The Widow Diaries

What does it look like to return to work after losing your partner, when grief is still sitting just beneath the surface of every day?In this honest and practical conversation, Kate Nuttall shares her experience of going back to work after the sudden death of her husband Tim. Balancing grief, parenting, and professional life, Kate reflects on the emotional reality of those early days, and what it takes to keep showing up when everything inside you has changed.As an HR professional and widow, Kate offers a unique perspective on both sides of the workplace – what support can look like, where systems fall short, and how organisations can better respond to people navigating profound loss. She also shares what it was like to eventually begin a new chapter, while still carrying the memory of the life she had with Tim.This is an episode about grief in the workplace, the pressure to “function” while broken, and the practical, human supports that can make a real difference in returning to work after loss.Together, Caroline and Kate chat about:Life with Tim and the impact of his sudden deathThe reality of returning to work just weeks after lossEmotional and practical challenges of showing up at work while grievingHow workplaces can better support grieving employeesNavigating conversations, boundaries, and difficult questionsBalancing work, parenting, and grief in everyday lifeQuote that resonates with Kate: “Grief is the profound lasting expression of love after loss”About The Widow DiariesA podcast that holds space for the often-unspoken stories of grief, love, and life after loss - especially for those widowed young. Hosted by journalist and widow Caroline Winter and brought to you by First Light Widowed Support. This is The Widow Diaries: Where no story is the same – and every story matters.LinksLearn more about First Light Widowed SupportFollow First Light on InstagramLike First Light on FacebookConnect with First Light on LinkedInConnect with Caroline Winter on LinkedIn

There’s something profound about a life ending on the same date it began, and in the same place it started.In this deeply raw conversation, Kelli McCombe shares the story of losing her husband suddenly on his birthday in 2024 and in Papua New Guinea, the place he was born. A devoted husband, father, and well-known member of his community, his death left Kelli navigating shock, trauma, and an overwhelming new reality.As a registered psychiatric nurse, Kelli understands trauma from a clinical perspective — but here she speaks as a widow living it. She reflects on the disorientation of early grief, the weight of responsibility that followed, and the complexity of trying to function while everything inside her was unravelling.This is an episode about sudden loss, trauma responses, and the fragile early months of grief — and the small anchors of love and support that can sometimes keep you going.Together, Caroline and Kelli chat about:The day everything changed and the shock of sudden lossThe significance of his death occurring in his birthplaceExperiencing grief while also understanding trauma clinicallyMemory, confusion, and early grief decision-makingCarrying responsibility for business and life admin in shockIsolation, support, and finding small anchors to survive each dayQuote that resonates with Kelli: “After everything I’ve lost, I still believe there’s beauty in the world and choosing to notice it, is part of how I keep going”About The Widow DiariesA podcast that holds space for the often-unspoken stories of grief, love, and life after loss - especially for those widowed young. Hosted by journalist and widow Caroline Winter and brought to you by First Light Widowed Support. This is The Widow Diaries: Where no story is the same – and every story matters.LinksLearn more about First Light Widowed SupportFollow First Light on InstagramLike First Light on FacebookConnect with First Light on LinkedInConnect with Caroline Winter on LinkedIn

