What happens when widows pray for widows? In this soul-stirring episode of Healthy Widow Healthy Woman, host Carolyn Moor connects with two extraordinary Wisters® (widow+sisters) — Dixie Keller and Karen Turner, Chair of the MWC Prayer Team — to explore one of the most intimate dimensions of healing: spiritual health in widowhood.

Together, they unpack how grief reshapes faith, how the Modern Widows Club Prayer Team was born, and why a widow praying alongside another widow carries a weight that no other support quite matches.

You'll learn how the MWC Prayer Request Line works, what widows most often bring to prayer, and how a team of faithful women expanded their intercession from individual grief to the entire Movement for Widow Care®.

SUBMIT YOUR PRAYER HERE

Whether your faith is steadfast or quietly searching, this episode will remind you: you don't have to carry it alone.

💙 Because no one understands a widow's grief quite like another widow.

We welcome people of all faiths and spiritual traditions to join us in this heartfelt mission of love, care, and unity. Through the power of collective prayer, we offer healing, encouragement, and spiritual strength to women navigating the journey of widowhood.

Learn more about Modern Widows Club.

[email protected]

1-844-4-A-WIDOW

In this Healthy Widow Healthy Woman podcast episode with Carolyn Moor, we sit down with economist and former Social Security Administration researcher David Weaver Ph.D to break down everything widows need to know.

We’ll cover:

• The different types of widow benefits

• The new SWIFT Act introduced to Congress by NY Senator Gillibrand, 

• How you can support it and what it could mean for your monthly check

• A recent Social Security’s Inspector General report that found serious problems in how the SSA is handling widow claims

  David Weaver also shares:

  • What the Social Security Advisory Board is recommending to better serve widows and their children

  • What the latest research tells us about how widows are faring financially

  • The red flags every widow should watch for when dealing with the Social Security Administration.

  Whether you’re newly widowed or planning ahead, this episode is essential to Healthy Widow Healthy Womanlistening for widow advocates everywhere.

  HWHW Guest Bio: David A. Weaver currently teaches statistics at the University of South Carolina. Prior to teaching, David served as a researcher and executive in the federal government for several years at the Social Security Administration and the Congressional Budget Office. He has published several articles on federal programs, income, and poverty.

  David is a native of Atlanta, Georgia and received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. He also holds a Ph.D. in economics from Duke University.

  *Follow David Weaver on Linkedin.

  * Follow Carolyn Moor on Linkedin

  
  

  Learn more about Host Modern Widows Club® The Movement for Widow Care (MWC)

We are so honored to welcome Joan Vassos — Golden Bachelorette — to our Healthy Widow Healthy Woman podcast with hostess Carolyn Moor.

Joan's journey captured the hearts of millions, not just because of the search for love, but because of the grace, courage, and authenticity she brought to it as a wister® (widow + sister).

She's living proof that love does not have an expiration date and that widowhood is not the end of a story — it is, for so many of us, the beginning of a new and unexpected chapter of life.

We are diving into one of the most asked-about topics in our Modern Widows Club® community: how love lives on in widowhood, what it means to open your heart again, and how to navigate that journey on your own terms. 💛 

From navigating dating and intimacy to honoring your spouse's legacy while opening your heart again — we explore it all. We talk honestly about the myths and realities of romantic relationships after loss, how your personal priorities shift as you grow, and how to communicate those changes with confidence to the people in your life.

+ Follow Joan Vassos on Instagram and watch her HGTV special "Bachelor Mansion Take-Over".

Invitation: To continue this conversation with others, join our Modern Widows Club Relationship Building and Dating Virtual Community .

Learn more about Modern Widows Club® The Movement for Widow Care (MWC) on IG, FB, Linkedin, Widow Life® Publication on Substack.

Our HWHW special guest is Dr. Mari Marquez, a personal growth educator who specializes in personal development and post-traumatic growth following the loss of loved ones. She is an international selling children's book author and holds a Ph.D. in psychology. Through her work, Dr. Mari offers research-backed tools for adaptation and personal growth in both English and Spanish through her workshops, resources, and her "Growth After Loss" podcast. 

