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PODCAST · health

Grief Is Not A Dirty Word

by Nick Gaylord

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

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Episodes

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

    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...

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

    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...

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

    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...

  4. The Grief of Letting Go: Toxic Family Loss, Boundaries and Healing with Susan Snow Part 2 - Episode 95

    WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone grieving a living parent, recovering from childhood trauma or struggling with guilt over creating distance from an abusive or toxic family relationship. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: An honest conversation about family grief, emotional abuse, generational trauma, sibling...

  5. The Grieving Child Everyone Missed: Violent Loss, Trauma and Hope with Susan Snow (Part 1) - Episode 94

    WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone carrying traumatic grief, childhood loss or emotional pain they have learned to hide from the people around them. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: A deeper understanding of PTSD, trauma recovery and the difference between appearing strong and genuinely healing after loss....

  6. From Traumatic Loss and Suicidal Grief to the Choice to Keep Living with Devin Fish - Episode 93

    WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: People carrying unresolved grief, traumatic loss, family addiction, shame, suicidal thoughts, or the weight of generational trauma—especially anyone who feels trapped inside a chapter they cannot imagine surviving. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: An honest look at how isolation...

  7. Finding Hope Through Grief, Trauma and Brain Injury Recovery with Nicholas Ruchlewicz - Episode 92

    WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: People grieving who they were before a traumatic brain injury, life-changing accident or major loss, along with the families and caregivers supporting them through trauma recovery. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: An honest conversation about identity loss, grief, therapy,...

  8. Repairing Trauma, Childhood Grief & Emotional Neglect with Danielle Bernock - Episode 91

    WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS Anyone carrying the lasting effects of childhood emotional neglect, unresolved grief, spiritual trauma, complicated loss, or relationship wounds. This conversation is especially meaningful for people who have spent years believing they needed to earn love, acceptance, or...

  9. Child Loss, Healing & The Mission Behind the Gabby Petito Foundation with Nichole & Jim Schmidt - Episode 90

    WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS Anyone navigating grief after the death of a child or loved one, survivors of domestic violence, families searching for missing loved ones, advocates, first responders, and anyone looking for hope after unimaginable trauma and loss. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET A deeply personal...

  10. Ambiguous Grief, Traumatic Brain Injury and Healing Through Loss with Andrew Davie - Episode 89

    WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating ambiguous loss, identity grief, caregiving, traumatic brain injury recovery, anticipatory grief, major life transitions, or the challenge of rebuilding life after unexpected trauma. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: A deeper understanding of ambiguous grief,...

  11. When Addiction Steals Your Child: Katie Rizzo's Journey Through Grief - Episode 88

    WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS Anyone grieving the loss of a child, supporting someone through addiction, living with complicated grief, carrying guilt after loss, or struggling with the silence and stigma surrounding substance use disorder. This episode is also for parents, caregivers, healthcare...

  12. Grief Beyond Death: Trauma, Divorce, Mental Health, and Healing with Dr. Gregory T. Obert - Episode 87

    WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating grief, trauma, divorce, childhood loss, PTSD, depression, emotional healing, or non-death grief experiences that still carry lasting pain. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: A powerful conversation about grief beyond death, childhood trauma, emotional validation,...

  13. Grief, Guilt, Motherhood and Losing Both Parents Before 30 with Annie LaBeth - Episode 86

    WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating parental loss, caregiver grief, anticipatory grief, dementia, cancer, young adult grief, motherhood after loss, guilt after death, or major life transitions while grieving. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: Practical insight into surviving the loss of both parents...

  14. Suicide Grief, PTSD, Sexual Trauma and Finding Hope Again with Erika Shershun - Episode 85

    WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone struggling with suicide grief, PTSD, sexual trauma, survivor shame, unresolved loss, complex grief, childhood trauma, ambiguous grief, or the long-term effects of living in survival mode. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: A powerful conversation about trauma recovery, grief...

  15. Addiction, Overdose and Broken Heart Grief with Kym Hinchey - Episode 84

    WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating traumatic grief, overdose loss, child loss, spouse loss, pet loss, complicated grief, anger in grief or surviving after devastating family tragedy. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: A brutally honest conversation about grief, rage, survival, grief brain, addiction...

