What Your Next Best Minute Can Do When Disaster Hits with Erika Andresen
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
Release Date: 04/28/2026
The Physical Effects of Grief: How Loss Impacts Your Body and Mind with Carol Banens
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
Donna introduces Carol Banens, a grief educator, coach, author, and speaker who combines lived experience with professional training to help people understand grief without feeling broken by it. Carol shares how the death of her husband, along with earlier losses, reshaped her path from physical therapy into grief education, writing, and community support.In this episode, they explore how grief affects the whole body, why the five stages model is often misunderstood, and how support, journaling, and time away from daily responsibilities can help people begin living again with self-compassion...
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Career Pauses, Identity, and Rebuilding a Professional Path with Dr. Ann Marie Peters
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
This episode explores how to navigate a career pause after widowhood, divorce, caregiving, or another major life transition—and how to return to work with clarity and confidence. Donna speaks with Dr. Ann Marie Peters, an executive coach, leadership strategist, organizational psychologist, and author who combines research and lived experience to help people relaunch professionally. Together, they discuss the emotional side of career breaks, the practical steps for re-entering the workforce, and why networking, mindset, and self-reflection matter just as much as updating a resume.In this...
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Dating After Loss: The Communication Skill Nobody Teaches You with Dr. Jessica Higgins
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
This conversation explores how criticism shows up in intimate relationships, why it often triggers defensiveness, and how to shift toward vulnerability instead. Donna Jean Kendrick speaks with Dr. Jessica Higgins about emotionally focused therapy, attachment patterns, and practical ways widows and widowers can navigate dating and new relationships more skillfully.Dr. Higgins brings over 20 years of experience in relationship coaching and psychology, and she shares concrete examples from her own marriage and clinical work to make the ideas immediately usable. Timestamps 00:00 - Meet Dr....
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What to do about the mortgage after a spouse dies with Gary Coggin
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
In this episode of Widow, Wisdom and Wealth™, Donna welcomes mortgage expert and neighbor Gary Coggin for a compassionate, practical conversation about one of the most overwhelming parts of widowhood: what to do about the mortgage and home after a spouse dies.With more than 40 years in mortgage banking, Gary explains how widows, widowers, and families can better understand their options, reduce panic, and make informed decisions with the help of trusted professionals. What you’ll learn in this episode What happens to a mortgage when a spouse passes away Why you usually don’t need to...
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Widowhood, Co-Parenting, and the Power of Parental Alignment with Michael Flores
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
Donna Jean Kendrick talks with Michael Flores, a counselor, family therapist, and founder of Brighter Possibilities Family Counseling, about helping families navigate widowhood, divorce, co-parenting, and court-ordered counseling. Michael shares how his own childhood experiences shaped his mission and why he centers therapy on what children need, not just what adults want.This conversation is especially useful for single parents, widows, widowers, step-parents, grandparents, and therapists supporting blended or high-conflict families. The big idea is simple: when parents align on the goal,...
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Planning for Long-Term Care, Love, and Legacy with Raymond Lavine
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
In this episode of Widow, Wisdom and Wealth™, Donna welcomes Raymond Lavine, host of Planning with Purpose and two-time EXPY award winner, for a candid conversation about long-term care planning. Rather than getting lost in policy jargon, the discussion focuses on why these conversations matter now—especially for widows, widowers, and families navigating major life transitions. Together, they explore caregiving, vulnerability, legacy, and the importance of having a plan that protects both your loved ones and your future. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why long-term care planning is...
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How Forcing Joy Transformed a Widow’s Grief into a Community of Healing with Dana Frost
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
In this episode of Widow, Wisdom and Wealth™, host Don sits down with Dana Frost, founder of the Forced Joy Project, to talk about grief, resilience, and the power of community after loss. Dana shares the story behind her husband Brad’s terminal cancer diagnosis, the “forced joy” mindset they created during his final 100 days, and how that practice evolved into a meaningful mission supporting widows, widowers, and others navigating life after loss. Listeners will hear how the Forced Joy Project grew into a community with retreats, the Joy Scout Club, and creative tools for honoring...
