Career Pauses, Identity, and Rebuilding a Professional Path with Dr. Ann Marie Peters
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
Release Date: 09/22/2026
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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....
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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,...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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_outlineThis 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 episode, you’ll hear about:
- Dr. Ann Marie Peters’ personal journey from corporate work to staying home with her children, entrepreneurship, consulting, and earning her PhD later in life
- Why a career pause can be a deliberate choice rather than a failure
- How to determine whether you truly want to return to work—or are responding to guilt and outside expectations
- The inspiration behind Dr. Peters’ book about career pauses and returning to the workplace
- Identity loss and imposter syndrome after stepping away from a career
- Why confidence is like a muscle that can be strengthened through small, consistent steps
- The hidden skills people develop during a career pause, including caregiving, resilience, organization, and problem-solving
- How to align your next career move with your values, purpose, and need for balance
- The importance of networking when returning to the workforce
- How volunteering can help rebuild professional confidence and sharpen skills
- The 90-day plan featured in Dr. Peters’ book
- Why you should ask people for advice—not necessarily a job
- How to create a resume, LinkedIn profile, and professional presence that reflect your full experience
- Why it’s okay to test a new direction, “dip your toes in the water,” and pivot when something doesn’t feel right
Key timestamps
00:00 – Why this conversation matters for people facing career transitions
01:00 – Meet Dr. Ann Marie Peters
02:42 – Giving yourself permission to pause after loss or family change
03:05 – Asking, “Why do I want to return?”
05:15 – Creating a flexible work arrangement in 1995
07:13 – Leaving work to raise children and returning as an entrepreneur
08:36 – Going back to school and earning a PhD later in life
09:22 – How dissertation research inspired Dr. Peters’ book
11:14 – The joys, challenges, and hidden skills of a career pause
13:40 – Turning a pause into a reset and relaunch point
14:49 – Identity loss, imposter syndrome, and rebuilding confidence
15:19 – Why confidence grows through baby steps
17:58 – Balancing work and family after the loss of a spouse
18:27 – Creating a proposal when your current role no longer works
19:54 – The importance of balance, authenticity, and purpose
21:16 – Inside the book’s 90-day plan
22:43 – Using LinkedIn and career platforms effectively
24:59 – Rebuilding professional skills through volunteering
25:42 – The top three priorities for returning to work
27:34 – Where to find Dr. Ann Marie Peters and her book
28:30 – Final thoughts for widows, widowers, and people navigating career pivotsThree key
Connect with Dr. Ann Marie:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annmariepeters
Facebook: We’ll Be Right Back
TikTok: @amp_is_back
Instagram: backwithamp