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
Finding Healing Through Grief, Forgiveness, and Spiritual Connection with Dave Roberts - Episode 39
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WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone facing grief from the loss of a child, parent, or loved one who is searching for comfort, perspective, and spiritual connection.
WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: Insights into forgiveness, continued bonds after loss, and tools for navigating grief with compassion, healing, and renewed purpose.
DESCRIPTION:
In this episode of Our Dead Dads Podcast, host Nick Gaylord sits down with psychology professor, author, and grief educator Dave Roberts, who shares the devastating loss of his 18-year-old daughter Janine to cancer. Dave opens up about the grief of losing both his father and daughter, and how those tragedies reshaped his understanding of forgiveness, love, and continued spiritual connection. He explores the signs and synchronicities that helped him stay connected with Janine, the dream visits that brought peace, and the journey of reconciling with his parents long after their deaths. Dave also reflects on raising his granddaughter after Janine’s passing, the transformative role of spiritual teachers, and the power of integrating psychology and spirituality to heal. Listeners will come away with a new perspective on grief, hope, and the bonds that endure beyond death.
This episode answers:
- How do you heal after losing a child to cancer?
- What does forgiveness look like in grief and family estrangement?
- How can spiritual connections and dream visits bring peace after loss?
- What role do synchronicities and signs play in grief healing?
- How can psychology and spirituality combine to support grief recovery?
Key Takeaways:
- Grief does not end relationships; it transforms them into continued bonds.
- Forgiveness can free both the grieving and the departed.
- Spiritual teachers and practices can open new healing paths.
- Grief milestones extend beyond death dates, including diagnosis and treatment memories.
- Integrating grief education with personal storytelling normalizes hard conversations.
DAVE'S LINKS
PERSONAL WEBSITE: https://davidrobertsmsw.com/
AUTHOR WEBSITE: https://psychologyprofessorandminister.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/david.j.roberts1/
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-roberts-56690513/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/daver3103/
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@daveroberts301/podcasts
THE TEACHING JOURNEYS PODCAST: https://rss.com/podcasts/theteachingjourneys/
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