Widowhood, Co-Parenting, and the Power of Parental Alignment with Michael Flores
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
Release Date: 08/11/2026
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...
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What Your Next Best Minute Can Do When Disaster Hits with Erika Andresen
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
In 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...
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How Mindfulness Can Help Widows Heal and Thrive: Being Present for Life with Harriet Stein
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
Discover how mindfulness can transform your daily life, reduce stress, and help you find joy amidst chaos, especially for widows and widowers navigating grief, careers, and parenting. Harriet Stein shares practical insights, her personal story, and tools to incorporate mindfulness into busy routines. Key topics: The true meaning of mindfulness: paying attention without judgment Practical ways to practice mindfulness in everyday activities like driving, washing hands, and walking How mindfulness can ease stress and grief, especially during challenging times The nine attitudes of...
info_outlineDonna 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, kids have a much better chance to heal.
Timestamps
00:00 - Donna Jean introduces Michael Flores and the families he helps
00:56 - Michael’s background, training, and why counseling became his calling
02:49 - A quick name joke and the start of Michael’s personal story
03:42 - Childhood loss, blended family dynamics, and growing up around family change
05:06 - Discovering psychology and realizing counseling was the right path
07:00 - Building Brighter Possibilities Family Counseling across Texas
07:52 - Job, career, and mission - what makes work meaningful
09:59 - How Michael approaches families facing divorce, widowhood, and co-parenting
10:24 - Why he centers therapy on the child’s needs first
11:21 - Parental alignment versus co-parenting
12:01 - How therapy is structured with parents, kids, and family sessions
13:30 - Court-ordered reunification work and starting with the parents
14:29 - Gathering family history and deciding who joins sessions next
15:34 - Stepparents and grandparents as overlooked caregivers
17:03 - How Michael’s father leaned on grandparents after loss
18:25 - Guilty parenting, helicopter parenting, and lawnmower parenting
20:26 - Donna Jean’s own widowhood parenting experience and losing structure
22:08 - Creating a new normal after major family change
22:37 - Two questions that help people stay out of counseling: self-audit and stop avoiding
25:03 - Solution focused therapy and how it shifts attention to hopes and outcomes
26:31 - Working with resistant clients and why resistance may be on the therapist side
27:29 - A case example of role reversal with a daughter and her father
28:54 - The 4R exercise and how it quickly builds empathy
30:23 - Michael’s book One Question Away and his upcoming professional book
31:19 - Silent sessions and helping clinicians work with high-conflict families
32:44 - The podcast Beyond Divorce, Embracing Change and why the team created it
34:45 - Where to find the podcast and how episodes connect across topics
36:00 - Michael’s mission to help families, interrupt harmful patterns, and support healing
37:54 - Donna Jean reflects on the spiritual side of the work and generational impact
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