E9: Can AI Really Help Me Cope With Grief? ft. John Kammer

How has Dad Always helped you redefine fatherhood after your loss?Grief has a way of burning off the myths we inherit about manhood. When the storm hits, bravado, control, and silence stop working. We open up a candid conversation with John Kammer, a new father who lost three close friends, got sober, and rebuilt his inner life around accountability and honest feeling. His journey led to Guardian [AI]ngels, a structured journaling platform that turns evidence-based grief tasks into a compassionate dialogue, helping users accept the loss, process pain, adjust to a changed life, and integrate the continuing bond without chasing “closure.”We explore what strength looks like after loss, especially for dads expected to be the rock. Vulnerability has to come first, the way you put on your own oxygen mask before helping anyone else. John shares the hardest ten minutes of his life—coming clean to his wife—and why asking for help accelerated healing. We talk about modeling emotion for our kids, choosing results over ego, and why running toward the storm can shorten the suffering. Presence beats platitudes, and tears are not a failure of masculinity; they’re proof that love mattered.Then we take a clear-eyed look at AI for grief work: the pros of access, structure, and deeper reflection; the risks of timing and intensity; and the guardrails that keep users safe—true privacy, crisis links, and optional therapist or family “chaperones.” Guardian [AI]ngels doesn’t replace therapy; it bridges the gaps and builds the sharing muscle so your story can breathe. For fathers navigating child loss or other heartbreaks, we end with three keeps: keep humility, keep talking about your child, and keep opening the door for others to share.If this conversation moved you, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more grieving dads can find a map through the storm.SUPPORT PATHWAYIf you are a bereaved dad who's quietly struggling to cope with baby loss and you'd like to talk one-on-one, let's have a private 20-minute conversation by emailing [email protected]. If you want to stay in the loop of what's going on at Dad Always, go to dadalways.com to join the email list to receive updates. RELEVANT READSGrief in the Digital Age: the AI dilemmaThe Dead Have Never Been This TalkativeCan Digital Ghosts Help Us Heal?Theme Music: "Love Letter” was created using AI as a creative tool, with lyrics and direction shaped by the personal experiences and emotional intent of the host.Show Music from SoundstripeWise As a Serpent by Ghost BeatzVelox by Isaac JoelDreaming of You by Joachim