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
059 - The Chaos and Courage of Living with Loss with Lisa Spychalski
This week, longtime podcast supporter and Nick's close friend Lisa Spychalski courageously shares the story of a lifetime marked by profound and layered loss. From the death of her mother at just eight years old, through reconnecting with an estranged father only to lose him again during her teenage years, to enduring the sudden and tragic death of her sister in a devastating car accident, Lisa reveals the emotional complexities that shaped her childhood and adulthood.
Lisa offers a candid exploration of family estrangement, unresolved trauma, and the long-lasting impact grief can have on personal identity and relationships. She reflects on the challenges of processing such overwhelming loss while managing the chaos of everyday life, highlighting the role of therapy and the healing power found in humor and human connection.
This episode is a raw, honest, and ultimately hopeful conversation about resilience — a reminder that grief is not linear, that healing can coexist with heartache, and that the bonds we carry with those we’ve lost continue to shape us in unexpected ways.
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