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
Widower Grief, Parenting Through Loss, and Thriving After Tragedy with AJ Coleman
PURCHASE AJ'S BOOK AT:
https://keepthosefeetmoving.com/
WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS:
Listeners navigating widower grief, spousal loss, anticipatory grief, and the long-term emotional impact of traumatic loss.
WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET:
Honest insight into grief resilience, parenting after loss, acceptance, healing, and how to move forward without forgetting.
DESCRIPTION:
In this deeply moving episode of Grief Is Not A Dirty Word, host Nick Gaylord sits down with author and widower AJ Coleman to explore grief, loss, resilience, and rebuilding life after the death of a spouse. AJ shares the powerful love story he shared with his wife Corey, her battle with aggressive brain cancer, and the profound grief that followed her death just sixteen months after their daughter was born. Together, Nick and AJ discuss widower grief, anticipatory grief, parenting through loss, and the emotional complexity of raising a child while grieving a partner. AJ opens up about caregiving, acceptance, identity after loss, and how grief reshapes—but does not define—who we become. He also shares the philosophy behind his book Keep Those Feet Moving, an eight-step guide to coping with grief and thriving against all odds. This conversation is a powerful reminder that grief is not a dirty word—and that healing is possible, even after unimaginable loss.
This episode answers:
- How do you cope with grief after losing a spouse to cancer?
- What does widower grief look like while raising a young child alone?
- How can grief become a catalyst for resilience and personal growth?
- How do you honor a loved one’s legacy while continuing to live fully?
- What helps people move from “why did this happen” to “where do I go now”?
Key Takeaways:
- Grief is an experience you carry, not an identity that defines you
- Acceptance is a critical step in long-term healing after loss
- Parenting through grief requires honesty, connection, and resilience
- Purpose and meaning can emerge from profound personal tragedy
- Moving forward does not mean leaving love or memory behind
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