Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men

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The Raw Reality of Watching My Father Choose MAID | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men

hello@deaddadspodcast.com (Two Dads Media) — Thu, 14 May 2026 08:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Dead Dads, Matty Woods talks about losing his dad to prostate cancer, medical assistance in dying, anticipatory grief, and the celebration of life that followed.

Hi Dad, Nigel had just died when Matty came to the Dead Dads studio.

This is one of the most powerful real life stories we’ve had on Dead Dads. Matty is still in the rawest part of grief: fresh, early, and still finding the words.

For men who are losing your dad, dealing with loss, watching a parent die from cancer, or trying to understand grief that does not follow any rulebook, this episode is for you.

Nigel Woods spent nine years living with prostate cancer, which he renamed “MDS,” because apparently even cancer needed a nickname. He wrote letters to his grandkids. He recorded videos for his friends. And when he chose MAID, medical assistance in dying, he gave his family one final impossible gift: a goodbye on his terms.

In Canada, MAID can be a loaded, emotional, deeply personal choice. For Nigel and his family, medical aid in dying meant a deliberate goodbye. Dying with dignity. A final day shaped by family, humor, love, and one very respectable glass of scotch.

A real goodbye. The kind most of us do not get.

Matty came into the studio fresh from emceeing a 1,200-person celebration of life for his dad. He talks about Nigel’s two rules for the event: no sadness, and a shot of scotch before you walk in. He talks about anticipatory grief, the long goodbye, and the strange feeling of being “lucky it hurts this much.”

This is a conversation about losing a parent to cancer, medical assistance in dying, MAID Canada, grief and loss, grief support for men, father loss, mental health, family legacy, and the father son relationship that keeps shaping you after your dad dies.

If your dad died recently, years ago, or you are walking through this with him right now, you are not alone.

Welcome to the club no one wants to join.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll hear about:

Why losing your dad can feel painful and strangely lucky

What anticipatory grief feels like after years of illness

How one family handled MAID and medical assistance in dying

What dying with dignity looked like for Nigel’s family

Why Matty’s dad wanted scotch, not sadness, at his celebration of life

How grief shows up when the goodbye is planned but still impossible

What losing a parent to cancer teaches you about love, legacy, and mental health

How the father son relationship shapes you after your dad dies

Why “What would Nig do?” became a way to keep his dad close

👨‍👦 About Matty and his dad, Nigel

Matty Woods lost his dad, Nigel, after a nine-year experience with prostate cancer.

Nigel was funny, proud, stubborn, generous, and deeply loved. He wanted his final days to reflect how he lived: with family, humor, dignity, and a decent glass of scotch.

In this episode, Matty talks about what it was like to say goodbye, host a huge celebration of life, and start figuring out who he is without his dad physically here.

It is a conversation about father loss, cancer, MAID, grief, pride, family, and the weird little moments that show up after someone dies.

Also, yes, there are laughs. Because grief is weird like that. Rude, honestly.

⏱️ Episode chapters

0:00 – “1,200 People, One Shot of Scotch”

3:00 – Nigel’s Rules for His Celebration of Life

6:30 – “I’m Lucky It Hurts This Much”

7:30 – Prostate Cancer and Dark Humor

12:00 – Anticipatory Grief and the Long Goodbye

13:00 – Choosing MAID on His Own Terms

15:00 – The Bluebird Day, the Bridge, and the Scotch

17:30 – Being With His Dad at the End

18:45 – The Plane, the Comet, and “There He Is”

23:30 – Emceeing in Front of 1,200 People

30:00 – “What Would Nig Do?”

32:30 – Why Matty Feels Infinitely Proud

🖤 About Dead Dads

Dead Dads is a podcast for men figuring out life after losing their dad. Hosted by Roger Nairn and Scott Cunningham, the show features honest conversations about father loss, grief, identity, family, memory, masculinity, and all the strange stuff that happens after your dad dies. No grief brochure voice. No tidy healing arc. Just real conversations for guys who are grieving, remembering, avoiding, laughing, carrying on, or trying to understand what losing a father did to them.

You’re not alone.

