Widower's Wingman with Richard Strother

Episode Summary

Have you ever considered what it takes to bounce back from a significant loss? This episode is a heartfelt conversation with Richard Strother, The Widower’s Wingman. We discussed a heartfelt exploration of resilience, loss, and recovery. It provides practical strategies for coping with loss, highlighting the importance of small moments in life and underscoring the value of authenticity in new relationships. We will share a newfound understanding of resilience and a deeper appreciation for life's small moments.

Key Topics

[1:15] How do men bounce back from a loss?

[4:21] Who is Richard Strother?

[10:02] The importance of recovery, resting, and relationships

[16:42] Leadership is about little moments

[24:58] How do I get the most out of my time?

[33:22] Understanding the need to develop new skills

[42:02] Be more pro-active

[46:53] Dating checklist and relationship authenticity

[54:22] Outro

Quotes We Loved

“You know, yeah, but you have to come to terms with not just your loss, and let's be honest when you lose somebody like that, it's not about just you either. It's about all the people around where you live. Now you are the connection point.” - Richard Strother.
“There's the funeral, the celebration, whatever celebration of life, whatever you want to call it, and that's great, okay, good Afterwards. So then this is what I call the carnival.” - Richard Strother.
"The grieving person, the grieving man, the grieving woman, the grieving man doesn't know why. It's because they don't have the capacity to think ahead. They're dealing with stuff as it comes. So the best thing you can do for them is identify something, and the most practical things are usually the best.” - Richard Strother

Guest Bio

A loving and devoted husband, breadwinner, and caregiver a few years ago. Sam passed away peacefully on an overcast October day at half past noon. It wasn’t a surprise; Samantha had received her diagnosis the January after we were married. In the nine years that followed, we did our best to make the most of life and enjoy every opportunity life afforded us. Those of you who’ve been through this know what happens next. I call it “the carnival.” The paperwork, bureaucracy, arrangements, and condolences from family, friends, and colleagues, many of whom don’t know what else to say. Home is so familiar yet conspicuously missing a crucial part—the crushing silence when all is calm. When “the carnival” is over, our family and friends have receded into their routines, and we widowers are left alone in that place to figure out what our lives should look like. Like me, you find you’re better with a partner, someone to laugh with and share simple moments with, who effortlessly inspires you to be the best version of yourself. So I embarked on my search, grateful to have been blessed with over a decade of experience as a teacher/trainer with advanced skills in applied psychology, neurolinguistic programming, relationship and leadership building, and far better than average technical proficiency to aid me in my quest. Was it a smooth or flawless path? What kind of polished success story would one see in social media feeds or Disney movies? Not by a long shot! I had some rough times and made a few mistakes, but all of that led me to the magnificent woman who inspires me to live the fullest expression of myself and makes every day better simply by being in my life. All my experiences, training, and skills led me to adapt, learn, and distill a clear and effective pathway to help other widowers gain clarity, present authentically, and successfully navigate both online and in-person dating to find that connection, joy, and a rich, fulfilling, supportive and loving relationship.