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  • Losing His Dad to Cancer on His 21st Birthday | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men

    Losing His Dad to Cancer on His 21st Birthday | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men
    Jun 12 2026

    James turned 21. He spent the day on the golf course with his mates. That night he was downstairs drinking champagne while, upstairs, his dad Willie was dying.


    At 10pm, on his birthday, it was over.


    That was the day James became a man who'd lost his father. The same date he's been asked to celebrate every year since.


    James joins Roger and Scott to talk about bowel cancer, the diagnosis, the final days, and what 25 years of grief actually looks like when the loss is tied to a date you can never avoid.

    This one's for the guy whose grief still shows up on a certain day every year. The guy who lost his dad before he'd figured out who he was. The guy whose birthday quietly became an anniversary.


    In this episode:

    • Losing his dad Willie at 10pm on his 21st birthday

    • What grief looks like 25 years later

    • The day the bowel cancer diagnosis arrived

    • Fighting, coping, and the final days

    • "Death math" and the arithmetic of anniversaries

    • Health checks, colonoscopies, and becoming a father yourself

    • Building an adult life without a dad's advice

    • Keeping grandpa alive for children who never met him

    • The hug he gives his kids now, the one Willie gave him

    • What he'd say if he got one more conversation


    About James and Willie

    James Wood Robertson lost his dad Willie to bowel cancer 25 years ago, at 10pm on his own 21st birthday. Since then, he's learned how to carry a loss that never leaves the calendar, how to become a father without a blueprint, and how to keep a grandfather alive through stories.

    It's a conversation about father loss, cancer, memory, fatherhood, and the small inheritances that outlast the people who gave them.


    And yes, there are laughs. Because grief is weird like that.


    ⏱️ Episode chapters

    00:00 Why James Is Here

    01:05 Support The Podcast

    02:31 Meet James Wood Robertson

    04:23 Grief 25 Years Later

    07:31 Who Willie Was

    08:26 The Cancer Diagnosis Day

    11:37 Fighting And Coping

    12:46 His Final Days And Passing

    15:37 Anniversaries And Death Math

    16:56 Health Checks And Fatherhood

    19:23 Life Without A Dad's Advice

    23:01 Keeping Grandpa Alive

    26:23 Hugs And Lasting Love

    27:10 If He Could Talk Again

    29:24 Final Advice And Goodbye


    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 grief, identity, family, memory, masculinity, and all the strange things that happen after your father dies.


    No grief brochure voice. No tidy healing arc. Just real conversations.


    You're not alone.


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


    Follow The Dead Dads Podcast:

    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

    Apple Podcasts


    New episodes every week.


    Dead Dads Podcast is produced with the support of JAR Podcast Solutions, the branded podcast agency that helps organizations build shows people actually want to spend time with. Learn more at https://jarpodcasts.com/
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    31 Min.
  • My Dad Watched a Guy Get Shot at Dinner | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men

    My Dad Watched a Guy Get Shot at Dinner | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men
    May 28 2026
    Peter Reek's dad Bill was a Nestle commodities trader. One night, on a purchasing trip to Columbia in the mid 80's, he watched the guy having dinner at the next table over get shot.Everyone knew what to do, and Bill calmly followed. They got under the table, finished the meal somewhere else, and Bill flew home the next week. That was Bill Reek. Mr. Safety. The guy who built a 40-year career on stability — and the guy who negotiated with people who carried guns to dinner.Peter sits with Scott (Roger was unable to join the interview) to talk about a dad who was solid in every way the world could measure, and the small, strange details that only come out after he's gone. This episode is for the guy whose dad was “the stable one.” The guy whose dad worked a job he never fully understood. The guy still finding out who his dad really was after he died.Probably not for the guy looking for a tidy redemption arc. Bill Reek did not do tidy.🎧 In this episode, you’ll hear about:Growing up with a dad who worked for Nestlé for 40 yearsWhat “stable” actually looks like up closeThe night in Colombia when the guy at the next table got shotNegotiating cocoa prices with people who carried guns to dinnerBeing Mr. Safety in a dangerous jobThe commodities expert who never invested his own moneyThe cancer diagnosis and the years that followedNot being in the room when his dad diedThe stories that only surface after someone is goneWhat Peter wishes he had asked BillWhy you should be an active participant in your dad’s life now👨‍👦 About Peter and his dad, BillPeter Reek lost his dad, Bill, after a long battle with cancer.Bill was a 40-year Nestlé commodities trader. Stable, steady, generous, quietly funny, and the kind of dad who reminded you to check the tire pressure right before flying to Colombia to negotiate cocoa prices with people carrying guns to dinner.It is a conversation about father loss, cancer, the kind of dad you think you know, the stories that only surface at the end, and the regret of not being in the room when it happened.Also, yes, there are laughs. Because grief is weird like that. Rude, honestly.⏱️ Episode chapters0:00 – Colombia Shock Opener0:12 – Meet Peter and Bill1:27 – Support the Podcast2:47 – Why Peter Joined3:12 – Bill Reek Career Story7:57 – Stability Versus Risk8:48 – Restaurant Shooting Tale10:21 – Entrepreneur Son Dynamic12:20 – Illness and Final Days17:51 – Guilt and Goodbye22:47 – Taking Over the Playbook26:07 – Keeping Dad Alive28:34 – Advice and FarewellNext in the club: Matty Woods on his dad’s funeral with two rules: https://youtu.be/Ocm8NTnDLX4🖤 About Dead DadsDead 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.You’re not alone.☕ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/deaddadspodcastFollow Dead Dads:Website: https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deaddadspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/deaddadspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dead.dads.podcastSubstack: https://substack.com/@deaddadspodcastNew episodes every week.Dead Dads Podcast is produced with the support of JAR Podcast Solutions, the branded podcast agency that helps organizations build shows people actually want to spend time with. Learn more at https://jarpodcasts.com/
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    30 Min.
  • The Raw Reality of Watching My Father Choose MAID | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men