☕ If Dead Dads has helped you feel a little less alone, consider buying us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/deaddadspodcast

Follow Dead Dads:

Website: https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deaddadspodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deaddadspodcast/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dead.dads.podcast

Substack: https://substack.com/@deaddadspodcast

And listen to us here, or wherever you enjoy podcasts:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4WWlXBPzgj151SFYRUZeSB?si=fe005fdf079249b8

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dead-dads-podcast-grief-support-for-men/id1867632438

New episodes every week.

I Lost My Dad 13 Years Ago — Here’s How I Finally Dealt With Father Grief | Dave Genn of 54-40 | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men

hello@deaddadspodcast.com (Two Dads Media) — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:03:00 -0700

When does grief get easier after losing your dad?

In this episode of Dead Dads Podcast, Dave Genn of 54-40 talks about grief, mental health, father loss, music, creativity, and what actually happens years after your dad dies.

Dave got the honest answer from guys who had already been through grief and loss: the hurt does not really dull. It does not become less painful. But it stops being all day, every day.

Dave talks about losing his father, Robert Genn, one of Canada’s most beloved painters and creator of The Painter’s Keys. He shares what it was like to watch his dad face pancreatic cancer, mourn the end of his creative life, and leave behind work that still feels alive.

This is a raw, honest, and funny conversation about men and grief, dealing with loss, grief support, the healing journey, music and grief, creativity, legacy, and finding out how much your dad is still with you.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll hear about:

Why Dave says “when you see your father pass, you’re next”

What grief feels like after losing your dad

How losing a parent changes your view of mortality

How Robert Genn faced pancreatic cancer and the end of his creative life

How Dave turned grief into music and creativity

Why he rewrote “Crossing a Canyon” after his dad died

How La Difference came out of grief and loss

The dream where his dad said “everything’s gonna be okay”

Why grief does not get less painful, but stops being all day, every day

What happened when Dave lost his mom four years later

How mental health, atheism, and grief support show up after loss

Why mortality is the great leveler

👨‍👦 About Dave and his dad, Robert

Dave Genn is the lead guitarist of 54-40, a Canadian rock band that has been together for more than 40 years.

His father, Robert Genn, was a painter, writer, teacher, and creative force. Through The Painter’s Keys, Robert reached artists around the world with reflections on art, work, discipline, and the creative life.

In this episode, Dave talks about losing his dad, carrying his influence, and turning grief into art without pretending it fixes anything.

It is a conversation about father loss, pancreatic cancer, creativity, music, legacy, grief support for men, and what remains after your dad is gone.

Also, yes, there are laughs. Because grief is weird like that. Rude, honestly.

⏱️ Episode chapters

0:00 – When Dad Passes, You’re Next

1:37 – Meet Dave Genn

2:02 – Who Robert Genn Was

3:44 – Advice, Dreams, and Songs

5:25 – Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis

6:37 – Final Months at Home

9:23 – Turning Grief Into Art

11:27 – Aftermath, Work, and Logistics

13:09 – Legacy, Paintings, and Mortality

15:47 – Counting the Years

16:37 – Bandmates and Loss

18:08 – Work as Coping

19:25 – Crossing a Canyon and La Difference

22:33 – Collaboration and Support

24:13 – Grief Over Time

27:56 – Advice for the Moment

28:34 – Nihilism and Apathy

30:14 – The Great Leveler

32:03 – Atheism and the Afterlife

33:19 – Closing and Resources

🖤 About Dead Dads

You’re not alone.

☕ If Dead Dads has helped you feel a little less alone, consider buying us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/deaddadspodcast

Follow Dead Dads:

Website: https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deaddadspodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deaddadspodcast/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dead.dads.podcast

Substack: https://substack.com/@deaddadspodcast

And listen to us here, or wherever you enjoy podcasts:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4WWlXBPzgj151SFYRUZeSB?si=fe005fdf079249b8

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dead-dads-podcast-grief-support-for-men/id1867632438

New episodes every week.

How I’m Dealing With Grief 20 Years After My Father Died | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men

hello@deaddadspodcast.com (Two Dads Media) — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 03:14:00 -0700

How do you deal with grief 20 years after losing your dad?

In this episode of Dead Dads Podcast, Mike Wasko talks about grief and loss, father loss, caregiving, therapy, bereavement, and what long-term grieving actually looks like.

Mike’s dad, Bob, died 20 years ago. He is still figuring out what that means.

