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
Writing Through Grief: Hope, Healing, and Mother Loss with Chelsea Ohlemiller - Episode 55
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WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone coping with the death of a parent or struggling with parenting while grieving will find validation, connection, and hope.
WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: Insight into living with grief after losing a mother, how writing can support healing, and the importance of honoring legacy while navigating everyday life.
DESCRIPTION:
In this heartfelt episode of Our Dead Dads Podcast, host Nick Gaylord welcomes grief writer Chelsea Ohlemiller, who lost her mother Rita to cancer in 2017. Chelsea shares how grief reshaped her life as a mother, wife, and teacher, and how writing became her most powerful outlet. What began as journal entries evolved into Hope and Harsh Realities, a platform reaching over 200,000 grieving hearts, and her book Now That She’s Gone: A Daughter’s Reflection on Loss, Love, and a Mother’s Legacy. Together, Nick and Chelsea discuss identity after loss, the challenges of parenting without a parent, and the guilt and grace that come with finding joy after grief. Listeners will hear stories of family, second marriages, and even beloved pets that illustrate how grief touches every corner of life. This conversation is both tender and empowering, reminding us that grief is lifelong, unpredictable, and deeply human, yet it also carries hope, connection, and legacy.
This episode answers:
- What does grief feel like after losing a mother to cancer?
- How can writing help process grief and healing?
- What does it mean to parent children while grieving a parent?
- How do milestones like marriage or graduation trigger new grief waves?
- What role does legacy play in navigating grief?
Key Takeaways:
- Grief doesn’t end after the first year; it evolves with new life milestones.
- Writing can transform private pain into healing for a wider community.
- Parenting without a parent carries unique challenges and ongoing grief.
- Joy, humor, and even pets play a role in grief resilience.
- Honoring legacy helps balance harsh realities with hope and healing.
CHELSEA'S LINKS:
Website: www.hopeandharshrealities.com
Facebook: @hopeandharshrealities
Instagram: @hopeandharshrealities
TikTok: @chelseaohlemiller
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