Experiencing the profound loss of a spouse while navigating the intricate realm of "only-parenting" is a challenge unlike any other. Remember, though, you’re not journeying alone. Jenny Lisk, who stepped into solo parenting following the devastating loss of her husband to brain cancer, established the Widowed Parent Institute to shine a light, extend a hand, and share vital resources. The Widowed Parent Podcast embodies that commitment, providing a mix of hope, practical wisdom, and shared e ...
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Everybody goes through change. But not everybody transitions. Each episode of Life Through Transitions aims to help those facing the turbulence of difficult change understand that transition is something that can powerfully form us, not something to get through. No matter the change that is faced, we help our listeners create forward momentum by embracing life's most formative transitions and the immense growth and transformation they invite.
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"Widower’s Journey Podcast" is part of a support network for men who have been widowed or lost a spouse or life partner. Author Herb Knoll discovered upon losing his wife to cancer, that there were really no support services available to grieving men. He wrote a book "The Widower's Journey" as a way to help other men who were going through the same situation. It was followed by a Facebook group that now serves over 1,800 in 38 countries. This podcast features interviews with widowers and exp ...
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I had such a great discussion with Sara Wingerath-Schlanger for this episode. Sara is from Tuesday’s Children, which was founded in the wake of 9/11 to serve families affected by that tragedy in 2001, including the 3,051 kids who lost a parent that day. Sara tells us they are one of only three nonprofits started because of 9/11 that are still opera…
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I had such a great discussion with Lisa Keefauver for this episode. You may know Lisa from her popular podcast, Grief is a Sneaky Bitch, and now she has a brand new book out by the same name. In this episode, we talk all about ambiguous losses, disenfranchised grief, how the three most important rules of scuba diving also apply to life—and, of cour…
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So, you say you're tired of being alone. You need a friend or a lover in your life, but where does one begin? Maybe you’ve tried dating sites, but none of your dates clicked. Dating at your age is unlike anything compared to dating when you were young. Every woman seems to have so much baggage: obligations, preferences, and problems you prefer not …
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I had such a great discussion with Ryane Moates for this episode. I love what Ryane is doing with her YouTube channel, Ryane to the Rescue, where she educates on all things home repair, yard care, and more that widowed people find themselves responsible for after the death of their partners. Ryane herself felt so empowered after she started learnin…
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What do Ted Koppel, Charles Gibson, and Diane Sawyer have in common with the Widower’s Journey Podcast host, Herb Knoll? Answer: They have all had the opportunity to work with Warren Kozak. A noted writer for ABC News, former on-air reporter for NPR, and most importantly, a widower, Warren has just released Waving Goodbye, Life After Loss, a new bo…
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I had such a great discussion with Jordan Arogeti for this episode. Jordan and her company have a new tool called Support Now. It’s a bit like a mashup of some tools you may be familiar with, such as CaringBridge, Go Fund Me, and online meal trains. But it’s SO much more than that. In preparing to speak with Jordan, I had an “Ah-Ha!” moment: Suppor…
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Learn what widowers are talking about and what advice our nearly 2,200 widowed members provide each other. Sit back and enjoy listening to your host, Herb Knoll, as he presents the 45th Widower’s Journey Podcast, Widowers Ask – Widowers Answer, Vol 9. Learn as Herb shares some of the more insightful discussions straight from the Widower’s Support N…
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I had such a great discussion with Dr. Linda Shanti McCabe for this episode. We haven’t tackled the topic of art and how it can help with grief on the show before, so I was excited to talk with Linda about that as well as her program called the Art of Grief which is starting soon. Linda is a widowed parent herself, and she’s also a licensed clinica…
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I had such a great discussion with child life specialist Jessica Correnti this week on the Widowed Parent Podcast. Jessica is the founder of a practice called Kids Grief Support. She is also the author of two picture books for young grievers, including her newest, The ABCs of Grief, which will be available in February 2024. In this discussion we di…
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The Widower’s Journey is pleased to present an interview with Bradley Vinson, the Grieve Coach. Bradley’s life’s path took a profound turn following a life-altering event – the tragic loss of his 4-year-old granddaughter, Alanna. Join your host, Herb Knoll as Bradley – a Baptist Minister, shares how his loss, coupled with his studies at Dallas Theo…