She serves as a facilitator for the Resilient Parenting Program through Arizona State University. Additionally, she co-leads a Spanish-speaking support group with the Modern Widows Club. Dr. Mari has received specialized training in post-traumatic growth, grief support, and prolonged grief disorder. She has had the honor of supporting many affected by traumatic losses in navigating their grief.

She was a featured speaker at our Modern Widows Club 2022 Widow Empowerment Event in Scottsdale, AZ. Since then, she has been paving a way towards more empowering widow research. 

Find Dr. Mari Marquez at https://drmarimarquez.com Instagram, Facebook & YouTube @drmarimarquez

Find Modern Widows Club® The Movement for Widow Care (MWC) on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Linkedin and Widow Life® at Substack. 

NEW EPISODE 🎙️Healthy Widow Healthy Woman Podcast hosted by Carolyn Moor, Founder of Modern Widows Club | The Movement for Widow Care®(MWC) 

What happens when a pastor who advised presidents sits down with a widow advocate? A conversation that bridges faith, social justice, and the urgent need for widow care in America.

Dr. Joel Hunter lost his WWII veteran father at 4, watched his mother navigate widowhood, and later experienced profound losses including his young granddaughter and son. These experiences shaped his 55-year ministry—and now he's bringing that wisdom to widow care awareness. 

In this conversation, we explore:

+ How Dr. Joel Hunter's own losses informed how he approached ministry life

+ Dr. Joel Hunter explains: "Every time somebody vows to treat all people with respect, that's gonna include some widows. And every time a widow goes from grieving to growing, that benefits our entire community."

+ The power of presence and✨ stories of comfort when he needed grief care - the men who stepped up-- Pastor Rick Warren and former President Barack Obama, whom he was spiritual advisor for 8 years. 

+ Champions within congregations create movements. "When we protect vulnerable communities, everyone wins." - Dr. Joel Hunter

+ How the Central Florida Pledge connects and expands on The Movement for Widow Care® advocacy to increase widow support in our communities ✨ What can we learn from MWC? 

+ Creating inclusive communities of care needs to include widows, who are notoriously marginalized, vulnerable and in need invisibly in ways we don't anticipate

With his own losses, he says "I don't remember anything anybody said, but I remember the hugs." - words that changed Dr. Hunter's ministry.

"If you start sowing exclusion, you're gonna reap division. But if you love everybody in the way they need to be loved, that's what the world becomes." - Dr. Joel Hunter 

CONNECT WITH DR. JOEL HUNTER: Chairman, Central Florida Pledge;  Pastor of Community Benefit, Action Church

CONNECT WITH CAROLYN MOOR: Founder, Modern Widows Club | The Movement for Widow Care Instagram: @modernwidowsclub Website: modernwidowsclub.org  

Healthy Widow, Healthy Woman Podcast "The Science Behind Your Grief to Growth Journey" with Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor, Neuroscientist, Author & Professor, Department of Psychology, Grief, Loss and Social Stress (GLASS) Lab at the University of Arizona. 

Our founder Modern Widows Club® Carolyn Moor sits down with renowned neuroscientist Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor, author of The Grieving Brain and The Grieving Body, for a groundbreaking conversation that will validate everything you've been experiencing. 💡

What You'll Discover:

The Science Behind Your Experience: Why your brain believes your person still exists while knowing they've died The real reason you feel like you're "losing your mind" (spoiler: you're not!) How grief creates actual physiological changes in your body

💜 Why This Matters:

Dr. O'Connor's research proves what we've known at MWC for 12 years—grief is a natural learning process that requires time, support, and comprehensive care. This isn't just about "getting through it"—it's about understanding the incredible transformation happening within you - although unwanted.

Tag a widow who needs to hear this science-backed validation of their journey. Sometimes understanding the "why" behind what we're experiencing is the first step toward healing.

Learn more about Modern Widows Club at https://modernwidowsclub.org 844-4- A WIDOW [email protected]

We Welcome to Healthy Widow Healthy Woman Podcast, Guest Sharon Hanby-Robie, Interior Designer, residential home décor on-air expert for QVC network., showcasing the latest in interior design and home fashion to millions of television viewers. She's a member of American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

For more than thirty years, Sharon has been combining her unique ability to see and combine color, along with her aesthetic vision for simple elegance, to professionally help families create homes that are exceptionally beautiful as well as functional. She takes great care in listening to client's hearts as they express their personal ideas to help them realize their dreams.