  16. Healing After Sudden Loss, Survivor’s Guilt, and Grief with Lisa Spychalski - Episode 83

    WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating sibling grief, survivor’s guilt, traumatic loss, unresolved family trauma, or the lifelong emotional weight of grief after a sudden death. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: An honest conversation about long-term grief, therapy, trauma recovery, toxic family...

  17. Hidden Suicide Loss, Lifelong Grief and Mental Health Healing with Lisa Sugarman - Episode 82

    WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: People navigating suicide loss, childhood grief, traumatic loss, complicated grief, mental health struggles, depression, anxiety and anyone trying to better understand the long-term impact of losing a parent or loved one to suicide. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: An honest...

  18. Grief, Anger, and the Loss of Stability in America Today with Mark Davis - Episode 81

    WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating grief tied to identity loss, fractured relationships, or societal division. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: A powerful perspective on grief, uncertainty, and emotional conflict beyond death. DESCRIPTION: This episode of Grief Is Not A Dirty Word explores a...

  19. What Grieving Parents Need After Child Loss and Sudden Death with Kelly Edmondson - Episode 80

    WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Grieving parents, anyone navigating child loss, and those supporting someone through deep grief and trauma. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: Honest insight into grief processing, how to show up for someone in loss, and how to break the silence around death and healing.…

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  20. Navigating Sudden Death, Widow Grief & Trauma Recovery with Lynn Stone - Episode 79

    WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating sudden loss, widow grief, or traumatic death without closure WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: Real insight into grief processing, trauma recovery, and rebuilding life after loss DESCRIPTION: Nick Gaylord sits down with Lynn Stone for a deeply personal…

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  21. Sobriety, Identity, and Grief Recovery After Addiction with Faith C - Episode 78

    WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating grief, addiction recovery, trauma, or struggling with identity and self-worth. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: A powerful, honest look at grief, sobriety, healing, and what it takes to rebuild your life. DESCRIPTION: In this deeply personal episode, Nick Gaylord...

  22. Ambiguous Loss, Grief, Trauma, and True Crime with Michael & Alyssa McFarland - Episode 77

    WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating grief, trauma, ambiguous loss, missing persons cases, complicated family relationships, or the long and uneven process of healing after loss. WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating grief, trauma, ambiguous loss, missing persons cases, complicated…

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  23. Grief, Healing, and Loss Reflections on a Milestone Podcast Journey with Nick Gaylord - Episode 76

    WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating grief, loss, emotional healing, or feeling alone in their grief journey WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: Honest reflections on grief, healing, connection, and what it means to live with loss over time DESCRIPTION: In this milestone episode, Nick Gaylord steps…

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  24. Grief, Legacy, and Family Stories: Preserving Memory and Healing with Jeffrey Mason - Episode 75

    WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating grief, regret after loss, or the fear of losing family memories. Listeners who want to strengthen family connection and preserve the stories of parents, grandparents, and loved ones before they are gone. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: A powerful conversation...

  25. Say The Weird Thing – Leaving Church Didn’t Heal My Grief, Finding Myself Did with Keya McClain - Episode 74

    IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING AND NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE, CALL OR TEXT 988 (SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE) ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES, US TERRITORIES AND CANADA WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: People struggling with grief, depression, suicidal thoughts, or anyone searching for an authentic path to healing…

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  26. Grief, Resilience, and Healing After Spousal Loss with Barnaby Howarth - Episode 73

    WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating grief after the death of a spouse, coping with cancer loss, widowhood, or searching for resilience during bereavement. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: A powerful perspective on grief recovery, emotional resilience, rebuilding life after loss, and how love and...

  27. Silent Grief, Identity Crisis, and Emotional Healing with Terraine LeBeau - Episode 72

    TERRAINE LEBEAU — LINKS & CONTACT INFO PODCAST & MAIN SITE • Behind the Shades Podcast: https://behindtheshades.com/ HOST PAGE / GUEST PROFILE • Terraine LeBeau on BTS: https://behindtheshades.com/terraine-lebeau/ SOCIAL MEDIA • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terrainelebeau/ • TikTok:...

  28. Childhood Grief, Bereavement Support, and Healing at Camp Good Mourning with Paul Rubin - Episode 71

    Episode 71 - Paul Rubin (Director of Camp Good Mourning) CAMP GOOD MOURNING INFORMATION: WEBSITE: https://www.campgoodmourning.org E-MAIL: [email protected] FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CampGoodMourning INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/campgoodmourning DONATIONS / SUPPORT:...