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I had such a great discussion with Dr. Katie Davis for this episode. This week we tackle a thorny parenting topic: screens. The pandemic period of online school, work, play dates, happy hours, fitness classes, therapy sessions, music lessons, and so much more has taught us that asking whether screens and screen time are “good” or “bad” are not nece…
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Today’s discussion is such an important one. For families who have been touched by suicide losses, for sure – and also for any parents of grieving teens from any death losses. Joanne tells us today about her new film, “Talking Out Loud - Teens & Suicide Loss: A Conversation.” I’ve seen it, and I have to say it’s such a privilege to hear directly fr…
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I can’t think of a better way to kick off Children’s Grief Awareness Month than to share my recent discussion with Laurel Braitman, author of the new memoir What Looks Like Bravery. Longtime listeners will recall that I’ve often mentioned what a privilege it is to speak with grown-up grieving kids, and to hear firsthand their experiences and reflec…
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Ep 43- Jenny Lisk- Author of "Widowed Parents Unite – 52 Tips to Get Through the First Years – One Widowed Parent to Another"
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Jenny Lisk is a mother of two young children who was widowed when she lost her husband, Dennis. Join our host, Herb Knoll, as he visits with Jenny Lisk, as she releases her newest book, Widowed Parents Unite – 52 Tips to Get Through the First Years – One Widowed Parent to Another.” Learn why Jenny is quoted as saying, “I was left to pick up the pie…
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I had such a great discussion with Azurae Johnson Redmond for this episode. Azurae is the founder of Young, Black & Widowed Inc and she is also the foreword writer for my new book, out this week: "Widowed Parents Unite: 52 Tips to Get Through the First Year, from One Widowed Parent to Another." I’m thrilled that Azurae and so many other contributin…
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I had such a great discussion with Mae Yoshikawa for this episode. Mae’s boys were young when her husband died. One was 8 years old, and the other was just 5 months old. Listen in our discussion for the important question Mae asked her older son after her husband died: What if the question right now is not “Why?” This hearkens back to her own exper…
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I had such a great discussion with Gina Moffa for this episode. Gina is a therapist specializing in grief and loss, and she has a brand-new book out this week: Moving On Doesn’t Mean Letting Go: A Modern Guide to Navigating Loss. I was honored to read an advance copy and provide an endorsement for her terrific book. Perhaps the best way I can intro…
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I had such a great discussion with Phyllis Fagell for this episode. Phyllis just released a brand new book, Middle School Superpowers: Raising Resilient Tweens in Turbulent Times. We haven’t specifically talked about middle schoolers on the show before, and I knew Phyllis would be just the right person to tackle this with. She’s a parenting author …
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I had such a great discussion with Chris Buchanan for this episode. Chris has written a graphic novel for grieving teens and kids – something that is unique among the grief literature. She was inspired to write this book because of a death in her community, and she brought her many years of expertise as a speech-language pathologist to the task of …
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Ep 42- Chris Bentley – Former Navy Officer Throws Life Raft to the financially troubled widowed
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Chris Bentley is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). One day, Chris discovered a need among the recently widowed to help them sort out what can be a horrifying task, their finances when first widowed. This was the beginning of Wings for Widows, a not-for-profit. With his volunteer team of experienced CFPs from across the United States, thousands o…
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As host of the Widower’s Journey podcast, Host Herb Knoll has an opportunity to interview many exciting and talented people. Robert Pardi ranks high on that list of interesting guests. Join Herb as he explores the teachings of Robert Pardi, widower turned author and life coach, as he explains his concept of “Possibilities in Action.” A resident of …
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How do you live in a risky world? How do you live in a world where “normal” is a state of constant flux? It seems that every day - either in our personal or professional lives, our country or somewhere on the planet - disruptive change is happening. Even if it’s not directly happening to us - like with a war or natural disaster - we experience it a…
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Learn what widowers are talking about and what advice our nearly 2,200 widowed members provide each other. Sit back and enjoy listening to your host, Herb Knoll, as he presents the 40th Widower’s Journey Podcast, Widowers Ask – Widowers Answer, Vol 8. Learn as Herb shares some of the more insightful discussions straight from the Widower’s Support N…
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I had such a great discussion with Lynn Haraldson for this episode. She was widowed 40 years ago, at the age of 19—with an 11-day-old baby at home. I especially appreciated the longer lens she brings to the experience of being a widowed parent. Her journey has included many twists and turns, and she reflects on it all in her new memoir, An Obesity …
