Our Dead Dads
The concept of Our Dead Dads was born through the daily discussions of seven men who share bonds of blood, friendship and all having lost their fathers. Nick Gaylord, the show’s host, shares his life experiences with his deceased father while exploring the complications and realities of that relationship. Life is intense, grief and loss come in many forms, and no parent-child relationship is black and white, which is why this show touches on all shades of grey.
Join Nick for candid conversations with his three brothers and three of his lifelong friends, along with other special guests who discuss their experiences with loss, grief, laughter, and moving forward. Nothing is off-limits here. Nick learned after his father's passing that he couldn't process what he was going through alone and sought the help of a therapist, who helped him to let go of his anger toward his father. Looking back, he realized just how many people are being crushed under the weight of grief, loss, and in some cases, anger.
Nick's mission through Our Dead Dads is to offer a platform for anyone who needs or wants to tell their story, to have that opportunity. He also hopes to reach many more who need to talk but don't know how to start the conversation, hopeful that by listening to these stories, they will be able to start talking with someone.
Nick has always sought to help others and to make everyone around him laugh. Along with his brothers and friends, he has frequently used humor to get through the hardest times in their lives, and hopefully, you will permit yourself to do the same. Get ready for an emotional deep dive. Nick has a lot to say and so do his guests. He's here for you and ready to help. Everyone has been through trauma, grief, and loss. Now, along with Nick and his guests, everyone will get through it together.
Nick is changing the world one damaged soul at a time. Welcome to Our Dead Dads.
Our Dead Dads
Cancer Loss, Widowhood, and Rediscovering Joy Through Grief with Jason & Kirsten Clawson - Episode 38
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WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS:
Anyone facing grief after losing a spouse, navigating widowhood, or struggling with remarriage after loss.
WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET:
Insight into healing after devastating cancer loss, the complexities of blending families, and the hope of rediscovering love while honoring the past.
DESCRIPTION:
In this episode, Nick Gaylord speaks with Jason and Kirsten Clawson, two remarkable individuals who both lost their spouses to cancer and found unexpected love through shared grief. Jason lost his wife Valerie to stage four colon cancer, leaving him to raise their sons while navigating unimaginable sorrow. Kirsten’s husband Cody died from acute myeloid leukemia during COVID, forcing her to face widowhood in isolation. Together, Jason and Kirsten share how grief brought them together, how they built a blended family, and how they continue to honor Valerie and Cody while building a future rooted in love and remembrance. They discuss breaking stigmas around remarriage after loss, raising children through grief, and supporting thousands through their platform, Light After Grief. This conversation is filled with authenticity, resilience, and proof that love and grief can coexist.
This episode answers:
- How do you navigate remarriage after losing a spouse to cancer?
- What is it like raising children through grief after widowhood?
- How can families honor loved ones who have passed while building new traditions?
- Why do so many feel stigma around finding love again after loss?
- How can social media grief communities create real healing connections?
Key Takeaways:
- Love and grief can coexist when honoring both past and present.
- Children process grief in different ways and need open conversations.
- Early engagement with grief work improves long-term healing.
- Remarriage after loss is not betrayal but an extension of love.
- Connection and service to others help transform grief into hope.
JASON & KIRSTEN'S LINKS:
LightAfterGrief Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/lightaftergrief/
FREE RESOURCES:
https://stan.store/lightaftergrief?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabVUJKaWuDEUzwwWlmy-FuVw11cKTksPYkf2l9nKc6fLJkWcP9tjUmYo3c_aem_Omca93YD9qruOv1SwsJ4zg
FIND JASON & KIRSTEN ON FACEBOOK:
Jason: https://www.facebook.com/jason.m.clawson
Kirsten: https://www.facebook.com/kirsten.olson.18
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