At 29, Mike became his father’s primary caregiver after a cancer diagnosis. Then he walked out of a doctor’s appointment knowing something his dad did not, and had to decide what to do with that information.

That moment changed everything.

Mike talks about losing his dad, what grief looks like two decades later, and why the raw edges may dull, but the loss does not disappear. It shifts. It becomes part of the room.

Annoying. But accurate.

He also talks about anger, therapy, reconciliation, becoming a dad himself, and the strange way our parents show up in our kids.

This is a real conversation about how to deal with grief, coping with grief and loss, grief support, dealing with death, men’s grief, family, caregiving, and why grief is not something you get over.

It is something you learn to live around.

If you are years out from losing your dad and still feel it, this episode is for you. If you are just starting, this is what 20 years of living with father loss can look like.

It gets different. Maybe even better.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll hear about:

What long-term grief can look like 20 years after your dad dies

How losing your dad changes over time

What it feels like to become your father’s caregiver at 29

Why Mike had to carry information his dad did not know

How therapy helped him deal with grief and reframe the loss

Why grief can be understood as the cost of loving someone

What happens when you become a dad after losing yours

How your father can show up in your children

Why grief is not something you get over

Mike’s crater analogy for coping with grief and loss

👨‍👦 About Mike and his dad, Bob

Mike Wasko lost his dad, Bob, after a cancer diagnosis when Mike was 29.

Bob was larger than life. Intimidating. Funny. Tough. Unconventional. The kind of dad who left a mark, whether you were ready for it or not.

In this episode, Mike talks about becoming his father’s caregiver, repairing their relationship before Bob died, and carrying his dad’s influence into his own life as a husband and father.

It is a conversation about father loss, cancer, caregiving, therapy, grief support for men, parenting after loss, and the strange ways our dads stay with us.

Also, yes, there are laughs. Because grief is weird like that. Rude, honestly.

⏱️ Episode chapters

0:00 – Who Is Mike Wasko?

1:21 – Mike Joins the Pod: 20 Years of Grief

2:34 – Why He’s Talking About It Now

4:23 – Meet Bob Wasko: “Larger Than Life”

6:23 – Tough Love and Unconventional Fun

7:25 – The Diagnosis and a Secret to Keep

13:34 – Moving In With His Dying Dad

15:12 – The Falling Out and Reconciliation

18:16 – Anger, Therapy, and “The Cost of Loving Someone”

24:50 – Becoming a Dad and Finding His Father in Himself

29:10 – His Kids Ask Why Grandpa Died

31:37 – Approaching the Age His Dad Died

32:28 – The Crater That Never Fills

35:35 – Final Thoughts and Where to Follow

🖤 About Dead Dads

You’re not alone.

☕ If Dead Dads has helped you feel a little less alone, consider buying us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/deaddadspodcast

Follow Dead Dads:

Website: https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deaddadspodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deaddadspodcast/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dead.dads.podcast

Substack: https://substack.com/@deaddadspodcast

And listen to us here, or wherever you enjoy podcasts:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4WWlXBPzgj151SFYRUZeSB?si=fe005fdf079249b8

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dead-dads-podcast-grief-support-for-men/id1867632438

New episodes every week.

My Grief Does Not Always Look Like Sadness | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men

hello@deaddadspodcast.com (Two Dads Media) — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0700

What does grief actually look like after losing your dad?

In this Dead Dads Check-In, we talk about the parts of father loss that don’t always get said out loud. The family vacation that feels off without him. The anniversary rituals that keep him close. The question of whether to keep his stuff or get rid of it. Crying in front of your kids. Dad jokes. Garage clutter. Random sayings. All of it.

This episode is for men dealing with grief, father loss, and the strange mix of sadness, guilt, humor, memory, and love that comes after your dad dies. If your grief has felt messy, uneven, or unexpectedly funny at times, this one will feel familiar.

Dead Dads is hosted by Roger Nairn and Scott Cunningham.

