Dating After Loss: The Communication Skill Nobody Teaches You with Dr. Jessica Higgins
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
Release Date: 09/08/2026
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_outlineThis 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. Jessica Higgins and the focus on kinder, more connected relationships
01:20 - Why this conversation matters for widows and widowers dating again
02:51 - Donna Jean shares how widowhood and low self-worth affected her early relationships
03:41 - What criticism really is in a relationship
04:36 - Why criticism often masks pain and a need for responsiveness
05:34 - The criticism defensiveness loop and why both people feel dissatisfied
06:20 - Why criticism is valuable in some settings but not in intimacy
08:06 - The push pull between wanting connection and protecting against hurt
09:32 - How vulnerability creates a clearer signal than complaint or critique
10:45 - What happens when someone leads with their tender spot instead of armor
12:13 - Why family modeling, culture, and personality shape relational habits
14:06 - How competitive or hierarchical habits can spill into relationships
15:30 - Why vulnerable reveals often create a different response quickly
16:54 - Putting your vulnerable side forward without putting everything on the table at once
18:35 - Why Donna Jean’s original question was about receiving criticism too
19:04 - How to respond when criticism is aimed at you without getting stuck in defensiveness
21:08 - The "ninja move" of pausing, staying curious, and not assuming reflection means agreement
22:29 - Questions that uncover meaning instead of staying stuck in facts
23:31 - Why the meaning behind a request matters more than the request itself
24:21 - What emotionally focused therapy is and how it differs from tapping
25:53 - The pursuer distancer cycle and attachment fears underneath conflict
28:32 - How EFT aims for enactments that send clear emotional signals
29:59 - Why this approach can be counter to standard dating advice
31:32 - Why Donna Jean and Dr. Higgins both think authenticity can start earlier than people expect
32:25 - The pool analogy for deepening intimacy gradually and safely
34:19 - A free guide for turning criticism into vulnerable requests
35:36 - The purpose of Dr. Higgins’ podcast and her 11 plus years of weekly conversations
36:48 - Closing thoughts on practical wisdom, research, and storytelling
Donna Kendrick is a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst and owner of Sephton Financial located at 314 Washington Ln, Jenkintown, PA 19046. If you'd like to contact Sephton Financial you can do so online at SephtonFinanical.com or by calling 215 948 3945 Registered Representative offering securities through Cetera Financial Specialists LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services are offered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity. Sephton Financial, LLC and Cetera are not affiliated. The views depicted in this material are for information purposes only and are not necessarily those of Sephton Financial. They should not be considered specific advice or recommendations for any individual. Neither Sephton Financial nor any of its representatives may give legal or tax advice. The guests on the podcast are not affiliated or registered with Cetera Financial Specialist. Any information provided by the guests are in no way related to Cetera Financial Specialist or its registered representatives.