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.
What this episode covers
#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, ...
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Loss 64/101: Loss of a wife: Richard Smith
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