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.

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Julia Robinson is not here to fit in a box — and she’s definitely not here to let widowhood be reduced to a single storyline. As an AuDHD widow, mom to a non-binary child, and someone who was in an open marriage before her husband’s death, Julia brings sharp wit, self-awareness, and zero interest in changing herself to make other people comfortable.

In this episode, she talks about navigating loss while living outside conventional expectations, what it’s like when the world wants tidy explanations for complex lives, and how she’s building a life that reflects who she actually is. Julia also tackles a topic many families whisper about: the shame that can surface when an autopsy reveals substances in a loved one’s system. She speaks candidly about reducing stigma, rejecting secrecy, and refusing to let judgment compound grief.

Also featured are cats with hilariously unhinged names, honest conversations about parenting, and a very real appreciation for limited-edition energy drinks only available in South Korea.

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It's not an uncommon phrase: "I felt like I got hit by a truck." But Jessica Medlin, school principal, avid runner, and recent widow actually DID get hit by a truck. Join Jessica, Anita, and Mel as they discuss widowhood, kids, work, what it's like to wake up in the hospital with crushed body parts, the criminal justice system, and whether or not you'd want a gold or platinum-filled eyelid if you had the choice. Jessica is a wonderful, positive, and humor-filled lovely lady and we know you'll enjoy getting to know her.

To check out the result of the criminal case where Jessica was hit, click the link below:

https://gilaherald.com/man-who-struck-thatcher-middle-school-principal-with-a-work-truck-while-she-jogged-sentenced-to-150-days-in-jail-and-4-years-of-intensive-probation/

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Erin Clark, the widowed creator behind How’s the Weather, joins Anita and Mel to talk about life after losing her husband, the emotional whiplash of grief, and how widowhood can shift from “I’m fine” to “I’m not okay” faster than anyone sees coming.

Together, they unpack the daily realities: navigating triggers, handling the well-meaning check-ins, and learning how to answer the simplest question—how are you?—when the truth is complicated. Erin shares how she’s rebuilt routines, identity, and hope, while still honoring what she’s lost.

Learn more about Erin and what she's doing at:

Website: https://www.hows-the-weather.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wwwhowstheweather
IG: https://www.instagram.com/erin_clark_242

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Fiona de la Mezzo joins Anita and Mel all the way from Australia to talk about life after loss, love after cancer, and what happens when you decide to date again before you’re remotely ready. After losing her husband to cancer, Fiona opens up about the strange pressure to “make memories” while someone is dying, and how that expectation can feel heavy, performative, and impossible in the middle of anticipatory grief and caretaking. She also shares what is happening after: finding herself, navigating widowhood, and stumbling into the dating world with some truly cringey, laugh-out-loud stories.

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In this episode, Anita and Mel get together to discuss current widow happenings. Anita shares one of her wildest post-widowhood adventures yet—getting asked to dance. Meanwhile, Mel dives into the growing conversation around AI awareness and what it means for regular people, independent creators, and big businesses.

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