In Episode 2 of Unvincible, Simon Jefferies sits down with Ric Hart - author, speaker, podcaster and solo father - to share the story that changed his life forever.
This episode contains discussions on maternal death, which may be triggering for some individuals
In July 2018, Ric and his wife Jade welcomed their son Hugo into the world. Just hours later, following a series of catastrophic complications during childbirth, Jade tragically passed away. Overnight, Ric went from new father to widowed parent, facing the unimaginable challenge of raising a newborn while navigating grief, trauma and the loss of his soulmate.
In this raw conversation, Ric reflects on those early days of survival, the running journey that helped him rebuild his identity, and how he transformed unimaginable loss into purpose. He opens up about fatherhood, grief, resilience, relationships, legacy and the importance of putting one foot in front of the other when life doesn't go to plan.
The episode also explores a reality many people avoid thinking about: how quickly circumstances can change, and the role that protection played in giving Ric the financial breathing space to focus on being a father when he needed it most.
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This episode is brought to you by TOM Insurance
If you'd like to learn more about life insurance, income protection or critical illness cover, visit: π
TOM.
β±οΈ Chapters:
(
00:00:00) β The day everything changed
(
00:04:42) β Becoming a father and losing Jade hours later
(
00:11:08) β Survival mode: raising a newborn through grief
(
00:17:04) β Running, healing and rebuilding identity
(
00:24:56) β Finding purpose after unimaginable loss
(
00:31:18) β Fatherhood, legacy and raising Hugo alone
(
00:38:02) β Relationships, grief and starting again
(
00:44:15) β Life after trauma: gratitude, perspective and hope
(
00:49:41) β Why protection mattered when it mattered most
(
00:56:28) β Small steps, big changes and advice for moving forward
β‘ Key Talking Points
- Losing a partner during childbirth and becoming a solo parent overnight
- The reality of grief, shock and trauma in the months that followed
- How running became a tool for healing and self-discovery
- Rebuilding identity after losing a soulmate
- Raising a son while keeping his mother's memory alive
- The importance of hope when life feels impossible
- Finding purpose through writing, speaking and helping others
- How life insurance provided financial breathing space after tragedy
- Why so many people assume "it won't happen to me"
- Living for today whilst still planning for tomorrow
β‘ Thanks for listening to Unvincible β‘
Subscribe for more conversations about resilience, responsibility, identity and the moments that force us to rethink what really matters. Because life doesnβt always go to plan, and pretending weβre invincible doesnβt make us safe.
What is Unvincible?
Unvincible, hosted by Simon Jefferies, is a podcast about the moments that change us. The setbacks, wake-up calls and unexpected turns that force us to rethink what really matters. Through honest, grounded conversations, the show explores resilience, responsibility and the mindset shifts that happen when life doesnβt go to plan.
Brought to you by TOM Insurance.
Unvincible is a podcast brought to you by TOM, a trading style of Clark Insurance UK Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Our registered company name changed in July 2026. All podcasts episodes released prior to this date will state Candid Insurance Services Ltd and were correct on the date of release.
The content of this podcast is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Terms and conditions may apply.