In this Healthy Widow Healthy Woman podcast episode with Carolyn Moor, we sit down with economist and former Social Security Administration researcher David Weaver Ph.D to break down everything widows need to know.

We’ll cover:

• The different types of widow benefits

• The new SWIFT Act introduced to Congress by NY Senator Gillibrand,

• How you can support it and what it could mean for your monthly check

• A recent Social Security’s Inspector General report that found serious problems in how the SSA is handling widow claims

  David Weaver also shares:

  • What the Social Security Advisory Board is recommending to better serve widows and their children

  • What the latest research tells us about how widows are faring financially

  • The red flags every widow should watch for when dealing with the Social Security Administration.

  Whether you’re newly widowed or planning ahead, this episode is essential to Healthy Widow Healthy Womanlistening for widow advocates everywhere.

  HWHW Guest Bio: David A. Weaver currently teaches statistics at the University of South Carolina. Prior to teaching, David served as a researcher and executive in the federal government for several years at the Social Security Administration and the Congressional Budget Office. He has published several articles on federal programs, income, and poverty.

  David is a native of Atlanta, Georgia and received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. He also holds a Ph.D. in economics from Duke University.

  *Follow David Weaver on Linkedin.

  * Follow Carolyn Moor on Linkedin

  
  

  Learn more about Host Modern Widows Club® The Movement for Widow Care (MWC)

We are so honored to welcome Joan Vassos — Golden Bachelorette — to our Healthy Widow Healthy Woman podcast with hostess Carolyn Moor.

Joan's journey captured the hearts of millions, not just because of the search for love, but because of the grace, courage, and authenticity she brought to it as a wister® (widow + sister).

She's living proof that love does not have an expiration date and that widowhood is not the end of a story — it is, for so many of us, the beginning of a new and unexpected chapter of life.

We are diving into one of the most asked-about topics in our Modern Widows Club® community: how love lives on in widowhood, what it means to open your heart again, and how to navigate that journey on your own terms. 💛

From navigating dating and intimacy to honoring your spouse's legacy while opening your heart again — we explore it all. We talk honestly about the myths and realities of romantic relationships after loss, how your personal priorities shift as you grow, and how to communicate those changes with confidence to the people in your life.

+ Follow Joan Vassos on Instagram and watch her HGTV special "Bachelor Mansion Take-Over".

Invitation: To continue this conversation with others, join our Modern Widows Club Relationship Building and Dating Virtual Community .

Learn more about Modern Widows Club® The Movement for Widow Care (MWC) on IG, FB, Linkedin, Widow Life® Publication on Substack.

Our HWHW special guest is Dr. Mari Marquez, a personal growth educator who specializes in personal development and post-traumatic growth following the loss of loved ones. She is an international selling children's book author and holds a Ph.D. in psychology. Through her work, Dr. Mari offers research-backed tools for adaptation and personal growth in both English and Spanish through her workshops, resources, and her "Growth After Loss" podcast.

She serves as a facilitator for the Resilient Parenting Program through Arizona State University. Additionally, she co-leads a Spanish-speaking support group with the Modern Widows Club. Dr. Mari has received specialized training in post-traumatic growth, grief support, and prolonged grief disorder. She has had the honor of supporting many affected by traumatic losses in navigating their grief.

She was a featured speaker at our Modern Widows Club 2022 Widow Empowerment Event in Scottsdale, AZ. Since then, she has been paving a way towards more empowering widow research.

Find Dr. Mari Marquez at https://drmarimarquez.com Instagram, Facebook & YouTube @drmarimarquez

Find Modern Widows Club® The Movement for Widow Care (MWC) on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Linkedin and Widow Life® at Substack.