Loss 64/101: Loss of a wife: Richard Smith episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 22, 2025 · 57 MIN

Loss 64/101: Loss of a wife: Richard Smith

from The Silent Why: finding hope in grief and loss · host Claire Sandys, Chris Sandys, Richard Smith

#133. “Grief isn’t sad – because it reminds you to make the most of today.”  Curious about how Richard has reached this conclusion after losing his wife? Hit play and find out. This is The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to explore grief, asking if hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss.Loss #64 of 101: Loss of a wifeIn this episode, we meet Richard Smith, whose wife Heather died of breast cancer in 2014, leaving him as a solo parent to their three children, aged 15, 14, and 11.Recorded on the exact anniversary of Heather’s death, Richard opens up about the past 11 years of navigating his grief as a widower, the evolving nature of loss, and how he keeps Heather's presence alive in a way that continues to shape his life today.In this conversation, we explored the emotional journey of losing a partner (while raising grieving children), how grief has changed for Richard over the last decade, the difference between sadness and grief, and why Richard sees grief as a meaningful part of life.This episode is a profound reflection on love, loss, and resilience, offering comfort and perspective to any of us facing grief. More on Richard:His blog about telling his children their mum is dying: https://www.sueryder.org/blog/richards-story-telling-our-children-their-mum-was-dying/The Pensions Dashboard: https://www.dashboardideas.co.uk/about/ Richard's straight line walk across the UK in 2019: http://www.52inbritain.co.uk/ Send us Fan MailSupport the show-----thesilentwhy.com  |  Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  LinkedIn What's a Herman? / Buy a Herman - thehermancompany.comSupport the show: buymeacoffee.com/thesilentwhySign-up to my mailing list (only used for sharing news occasionally!): thesilentwhy.com/newsletterHow to talk to the grieving:  thesilentwhy.com/post/howtotalktothegrievingReview the show: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  GoodpodsEpisode transcripts: thesilentwhy.buzzsprout.comThank you for listening.

#133. “Grief isn’t sad – because it reminds you to make the most of today.” Curious about how Richard has reached this conclusion after losing his wife? Hit play and find out. This is The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to explore grief, asking if hope can be found in 101 different types of permanent loss. Loss #64 of 101: Loss of a wife In this episode, we meet Richard Smith, whose wife Heather died of breast cancer in 2014, leaving him as a solo parent to their three children, ...

NOW PLAYING

Loss 64/101: Loss of a wife: Richard Smith

0:00 57:54

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Silent Why: finding hope in grief and loss?

This episode is 57 minutes long.

When was this The Silent Why: finding hope in grief and loss episode published?

This episode was published on July 22, 2025.

What is this episode about?

#133. “Grief isn’t sad – because it reminds you to make the most of today.”  Curious about how Richard has reached this conclusion after losing his wife? Hit play and find out. This is The Silent Why, a podcast on a mission to explore grief, asking...

Is there a transcript available for this episode?

Yes, a full transcript is available for this episode. You can read the complete transcript on the episode page.

Can I download this The Silent Why: finding hope in grief and loss episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!