If Dead Dads has helped you feel a little less alone, consider buying us a coffee to help cover the studio and marketing costs that keep the show going and get it in front of more men who need it: https://buymeacoffee.com/deaddadspodcast

What you’ll get out of this episode

A more honest picture of what grief can look like after losing a father
A reminder that grief is not just sadness. It can also be guilt, laughter, rituals, and random memories
A way to think about what to keep, and what to let go
Reassurance that grief moves around. It does not show up the same way every day
Permission to cry in front of your kids without feeling weak
A reminder that remembering your dad can happen through small family traditions, not just big emotional moments
The feeling that you’re not the only one whose grief looks messy, uneven, or unexpectedly funny

Chapter list

00:00 When your son sees you cry

00:32 Where grief sits right now

01:09 The first family vacation without dad

01:51 How we mark our dad’s anniversary

02:29 Helping your kids remember their grandpa

03:10 Dollar store memories and dad clutter

04:09 The appliances dads absolutely did not need

04:57 First concerts and dads waiting in the car

05:17 Should you keep your dad’s stuff after he dies?

06:37 Is it okay for men to cry?

07:06 Crying in front of your kids after father loss

09:20 Are dad jokes actually funny?

10:25 The expressions every dad repeated to death

10:49 Garage junk, batteries, and classic dad behavior

Follow + Connect

New episodes every week.

I Got the Call… and Had to Tell My Family My Dad Died Suddenly | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men

hello@deaddadspodcast.com (Two Dads Media) — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:05:00 -0700

John Abreu’s dad died suddenly.

There was no will. No clear plan. No neat folder marked “open this when I’m gone,” which would have been nice. Instead, John had to tell his family, make decisions, deal with logistics, and process the fact that his dad was dead at the same time.

In this episode of Dead Dads, John shares what it is like to lose a father when nothing is prepared.

We talk about the call, the shock, the first few days, and what happens when funeral planning, paperwork, estate questions, and family responsibility show up before your brain has caught up.

John also talks about the pressure to be “the strong one.” The guy who stays calm. The guy who tells everyone else. The guy who handles it.

That role can land fast.

And it can get heavy.

This is also a practical conversation about father loss, estate planning mistakes, what happens when there is no will, and why the unfinished conversations with your dad can stay with you longer than you expect.

If you are dealing with the loss of a father, supporting someone who is, or trying to prepare your own family so they are not left guessing one day, this episode is for you.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll hear about:

What it is like to get the call that your dad died
How to tell your family someone has died
What the first few days after losing your dad can actually look like
What happens when there is no will or estate plan
How to make decisions when nothing feels clear
Why men often feel pressure to be “the strong one” after loss
How unfinished conversations with your dad can stay with you
Why grief can show up later in parenting
What you can do now so your family is not left guessing
How to think about grief, responsibility, and legacy after your dad dies

👨‍👦 About John and his dad

John Abreu grew up between Venezuela and Canada.

His father, John Abreu Sr., was a mathematician who believed in discipline, hard work, and being there for his family. He pushed John to think more deeply and expect more from himself, even when John did not fully understand it at the time.

In 2022, John’s dad died suddenly with no plan and no will. John had to tell his family and handle what came next.

Now he is focused on carrying forward what mattered, while being more open and proactive so the people around him are not left guessing.

It is a conversation about father loss, sudden death, grief support for men, estate planning, family responsibility, parenting, and the pressure many men feel to hold everything together after their dad dies.

Also, yes, there are laughs. Because grief is weird like that. Rude, honestly.

⏱️ Episode chapters

0:00 – Why Small Moments Hit Hardest

0:23 – What This Podcast Is

1:02 – Why Talking About Losing Your Dad Matters

2:42 – What You Carry From Your Dad

6:01 – The One Sentence That Sticks

7:24 – What You Might Do Differently

8:53 – What It’s Like to Get the Call

12:09 – How to Tell Your Family Someone Died

13:47 – When Responsibility Lands on You

16:27 – What the First Few Days Look Like

17:38 – What Happens Without a Will

19:17 – How to Make Decisions Without Clear Answers

20:14 – What “Doing It Right” Means

21:58 – How to Honor Someone So It Lasts

23:59 – How Grief Changes Over Time

25:45 – How Losing Your Dad Shows Up in Parenting

28:24 – The Questions You’ll Wish You Asked

31:50 – What You Can Do Now to Prepare

33:21 – What Grief Sounds Like Years Later

🖤 About Dead Dads

You’re not alone.

