Amanda Kloots on Losing Nick Cordero and What No One Tells You About Grief

**Amanda Kloots opens up about losing her husband, Broadway actor Nick Cordero, to COVID-19, navigating widowhood, dating after loss, and finding joy while still mourning.** **In the premiere episode of **On Being Human** with Dr. Zelana Montminy, the television personality, bestselling author, and host of **Good Grief** shares what she has learned about grief, healing, love, and rebuilding her life after loss.** **When Nick Cordero died at age 41 following 95 days in the hospital, Amanda became a widow and single mother at 38, raising their 1-year-old son, Elvis. Years later, she reflects on how grief doesn't disappear, but how her relationship with it has transformed. Amanda candidly discusses depression, loneliness, how single motherhood reshaped her sense of femininity, and the daily practices that brought light during her darkest days.** **She also shares her honest perspective on dating after losing a spouse, why loving someone new doesn't mean letting go of Nick, how his passing altered her faith, and how she keeps Nick's memory alive for Elvis.** **What you’ll learn:** - **Why Amanda Kloots believes we never truly "get over" grief, and what healing actually looks like** - **How to find moments of joy when you're experiencing profound sadness or depression** - **The surprising ways grief changed Amanda's identity, femininity, and sense of self** - **Why dating after losing a spouse doesn't mean letting go of the person you loved** - **What people get wrong about supporting grieving friends and family** - **How Amanda talks to her son Elvis about his late father** - **Why community, therapy, movement, and small daily commitments helped her through her darkest moments** - **How losing Nick transformed Amanda's relationship with faith, gratitude, and the value of time** **By the end of this conversation, you may think differently about grief, love, and what it means to heal. Because as Amanda has discovered, moving forward doesn't require leaving someone behind. Sometimes, learning to live with loss means making room for sadness and joy, gratitude and heartbreak, and the possibility of loving life again.**   ### **Timestamps** **00:00 - Introduction & What It Means to Be Human**  **01:58 - Who is Amanda Kloots?**  **03:24 - How Grief Changes 6 Years Later** **06:30 - Is Grief an Emotion or a Journey?**  **08:06 - Rebuilding Identity & Going Inward After Loss**  **10:19 - Loss of Femininity & Finding Balance as a Single Mom**  **12:56 - Reconnecting With Femininity Through Dance**  **14:58 - What People Misunderstand About Grief**  **17:13 - How to Support Someone Who is Grieving (Why Simply Showing Up Matters)**  **20:02 - How Motherhood & Son Elvis Helped Amanda Heal 21:28 - Facing Public Judgment & Finding Joy While Mourning**  **24:20 - The Importance of Community & Daily Commitments to Joy**  **26:22 - How Grief Physically Lives in the Body**  **28:34 - Dating After Widowhood & The Stigma of "Moving On"**  **32:25 - How Losing Nick Changed Amanda's Faith & Relationship with God**  **35:53 - Changing Perspectives on Death**  **37:22 - What to Say to Someone Facing Recent Loss**  **39:33 - What "Live Your Life" Means Today**  **42:25 - Ketamine Therapy & Awakening After Trauma**  **44:05 - Practical Steps to Force Joy During Dark Days**  **48:09 - Why Grief and Happiness Can Coexist**  **49:53 - How Amanda Talks to Son Elvis About Death & Nick Cordero** **Check out **On Being Human** with Dr. Zelana Montminy for more honest, thought-provoking conversations about the experiences that shape us, the challenges that connect us, and what it really means to be human.** **#AmandaKloots #NickCordero #OnBeingHuman #Grief #GriefAndLoss #Healing #MentalHealth #FindingJoy**   ***We know what’s good for us. We still do the opposite. How do we close that gap?*** ***We scroll when we need sleep. Say yes when we’re overwhelmed. Avoid the conversations that could bring us closer. Keep putting off what matters until life calms down.*** ***In Dr. Zelana On Being Human, behavioral scientist and bestselling author Dr. Zelana Montminy joins familiar voices and leading experts to explore what keeps us stuck and how to move through it. Personal stories meet psychology, science, and practical tools you can use in the moments you usually fall back into old patterns.*** ***You’ll leave equipped with the tools to turn “I know I should” into “here’s how I can,” and better able to make what matters most to you part of how you actually live.***