Leslie Harter Berg, known for her Vids for Wids, joins Widow We Do Now to talk about the loss of her husband, Ryan, who died from arteriovenous malformations, and what life has looked like in the years since. She shares the reality of early grief, what it meant to rebuild, and how her path eventually led to remarriage — something that can feel complicated, unexpected, and even conflicting in widowhood.

Leslie brings humor into the conversation without forcing it, offering a perspective that feels both grounded and honest. She also talks about creating content specifically for widows, writing her book You’re So Strong, and the experience of being told that phrase when everything feels anything but.

Get your copy of Leslie's book, You're So Strong: On Grief And Letting Go Of My Favorite Compliment on Amazon or anywhere books are sold.

Website: https://www.vidsforwids.com

IG: @vidsforwids

TikTok @vidsforwids

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Sara Gregerman became a widow when her platonic life partner, Joanna, died from brain cancer.

Sara is asexual. Joanna was first her best friend, then the person she built a life with—and the person she was planning to marry. Their partnership didn’t follow the usual scripts people imagine when they hear the word “widow,” but it was loving, deeply committed, and built out of years of choosing each other.

In this episode, Sara talks about how their relationship grew from friendship into a committed life partnership, what it meant to imagine a future and a marriage together, and what it’s like to grieve when your relationship doesn’t fit the categories people recognize. She also shares what it was like to move through Joanna’s illness and death when some family members—and the medical system—didn’t always see her as a partner.

Sara talks with Anita and Mel about the many kinds of widows that exist, the ways some losses fall outside the stories people expect, and why it matters for people in unconventional partnerships to know they are not alone.

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When your husband was a deeply kind and loving person who brought joy and warmth into the lives of the people around him, it goes without saying that this is the kind of person everyone needs. Katie Goetz shares with Anita and Mel how the complications of addiction came as a shock, because she didn’t know he had been struggling until he became seriously ill. The addiction had been hidden, largely because of the shame and fear he carried.

Their marriage was loving and real, which makes the story more complicated, not less. Katie talks about the experience of looking back on a relationship that was supportive and meaningful while also processing the hidden reality of addiction and the secrecy that shame can create.

Katie is also a historical researcher, which leads to a fascinating dive into widowhood across history. The conversation looks at how widows throughout history were treated in their time, the discomfort people have long had with widowed women, and the ways widows themselves have responded to those reactions.

*Check our Patreon for AD FREE Episodes, or to submit tributes of your person to be read in an episode! *http://www.patreon.com/wwdn

Sponsored by:

BetterHelp.com. Save 10% off the first month of online therapy done securely, online with our unique link: https://trybetterhelp.com/wwdn

Mint Mobile: Mobile phone plans with great service and coverage starting at $15/month https://trymintmobile.com/wwdn

Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes and more!
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Need some Snarky Grief merch?
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