☕ If Dead Dads has helped you feel a little less alone, consider buying us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/deaddadspodcast

Follow Dead Dads:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deaddadspodcast/

And listen to us here, or wherever you enjoy podcasts:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4WWlXBPzgj151SFYRUZeSB?si=fe005fdf079249b8

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dead-dads-podcast-grief-support-for-men/id1867632438

New episodes every week.

Delayed Grief: When Loss Hit Me Years After My Dad Died | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men

hello@deaddadspodcast.com (Two Dads Media) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0700

Grief does not always arrive on schedule.

Sometimes it waits.

Greg Kettner thought he had processed the death of his father. He had a career, a family, a purpose. He even speaks to companies about mental health for a living.

Then, one month after his dad died, Greg stood on stage in front of a full audience and completely broke down.

In this episode of Dead Dads, Greg talks about delayed grief after losing his father, Dr. Sydney Kettner. He shares how losing a parent can feel manageable until it suddenly is not, and what happens when you are the guy everyone expects to have it together.

We talk about grief, therapy, father loss, men’s mental health, and the strange way grief can show up long after the funeral is over.

If your dad died recently, or it has been years and you still cannot explain why it hits you, this episode is for you.

You are not fine all the time.

That is allowed.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll hear about:

Why grief after losing a parent can take time to surface
What delayed grief can look like for men
How to deal with grief when you are in a public-facing role
Why Greg resisted therapy before finally trying it
What therapy can actually look like for guys
What his dad taught him about purpose and service
How losing his dad changed the way he talks about mental health

The text message challenge that changed a room full of strangers

👨‍👦 About Greg and his dad

Greg Kettner is a keynote speaker and mental health advocate on a mission to help a million people talk about mental health at work.

His father, Dr. Sydney Kettner, shaped Greg’s sense of purpose, service, and how to show up for other people.

In this episode, Greg talks about losing his dad, breaking down in public, finding therapy, and learning that grief does not care how prepared or put-together you look.

It is a conversation about father loss, delayed grief, men’s mental health, therapy, purpose, family, and what happens when the grief you thought you handled finally catches up.

Also, yes, there are laughs. Because grief is weird like that. Rude, honestly.

⏱️ Episode chapters

0:00 – Why Losing Your Dad Hits Different as a Man

2:10 – Why Greg Said Yes to Talking About This

6:30 – Who His Dad Was

12:20 – The First Stroke

18:00 – The Hospital and the Decision

24:40 – The Moment His Dad Died

30:10 – Why Grief Hits Later

36:30 – Breaking Down in Public

42:00 – Therapy: What It’s Actually Like for Guys

49:20 – Finding a Therapist You Can Talk To

55:00 – How This Changed His Life

1:02:00 – What He’d Say to His Dad Now

1:07:20 – Advice for Guys Going Through This

🖤 About Dead Dads

You’re not alone.

☕ If Dead Dads has helped you feel a little less alone, consider buying us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/deaddadspodcast

Follow Dead Dads:

Website: https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deaddadspodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deaddadspodcast/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dead.dads.podcast

Substack: https://substack.com/@deaddadspodcast

New episodes every week.

How I Keep Talking About My Dad After He Died | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men

hello@deaddadspodcast.com (Two Dads Media) — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:35:00 -0700

If your dad died and you just kept going, this is for you. There was no breakdown, no big moment, and no dramatic speech about taking time off. You just went back to work on Monday. You took care of everything. You said what needed to be said and filled out forms you never knew existed. At some point, you told yourself you were fine. And honestly, for the most part, you are.

But then you notice you haven’t said his name in a while. Not in conversation, not in a story, not even when something reminds you of him.

Now it’s become a quiet, slightly unsettling feeling. He starts to feel less present, almost like he moved out without saying anything.

Dead Dads is hosted by Roger Nairn and Scott Cunningham.

In this episode you'll learn:

- Why not talking about your dad can slowly erase his presence

- What it looks like to lose your dad without a big emotional reaction

- How dementia changes the experience of loss before death even happens

- Why not getting a final moment or goodbye is more common than you think

- How to carry your dad forward through everyday habits and conversations

- Why family traditions matter more than you realize after loss

- How your dad shows up in you, even when you don’t notice it

- Why there’s no “right way” to grieve

About Bill and his dad:

Bill Cooper lost his dad, Frank, after years of living with dementia.