There’s something about losing your person in a same-sex relationship that can add an extra layer to grief – when love has to be named, explained, and sometimes defended, even in loss.Jonathan Teo shares the story of an ordinary day in October 2023 that turned into the day everything changed. His husband Julian left for work and never came home. A catastrophic brain haemorrhage took him within days, leaving Jonathan to navigate shock, grief, and a life rewritten in an instant.Jonathan’s love story with Julian began online, long distance between the US and Australia, before Jonathan moved to Australia in 2009 where they built a life together. Not two halves, but two whole people who simply fit.This is an episode about sudden loss, identity, and the ways grief is shaped not only by who we lose, but by how that love is seen and understood by the world around us.Together, Caroline and Jonathan chat about:How Jonathan and Julian met and built their life togetherThe day everything changed and the shock of sudden lossLiving with unanswered questions and complex emotionsNavigating grief alongside identity as a Rainbow WidowerThe importance of language, visibility, and recognition in griefHow love continues, and what connection looks like after lossQuote that resonates with Jonathan: “Our grief is as a result for the individual, that if it wasn’t for that love we wouldn’t be grieving them the way that we grieve”About The Widow DiariesA podcast that holds space for the often-unspoken stories of grief, love, and life after loss - especially for those widowed young. Hosted by journalist and widow Caroline Winter and brought to you by First Light Widowed Support. This is The Widow Diaries: Where no story is the same – and every story matters.LinksLearn more about First Light Widowed SupportFollow First Light on InstagramLike First Light on FacebookConnect with First Light on LinkedInConnect with Caroline Winter on LinkedIn

What happens when the moment you are preparing to become a mother becomes the moment your world falls apart?In this deeply emotional and honest episode, Cassandra Barrie shares her story of losing her husband while 30 weeks pregnant with their son – where joy and heartbreak collided in the most unimaginable way. In the months that followed, Cass also faced further loss and upheaval that reshaped everything she thought life would look like.Today, she is a counsellor and empowerment mentor who uses her lived experience of grief, motherhood, and rebuilding to support others – bringing honesty, warmth and even laughter into the heaviest moments.This is an episode about the complexity of becoming a mother in the midst of grief, the ripple effects of compounded loss, and the slow, non-linear process of finding your way forward.Together, Caroline and Cassandra chat about:Life with Glen and the future they were building togetherExperiencing sudden loss during pregnancyBecoming a mother in the immediate aftermath of griefThe role of spirituality and meaning-making in her journeyNavigating multiple losses and survival in the early monthsRebuilding identity, finding support, and discovering purpose in helping othersQuote that resonates with Cass: “What you aren’t changing, you are choosing” About The Widow DiariesA podcast that holds space for the often-unspoken stories of grief, love, and life after loss - especially for those widowed young. Hosted by journalist and widow Caroline Winter and brought to you by First Light Widowed Support. This is The Widow Diaries: Where no story is the same – and every story matters.LinksLearn more about First Light Widowed SupportFollow First Light on InstagramLike First Light on FacebookConnect with First Light on LinkedInConnect with Caroline Winter on LinkedIn

What happens when the story you’ve lived becomes part of the work you go on to do?In this thoughtful and deeply reflective episode, Annabelle Wilson shares her experience of losing her husband Josh, and navigating widowhood and new motherhood while connected to the unique realities of military family life.In the years that followed, Annabelle found herself not only rebuilding her own life but stepping into a role that would allow her to advocate for others walking a similar path. Today, as Australia’s Veteran Family Commissioner, she brings lived experience and professional insight into national conversations about how we support the families behind the uniform.This is an episode about grief and identity, but also about systems, advocacy, and what it means to turn personal loss into meaningful change, while still carrying the love and legacy of the person you’ve lost.Together, Caroline and Annabelle chat about:Life with Josh and the realities of military family lifeNavigating illness, anticipatory grief, and early lossBecoming a widow and a mother at the same timeThe gaps in support for military families after lossStepping into leadership as Veteran Family CommissionerFinding purpose, continuing bonds, and hope for the futureQuote that resonates with Annabelle “What if it all works out?”About The Widow DiariesA podcast that holds space for the often-unspoken stories of grief, love, and life after loss - especially for those widowed young. Hosted by journalist and widow Caroline Winter and brought to you by First Light Widowed Support. This is The Widow Diaries: Where no story is the same – and every story matters.LinksLearn more about First Light Widowed SupportFollow First Light on InstagramLike First Light on FacebookConnect with First Light on LinkedInConnect with Caroline Winter on LinkedIn

