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
Ambiguous Grief, Spiritual Signs, and Rebuilding After Loss with Kristina Driscoll - Episode 45
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WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Caregivers, spouses, and families experiencing grief, ambiguous grief, or long-term anticipatory loss.
WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: Insight into caregiving, healing, spiritual signs, and rebuilding life after profound grief.
DESCRIPTION:
In this heartfelt episode of Our Dead Dads, host Nick Gaylord speaks with Kristina Driscoll about her 12-year journey caring for her husband Bill through early-onset Alzheimer’s. Kristina shares candidly about the slow decline, the ambiguous grief of losing someone piece by piece, and the challenges of raising her son during this painful season. She discusses the guilt, anxiety, and exhaustion that caregiving brings, while also highlighting the importance of asking for help and building community. Kristina opens up about the spiritual signs that comforted her after Bill’s passing, the role of dreams in healing, and the unexpected synchronicities that shaped her journey. Her story offers hope, resilience, and a reminder that grief is not about forgetting, but about integrating love and loss into a new life.
This episode answers:
- What is ambiguous grief and how does it affect caregivers?
- How do families cope with the long goodbye of Alzheimer’s?
- What role can spiritual signs and dreams play in healing grief?
- How do you balance caregiving, parenting, and personal survival?
- What steps help rebuild life and identity after losing a spouse?
Key Takeaways:
- Ambiguous grief begins long before physical death in Alzheimer’s caregiving.
- Caregivers must learn to ask for help and accept support.
- Spiritual signs and dreams can provide deep comfort in grief.
- Children process grief differently, often suppressing emotions until later.
- Healing after loss is about integration, not forgetting.
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