The Widowhood

This episode is a love story about one woman's mission to fulfill her promise to her husband. Rosie speaks to Esther Bathers about her husband Stuart, her fertility struggles, and the legacy she has spent the past two years trying to bring to life for him. References mentioned: Instagram @estherbathers Website www.insidestuartshead.com Or Instagram @insidestuartshead WARNING: This podcast deals with themes of death, sex and contains explicit language. There is also in-depth discussion of fertility and baby loss.

The big topic: dating after death...When do you take off your wedding ring? How do you navigate dating apps? What do you tell your friends and family? Rosie speaks to relationship therapist Elinor Harvey about the complications of new relationships after your life partner has died. For more information on Elinor, visit: https://elinorharvey.com/ or follow @get.the.spark.back on Instagram. WARNING: This podcast deals with themes of death, sex and contains explicit language.

Many widow/ers know how it feels to be left unsupported. To have a sense that presence and comfort is lacking from those we thought would be there for us. But how many of us have really delved into this with people who we think may have let us down? Rosie speaks to Toby - one of Hughie's best friends - about the challenge and nuances of being a figure of solace to someone whose partner has died, when they themselves are grieving that person too. WARNING: This podcast deals with themes of death, sex and contains explicit language.

Have you got life insurance in place? Or a will? Do you understand powers of attorney? Kristie Scott - The Death Planner - gives an overview of how to make sure that you keep the dreaded deathmin to a minimum for your relatives after you die. Rosie & Kristie also cover, in detail, what happens to us after we are taken into the care of undertakers. For more advice and information, visit: https://www.thedeathplanner.co.uk/ or follow Kristie @thedeathplanner on Instagram. WARNING: This podcast deals with themes of death, sex and contains explicit language.

Are you a widow if the person who has died is your ex-partner? Karen Jones talks to Rosie about the complicated emotions that arise when you are grieving for someone who is no longer your husband. Do romantic feelings rear their head again? How much are you expected to do for someone with a terminal illness when you've split up? And how are you left feeling when someone you built your life with is no longer there: not just through a separation, but because they have died? WARNING: This podcast deals with themes of death, sex and contains explicit language.

How does it feel when the love of your life dies when you are both far too young? When you've barely scratched the surface of your lives together? Where do you fit when you haven't got the piece of paper making that person your husband or wife? In the first episode of season two, Rosie talks to Ryan Dixon about what life is like when you find yourself widowed in your early twenties, soul-searching for where you sit as an unmarried widower, and the four-legged friend who pulled him out of the darkest times. WARNING: This podcast deals with themes of death, sex and contains explicit language.

When your partner dies, a part of you dies too. Whether you've lost your daily purpose in caring for someone with illness, or your visions of the future are swiftly ripped from under your feet after a shock death. How do you rebuild yourself after loss? In the last episode of the season, Helen & Rosie talk with one of the first 'griefluencers' of Instagram, Stacey Heale, about being defined by grief, blind dogs, and sex toys...of course. WARNING: This podcast deals with themes of death, sex and contains explicit language.

The most requested episode is here...Helen & Rosie discuss dating, sex, 'widow's fire' and the modern online dating world. When are you really ready to date again? Would you keep it a secret? When do you drop the "I'm a widow" bombshell...? Widowed in your early 30s, does this mean you have to be alone forever? WARNING: This podcast deals with themes of death, sex and contains explicit language.

Helen & Rosie discuss parallels between weddings and funerals, comparing their experiences of 'The Big Day' and the days leading up to it. Anna Lyons, end-of-life doula and co-author of 'We All Know How This Ends', joins to share her insights from her incredible experience supporting families as they face a significant bereavement, and beyond. More info on Anna's incredible work can be found here: https://www.lifedeathwhatever.com/anna-lyons WARNING: This podcast deals with themes of death, sex and contains explicit language.

How do you tell a child that their parent has died? How do you manage your own grief on top of theirs? How does childhood bereavement continue to impact you into adulthood? Helen & Rosie share their experiences of managing their sons' grief, and chat with Jemma Akers-Jacklin from Winston's Wish about methods for handling trauma. WARNING: This podcast deals with themes of death, sex and contains explicit language.

An update on Helen's manky toe. A frank and open discussion about the wonderful ways you can support a widow/er...and a reflection on the slightly less than wonderful experiences Helen and Rosie have had from people trying to help. WARNING: This podcast deals with themes of death, sex and contains explicit language.

Dr Stephanie Ooi (The GP Mum) helps Helen and Rosie to understand how grief affects us physically. Helen has a manky toe, Rosie owns up to her less than healthy coping mechanisms, and the three share stories of vomiting children. WARNING: This podcast deals with themes of death, sex and contains explicit language. There is also discussion of alcoholism and eating disorders in this episode.

Two dead husbands. Two young widows. Two mothers navigating solo-parenting. But how does grief from sudden death differ from that when you know it is coming? Helen & Rosie reflect on how similar their paths are, and yet how totally polarised their experiences have been. WARNING: This podcast deals with themes of death, sex and contains explicit language.

How do you survive your first Christmas when your husband has died? From forced festive spirit to gift tag writing, Helen & Rosie share their thoughts, feelings and hilarious anecdotes from Jesus' day of birth. WARNING: This podcast deals with themes of death, sex and contains explicit language.

Helen & Rosie talk through how they find themselves in The Shittest Club in the World, and give a taster for what's to come this series... WARNING: This podcast deals with themes of death, sex and contains explicit language.

Two young widows challenge the expectations that society puts on those experiencing the death of a partner. FIRST EPISODE LIVE: 22 DECEMBER.