  29. How Listening to Your Own Story Can Heal Trauma, Grief, and Shame with Susie Delo - Episode 70

    Episode 70 - Susie Delo returns! LINKS: Go to Susie's website HERE! Contact Susie HERE! Want to listen to Lauren Heaton's interview? Click HERE! Want to listen to Elissa Swihart's interview? Click HERE for part 1 and HERE for part 2! WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS Anyone carrying unresolved grief,...

  30. How Childhood Trauma and Domestic Violence Shape Grief with Susie Delo - Episode 69

    Episode 69 - Susie Delo CHECK OUT SUSIE'S WEBSITE!! Go to Susie's website by clicking HERE! Contact Susie by clicking HERE! WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS People navigating childhood trauma, domestic violence, complex grief, and long-term emotional healing after abuse and loss. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET A...

  31. Living With Grief, Chronic Illness, and Caregiving with Jacob Kendall - Episode 68

    Episode 68 - Jacob Kendall CONTACT JACOB: Personal website: https://www.jacobevanskendall.com/ Business website: https://4Daging.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobevanskendall/ WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: People navigating grief, caregiving, chronic illness, and anticipatory grief after...

  32. A Short PodFest Break, Community Growth, and the Bigger Picture with Nick Gaylord -

    WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS Listeners navigating grief, loss, emotional isolation, or anyone seeking honest grief conversations and a sense of connection. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET Transparency about the podcast’s direction, reassurance during a brief pause, and insight into how grief-focused…

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  33. Trauma, Grief, and Survival: Healing After Sexual Assault and Loss with Lauren Heaton - Episode 67

    Episode 67 - Lauren Heaton WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS People living with grief, trauma, PTSD, sexual assault recovery, medical trauma, or pregnancy loss who feel unseen or misunderstood. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET An honest, grounded conversation about grief, trauma healing, boundaries, accountability,...

  34. Forgiveness After Murder, Trauma, and Grief Recovery with Scott Stewart - Episode 66

    Episode 66 - Scott Stewart TO CONTACT SCOTT OR TO CHECK OUT HIS WORK, GO TO: www.scottstewartspeaking.com WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: People navigating traumatic grief, complicated loss, family violence, or struggling with forgiveness after profound betrayal. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: A grounded,...

  35. Widower Grief, Parenting Through Loss, and Thriving After Tragedy with AJ Coleman - Episode 65

    Episode 65 - AJ Coleman PURCHASE AJ'S BOOK AT: https://keepthosefeetmoving.com/ WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Listeners navigating widower grief, spousal loss, anticipatory grief, and the long-term emotional impact of traumatic loss. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: Honest insight into grief resilience,...

  36. Grief, Forgiveness, and Rewriting the Fatherhood Narrative After Loss with Dave Roberts - Episode 64

    Episode 64 - Dave Roberts WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS Anyone navigating childhood grief, parental abandonment, complicated grief, or unresolved trauma. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET A compassionate, grounded conversation about healing father-loss, understanding generational patterns, and building a renewed...

  37. When Grief, Divorce, and Family Trauma Collide: Finding Strength and Recovery with Dan Adams - Episode 63

    Episode 63 - Dan Adams CHECK OUT DAN'S WEBSITE: https://brokenyellowline.com/home WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS Anyone navigating grief, divorce, family trauma, identity loss, or major life transitions. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET Powerful insight into grief recovery, emotional rebuilding, personal...

  38. From Rock Bottom to Renewal: Grief Transformation and Abuse Recovery with Elissa Swihart (Part 2 of 2) - Episode 62

    Episode 62 (Part 2) - Elissa Swihart TO HELP SUPPORT TALA'S CLOSET, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/m/thedvsurvivorsisterhood?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio TO LISTEN TO DISMISSED TRUE STORIES PODCAST, CLICK HERE: https://open.spotify.com/show/3sp42T4Tr0NaPas6Q8nQ27 WHO THIS...

  39. Domestic Violence, Hidden Trauma, and the Hard Road Through Grief with Elissa Swihart (Part 1 of 2) - Episode 62

    Episode 62 (Part 1) - Elissa Swihart TO HELP SUPPORT TALA'S CLOSET, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/m/thedvsurvivorsisterhood?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio TO LISTEN TO DISMISSED TRUE STORIES PODCAST, CLICK HERE: https://open.spotify.com/show/3sp42T4Tr0NaPas6Q8nQ27 WHO THIS...