What if grief began long before the goodbye?Lisa Corduff is a speaker, coach, writer, and solo mum, but her journey through grief began years before her husband Nick passed away.As she puts it, “addiction widowed me” and in this deeply honest conversation, Lisa opens up about loving someone through addiction, navigating solo parenting, and the complex grief of losing someone you’d already started to let go of.We explore what Nick’s death taught her about life, identity, and rebuilding from the inside out and how she continues to show up for others with vulnerability, humour and radical compassion.  Together, Caroline and Lisa chat about:How addiction shaped her marriage, motherhood and eventual griefThe tension of claiming widowhood after separationWhat she’s learned about life, love, and letting goHer honest take on solo parenting, identity and strengthGetting unstuck and giving yourself permission to be creativeHow to fill your own cup amid the stormQuotes that resonate with Lisa “No one is waiting at the end of this with a medal for you getting through this the hard way” and “life is a creative act”About The Widow DiariesA podcast that holds space for the often-unspoken stories of grief, love, and life after loss - especially for those widowed young. Hosted by journalist and widow Caroline Winter and brought to you by First Light Widowed Support.This is The Widow Diaries: Where no story is the same – and every story matters.LinksLearn more about First Light Widowed SupportFollow First Light on InstagramLike First Light on FacebookConnect with First Light on LinkedInConnect with Caroline Winter on LinkedInLearn more about Lisa CorduffListen to Lisa’s podcast This moment in time

What if the key to healing after loss… started with your body?When Paula Hindle lost her husband Chris to suicide in 2013, she was suddenly a solo mother to two small children, with grief in one hand and survival in the other.But what followed wasn’t just a journey through pain, it was a deep, powerful return to the body, to self-worth, and to the kind of healing that reconnects you to life.Since then, Paula has dedicated herself to healing – emotionally, physically, and spiritually – and now supports other women in reclaiming their strength, sensuality, and self-worth.Together, Caroline and Paula chat about:The early days of widowhood and mothering through traumaHow grief can disconnect you from your body and how to come home againNavigating identity as a widow and a woman, longing for connection and confidenceReclaiming your body, confidence, and intimacy after lossFinding your inner power to move from surviving to thriving  Quote that resonates with Paula “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we’re spiritual beings having a human experience”  About The Widow DiariesA podcast that holds space for the often-unspoken stories of grief, love, and life after loss - especially for those widowed young. Hosted by journalist and widow Caroline Winter and brought to you by First Light Widowed Support. This is The Widow Diaries: Where no story is the same – and every story matters.LinksLearn more about First Light Widowed SupportFollow First Light on InstagramLike First Light on FacebookConnect with First Light on LinkedInConnect with Caroline Winter on LinkedInLearn more about Paula Unlocking Her Potential

What happens when the happiest day of your life becomes one of the hardest to face?For Jodi Carpenter, New Year’s Eve was the day she met her husband Chris, the day they got engaged, and eventually the day they married. But after losing Chris to brain cancer that once-joyful date – like so many others – took on a whole new meaning.In this tender and wise conversation, Jodi – a second-generation widow, mum of two, and newly minted grandma – reflects on the complicated beauty of anniversaries, the impact of generational grief, and how we carry our people forward with us.With raw honesty and deep compassion, Jodi shares how her losses have fuelled her passion to help the wider population be more educated around grief.Together, Caroline and Jodi chat about:How milestone dates like anniversaries and New Year’s shift in widowhoodParenting through grief after having lost a parent youngWhat to say and not say, to support someone facing painful datesThe legacy of love that lives on in her children and future grandchildHow grief changes over time, but never disappears  Quotes that resonate with Jodi “She was not powerful because she wasn’t scared, but because she went on so strongly despite the fear” and “I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it”  About The Widow DiariesA podcast that holds space for the often-unspoken stories of grief, love, and life after loss - especially for those widowed young. Hosted by journalist and widow Caroline Winter and brought to you by First Light Widowed Support.This is The Widow Diaries: Where no story is the same – and every story matters.LinksLearn more about First Light Widowed SupportFollow First Light on InstagramLike First Light on FacebookConnect with First Light on LinkedInConnect with Caroline Winter on LinkedIn