    The Raw Reality of Watching My Father Choose MAID | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men
    May 14 2026
    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 luckyWhat anticipatory grief feels like after years of illnessHow one family handled MAID and medical assistance in dyingWhat dying with dignity looked like for Nigel’s familyWhy Matty’s dad wanted scotch, not sadness, at his celebration of lifeHow grief shows up when the goodbye is planned but still impossibleWhat losing a parent to cancer teaches you about love, legacy, and mental healthHow the father son relationship shapes you after your dad diesWhy “What would Nig do?” became a way to keep his dad close👨‍👦 About Matty and his dad, NigelMatty 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 chapters0:00 – “1,200 People, One Shot of Scotch”3:00 – Nigel’s Rules for His Celebration of Life6:30 – “I’m Lucky It Hurts This Much”7:30 – Prostate Cancer and Dark Humor12:00 – Anticipatory Grief and the Long Goodbye13:00 – Choosing MAID on His Own Terms15:00 – The Bluebird Day, the Bridge, and the Scotch17:30 – Being With His Dad at the End18:45 – The Plane, the Comet, and “There He Is”23:30 – Emceeing in Front of 1,200 People30:00 – “What Would Nig Do?”32:30 – Why Matty Feels Infinitely Proud🖤 About Dead DadsDead 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/deaddadspodcastFollow Dead Dads:Website: https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deaddadspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/deaddadspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dead.dads.podcastSubstack: https://substack.com/@deaddadspodcastAnd listen to us here, or wherever you enjoy podcasts:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4WWlXBPzgj151SFYRUZeSB?si=fe005fdf079249b8Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dead-dads-podcast-grief-support-for-men/id1867632438New episodes every week.Dead Dads Podcast is produced with the support ...
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    35 Min.
  • 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

    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
    Apr 30 2026
    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 dadHow losing a parent changes your view of mortalityHow Robert Genn faced pancreatic cancer and the end of his creative lifeHow Dave turned grief into music and creativityWhy he rewrote “Crossing a Canyon” after his dad diedHow La Difference came out of grief and lossThe dream where his dad said “everything’s gonna be okay”Why grief does not get less painful, but stops being all day, every dayWhat happened when Dave lost his mom four years laterHow mental health, atheism, and grief support show up after lossWhy mortality is the great leveler👨‍👦 About Dave and his dad, RobertDave 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 chapters0:00 – When Dad Passes, You’re Next1:37 – Meet Dave Genn2:02 – Who Robert Genn Was3:44 – Advice, Dreams, and Songs5:25 – Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis6:37 – Final Months at Home9:23 – Turning Grief Into Art11:27 – Aftermath, Work, and Logistics13:09 – Legacy, Paintings, and Mortality15:47 – Counting the Years16:37 – Bandmates and Loss18:08 – Work as Coping19:25 – Crossing a Canyon and La Difference22:33 – Collaboration and Support24:13 – Grief Over Time27:56 – Advice for the Moment28:34 – Nihilism and Apathy30:14 – The Great Leveler32:03 – Atheism and the Afterlife33:19 – Closing and Resources🖤 About Dead DadsDead 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/deaddadspodcastFollow Dead Dads:Website: https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deaddadspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/deaddadspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dead.dads.podcastSubstack: https://substack.com/@deaddadspodcastAnd listen to us here, or wherever you enjoy podcasts:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4WWlXBPzgj151SFYRUZeSB?si=fe005fdf079249b8Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dead-dads-podcast-grief-support-for-men/id1867632438New episodes every week.Dead Dads Podcast is produced with the support of JAR Podcast Solutions, the branded podcast agency that helps organizations build shows people actually want to spend time with. Learn more at https://jarpodcasts.com/
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    35 Min.
  • How I’m Dealing With Grief 20 Years After My Father Died | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men

