Grief Is Not A Dirty Word
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 centered on resilience, vulnerability, courage, and connection, the podcast helps listeners understand that grief isn’t something to hide — it’s something that deserves space, honesty, and community.
Whether your grief is fresh or decades old, whether it’s tied to death or to a different kind of ending, this show will help you feel seen, supported, and less alone. If you’re looking for meaningful discussions about healing, emotional wellbeing, and the human experience — you’re in the right place.
New episodes every Tuesday.
Listen on all major podcast platforms or at griefisnotadirtyword.com.
Grief Is Not A Dirty Word — because every story matters, every emotion belongs, and healing begins when we speak the truth.
Grief Is Not A Dirty Word
Bonus Re-release - When Everything Falls Apart: Jocelyn Bates’ Journey Through Grief and Healing
Losing a parent is one of the hardest things we can face in life—but what happens when you lose both parents in the span of a week? In this special re-release, we revisit my emotional conversation with Jocelyn Bates, who shares how she navigated the overwhelming loss of both her mother and father during the COVID-19 pandemic. As an only child, she was left to manage not just the immense grief, but also the legal and logistical challenges of handling her parents’ estate while raising three children of her own.
Jocelyn takes us through her grief journey, from facing her childhood wounds to discovering new ways of healing, including art therapy, journaling, and exploring alternative methods of self-discovery. We discuss the complexities of grief, trauma, and how societal expectations often pressure people to "move on" rather than process their pain.
We’re re-releasing this powerful conversation because next week, Jocelyn’s husband, Matthew Struck, joins me to share his own journey of loss, grieving the suicide of his father and the complex family history that shaped their relationship. Then, in Episode 42, I sit down with both Jocelyn and Matt as we discuss how their grief experiences have shaped their marriage and family. This episode is a reminder that healing takes time, and it starts with giving yourself permission to feel.
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