Grief cracked Ethan Blauner wide open, and instead of running from the pain, he built a life around feeling every part of it.
When his father died just days before they were set to open a gym together, Ethan found himself grieving while launching a business, managing chaos, and facing decades of generational trauma. As he joins Justin Weidenfeld on this episode, Ethan reflects on the intensity of that time and what it taught him about vulnerability, identity, and the cost of silence.
What happens when you grow up with a parent who never learned to process their own pain? And how do you begin to break a cycle that’s been running for generations? Ethan shares the reality of losing his dad in the middle of a mental health crisis, the impact of being raised by the child of Holocaust survivors, and why he believes emotional expression is a form of strength. He talks about the gym they built, the grief it holds, and the unexpected clarity that came from choosing to feel instead of numb.
From building community through fitness to founding the Dead Dad Run Club, Ethan’s story is a powerful look at how grief can reshape your life and what’s possible when you decide to meet it head-on.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Grief and Purpose Collide
06:15 Ethan’s Father’s Mental Health Crisis and Trip to Israel
13:01 Searching for His Father and Facing the Unknown
17:10 Identifying the Body and Finding Closure
24:54 Growing Up with Chaos: The Emotional Legacy of His Father
27:02 Generational Trauma and the Decision to Break the Cycle
30:00 Numbness, Vulnerability, and Choosing to Feel
34:40 Launching a Gym While Grieving
39:27 Redefining Strength: Emotional Awareness as Power
48:08 Comedy, Crying, and Creative Release as Therapy
52:58 Facing the Financial and Legal Aftermath
01:01:20 Dead Dad Run Club and Building Community Through Fitness
01:06:50 Gratitude, Grief, and Growth
Links
Connect with Ethan Blauner:
Instagram: @deaddadrunclub
Connect with Justin Weidenfeld:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/
Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld
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