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Rebuilding Life After Loss: Wisdom from Lisa Woolery
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
In this heartfelt episode, Lisa Woolery shares her journey of overcoming widowhood, raising children, and rediscovering purpose through her mission of supporting widows. Her story offers powerful insights on healing, community support, and embracing a new chapter with hope and resilience. Main Topics: Lisa Woolery’s personal widowhood story and early relationship with her husband Eric The importance of honesty, shared responsibility, and mutual support in coping with loss Building community and leaning on neighbors and friends for strength The concept of a widow’s comeback and her...
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Rebuilding Joy Through Travel: Tiffany Rampey’s Journey from Widowhood to Empowered Global Explorer
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
Discover how Tiffany Rampey transformed her grief into a movement that empowers widows to travel the world responsibly and joyfully. In this episode, she shares her inspiring story of resilience, the innovative Travel More Method, and practical tips for leveraging points and miles to unlock global adventures. Main Topics: Tiffany’s personal journey from widowhood to reinventing her life through travel The development and principles of the Travel More Method How widows can use points and miles to travel affordably Overcoming mindset blocks like guilt and fear after loss The importance...
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Navigating Real Estate Transitions After Loss or Divorce with Dana Friedman
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
In this episode of "Widow Wisdom and Wealth," Dana Friedman shares insightful advice on managing real estate decisions during emotional life transitions, particularly after widowhood or divorce. Whether you’re considering selling your family home, downsizing, or exploring 55+ communities, Dana’s expertise offers practical guidance and emotional support. Main Topics Covered: How to use the long-term capital gain exclusion within the first two years of widowhood Strategies for accurately determining home value amidst fluctuating markets Important updates and improvements that can increase...
info_outlineIn this episode of Widow Wisdom and Wealth, we dive deep into resilience, life pivots, and practical strategies for navigating business and personal challenges after loss. Erika Andresen shares her inspiring journey from military service and law to becoming a business continuity expert, emphasizing the importance of planning, action, and living in alignment with your passions.
Key Topics
- The parallels between business continuity planning and handling life's disruptions
- Erika’s personal story of evolving careers and overcoming hardships
- How resilience builds through proactive planning and practice
- Practical steps to increase your resilience, including estate and business succession planning
- The emotional aspects of managing relationships and assets after loss
- The importance of testing your plans regularly for preparedness
- Aligning your life and business with your purpose and passions
- Strategies for widows and widowers to support their mental health and community connections
- Erika’s insights on making sense of big life changes and trusting your intuition
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction to Erika Andresen and episode overview
02:32 - Erika's background in law, military, and disaster preparedness
04:47 - Drawing parallels between business resilience and widowhood challenges
06:40 - Erika’s personal journey of career pivots and overcoming loss
08:33 - How her military and emergency management experience inform her current work
09:54 - The impact of unexpected life changes and the importance of adaptability
12:23 - Moving from military service to entrepreneurship amid personal upheaval
14:26 - Pivoting after personal loss and managing family estate issues
16:11 - Explaining risk management and probability in disaster preparedness
17:25 - Supporting aging parents with estate planning and emotional resilience
19:27 - The significance of planning, testing, and practicing for crises
21:14 - Practical advice on creating and maintaining resilient personal and business plans
22:12 - The difference between recovery and thriving after disruptions
23:22 - How to test and improve continuity plans regularly
24:46 - Building stronger relationships through shared planning and communication
26:39 - The importance of documenting plans and addressing emotional barriers
28:04 - Erika’s advice on authentic career pivots and trusting your intuition
29:30 - How finances and lifestyle adjustments support reinvention
31:01 - The power of reflection and celebrating progress in resilience journeys
31:43 - Resources available through Erika’s website for ongoing support
Resources & Links
Erica Andresen’s Website: