartfelt episode of Widowhood Real Talk with Dr. Tina, Dr. Tina welcomes Yulonda Hurst Hill—speaker, author, storyteller, life coach, and Director of The Widowed Well. Together, they explore the emotional, spiritual, and practical decisions widows face after loss, how to rediscover identity, and what it means to build a meaningful life while honoring the love that came before. Yulonda shares insights from her digital guide, The Wise Widow: The First 7 Decisions After Loss, along with her passion for helping widows heal through storytelling, faith, and legacy. This conversation offers compassionate encouragement, practical guidance, and hope for...
In this episode of Widowhood Real Talk with Dr. Tina, Dr. Tina welcomes Phil Allen, a hospice chaplain and author who has spent more than three decades walking alongside people facing loss, death, and life’s most difficult seasons. Together, they discuss what grief really looks like, why healing cannot be rushed, and how faith can become a source of comfort rather than pressure during widowhood. Drawing from his book, The Ache in the Ordinary, Phil shares gentle wisdom about finding God’s presence in everyday moments, embracing honest conversations about pain, and discovering hope even when answers are hard to...
