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
Domestic Violence, Hidden Trauma, and the Hard Road Through Grief with Elissa Swihart (Part 1 of 2)
Episode 62 (Part 1) - Elissa Swihart
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WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS
Survivors of domestic violence, people navigating trauma, and anyone grieving the loss of identity, safety, or self-worth.
WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET
A deeply honest look at surviving abuse, understanding trauma bonding, rebuilding identity, and finding hope after profound emotional grief.
DESCRIPTION:
In this powerful episode, Nick Gaylord sits down with Elissa Swihart to unpack the hidden emotional cost of domestic violence, trauma, and identity loss. Elissa shares how her abusive relationship began, the isolation that followed, and the brutal erosion of her confidence, voice, and sense of self. She describes the moment she realized she had become a shell of the person she once was—and the day she finally escaped with her son, her dog, and a single laundry basket of clothes. Nick guides the conversation through the grief that survivors carry long after leaving: grief for the life they imagined, grief for the version of themselves they lost, and grief for the safety they never had. Elissa’s story is raw, grounding, and rooted in truth, offering survivors and supporters a roadmap toward healing, self-awareness, and reclaiming personal power. This episode opens the door to conversations many survivors have never been able to speak out loud, shining a light on emotional strength, community, and the long road out of darkness.
Elissa interview - transcript -…
This episode answers:
- What are the early warning signs of emotional abuse that most people miss?
- Why do so many survivors stay, return, or feel trapped in abusive relationships?
- How does identity loss show up during long-term domestic violence?
- What does the escape process really look like for survivors with children?
- How can survivors rebuild confidence, autonomy, and safety after trauma?
Key Takeaways:
- Abuse often begins with love-bombing, isolation, and subtle emotional erosion.
- Survivors grieve the loss of identity, safety, and autonomy long before they can leave.
- Leaving an abusive relationship is rarely a single event—it's a repeated, dangerous cycle.
- Self-awareness is one of the most powerful tools a survivor gains after escaping.
Healing requires support, community, and the reclamation of personal voice and power.
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