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.
Episodes
107 episodes
The Grief of Letting Go: Toxic Family Loss, Boundaries and Healing with Susan Snow Part 2 - Episode 95
WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone grieving a living parent, recovering from childhood trauma or struggling with guilt over creating distance from an abusive or toxic family relationship.WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: An honest conve...
The Grieving Child Everyone Missed: Violent Loss, Trauma and Hope with Susan Snow (Part 1) - Episode 94
WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone carrying traumatic grief, childhood loss or emotional pain they have learned to hide from the people around them.WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: A deeper understanding of PTSD, trauma recovery and th...
From Traumatic Loss and Suicidal Grief to the Choice to Keep Living with Devin Fish - Episode 93
WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: People carrying unresolved grief, traumatic loss, family addiction, shame, suicidal thoughts, or the weight of generational trauma—especially anyone who feels trapped inside a chapter they cannot imagine surviving...
Finding Hope Through Grief, Trauma and Brain Injury Recovery with Nicholas Ruchlewicz - Episode 92
WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: People grieving who they were before a traumatic brain injury, life-changing accident or major loss, along with the families and caregivers supporting them through trauma recovery.WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET...
Repairing Trauma, Childhood Grief & Emotional Neglect with Danielle Bernock - Episode 91
WHO THIS EPISODE HELPSAnyone carrying the lasting effects of childhood emotional neglect, unresolved grief, spiritual trauma, complicated loss, or relationship wounds. This conversation is especially meaningful for people who have...
Child Loss, Healing & The Mission Behind the Gabby Petito Foundation with Nichole & Jim Schmidt - Episode 90
WHO THIS EPISODE HELPSAnyone navigating grief after the death of a child or loved one, survivors of domestic violence, families searching for missing loved ones, advocates, first responders, and anyone looking for hope after unima...
Ambiguous Grief, Traumatic Brain Injury and Healing Through Loss with Andrew Davie - Episode 89
WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating ambiguous loss, identity grief, caregiving, traumatic brain injury recovery, anticipatory grief, major life transitions, or the challenge of rebuilding life after unexpected trauma....
When Addiction Steals Your Child: Katie Rizzo's Journey Through Grief - Episode 88
WHO THIS EPISODE HELPSAnyone grieving the loss of a child, supporting someone through addiction, living with complicated grief, carrying guilt after loss, or struggling with the silence and stigma surrounding substance use disor...
Grief Beyond Death: Trauma, Divorce, Mental Health, and Healing with Dr. Gregory T. Obert - Episode 87
WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating grief, trauma, divorce, childhood loss, PTSD, depression, emotional healing, or non-death grief experiences that still carry lasting pain.WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: A powerful convers...
Grief, Guilt, Motherhood and Losing Both Parents Before 30 with Annie LaBeth - Episode 86
WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating parental loss, caregiver grief, anticipatory grief, dementia, cancer, young adult grief, motherhood after loss, guilt after death, or major life transitions while grieving.WHAT LIST...
Suicide Grief, PTSD, Sexual Trauma and Finding Hope Again with Erika Shershun - Episode 85
WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS:Anyone struggling with suicide grief, PTSD, sexual trauma, survivor shame, unresolved loss, complex grief, childhood trauma, ambiguous grief, or the long-term effects of living in survival mode.WHA...
Addiction, Overdose and Broken Heart Grief with Kym Hinchey - Episode 84
WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating traumatic grief, overdose loss, child loss, spouse loss, pet loss, complicated grief, anger in grief or surviving after devastating family tragedy.WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: A...
Healing After Sudden Loss, Survivor’s Guilt, and Grief with Lisa Spychalski - Episode 83
WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating sibling grief, survivor’s guilt, traumatic loss, unresolved family trauma, or the lifelong emotional weight of grief after a sudden death.WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: An honest ...
Hidden Suicide Loss, Lifelong Grief and Mental Health Healing with Lisa Sugarman - Episode 82
WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: People navigating suicide loss, childhood grief, traumatic loss, complicated grief, mental health struggles, depression, anxiety and anyone trying to better understand the long-term impact of losing a parent o...
Grief, Anger, and the Loss of Stability in America Today with Mark Davis - Episode 81
WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating grief tied to identity loss, fractured relationships, or societal division.WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: A powerful perspective on grief, uncertainty, and emotional conflict beyo...
What Grieving Parents Need After Child Loss and Sudden Death with Kelly Edmondson - Episode 80
WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Grieving parents, anyone navigating child loss, and those supporting someone through deep grief and trauma.WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: Honest insight into grief processing, how to show up for so...
Navigating Sudden Death, Widow Grief & Trauma Recovery with Lynn Stone - Episode 79
WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating sudden loss, widow grief, or traumatic death without closureWHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: Real insight into grief processing, trauma recovery, and rebuilding life after loss<...
Sobriety, Identity, and Grief Recovery After Addiction with Faith C - Episode 78
WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating grief, addiction recovery, trauma, or struggling with identity and self-worth.WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: A powerful, honest look at grief, sobriety, healing, and what it takes...
Ambiguous Loss, Grief, Trauma, and True Crime with Michael & Alyssa McFarland - Episode 77
WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS:Anyone navigating grief, trauma, ambiguous loss, missing persons cases, complicated family relationships, or the long and uneven process of healing after loss. WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: ...
Grief, Healing, and Loss Reflections on a Milestone Podcast Journey with Nick Gaylord - Episode 76
WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating grief, loss, emotional healing, or feeling alone in their grief journeyWHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: Honest reflections on grief, healing, connection, and what it means to live with loss...
Grief, Legacy, and Family Stories: Preserving Memory and Healing with Jeffrey Mason - Episode 75
WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating grief, regret after loss, or the fear of losing family memories. Listeners who want to strengthen family connection and preserve the stories of parents, grandparents, and loved ones before th...
Say The Weird Thing – Leaving Church Didn’t Heal My Grief, Finding Myself Did with Keya McClain - Episode 74
IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING AND NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE, CALL OR TEXT 988 (SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE) ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES, US TERRITORIES AND CANADAWHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: People struggling with grief, dep...
Grief, Resilience, and Healing After Spousal Loss with Barnaby Howarth - Episode 73
WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating grief after the death of a spouse, coping with cancer loss, widowhood, or searching for resilience during bereavement.WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: A powerful perspective on grie...
