Grief Is Not A Dirty Word

Grief Is Not A Dirty Word is a weekly podcast that brings honest, real-world conversations about grief, loss, trauma, healing, and mental health into the light. Hosted by Nick Gaylord , the show creates a safe, compassionate space for anyone navigating the complicated emotions that come with losing a parent, partner, child, friend, relationship, or former version of themselves. Originally launched as Our Dead Dads , the podcast has evolved into a broader mission: to normalize grief and break the stigma around talking about it. Nick explores every corner of the grieving experience — from anticipatory grief and sudden loss to complicated family dynamics, unresolved anger, identity shifts, and the invisible pain people carry long after the world assumes they’re “fine.” Each episode features powerful, unfiltered stories from guests who have lived through loss and rebuilt their lives in deeply personal ways. Through conversations cen

Grief Is Not A Dirty Word is a health podcast hosted by Nick Gaylord, with 111 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Nick Gaylord hosts Grief Is Not A Dirty Word, a health show with 111 episodes published.

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  Episode #99

  Meeting listeners in Tampa / Men’s Grief, Father Loss and Why It’s Okay to Laugh Again with Roger Nairn - Episode 99

  Sep 29, 20261h 18m

  WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: People grieving a father or parent, especially those whose grief has felt numb, delayed or different from what they expected. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: An honest conversation about anticipatory grief, men’s grief, identity after loss and how talking, remembering and humor can make grief feel less lonely. DESCRIPTION: Roger Nairn co-hosts Dead Dads Podcast with Scott Cunningham, a name that caught Nick Gaylord’s attention immediately: this show began as Our Dead Dads . Neither host knew about the other when their podcasts began, but both saw a need for more honest conversations about father loss and men’s grief. Roger shares memories of his dad, Ken, whose curiosity and elaborate sense of humor remain vivid years after his death. After living with Ken’s cancer for five years, Roger expected to feel devastated when he died; instead, he felt surprisingly numb and questioned whether he was grieving the “right” way. Nick and Roger talk about anticipatory grief, the future Ken will miss with his grandson and the way losing a parent can change your sense of who you are. They also explore why humor can open a conversation that might otherwise feel impossible, without making light of anyone’s pain. At its heart, this is a conversation about making room for grief as it actually shows up and helping someone else feel less alone in theirs. This episode answers: Why do I feel numb instead of sad after my dad died? Can you grieve someone before they die? How does losing your father change your identity? Is it okay to laugh or make dark jokes while grieving? How can men talk about grief when they don’t know where to start? Key Takeaways: Years of anticipating a death can affect how grief feels afterward; Roger’s numbness initially made him question himself. Father loss can include grief for the relationship a grandchild will no longer get to have. Losing a parent may change how you understand yourself, even when that part of grief takes time to recognize. For Roger and Nick, humor helps lower the guard around difficult conversations. It belongs alongside honesty and care. Talking about grief does not require the right words or a familiar pattern of sadness. A person can begin with whatever they are actually feeling. ROGER'S LINKS: Website: https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deaddadspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deaddadspodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dead.dads.podcast Substack: https://substack.com/@deaddadspodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dead-dads-podcast/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dead-dads-podcast-grief-support-for-men/id1867632438 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4WWlXBPzgj151SFYRUZeSB Grief Resources for Men: https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/grief-resources-for-men/ Suggest A Guest: https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/guests/intake/ Support the show GIVE THE SHOW A 5-STAR RATING ON APPLE PODCASTS! FOLLOW US ON APPLE OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST PLATFORM! BOOKMARK OUR WEBSITE: www.griefisnotadirtyword.com FOLLOW OUR DEAD DADS ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/griefisnotadirtyword Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefisnotadirtyword TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@griefisnotadirtyword YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmmv6sdmMIys3GDBjiui3kw LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-gaylord/

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  Episode #98

  After Losing Both Parents: Childhood Grief, Healing and Hope with Karen Danlovich - Episode 98