She is the author of many books including, The Simple Home: A Faith-filled Guide to Simplicity, Peace, and Joy in Your Home, My Name Isn't Martha, But I Can Decorate My home, and Decorating without Fear. Sharon's work has appeared numerous times on such highly-regarded television shows and networks such as The Today Show, HGTV, CBN, and DIY Network.

Her newest endeavor is on her YouTube Channel "Safe Space with Sharon". 

Color Therapy & Healing Spaces with Sharon Hanby-Robie

Sharon Hanby-Robie explores the transformative role color plays in the widow healing journey. Sharon reveals the deeply personal crisis that first connected her to the emotional impact of color, and how this awakening led to her groundbreaking "Safe Space with Sharon" approach to designing environments for those experiencing profound transitions and hoping to use color to better communicate themselves.

The conversation delves into specific colors that can help widows navigate overwhelming emotions and identity disruption—from calming blues that reduce anxiety to grounding earth tones that provide stability during life's most turbulent transitions. Sharon shares evidence-based insights on how our visual environment directly impacts our psychological wellbeing when grief has disrupted our sense of home and self.

Through touching client stories, Sharon illustrates how redesigning living spaces becomes a powerful metaphor for rebuilding life after loss. Hear the remarkable transformations. This episode offers practical wisdom for anyone seeking to create spaces that honor what was while supporting what can be.

Modern Widows Club® The Movement for Widow Care (MWC) Founder Carolyn Moor interviews the MWC Parenting Club Facilitator Michelle Walker and discusses the mission of this virtual resource for parentally bereaved families. 

The mission of the MWC Parenting Support Club is simple: to support you as awidowed parent so you can take the best possible care of your grieving children. We share information and resources that address the following areas, all of which have been identified by research as important, positive influences on grieving families:

+Understanding & Supporting Children's Grief

+Strengthening Family Bonds & Communication 

+Parent Self-Care: Its Importance & Its Many Forms

+Effective Positive or Authoratative Discipline Tactics

Michelle's Story: Michelle received the devastating news that her husband of 11 years, Mike, had been killed by a reckless driver. She was 40 years old, left to raise their heartbroken 7 and 9 year old daughters, who adored their tall, funny daddy. With the love of family and friends, she navigated the lengthy process of rebuilding her family life while also supporting her children's grief and processing her own.

Once her children were grown, she wanted to "pay it forward" by supporting other families who had suffered the death of a parent. To complement her 18+ years as a widowed parent, she obtained a Master of Science in Family & Human Development from Arizona State University. Through research during this program, she discovered Modern Widows Club® and knew she had found just the place to support all widows, including those with children.

She is grateful for the opportunity to serve and encourage all widowed parents in her role as MWC Parenting Support Club Facilitator since 2024. Learn more about MWC Parenting Club at: https://modernwidowsclub.org/clubs/parenting-club

844-4- A- WIDOW

[email protected]

https://modernwidowsclub.org

From Wife to Widow to Wister®: How Healthy Choices Led to New Beginnings and Sweet Success

In this heartfelt episode of the Healthy Widow Healthy Woman podcast, we welcome Tara Gidus Collingwood, a Registered Dietician, speaker, author, mom, wife again and "Wister" (widow + sister).

Key Points to Savor:

+ Tara opens up about her personal journey through widowhood and shares the transformative moments that shaped her path forward. Tara reflects on our first meeting and how that connection became a turning point in her grief journey.

+ She discusses the profound impact of the Modern Widows Community on her personal healing, highlighting how the "Hope, Heal, Grow, Lead" pathway provided structure to her recovery and empowered her to embrace a healthy widowhood.

+ The conversation takes a joyful turn as Tara shares her remarriage story and the beautiful challenges of blending families. She tells the touching story behind "Basil's Award," a meaningful tribute that honors her past while celebrating her present being an example of the impact MWC ripples out to our children, family, future partners and others closest to us.

+ Tara also discusses her commitment to giving back as a WEE (Widows Empowerment Event) Speaker and her role on the MWC Ambassador Council, explaining how helping others has become an essential part of her healing journey.

