It Takes a Village: Grief, Gay Fatherhood & Building Family From the Ruins

In this episode, Jon and Bryan welcome José Rolón (@NYCGayDad), a prominent figure in the LGBTQ+ community and a single father of three. José shares his inspiring journey from being a high-end wedding planner to navigating the challenges of raising his children after the loss of his husband. He discusses the emotional complexities of surrogacy, the decision to continue his family after his husband's passing, and the importance of community support in his parenting journey. José emphasizes the significance of vulnerability and emotional openness in fatherhood, contrasting his experiences with traditional machismo upbringing.YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@OutLoudAndLaughing?sub_confirmation=1Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction to José Rolón02:30 The Journey of Surrogacy and Loss06:52 Building a Support System10:11 Unlearning Machismo in Parenting15:03 Open Communication with Kids18:08 Balancing Wedding Planning and Parenting20:19 The Importance of Asking for Help23:24 Fun This or That Round27:10 Where to Find José Rolón—--Visit us at www.OutLoudAndLaughing.comListen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7obVHRF8knOr0WUMOZLJnMWatch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvTk63DP29cMR3QjT_xkkHygIX2MZi1c9LGBTQ+, single father, surrogacy, emotional vulnerability, parenting, community support, resilience, family, wedding planning, machismo