  Sep 22, 202655 min

  WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating childhood grief, parental loss, chronic illness, identity loss or the pressure to appear strong while quietly living in survival mode. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: An honest conversation about grief and healing, what grieving children need from the adults around them, and why resilience sometimes means slowing down instead of pushing harder. DESCRIPTION: Karen Danlovich was nine years old when her mother died and nineteen when she lost her father, leaving her to face parental loss, adulthood and grief without the people who had represented home. She joins Nick Gaylord to explore what childhood grief looks like when adults provide practical care but struggle to talk openly about death, pain and emotional needs. Karen explains how achievement, teaching, school leadership and five seasons as a Jacksonville Jaguars cheerleader helped her honor her parents while also allowing her to stay ahead of unresolved grief. Years later, a multiple sclerosis diagnosis forced her to stop climbing, reconsider her identity and recognize that resilience does not always mean pushing through. She and Nick discuss the grief of leaving a career, learning to protect her limited energy and rediscovering the person underneath years of survival and accomplishment. Karen also shares how an encounter with a mother whale and her calf connected her with her late mother and showed her how nature can support healing after loss. That experience helped inspire Tidal Resilience Foundation, which provides ocean-centered experiences, practical resources and community support for grieving children and families. This episode answers: How does losing a parent as a child affect you later in life? What should adults say to a child when a parent dies? Can staying busy prevent you from processing grief? How do you grieve the loss of your health, career or identity? What does resilience really mean after grief and loss? Key Takeaways: Children need honest, age-appropriate conversations about death, not only protection from painful information. Grief affects an entire family, and each person may be trying to support others while carrying a different version of the same loss. Achievement can provide direction and purpose, but it can also become a way to stay ahead of unresolved grief. Strength is not always measured by how long someone can keep moving. Sometimes resilience begins when they finally stop. Connection, nature and shared experience can help grieving children and families feel supported without asking them to move past their grief. KAREN'S LINKS: Tidal Resilience Foundation: https://www.tidalresilience.org Request a Resilience Kit: https://www.tidalresilience.org/request-a-resilience-kit Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tidalresiliencefoundation Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tidalresiliencefoundation Volunteer or get involved: https://www.tidalresilience.org/contact Email: connect@tidalresilience.org Support the show GIVE THE SHOW A 5-STAR RATING ON APPLE PODCASTS! FOLLOW US ON APPLE OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST PLATFORM! BOOKMARK OUR WEBSITE: www.griefisnotadirtyword.com FOLLOW OUR DEAD DADS ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/griefisnotadirtyword Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefisnotadirtyword TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@griefisnotadirtyword YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmmv6sdmMIys3GDBjiui3kw LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-gaylord/

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  Grief Is Not A Dirty Word

  September 11, 25 Years Later: Collective Grief, Loss and the Lives We Remember with Nick Gaylord

  Sep 11, 202613 min

  DESCRIPTION: Today marks 25 years since the morning of September 11, 2001. There is no guest and this is not a traditional episode. I simply wanted to sit down for a few minutes and talk about the morning I was supposed to visit the Twin Towers, why I never made it there and what unfolded as I realized the impossible was actually happening. My experience cannot be compared to the grief of those who lost someone that day, but like millions of others, I have carried the memory of that morning and the collective loss that followed. I reflect on the lives behind the names we still hear read aloud, the families who have learned to carry their grief and the survivors and first responders who continue living with the consequences. I also remember the way people reached for one another afterward, when being another human being who was hurting was enough to bring strangers together. Twenty-five years later, this is my remembrance of those we lost, those who still carry that loss and the connection we desperately need to find again. WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone carrying grief, loss or vivid memories connected to September 11, as well as those trying to understand why this day still feels so heavy 25 years later. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: A personal reflection on remembrance, collective grief and learning to carry loss differently, along with a reminder of what can happen when we choose to see and support one another. Support the show GIVE THE SHOW A 5-STAR RATING ON APPLE PODCASTS! FOLLOW US ON APPLE OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST PLATFORM! BOOKMARK OUR WEBSITE: www.griefisnotadirtyword.com FOLLOW OUR DEAD DADS ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/griefisnotadirtyword Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefisnotadirtyword TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@griefisnotadirtyword YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmmv6sdmMIys3GDBjiui3kw LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-gaylord/

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  Grief Is Not A Dirty Word

  Beyond Survival: Finding Hope, Healing and Legacy After Loss with Chelsea Ohlemiller - Episode 97