Frank was a British-born doctor who built a life in Canada and raised his family around adventure, tradition, and quiet consistency.

He wasn’t loud. He wasn’t the center of attention.

But he shaped everything around him.

In this episode, Bill shares what it looked like to lose him and what it means to carry that forward without forcing it.

Chapters:

0:00 – Why Some Guys Don’t Talk About Losing Their Dad

2:00 – Meeting Bill and Why He Said Yes

6:00 – Who His Dad Was and What He Was Like

11:30 – Living With Dementia Before Death

17:00 – The Moment He Didn’t Get

22:30 – What Loss Looked Like Without a Breakdown

28:00 – Staying Busy and Moving Forward

34:00 – “Am I Supposed to Feel More?”

40:00 – How His Dad Shows Up in Him Today

46:00 – Family Traditions That Keep Him Around

52:00 – Why Talking About Your Dad Matters

58:00 – Advice for Guys Who Just Lost Their Dad

About Dead Dads

Dead Dads is a podcast for guys figuring out life after losing their dad.

It’s real conversations about grief, identity, and everything that comes after.

You’re not alone.

Follow + Connect

Website: https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deaddadspodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deaddadspodcast/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ddadspod

Substack: https://substack.com/@deaddadspodcast/notes

New episodes every other week.

What to Do When Your Dad Dies: The Pressure Nobody Warns You About | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men

hello@deaddadspodcast.com (Two Dads Media) — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 05:01:00 -0800

If your dad died and you put the grief on the shelf marked “figure this out later,” right beside home repairs and that fitness plan you keep threatening to start, this episode is for you.

Because grief has a rude habit of coming back.

You assume there is time. Time to ask questions. Time to get things in order. Time to say what needs to be said.

Then it happens.

And you realize how much was not actually handled.

In this episode of Dead Dads, Blair French talks about losing his dad, Bob, after a sudden cancer diagnosis. The timeline was short. The questions came fast. And then, all at once, Blair was dealing with the logistics, the pressure, the family responsibility, and the strange feeling that he was now “the guy.”

The one who has to know what to do.

Even when he absolutely does not.

Blair talks about the diagnosis, the final days, the call, the paperwork, the passwords, the finances that were “organized” in the loosest possible sense, and what happens when you keep pushing through grief until your body shuts the plan down for you.

Which, as strategies go, is popular among men and not recommended by anyone.

This is a conversation about father loss, delayed grief, burnout, family responsibility, estate planning, and what happens when you try to hold it together for too long.

If your dad is gone, or you know that day is coming, this episode will help you understand what can happen next.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll hear about:

What actually hits after your dad dies
Why “I thought I had more time” stays with you
What gets missed when everyone says things are handled
What happens when finances, passwords, and paperwork are unclear
How men become “the guy in charge” without choosing it
Why grief can turn into work, control, or burnout
What it feels like to hold it together until you cannot
Why one real conversation can change everything
How to carry your dad forward without letting grief take you down

👨‍👦 About Blair and his dad

Blair French lost his dad, Bob, three years ago.

Bob was an accountant. Steady. Practical. The kind of guy who did not need to be the center of attention, but quietly held things together.

After a sudden cancer diagnosis, Blair had a short window before losing him.

In this episode, Blair talks about what that experience actually looked like and how it changed how he works, parents, and lives now.

It is a conversation about father loss, cancer, grief support for men, burnout, family responsibility, parenting, and the pressure many men feel after their dad dies.

Also, yes, there are laughs. Because grief is weird like that. Rude, honestly.

⏱️ Episode chapters

0:00 – You Thought You Had Time. You Didn’t.

2:30 – Why Blair Agreed to Talk About This

6:40 – Who His Dad Was

12:10 – The Diagnosis That Changed Everything

18:20 – What His Dad Never Told Him

24:10 – The Morning He Died

30:00 – Getting the Call When You’re Not There

36:20 – When You’re Suddenly “In Charge”

🖤 About Dead Dads

You’re not alone.

☕ If Dead Dads has helped you feel a little less alone, consider buying us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/deaddadspodcast

Follow Dead Dads:

Website: https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deaddadspodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deaddadspodcast/

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And listen to us here, or wherever you enjoy podcasts:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4WWlXBPzgj151SFYRUZeSB?si=fe005fdf079249b8

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dead-dads-podcast-grief-support-for-men/id1867632438

New episodes every week.