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We’re trying something a little different today. Or actually: a lot different. We’ve got our first non-human guest on the show. No, I’m not interviewing either of my dogs, Daisy and Penny, although that could get interesting. Today I’m interviewing the artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT. What is ChatGPT, you ask? I asked it to describe itself bri…
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I had such a great discussion with Talia Kovacs for this episode. We talked about an important topic: building resilience in our kids. Listen for Talia explaining what she means when she says resilience is learned, but it can’t be taught. It’s an important nuance that I hadn’t thought about before, and Talia explains to us what this means for us as…
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In this Episode of Widower’s Journey Podcast, Herb Knoll chats with widower Marv Weidner, co-author of When The Rocks Sing. After his loss, Marv Weidner learned that grief is an organic, unstructured experience. Listen in as both Herb and Marv examine Marv’s teachings about harnessing resiliency, facing grief head-on, embracing loss as an integral …
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Heidi Carson Reflects on Widowed Parenting and Finding Meaning Through Rare Disease Advocacy
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I had such a great discussion with Heidi Carson for this episode. Heidi is a fellow widowed parent, and she lost her husband, Chad, when their kids were 12 and 14 due to complications related to a rare telomere disease. I so appreciate Heidi talking with us because I believe that hearing other people’s stories helps us feel so much less alone. List…
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Ep 38- A Widower’s Estate Planning- An Interview with Estate Planning Expert Diedre Braverman, Esq.
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Medical Power of Attorney, Living Will, Revocable Trusts, Probate, Estate Taxes, etc., do you even need to be concerned about these Estate planning tools? Only if you wish to control what becomes of your assets and monies following your death. Listen in as your host; Herb Knoll, discusses these and other legal documents and processes with Attorney …
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I had such a great discussion with Dr. Lisa Damour for this episode. I always love talking with Lisa, and her books and podcast are incredible resources for parents. I frequently recommend her book Untangled to parents of teen and tween girls, and she’s got a brand new book out this week: The Emotional Lives of Teenagers. In addition to unpacking t…
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I had such a great discussion with Rabbi Steve Leder for this episode. So great that I may just have to have him back. We talked mostly about his second-most-recent book, The Beauty of What Remains, which I found fascinating and helpful and comforting, all in one. He describes it as both a memoir and a field guide. We talked about what he’s learned…
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I had such a great discussion with Whitney Kobrin for this episode. Whitney is herself widowed, and she really wanted to focus our discussion on giving hope to people who feel stuck. She’s a love coach, but we didn’t talk about dating or relationships—we talked about self-love and self-compassion. We also talked about the advice you may have heard …
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Drs. Elena Lister & Michael Schwartzman on Conversations with Children About Illness, Death, & Loss
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I had such a great discussion with Dr. Elena Lister and Dr. Michael Schwartzman for this episode. I’m going to keep this brief and make just one suggestion: If you’re a widowed parent, buy this book. If you know a widowed parent, buy it for them. Seriously. The stuff the authors cover is exactly the sort of stuff I was wondering about when my husba…
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Ep 37- Raising Children as a Single Parent - Dr. Justin Yopp, Ph.D., author of The Group: Seven Widowed Fathers Reimagine Life
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The Widower’s Journey Podcast is pleased to announce that we have landed an interview with Dr. Justin Yopp, Ph.D., Associate Professor at the North Carolina University Department of Psychiatry and co-author of the intriguing book, The Group – Seven Widowed Fathers Reimagine Life. Listen as your host, Herb Knoll, and Dr. Yopp discuss the background …
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I had such a great discussion with Charlene Lam for this episode. Charlene said she’d like to share with my listeners why she believes we are all curators after a loved one dies. I thought that sounded intriguing, so I invited her on the show. Little did I know I’d end up with some new items on my to-do list! We brainstormed what to do with the pil…
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I had such a great discussion with Jon Lefrandt for this episode. As we close out Children’s Grief Awareness Month, I’m really excited to share Jon’s story and perspective with you. He lost his dad when he was just 24—and he had to step in and help care for his six younger siblings and help them with their grief, both short term and long term. I kn…