  Sep 8, 20261h 7m

  WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating grief after the earliest days of loss, especially those learning how to live fully while continuing to honor someone they love. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: An honest conversation about mother loss, lasting grief, choosing joy, redefining legacy and carrying grief into family life and the workplace. DESCRIPTION: Chelsea Ohlemiller returns to Grief Is Not A Dirty Word for a conversation about what happens when the funeral is over, everyone else has returned to normal and grief remains. Nine years after losing her mother, Rita, Chelsea joins Nick to explore the difference between surviving a loss and beginning to live again. She explains why honoring someone does not require perfectly preserving every recipe, tradition or part of the life they left behind. Their conversation examines the unexpected firsts that continue for years, the guilt that can accompany happiness and the difficult work of choosing hope and joy alongside grief. Chelsea also shares how her children keep their grandmother’s memory alive, including a son who never had the chance to meet her. Nick and Chelsea discuss grief in the workplace and why grieving employees cannot simply leave part of themselves at the door. Through her new book, Legacy After Loss , Chelsea offers a deeply human reminder that moving forward does not mean leaving our loved ones behind. This episode answers: How do you move forward after losing someone without leaving them behind? Why does grief still hurt years after someone dies? How can joy and grief exist at the same time? How do you honor a loved one’s legacy without feeling pressured to preserve everything? How should managers support an employee who is grieving? Key Takeaways: Grief does not follow a timeline, and new firsts can continue appearing many years after a loss. Moving forward is different from moving on because love, memory and influence remain part of your life. Legacy does not require perfect replication. Traditions can change while continuing to hold meaning. Hope and joy can coexist with grief, although choosing them may require deliberate and difficult work. Meaningful grief support begins with knowing the person, listening carefully and following compassion with action. CHELSEA'S LINKS: Website: https://hopeandharshrealities.com/ Purchase Legacy After Loss : https://hopeandharshrealities.com/new-book-coming-september-8th/ Chelsea's Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0D3SKTKQ1 SOCIAL MEDIA : Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeandharshrealities/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopeandharshrealities/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ohlemiller-a65315198 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1BkDTuUSW4ym_dU9ebQs1w/videos Support the show GIVE THE SHOW A 5-STAR RATING ON APPLE PODCASTS! FOLLOW US ON APPLE OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST PLATFORM! BOOKMARK OUR WEBSITE: www.griefisnotadirtyword.com FOLLOW OUR DEAD DADS ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/griefisnotadirtyword Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefisnotadirtyword TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@griefisnotadirtyword YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmmv6sdmMIys3GDBjiui3kw LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-gaylord/

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  Episode #96

  Grief, Chronic Illness, Identity Loss and Remaining Unbroken with Adriene Caldwell - Episode 96

  Sep 1, 20261h 14m

  WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: People carrying widow grief, childhood trauma, chronic illness grief, foster-care trauma or the loss of identity that follows a life-changing diagnosis. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: An honest look at grief and loss, how support can fail grieving families and how telling the truth can help someone reclaim identity, agency and hope. DESCRIPTION: In this episode of Grief Is Not A Dirty Word, Nick Gaylord speaks with author Adriene Caldwell about the many forms of grief that can collide in one life. Adriene survived childhood abuse, homelessness, foster care and years of instability before building a career that represented independence, dignity and the future she wanted her daughter to see. At 35, rheumatoid arthritis forced her to leave that career, and eight days after she filed for disability, her 38-year-old husband, Hugh, died unexpectedly in his sleep. She explains the shock of sudden widowhood, the isolation created by unhelpful grief support and the challenge of parenting a ten-year-old through the death of her father while living with chronic pain. Adriene also shares how Experience Camps helped her daughter find people who understood child grief and gave her space to speak about loss with honesty and humor. The conversation explores career loss, identity grief and the painful process of reading the foster-care case files Adriene had kept hidden for years. Writing Unbroken: Life Outside the Lines became an act of radical honesty, a way to reclaim her voice and a chance to challenge systems that failed vulnerable children. Together, Nick and Adriene show that healing from trauma does not mean pretending the damage never happened; it means refusing to let grief, abuse or loss have the final word. This episode answers: · How do you cope with the sudden death of a husband while raising a grieving child? · Why can losing a career or becoming disabled feel like a form of grief? · What should you say and do to support someone after the death of a spouse? · How can childhood trauma and foster care affect grief, identity and adult relationships? · Can writing about trauma help you heal and reclaim control of your story? Key Takeaways: · Grief is not limited to death; chronic illness, lost independence and the end of a professional identity can require real mourning. · Practical support often matters more than perfect words. A meal, a grocery run or a genuine check-in can reduce a grieving person’s isolation. · Children need grief support from peers who understand their loss without requiring them to explain or soften it. · Radical honesty can restore agency when institutions deny accountability and other people have controlled the story. Being unbroken does not mean being untouched by trauma. It means repairing, rebuilding and refusing to be defined by what happened. ADRIENE'S LINKS: Website: https://www.unbrokencaldwell.com/ Book information and free sample: https://www.unbrokencaldwell.com/the-book Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Unbroken-Outside-Lines-Adriene-Caldwell/dp/B0GSLMZF2Q/ ADRIENE'S SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575765845419 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbrokencaldwell/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/unbrokencaldwell X: https://x.com/Unbrokenlo81234 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbrokencaldwell YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Unbroken-Caldwell Support the show GIVE THE SHOW A 5-STAR RATING ON APPLE PODCASTS! FOLLOW US ON APPLE OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST PLATFORM! BOOKMARK OUR WEBSITE: www.griefisnotadirtyword.com FOLLOW OUR DEAD DADS ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/griefisnotadirtyword Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefisnotadirtyword TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@griefisnotadirtyword YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmmv6sdmMIys3GDBjiui3kw LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-gaylord/

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