Our Dead Dads

In this beautifully honest episode, Vicki Goodman shares her experience of losing her beloved husband Sam after a two-year battle with liver cancer. Vicki reflects on their love story, their decision to live fully even after a terminal diagnosis, and the bittersweet journey of caring for Sam through his final months.

Vicki opens up about the anticipatory grief she faced — how she prepared for his passing while holding onto hope, the...

In this deeply moving episode, Linda Henderson shares the heartbreaking story of losing her 27-year-old daughter Andrea in a car accident just five days before Christmas. Andrea — a social worker, wife, and expectant mother — was killed instantly when a distracted transport truck driver slammed into her car. What followed was not just unimaginable grief, but a years-long battle with a failed justice system, a fight for grandparent ...

In this deeply moving episode, Kristina Driscoll shares the powerful story of her late husband Bill’s battle with early-onset Alzheimer’s — and the emotional and spiritual journey that came with being his caregiver for more than a decade. What began as a storybook romance quickly turned into a full-time fight for normalcy, stability, and hope. From the moment of his diagnosis, Kristina was thrust into the roles of caregiver, mother...

Kathy Julien has spent the last 40 years flying jets and defying expectations. But nothing in her storied career could prepare her for the loss of her 24-year-old son, Eric. In this deeply emotional episode, Kathy opens up about parenting twins, navigating a son’s battle with addiction and type 1 diabetes, and the grief that followed when she lost him. What began as a conversation about motherhood quickly deepens into a raw and pow...

Mary Fields grew up without a relationship with her father. In fact, she hadn’t seen him face-to-face in nearly 20 years when a sheriff arrived at her door to inform her that he had died. What followed was a surreal journey into the life — and the death — of a man she barely knew. With no one else to handle the aftermath, Mary found herself responsible for his estate, including navigating his hoarded trailer, dealing with legal red...

In this special episode of Our Dead Dads Podcast, I sit down with returning guests—and real-life couple—Matthew Struck and Jocelyn Bates. Both have shared their powerful grief journeys individually: Jocelyn losing both of her parents just a week apart, and Matthew processing the loss of his father to suicide. But today, we go beyond their personal stories to talk about grief in relationships—what it looks like to navigate loss toge...

In this episode of Our Dead Dads Podcast, I sit down with Matthew Struck for an incredibly raw and honest conversation about grief, trauma, and the complexities of losing someone when the relationship was already difficult. Matthew lost his father to suicide, a devastating loss compounded by years of unresolved pain and unspoken words. 

We dive into what it means to grieve someone when the relationship was strained, how suicide grie...

Losing a parent is one of the hardest things we can face in life—but what happens when you lose both parents in the span of a week? In this special re-release, we revisit my emotional conversation with Jocelyn Bates, who shares how she navigated the overwhelming loss of both her mother and father during the COVID-19 pandemic. As an only child, she was left to manage not just the immense grief, but also the legal and logistical chal...

In this powerful episode, Robbie Parker shares his deeply personal journey after losing his six-year-old daughter Emilie in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012. Robbie reflects on cherished memories of Emilie and how her loving, creative nature brought joy to their family. He opens up about the emotional challenges he faced in the aftermath, including harassment and conspiracy theories that disrupted his grieving proc...

In this episode, I had the honor of speaking with Dave Roberts, a man whose journey through profound loss has reshaped his entire perspective on life, grief, and spirituality. Dave lost his daughter, Jeannine, at just 18 years old to cancer, and his path toward healing has been filled with deep reflection, transformative experiences, and a unique understanding of continued bonds with those who have passed. His story is one of resil...

In this powerful episode of Our Dead Dads Podcast, we sit down with Jason and Kirsten Clawson, a couple who found love after profound loss. Both Jason and Kirsten lost their young spouses to cancer—Jason’s wife, Valerie, to stage 4 colon cancer, and Kirsten’s husband, Cody, to acute myeloid leukemia. Through unimaginable grief, they each navigated their journeys with resilience, eventually crossing paths in a widowed support group....

In this deeply moving episode of Our Dead Dads, I sit down for an in-person conversation with Niki and Jim Schmidt, the mother and bonus dad of Gabby Petito. While many are familiar with the tragic circumstances surrounding Gabby’s story, today’s conversation focuses on the grief, resilience, and advocacy that have defined her family’s journey in the years since. Niki and Jim share what it was like to process the unimaginable loss ...

In this episode, I sit down with Laura Bennett for an in-depth and emotional conversation about grief, loss, and the complex relationships we have with our parents. Laura shares her deeply personal story about growing up with an older father, navigating a difficult family dynamic, and eventually coming to terms with his passing. We discuss how grief isn’t just about mourning the moment of death, but often begins long before and con...

In this episode, I sit down with Moira Khan, a grief educator and the founder of GriefSpan, to discuss her incredible journey through loss and healing. Moira opens up about losing her mother, father, and brother within a span of just five years—all while navigating motherhood, major life changes, and a move to a new country. She shares the deep emotional toll of grief, the ways it manifests unexpectedly, and how she eventually foun...

In this heartfelt episode of Our Dead Dads, host Nick Gaylord sits down with Faith Sage, an author, artist, and podcast host, to share her profound journey through grief and resilience. Faith recounts the heartbreaking loss of her stepdaughter Cassandra in a tragic car accident, followed years later by the devastating loss of her granddaughter Peyton in another accident. She discusses the emotional aftermath of these tragedies, the...

What if losing a grandparent is a journey of unexpected gratitude and comfort? Join me and my incredible wife, Kim, as we take a heartfelt journey honoring the life of my beloved grandmother, Jeanne Harris. We share our reflections on her remarkable legacy, from her nearly 70-year marriage to my grandfather, Stanley, to the cherished memories that continue to shape our lives. This episode offers a comforting connection for anyone n...

What if the path through grief could forge an unbreakable community bond? Join us as we unravel the compelling life journey of Tony Lynch, an international best-selling author and grief advocate, who has turned personal turmoil into a beacon of hope for others. From academic triumphs to the depths of prison, Tony's experiences not only highlight the resilience of the human spirit but also the power of shared stories in healing...

Courtney Moore shares her heartfelt journey through a complicated relationship with her father, delving into the challenges of navigating grief after losing him to pancreatic cancer. The episode explores acceptance, healing, and the profound impact of their dynamics on her life. 

• Introduction and background of Courtney’s family 
• Childhood marked by loss and complex relationships 
• Reflections on leaving home a...

This episode is a heartfelt exploration of family traditions, love, and loss during the holiday season. We share stories that reflect on cherished memories and lighthearted moments, offering insights on how to navigate grief while celebrating togetherness and honor loved ones.

• Reflection on the past year and the journey of Our Dead Dads podcast
• Introduction to guests sharing holiday memories
• Sharing laughter ...