My Dad Had Cancer. I Thought We Had More Time. | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men

hello@deaddadspodcast.com (Two Dads Media) — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:14:00 -0800

If your dad is still alive, you probably think you have time.

Time to visit. Time to call. Time to ask better questions. Time to say the thing you keep saving for later.

Most guys think that. Then the timeline shrinks without asking.

In this episode of Dead Dads, Tiff talks about losing his dad, George, after a fast-moving cancer diagnosis. What first felt like years quickly became months. Suddenly, he had to face the question a lot of men avoid until it is too late:

Do you chase more time, or actually use the time you have?

Tiff shares what it was like to watch his dad step away from treatment, choose how he wanted to live what was left, and prepare his family for the end. He talks about the hard doctor conversations, the final days, and the moment after your dad dies when everyone starts looking to you.

You become “the guy.”

The one who handles things. The one who keeps it together.

This conversation is for men whose dads are still alive, men watching their fathers go through cancer or another serious illness, and men already carrying the weight of father loss.

If your dad is still here, this may change how you spend time with him. If he is gone, you will recognize the weight Tiff is talking about.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll hear about:

Why “I thought I had more time” is one of the hardest parts of losing your dad
What to ask when your dad gets a serious diagnosis
What it feels like when your dad decides to stop treatment
How anticipatory grief can show up before your father dies
Why many men go straight into logistics mode after loss
What it means to become “the guy” in your family
How to carry your dad forward through your actions
Why spending time matters more than finding the perfect words

👨‍👦 About Tiff and his dad, George

Tiff lost his dad, George, after a fast-moving cancer diagnosis.

George was a driven, positive, old-school provider. A salesman. A community builder. A man who believed in hard work and showing up for people.

In this episode, Tiff talks about asking the hard questions, supporting his family, and losing his dad while trying to keep everyone else steady.

It is a conversation about father loss, cancer, responsibility, family, and the quiet pressure many men feel after their dad dies.

Also, yes, there are laughs. Because grief is weird like that. Rude, honestly.

⏱️ Episode chapters

0:00 – Why You Think You Have More Time

6:00 – Who Tiff's Dad Was

11:30 – The Cancer Diagnosis

17:30 – Getting Real Answers From the Doctor

23:00 – The Decision to Stop Treatment

28:30 – The Final Days

34:00 – The Moment His Dad Died

39:00 – Going Back Home

44:30 – Taking On Responsibility

50:00 – Becoming “The Guy”

56:00 – What He Wishes He Did Differently

1:02:00 – How He Carries His Dad Forward

1:08:00 – Advice for Men Grieving Their Dad

🖤 About Dead Dads

You’re not alone.

☕ If Dead Dads has helped you feel a little less alone, consider buying us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/deaddadspodcast

Follow Dead Dads:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deaddadspodcast/

And listen to us here, or wherever you enjoy podcasts:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4WWlXBPzgj151SFYRUZeSB?si=fe005fdf079249b8

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dead-dads-podcast-grief-support-for-men/id1867632438

New episodes every week.

Why Dark Humor Helps When You're Grieving | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men

hello@deaddadspodcast.com (Two Dads Media) — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:14:00 -0800

Coping with grief can feel isolating for men, especially when your dad dies and there isn’t really a place to talk about it. Welcome to the club no one wants to join. We are the grief support for men group that laughs way too much. Hit SUBSCRIBE to navigate father loss with us, and get your weekly dose of dark humor grief.

Most men don’t talk about it. And when they do, it usually isn’t with laughter.

In this introduction to Dead Dads, Scott and Roger explain why they started a podcast about losing your dad, grief, and how men actually deal with it. After realizing there aren’t many places where guys can openly talk about the death of a father, they decided to create one themselves.

Dead Dads is a place where men can talk honestly about grief, loss, memories of their dads, and the strange moments that come after someone who shaped your life is gone. Some conversations are serious. Some are reflective. Some are unexpectedly funny.

Scott and Roger believe that talking about grief helps. Whether it’s with a therapist, a friend, or even a stranger who’s been through the same thing, sharing stories about your dad can make the weight a little easier to carry.