What happens when the life you imagined shatters, but you choose to keep dreaming anyway?Lauren Leslie Carr became a widow at just 26 when her husband James died only a year into their marriage.Grieving young and rebuilding her life wasn’t easy, but in the years to come Lauren would find her own way forward, ultimately making the bold and beautiful choice to become a solo mum by choice.Lauren shares her story with honesty, grace and humour - from navigating early grief and rediscovering herself, to raising her son Max while holding James’s memory close.If you’ve ever wondered how to live again after loss, or how to write your own version of happily ever after, listen in.Together, Caroline and Lauren chat about:Marriage and loss in almost an instantShifting identity and redefining yourself post-lossThe decision to become a solo motherMax, motherhood, memory and meaningReflections on love, loss, and building new chaptersQuote that resonates with Lauren “There’s a melancholy that lives in me that never goes away. I’m 50% happy and 50% sad at any given moment and I embrace it because that’s what he brought to my life and that’s okay”  About The Widow DiariesA podcast that holds space for the often-unspoken stories of grief, love, and life after loss - especially for those widowed young. Hosted by journalist and widow Caroline Winter and brought to you by First Light Widowed Support. This is The Widow Diaries: Where no story is the same – and every story matters.LinksLearn more about First Light Widowed SupportFollow First Light on InstagramLike First Light on FacebookConnect with First Light on LinkedInConnect with Caroline Winter on LinkedIn

What does it mean to truly live after loss?In this moving and energising episode, we meet Josh Clayton - a shearer, trainer, mindset coach and solo dad from regional NSW who lost his partner Haley to Motor Neurone Disease, when their daughter Stella was just two and a half. Since then, Josh has channelled his heartbreak into a mission of health, healing and hope - not only for himself and his daughter, but for the wider community. From breaking a world shearing record to becoming a master trainer in Positive Psychology, Josh’s story is one of resilience, vulnerability and relentless positivity.He shares what it's like to parent through grief, date again as a widowed man, and why Haley’s legacy continues to guide everything he does. Together, Caroline and Josh chat about:Haley’s diagnosis and the reality of MNDRaising a toddler while caregiving and grievingThe role of holistic health, eating well and mindsetGrief, fatherhood and the power of positivityWhy feeling your pain is more than okayQuote that resonates with Josh “Don’t stop when you’re tired, stop when you’re done”  About The Widow DiariesA podcast that holds space for the often-unspoken stories of grief, love, and life after loss - especially for those widowed young. Hosted by journalist and widow Caroline Winter and brought to you by First Light Widowed Support. This is The Widow Diaries: Where no story is the same – and every story matters.LinksLearn more about First Light Widowed SupportFollow First Light on InstagramLike First Light on FacebookConnect with First Light on LinkedInConnect with Caroline Winter on LinkedIn

What do you do when your world shatters, but your children still need bedtime stories and packed lunches?Megan Daley is an award-winning teacher librarian, author, podcaster, and mother who shares the layered grief of losing her brother, her aunt, and then her husband Dan.She takes us inside those early days of parenting through heartbreak, how stories helped her daughters process loss, and why she believes books hold a unique power in navigating the unimaginable.This is an episode about blending families after loss, and what it means to hold space for grief while still leaning into joy and rebuilding a joyful life.Together, Caroline and Megan chat about:Parenting through the early daysCompounding grief and carrying the weight of othersThe role of language, love and storyThe power of children’s books in the grief spaceMeeting someone new and blending familiesRebuilding a joyful lifeQuote that resonates with Megan “Moving on as a concept is for stupid people, because any sensible person knows grief is a long-term project. I refuse to rush. The pain that is thrust upon us, let no man slow or speed or fix”  LinksMegan’s blog on grief, widowhood and books: megandaley.com.au/grief-widowhood-and-books Megan on Instagram: @childrensbooksdailyMegan’s books: Raising Readers and Teacher, TeacherAbout The Widow DiariesA podcast that holds space for the often-unspoken stories of grief, love, and life after loss - especially for those widowed young. Hosted by journalist and widow Caroline Winter and brought to you by First Light Widowed Support. This is The Widow Diaries: Where no story is the same – and every story matters.LinksLearn more about First Light Widowed SupportFollow First Light on InstagramLike First Light on FacebookConnect with First Light on LinkedInConnect with Caroline Winter on LinkedIn

