Our Dead Dads
The concept of Our Dead Dads was born through the daily discussions of seven men who share bonds of blood, friendship and all having lost their fathers. Nick Gaylord, the show’s host, shares his life experiences with his deceased father while exploring the complications and realities of that relationship. Life is intense, grief and loss come in many forms, and no parent-child relationship is black and white, which is why this show touches on all shades of grey.
Join Nick for candid conversations with his three brothers and three of his lifelong friends, along with other special guests who discuss their experiences with loss, grief, laughter, and moving forward. Nothing is off-limits here. Nick learned after his father's passing that he couldn't process what he was going through alone and sought the help of a therapist, who helped him to let go of his anger toward his father. Looking back, he realized just how many people are being crushed under the weight of grief, loss, and in some cases, anger.
Nick's mission through Our Dead Dads is to offer a platform for anyone who needs or wants to tell their story, to have that opportunity. He also hopes to reach many more who need to talk but don't know how to start the conversation, hopeful that by listening to these stories, they will be able to start talking with someone.
Nick has always sought to help others and to make everyone around him laugh. Along with his brothers and friends, he has frequently used humor to get through the hardest times in their lives, and hopefully, you will permit yourself to do the same. Get ready for an emotional deep dive. Nick has a lot to say and so do his guests. He's here for you and ready to help. Everyone has been through trauma, grief, and loss. Now, along with Nick and his guests, everyone will get through it together.
Nick is changing the world one damaged soul at a time. Welcome to Our Dead Dads.
Our Dead Dads
038 - Light After Grief: Jason & Kirsten Clawson on Love & Loss
In this powerful episode of Our Dead Dads Podcast, we sit down with Jason and Kirsten Clawson, a couple who found love after profound loss. Both Jason and Kirsten lost their young spouses to cancer—Jason’s wife, Valerie, to stage 4 colon cancer, and Kirsten’s husband, Cody, to acute myeloid leukemia. Through unimaginable grief, they each navigated their journeys with resilience, eventually crossing paths in a widowed support group. Their connection, built on shared loss and deep understanding, led to an inspiring new chapter in their lives.
Jason and Kirsten open up about their personal experiences—Jason's struggle with masking his grief while raising two young boys and Kirsten's battle with isolation during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss the unique challenges of widowhood, parenting through grief, and ultimately, finding joy again. They also share how they blended their families, embraced their pasts, and continue to honor their late spouses in their new life together.
Their story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Through their Instagram page, @lightaftergrief, they offer support and guidance to others navigating loss, proving that love and hope can coexist with grief. This episode is for anyone who has experienced loss, is seeking connection, or simply wants to hear a remarkable story of love, healing, and new beginnings.
JASON & KIRSTEN'S LINKS:
LightAfterGrief Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/lightaftergrief/
FREE RESOURCES:
https://stan.store/lightaftergrief?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabVUJKaWuDEUzwwWlmy-FuVw11cKTksPYkf2l9nKc6fLJkWcP9tjUmYo3c_aem_Omca93YD9qruOv1SwsJ4zg
FIND JASON & KIRSTEN ON FACEBOOK:
Jason: https://www.facebook.com/jason.m.clawson
Kirsten: https://www.facebook.com/kirsten.olson.18
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