In this final episode of season four, I take some time to reflect on the journey we’ve been on together and what this season has taught me about healing after loss.

Over the past few months I’ve spoken to so many incredible people who’ve shared their stories with such honesty and courage. I’ve also had my own moments of reflection, especially as I reach ten years since Simon died. My connection with him continues to evolve in beautiful ways, and I’ve come to understand that healing isn’t about moving on but about going deeper into ourselves, into life, and into love.

I talk about what I’ve learned through this year’s grief retreats at Tofte Manor, the extraordinary women I’ve met, and a powerful moment of truth that reminded me how gratitude and growth can exist within grief. I share why I believe that life after loss can hold meaning, joy and purpose again, and how the gifts that come from our pain can become the foundation for a new and peaceful chapter.

We explore:

• What it really means to go deeper into healing
• How community and shared stories help us feel less alone
• The evolving connection we have with the people we’ve lost
• Why transformation and gratitude are key to long-term healing
• The lessons from Toft Manor and the courage to speak our truth
• How joy, love and grief can all coexist

For More Support:

The Widows Membership: karensutton.co.uk/the-widow-membership

Coaching and retreats: karensutton.co.uk

In this episode of The Widow Podcast, I'm joined by Debbie Dawson, mentor, retreat supporter and treasured community member, to talk about life beyond loss and what it truly means to live fully again after grief.

Debbie shares her widow journey from joining the community in 2020, two and a half years after losing her husband suddenly in 2018, to where she is now, seven years on and living with a sense of freedom, purpose and excitement about the future she never thought possible. We explore how the shift from grief work to life work happened through Vibrant Living and the transformative Rise and Renew retreat, and why discovering hidden parts of yourself after loss can be both surprising and liberating.

We discuss:

• The transition from surviving to thriving and living fully after widowhood
• How Vibrant Living and Rise and Renew created profound shifts in healing
• Discovering that it's a new connection with yourself, not just reconnection
• Moving from "second best life" to "my best life" as a widow
• Living with conscious intent and presence after losing your partner
• Why grief and life journeys become intertwined rather than separate
• The power of widow community, energy and being under one roof
• Finding permission to live without fear of the future
• Building trust in your inner compass after loss
• Creating a legacy you're proud of

It's an uplifting conversation about transformation, self-discovery, rebuilding after loss, and the beautiful truth that anything is possible when you're ready to do the work.

For More Support:

The Widows Membership: karensutton.co.uk/the-widow-membership

Coaching and retreats: karensutton.co.uk

In this episode of The Widow Podcast, I talk with Orla Blackburn, holistic widow guide, yoga teacher and mother, about what it really means to invest in yourself after loss.

Orla shares how, seven years on from losing her husband, she’s found strength and self-belief through journaling, movement and meditation. We explore how yoga helped her reconnect with her body and emotions, how she’s learned to regulate her nervous system while parenting a neurodivergent child, and why small, consistent steps can lead to deep transformation.

We discuss:

• How grief and identity evolve over time

• Why investing in yourself is an essential part of healing

• The role of movement, journaling and mindfulness in recovery

• Parenting and self-regulation through grief

• The power of community and accountability

• Rebuilding confidence, purpose and peace after loss

It’s a grounded, compassionate conversation about healing and rediscovering who you are when life changes forever.

For More Support:

The Widows Membership: karensutton.co.uk/the-widow-membership

Coaching and retreats: karensutton.co.uk