What if you could laugh and cry in the same breath while talking about death, grief, and finding love again?That’s exactly what happens in this heartwarming and honest episode with Claire Scoles – a nurse, mum, and self-proclaimed “collector of husbands” who shares her journey through loss, blended family life, and remarriage after the death of her husband, Chris.With warmth, wit and insight, Claire reflects on what it means to support a partner through terminal illness, the lessons of palliative care, and the messy, beautiful act of carrying grief and joy together.This is an episode about finding yourself again after loss, being pragmatic where it counts, and learning how to meld the before and after into the now.Together, Caroline and Claire chat about:Life, love and blended familiesDealing with diagnosis and what comes nextReflections on palliative care and death literacyParenting through grief and staying connected with stepchildrenFinding yourself again and letting someone new inQuote that resonates with Claire “You don’t get over it, you grow with it”About The Widow DiariesA podcast that holds space for the often-unspoken stories of grief, love, and life after loss - especially for those widowed young. Hosted by journalist and widow Caroline Winter and brought to you by First Light Widowed Support. This is The Widow Diaries: Where no story is the same – and every story matters.LinksLearn more about First Light Widowed SupportFollow First Light on InstagramLike First Light on FacebookConnect with First Light on LinkedInConnect with Caroline Winter on LinkedIn

What happens when your whole world is turned upside down just six weeks after saying “I do”?In this powerful and deeply moving episode, Rebecca Adams shares her story of losing her husband unexpectedly, just days into their marriage and how that profound grief planted the seed for something bigger.From navigating the weight of widowhood to co-founding First Light Widowed Support, Rebecca talks openly about the healing power of connection, the importance of community, and how she’s helping other young Australian widows feel seen and supported.This is an episode about transformation, leadership through loss, and how showing up for others can also be a path to healing and hope.Together, Caroline and Rebecca discuss:Navigating early widowhood and the silence around young griefFinding Camp Widow in the US, and how it changed everythingBuilding First Light: turning grief into actionSupporting others while still healing yourselfWhat young, widowed people need that the system often missesAdvice to those early in grief and what gives her hope nowQuote that resonates with Bec“Don’t let the sadness of your past or the fear of your future, ruin the happiness of your present”About The Widow DiariesA podcast that holds space for the often-unspoken stories of grief, love, and life after loss - especially for those widowed young. Hosted by journalist and widow Caroline Winter and brought to you by First Light Widowed Support. This is The Widow Diaries: Where no story is the same – and every story matters.LinksLearn more about First Light Widowed SupportFollow First Light on InstagramLike First Light on FacebookConnect with First Light on LinkedInConnect with Caroline Winter on LinkedIn

The Widow Diaries is a podcast that holds space for the often-unspoken stories of grief, love, and life after loss, as a young widow.Join journalist and widow Caroline Winter each episode and hear from others who’ve walked the winding path of widowhood in their own way.The Widow Diaries for First Light Widowed Support is there to support you or someone you know and provides information, resources and connection for young, widowed people throughout Australia.The Widow Diaries: Where no story is the same – and every story matters. Follow or subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.LinksLearn more about First Light Widowed SupportFollow First Light on InstagramLike First Light on FacebookConnect with First Light on LinkedInConnect with Caroline Winter on LinkedIn