    How I’m Dealing With Grief 20 Years After My Father Died | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men
    Apr 16 2026
    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 diesHow losing your dad changes over timeWhat it feels like to become your father’s caregiver at 29Why Mike had to carry information his dad did not knowHow therapy helped him deal with grief and reframe the lossWhy grief can be understood as the cost of loving someoneWhat happens when you become a dad after losing yoursHow your father can show up in your childrenWhy grief is not something you get overMike’s crater analogy for coping with grief and loss👨‍👦 About Mike and his dad, BobMike 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 chapters0:00 – Who Is Mike Wasko?1:21 – Mike Joins the Pod: 20 Years of Grief2:34 – Why He’s Talking About It Now4:23 – Meet Bob Wasko: “Larger Than Life”6:23 – Tough Love and Unconventional Fun7:25 – The Diagnosis and a Secret to Keep13:34 – Moving In With His Dying Dad15:12 – The Falling Out and Reconciliation18:16 – Anger, Therapy, and “The Cost of Loving Someone”24:50 – Becoming a Dad and Finding His Father in Himself29:10 – His Kids Ask Why Grandpa Died31:37 – Approaching the Age His Dad Died32:28 – The Crater That Never Fills35:35 – Final Thoughts and Where to Follow🖤 About Dead DadsDead 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/deaddadspodcastFollow Dead Dads:Website: https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deaddadspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/deaddadspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dead.dads.podcastSubstack: https://substack.com/@deaddadspodcastAnd listen to us here, or wherever you enjoy podcasts:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4WWlXBPzgj151SFYRUZeSB?si=fe005fdf079249b8Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dead-dads-podcast-grief-support-for-men/id1867632438New episodes every week.Dead Dads Podcast is produced with the support of JAR Podcast Solutions, the branded podcast agency that helps organizations build shows people actually want to spend time with. Learn more at https://jarpodcasts.com/
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    36 Min.
  • My Grief Does Not Always Look Like Sadness | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men

    My Grief Does Not Always Look Like Sadness | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men
    Apr 9 2026

    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

    Website

    YouTube

    Instagram

    TikTok

    Substack


    New episodes every week.


    Dead Dads Podcast is produced with the support of JAR Podcast Solutions, the branded podcast agency that helps organizations build shows people actually want to spend time with. Learn more at https://jarpodcasts.com/
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    11 Min.
  • I Got the Call… and Had to Tell My Family My Dad Died Suddenly | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men

    I Got the Call… and Had to Tell My Family My Dad Died Suddenly | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men
    Apr 3 2026
    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 diedHow to tell your family someone has diedWhat the first few days after losing your dad can actually look likeWhat happens when there is no will or estate planHow to make decisions when nothing feels clearWhy men often feel pressure to be “the strong one” after lossHow unfinished conversations with your dad can stay with youWhy grief can show up later in parentingWhat you can do now so your family is not left guessingHow to think about grief, responsibility, and legacy after your dad dies👨‍👦 About John and his dadJohn 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 chapters0:00 – Why Small Moments Hit Hardest0:23 – What This Podcast Is1:02 – Why Talking About Losing Your Dad Matters2:42 – What You Carry From Your Dad6:01 – The One Sentence That Sticks7:24 – What You Might Do Differently8:53 – What It’s Like to Get the Call12:09 – How to Tell Your Family Someone Died13:47 – When Responsibility Lands on You16:27 – What the First Few Days Look Like17:38 – What Happens Without a Will19:17 – How to Make Decisions Without Clear Answers20:14 – What “Doing It Right” Means21:58 – How to Honor Someone So It Lasts23:59 – How Grief Changes Over Time25:45 – How Losing Your Dad Shows Up in Parenting28:24 – The Questions You’ll Wish You Asked31:50 – What You Can Do Now to Prepare33:21 – What Grief Sounds Like Years Later🖤 About Dead DadsDead 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/deaddadspodcastFollow Dead Dads:Website: https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deaddadspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/deaddadspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dead.dads.podcastSubstack: https://substack.com/@deaddadspodcastAnd listen to us here, or wherever you enjoy podcasts:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4WWlXBPzgj151SFYRUZeSB?si=fe005fdf079249b8Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dead-dads-podcast-grief-support-for-men/id1867632438New episodes every week.Dead Dads Podcast is produced with the support of JAR Podcast Solutions, the branded podcast agency that helps organizations build shows people actually want to spend time with. Learn more at https://jarpodcasts.com/
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    35 Min.
  • Delayed Grief: When Loss Hit Me Years After My Dad Died | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men

    Delayed Grief: When Loss Hit Me Years After My Dad Died | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men
    Mar 20 2026

    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

    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


    New episodes every week.


    Dead Dads Podcast is produced with the support of JAR Podcast Solutions, the branded podcast agency that helps organizations build shows people actually want to spend time with. Learn more at https://jarpodcasts.com/
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    30 Min.