BW 192: He Died On Our Dream Trip To Greece: Jen’s Widow Story & Finding Community Again

  MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE   Connect with Jen Website & contact: https://www.itslifey.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573198074373 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itslifeyco/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ItsLifey-co   Brave Widow Resources Mentioned Apply for Brave Widow Academy (next group starts July) https://bravewidow.com/academy Join the free Brave Widow Community + weekly calls and prayer nights - https://bravewidow.com/free Schedule a no-pressure call with Emily to figure out your best next step - https://bravewidow.com/call   What happens when your husband dies in front of you on your dream vacation in Greece… and you’re completely alone on an island with no 911?   In this episode, Jen Newberg, founder of It’s Lifey, shares the night her husband Jack died in their hotel room, the chaos of navigating police and embassies in a foreign country, the crash that came when she tried to “go back to normal,” and how that pain turned into a lifeline of retreats and community for widows who feel alone.   If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I normal? Will I ever feel like myself again?” this conversation is for you.   In this episode: The night everything changed on a “perfect” trip to Greece Trying to save Jack with CPR while medics were still being found Coming home to 850 people at the wake and an empty bed at night The panic attack that sent Jen to the ER and why she took short‑term disability Why “you cannot do this alone” became the heartbeat of It’s Lifey How retreats, support circles, and vetted resources help widows breathe again Practical ways to ask for the help you actually need (beyond flowers)   Chapters:  0:00 – Welcome & Brave Widow Academy July 13 invite 2:32 – Meet Jen Newberg, founder of It’s Lifey 3:18 – Jen’s blended family & “imperfect” but loving marriage 6:55 – “I think I’m having a heart attack” on a Greek island 7:40 – No 911, scrambling for help & Jack’s final moments 9:58 – Flying home alone & facing the wake and funeral 15:45 – Panic attack, ER visit & taking short‑term disability 18:20 – The retreat that inspired It’s Lifey for widows 19:15 – Widow retreats, support circles & community that “gets it” 22:30 – Building a trusted resource network for widows 27:55 – Becoming more whole and confident after loss 29:05 – How to connect with Jen & It’s Lifey 32:40 – Brave Widow Academy: next steps if you want a roadmap and community   💛 Ready for deeper support? Brave Widow Academy is my 6‑month, faith‑based program to help you heal your heart and rebuild a life you can love again. Small group, step‑by‑step roadmap, and weekly support. Learn more and apply here: bravewidow.com/academy   Subscribe for more faith‑based, hopeful grief support for widows: @BraveWidow on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram & Facebook     💬 If this episode helped you, please:  Hit Subscribe  Leave a quick rating & review – it helps more widows find this support Share this with a friend who’s facing grief or the holidays without their person   If you’re new here, my name is Emily Tanner. I’m the founder of Brave Widow and Brave Widow Academy.   I help widows move from barely surviving their loss… to rebuilding a life they can actually love again without feeling like they’re betraying their person.   By day (and for 20+ years), I’ve led large teams and complex operations in the corporate world.    After my husband Nathan died in 2021, just shy of our 20-year anniversary, I took everything I knew about leadership, systems, and change — and started applying it to grief.   Since then, I’ve: Shared my story publicly to make widows feel less alone. Launched the Brave Widow podcast, now with 180+ episodes and listeners around the world. Coached hundreds of widows 1:1 and in groups, and talked with thousands more through the podcast, communities, and events. Built Brave Widow Academy, a 6-month coaching program with a clear framework for moving from deep grief to rebuilding a life you can love again.   I don’t teach “just think positive” grief tips.   I teach widows how to: Heal their heart. Stop waiting on “time” to fix everything. Take small, brave steps toward a life that feels meaningful again.   How I Got Here…   2021: My husband Nathan dies unexpectedly. I’m 4 kids in, overwhelmed, and drowning in paperwork, decisions, and pain. Therapy helps, but I still feel stuck with no roadmap.   2021–2022: I start devouring books, interviewing widows, trying grief groups, and studying coaching — desperate to find something that actually helps me feel different.   2022: I start the Brave Widow podcast, recording episodes while terrified and crying between takes — but determined that no widow should feel as alone as I did.   Year 1: I begin coaching widows 1:1. Word spreads quietly. The same patterns and problems keep showing up, so I start building frameworks instead of one-off advice.   Year 2: I launch Brave Widow Academy — a structured, 6-month coaching program with a step-by-step path: from deep grief, to stability, to rebuilding.   Year 3: Brave Widow has listeners around the world. I’ve personally coached hundreds of widows and spoken with thousands more through consults, lives, emails, and DMs.    Today: My work is simple:   Help widows stop surviving each day… and start rebuilding a life that makes them genuinely glad to be alive again.