How I Keep Talking About My Dad After He Died | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men

If your dad died and you just kept going, this is for you. There was no breakdown, no big moment, and no dramatic speech about taking time off. You just went back to work on Monday. You took care of everything. You said what needed to be said and filled out forms you never knew existed. At some point, you told yourself you were fine. And honestly, for the most part, you are.But then you notice you haven’t said his name in a while. Not in conversation, not in a story, not even when something reminds you of him.Now it’s become a quiet, slightly unsettling feeling. He starts to feel less present, almost like he moved out without saying anything.Dead Dads is hosted by Roger Nairn and Scott Cunningham.If Dead Dads has helped you feel a little less alone, consider buying us a coffee to help cover the studio and marketing costs that keep the show going and get it in front of more men who need it: https://buymeacoffee.com/deaddadspodcastIn this episode you'll learn:- Why not talking about your dad can slowly erase his presence- What it looks like to lose your dad without a big emotional reaction- How dementia changes the experience of loss before death even happens- Why not getting a final moment or goodbye is more common than you think- How to carry your dad forward through everyday habits and conversations- Why family traditions matter more than you realize after loss- How your dad shows up in you, even when you don’t notice it- Why there’s no “right way” to grieveAbout Bill and his dad:Bill Cooper lost his dad, Frank, after years of living with dementia.Frank was a British-born doctor who built a life in Canada and raised his family around adventure, tradition, and quiet consistency.He wasn’t loud. He wasn’t the center of attention.But he shaped everything around him.In this episode, Bill shares what it looked like to lose him and what it means to carry that forward without forcing it.Chapters:0:00 – Why Some Guys Don’t Talk About Losing Their Dad2:00 – Meeting Bill and Why He Said Yes6:00 – Who His Dad Was and What He Was Like11:30 – Living With Dementia Before Death17:00 – The Moment He Didn’t Get22:30 – What Loss Looked Like Without a Breakdown28:00 – Staying Busy and Moving Forward34:00 – “Am I Supposed to Feel More?”40:00 – How His Dad Shows Up in Him Today46:00 – Family Traditions That Keep Him Around52:00 – Why Talking About Your Dad Matters58:00 – Advice for Guys Who Just Lost Their DadAbout Dead DadsDead Dads is a podcast for guys figuring out life after losing their dad.It’s real conversations about grief, identity, and everything that comes after.You’re not alone. Follow + ConnectWebsite: https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deaddadspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deaddadspodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ddadspodSubstack: https://substack.com/@deaddadspodcast/notes New episodes every other week.Dead Dads Podcast is produced with the support of JAR Podcast Solutions, the branded podcast agency that helps organizations build shows people actually want to spend time with. Learn more at https://jarpodcasts.com/