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
Trauma, Grief, and Survival: Healing After Sexual Assault and Loss with Lauren Heaton
WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS
People living with grief, trauma, PTSD, sexual assault recovery, medical trauma, or pregnancy loss who feel unseen or misunderstood.
WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET
An honest, grounded conversation about grief, trauma healing, boundaries, accountability, and rebuilding self-worth without shortcuts.
DESCRIPTION:
This episode of Grief Is Not A Dirty Word features licensed professional counselor and victims’ advocate Lauren Heaton in a powerful conversation about grief, trauma, and healing. Nick Gaylord and Lauren explore how sexual assault, PTSD, medical trauma, pregnancy loss, and chronic stress shape identity and survival. Lauren shares her lived experience alongside her clinical work, offering clarity without platitudes or false positivity. They discuss the responsibility that comes with healing, why empathy must be earned, and how boundaries protect recovery. This episode examines motherhood, bodily autonomy, and rebuilding safety after repeated trauma. It is a necessary conversation for anyone navigating grief while trying to move forward honestly.
This episode answers:
- How do you heal from grief and trauma after sexual assault?
- What does PTSD recovery really look like in everyday life?
- How does medical trauma and pregnancy loss affect long-term grief?
- Why is accountability essential in trauma healing?
- How do boundaries support healing after prolonged trauma?
Key Takeaways:
- Healing from trauma and grief requires honesty, not avoidance
- PTSD is a lived experience, not a clinical label alone
- Empathy grows through responsibility and self-work
- Boundaries are a form of self-protection, not punishment
- Grief and trauma can coexist with purpose and meaning
GIVE THE SHOW A 5-STAR RATING ON APPLE PODCASTS!
FOLLOW US ON APPLE OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST PLATFORM!
BOOKMARK OUR WEBSITE: www.ourdeaddads.com
FOLLOW OUR DEAD DADS ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ourdeaddadspod/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ourdeaddadspod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ourdeaddadspod
Twitter / X: https://x.com/ourdeaddadspod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmmv6sdmMIys3GDBjiui3kw
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ourdeaddadspod/