+ Tara is currently leading our popular monthly MWC Health & Wellness Club, you may join her anytime to access more knowledge on wellness, mindset, movement and empowering nutrition - by signing up here.

+ If you'd like to meet Tara in person, join us at our 2025 Widows' Health & Wellbeing Day Event in Orlando, FL on Saturday, June 21. She'll be presenting on how quality sleep during widowhood can provide the essential energy you need to continue moving forward on your healthy widow healthy woman journey.

+ The episode concludes with Tara introducing her exciting new venture, "Truffles & Treats by Tara," where she combines her expertise as a dietician with her passion for creating delicious, mindful chocolate indulgences. This episode offers listeners a powerful reminder that grief and joy can coexist, and that finding purpose after loss is both possible and transformative.

Learn more and reach out to Tara on IG and her webpage: https://www.instagram.com/trufflesbytara and https://www.dietdiva.net

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Tara and all our guests on the Healthy Widow Healthy Woman podcast. You can find our episodes wherever you enjoy quality podcasts—iHeart, Apple, Spotify, and more. Until next time, embrace the hope, healing, and growth in your own world. We're committed to elevating your experience every step of the way throughout your widowhood journey.

[email protected]

844- 4- A-WIDOW

https://modernwidowsclub.org

Welcome to Healthy Widow Healthy Woman-  we are joined by Emily Vaden, Director of Sales, for the women-owned travel company ADVENTURE WOMEN where the  slogan is "Destination is just the Beginning". They have been pioneering women's travel since 1982 and offering over 75 exciting trips designed exclusively by women for women exploring over 65 countries. 

We'll learn stats like 70% of Adventure Women are solo travelers- many of them widows. Wow!! I really love that they curate opportunities to connect with local women as well. 

*Awards:

2024 Travel & Leisure World's Best Tour Operator Winner
*2024 Newsweek Readers' Choice Best Women's Travel Club Winner

MWC is all about making healthy choices, as Carolyn Moor quotes in this podcast, "Travel shouldn't be a cortisol inducer, but a cortisol reducer".

• Adventure Women's mission and what makes your approach to women's travel unique in the industry.

• The type of travelers who join your trips across various activity levels - from Moderate to Active, High Energy, and Challenging - and how these ratings help women find their perfect adventure.

• Highlights of your new luxury-focused trips and what makes these premium experiences special.

• Where our listeners can find Adventure Women online and how they can reach out to explore these opportunities further. We are so grateful to Emily for raising awareness of this amazing resource and partnership for our ladies at Modern Widows Club®. Reach out to her here - [email protected]

We are so grateful to Emily for raising awareness of this amazing resource and partnership for our ladies at Modern Widows Club®. 

Learn more about Adventure Women.

Looking to learn more about travel in widowhood, you can join our MWC Travel Club for monthly meetings with other travel club members. 

We're thrilled to announce the 2025 relaunch of our *Healthy Widow Healthy Woman* podcast. 

Widowhood in the 21st Century with Dr. Debbie Oliver, Professor at Washington University in St. Louis, Division of Palliative Medicine.

🎙️ Podcast Episode: Widowhood in the 21st Century: A Descriptive Study🎙️

What does it truly mean to navigate widowhood in the modern era? In this compelling episode, we delve into the groundbreaking research study, *Widowhood in the 21st Century: A Descriptive Study,* exploring the physical, financial, psychological, social, and spiritual experiences of widows. This study, conducted with over 1,150 widows (average age 60), sheds light on the challenges and resilience of widows today, with findings that may surprise you.

📊 Key Findings We'll Discuss:

- It takes *5 years* to rebuild social and support networks in widowhood.

- Anxiety decreases with age, while personal growth improves over time.

- Nearly half of widows were working full-time before loss, yet financial health declines post-loss.

- Strong continuing bonds with deceased partners foster a deeper appreciation for life.

We'll explore the seven key areas of research, including financial health, caregiving, and the positive impact of religious coping and social support.

Learn why traditional theories linking widowhood and health to the benefits of marriage miss the mark in today's society, where empowerment and single-life resiliency are rising.

Learn more about Modern Widows Club® The Movement for Widow Care (MWC) here.