  40. Grief Lessons from Family Trauma, Sudden Loss, and Generational Pain with Heather Locklear - Episode 61

    Episode 61 - Heather Locklear WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS Anyone navigating grief, trauma, sudden loss, suicide loss, or unresolved emotional pain. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET Tools, language, and emotional clarity to better understand grief, support others, and process layered loss. DESCRIPTION: In this...

  41. Grief Is Not A Dirty Word (Formerly OUR DEAD DADS) - Trailer

    Welcome to the World Premiere of Grief Is Not A Dirty Word! You will remember this podcast as Our Dead Dads. The evolution is complete, and the new name is now a fuller representation of everything this podcast has become in the last two years. Please enjoy this trailer, and get ready for new...

  42. Taking a short break - but I'm not going anywhere!

    It's a short episode. After last week's three-hour marathon, you deserve a little bit of a break! Give this a listen and hear about what's going on right now and what's coming up in the near future. Please continue to spread the word about this show. Grief is something that impacts everyone we…

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  43. Love, Grief, and Advocacy for Change: Honoring Gabby Petito with Joe & Tara Petito - Episode 60

    Find the show on Apple Podcasts! Click the FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode! Give us a 5-star rating and leave a review! This will boost our visibility and help others to find the show! WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone coping with grief, family loss, or domestic violence, and those...

  44. Healing Through Grief, Estrangement, and Tragedy with Lisa Spychalski - Episode 59

    Find the show on Apple Podcasts! Click the FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode! Give us a 5-star rating and leave a review! This will boost our visibility and help others to find the show! WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating grief after childhood loss, family estrangement, or sibling...

  45. Healing Grief Through Death Doulas and End-of-Life Care with Kacie Gikonyo - Episode 58

    Find the show on Apple Podcasts! Click the FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode! Give us a 5-star rating and leave a review! This will boost our visibility and help others to find the show! WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone struggling with grief, end-of-life decisions, or the painful memory of...

  46. Finding Hope in Grief, Chronic Illness, and Loss of Parents with Dorothy Graham O’Dell - Episode 57

    Find the show on Apple Podcasts! Click the FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode! Give us a 5-star rating and leave a review! This will boost our visibility and help others to find the show! WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating grief after cancer, dementia, or chronic illness and those...

  47. Turning Grief into Healing, Hope, and Creative Expression with Cleo Childs - Episode 56

    Find the show on Apple Podcasts! Click the FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode! Give us a 5-star rating and leave a review! This will boost our visibility and help others to find the show! WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone grieving a parent, navigating Alzheimer’s caregiving, or struggling…

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  48. Writing Through Grief: Hope, Healing, and Mother Loss with Chelsea Ohlemiller - Episode 55

    Find the show on Apple Podcasts! Click the FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode! Give us a 5-star rating and leave a review! This will boost our visibility and help others to find the show! WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone coping with the death of a parent or struggling with parenting while...

  49. Stillbirth grief, parental loss, and healing through writing with Michelle Rix - Episode 54

    Find the show on Apple Podcasts! Click the FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode! Give us a 5-star rating and leave a review! This will boost our visibility and help others to find the show! WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone grieving child loss, stillbirth, or the death of a parent who seeks...

  50. Grief, Healing, and Community at the Gabby Petito Foundation Event - Episode 53

    Find the show on Apple Podcasts! Click the FOLLOW button so you never miss an episode! Give us a 5-star rating and leave a review! This will boost our visibility and help others to find the show! WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone grieving the death of a loved one or searching for hope after loss.…

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

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

HOSTED BY

Nick Gaylord

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Grief Is Not A Dirty Word have?

Grief Is Not A Dirty Word currently has 112 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Grief Is Not A Dirty Word about?

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...

How often does Grief Is Not A Dirty Word release new episodes?

Grief Is Not A Dirty Word publishes regularly with 112 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.

Where can I listen to Grief Is Not A Dirty Word?

You can listen to Grief Is Not A Dirty Word on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Grief Is Not A Dirty Word?

Grief Is Not A Dirty Word is created and hosted by Nick Gaylord.
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