If you’ve experienced losing your dad, father loss, or the death of a parent, this podcast is for you.

Sometimes grief needs silence.

Sometimes it needs conversation.

Sometimes it needs a laugh.

We have it all.

Dead Dads is hosted by Roger Nairn and Scott Cunningham.

In this episode you'll learn:

- Why there aren’t many spaces for men to talk about losing their dad

- What happens when you actually start talking about grief

- Why grief looks different for everyone

- How sharing experiences with other men can help

- What to expect emotionally after losing your dad

- Why humor still has a place in grief

- How this podcast is meant to help you process your own experience with grief

About this episode:

This is the first episode of Dead Dads.

Roger and Scott both lost their dads and realized there wasn’t a place for guys to talk about it honestly.

So they built one.

This episode explains why.

In this episode:

0:00 – Why Talking About Your Dead Dad Feels So Hard

2:00 – How The Dead Dads Podcast Started

6:00 – Why There Isn’t a Space for This

10:00 – What Grief Actually Looks Like

16:00 – Why Talking About Your Grief Helps

22:00 – What You Can Expect From The Dead Dads Podcast

About Dead Dads

Dead Dads is a podcast for guys figuring out life after losing their dad.

It’s real conversations about grief, identity, and everything that comes after.

You’re not alone.

Follow + Connect

New episodes every other week.

Grief and Loss: I Got the Call That My Dad Had Died | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men

hello@deaddadspodcast.com (Two Dads Media) — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:13:00 -0800

Kevin Barrett’s dad died suddenly and alone.

A heart attack in his bathroom. Nobody knew for four days.

There was no goodbye. No last conversation. No chance to say the thing you assume you will eventually get around to saying. Just a phone call that changed everything.

In this episode of Dead Dads, Kevin joins Roger and Scott to talk about what it is actually like when your dad dies suddenly, and what happens when people expect you to hold it together while you are quietly falling apart.

Kevin had already lost his mom. Then he lost his dad. He has tried traditional therapy, talking with friends, keeping busy, and the standard male grief plan of “I’m fine,” which, historically, has some flaws.

He talks about sudden loss, grief guilt, feeling numb, asking for help, and why some friends

know exactly what to say while others accidentally walk straight into the emotional furniture.

If your dad died suddenly and you are trying to figure out what comes next, this episode is for you.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll hear about:

What it feels like when your dad dies suddenly
Why sudden loss can hit differently than an expected death
What happens when there is no goodbye or final conversation
Why grief guilt can show up when you feel numb
How men often try to hold it together after loss
Why grief has no clean prescription or timeline
What kind of support actually helps after your dad dies
Why talking to friends can sometimes help more than therapy
How to ask for support without feeling weak
Why there is no “right way” to grieve your father

👨‍👦 About Kevin and his dad

Kevin Barrett lost his father suddenly after a heart attack. His dad died alone, and Kevin did not know for four days.

In this episode, Kevin talks about the shock of getting that call, the weight of not being able to say goodbye, and how sudden father loss can leave you trying to process the death and handle life at the same time.

He also talks about losing both parents, what helped, what did not, and why asking for support is one of the strongest things a man can do.

It is a conversation about father loss, sudden death, grief support for men, numbness, friendship, therapy, and what happens when your dad dies without warning.

Also, yes, there are laughs. Because grief is weird like that. Rude, honestly.

⏱️ Episode chapters

0:00 – Why Men Feel Pressure to Be Strong

2:00 – Why Kevin Said Yes to This Conversation

6:30 – Who His Dad Was

12:00 – The Call That Changed Everything

18:00 – Not Getting a Chance to Say Goodbye

24:00 – The First Days After His Dad Died Suddenly

30:00 – Why Talking to Friends Helped Most

36:00 – Asking for Support Without Feeling Weak

42:00 – Grieving Without a “Right Way”

48:00 – How Loss Changed His Perspective

54:00 – Humor, Stories, and Remembering His Dad

1:00:00 – Advice for Guys Going Through Grief

🖤 About Dead Dads

You’re not alone.

☕ If Dead Dads has helped you feel a little less alone, consider buying us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/deaddadspodcast

Follow Dead Dads:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deaddadspodcast/