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I had such a great discussion with Melissa Williams-Gurian for this episode. I’m grateful Melissa was willing to speak with me because she doesn’t do this work professionally; she shares with us from her own personal experience of losing her mom when she was 15. Perhaps this is around the ages some of our kids were. Talking with people who lost a p…
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Suicide! Why do people die of Suicide? Learn the answers to this and other questions provided by four Suicide surviving widowers to Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, Psy.D., Co-Founder & President of United Suicide Survivors International. Dr. Spencer-Thomas is a highly acclaimed expert on the causes of Suicide, and the impact suicide has on those left beh…
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I had such a great discussion with Sandra Began for this episode. Sandra lost her husband to suicide when their boys were nine and eleven. She was really open about just how difficult it is for survivors of suicide loss. This is an important discussion, both for widowed parents who lost their partners to suicide, and for those who love and support …
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I had such a great discussion with Erin Browning for this episode. It’s Children’s Grief Awareness Month, and we have a little different topic for you this week. We’re talking about being a stepparent who has grieving stepkids when your spouse—their parent—dies. Erin is very thoughtful on this topic, because she’s seen it from both sides: her dad d…
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Learn what widowers are talking about and what advice our nearly 2,000 widowed members provide each other. Sit back and enjoy listening to your host, Herb Knoll, as he presents the 35th Widower’s Journey Podcast, Widowers Ask – Widowers Answer, Vol 7. Learn as Herb shares some of the more insightful discussions straight from the Widower’s Support N…
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I had such a great discussion with Kelsey Chittick for this episode. Kelsey is a widowed parent, and in this episode she reflects on losing her husband suddenly. He actually died in front of their kids at the trampoline park, when she was out of the country. Be sure to listen for the part where she shares the most valuable lesson she learned: that …
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I had such a great discussion with Debbie Weiss for this episode. We talk about three different aspects of Debbie’s grief experience: losing her mom at age 10; losing her husband at age 50; and dating in middle-age widowhood. Debbie is the author of the new book Available As Is: A Midlife Widow's Search for Love. -=-=-=-=- Thank you sponsors & part…
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I had such a great discussion with Allison Gilbert for this episode. Allison was my guest back in episode 35, where we talked about her book Passed and Present, and about ways to keep the memory of our loved ones alive. This week, we talk about her new book, which is called: Listen, World! It’s a biography – and in our discussion we uncovered the i…
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Ep 34- Lynda Cheldelin-Fell, International Grief Institute, and author of Grief Diaries book series
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Lynda Cheldelin-Fell shares her touching story of grief and how she used it to provide gracious love and support to others who have also lost a loved one. Lynda published thirty-five Grief Diaries books and formed the International Grief Institute. She provides certification programs for those entering the grief industry and even stages Grief Cruis…
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I had such a great discussion with Barri Leiner Grant for this episode. One of the most important takeaways from our discussion is this: grief support comes in different forms, and it’s important to understand some of the options so you can find something that feels right for you. -=-=-=-=- Thank you sponsors & partners: Grief Coach - Grief support…
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Join our host, Herb Knoll, as he visits with Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor, Ph.D., and author of the breakout book, The Grieving Brain – The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss. The Grieving Brain brings together accessible science and practical knowledge that provides an understanding of what happens when we grieve and how to navigat…
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I had such a great discussion with Meghan Riordan Jarvis for this episode. Meghan is a trauma therapist, and what she had to say about trauma and grief kind of blew my mind. This discussion is one of a special pair of episodes: Meghan and I talked twice in the same week — once for her show, once for mine — so do be sure to listen to both discussion…
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I had such a great discussion with Adam Carter of the National Alliance for Children’s Grief for this episode. We talked all about how social media can be a helpful tool, plus tips and suggestions for parents when it comes to teen social media use as it relates to grief and grieving. Check out the word cloud, and then listen to the full episode on …
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I had a great discussion with Joseph James for this episode. I’m really glad that Joseph reached out to me about coming on the show, because this show is not just for moms. It’s is very definitely for all widowed parents. And I think it’s useful to hear a variety of perspectives, and a variety of styles of grieving, and parenting. And as Joseph tel…
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