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
Ambiguous Loss, Grief, Trauma, and True Crime with Michael & Alyssa McFarland - Episode 77
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
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:
Anyone navigating grief, trauma, ambiguous loss, missing persons cases, complicated family relationships, or the long and uneven process of healing after loss.
DESCRIPTION:
In this special episode of Grief Is Not A Dirty Word, Nick Gaylord joins Michael and Alyssa McFarland of Tragedy - A True Crime Podcast for a deeply personal conversation about grief, trauma, healing, and the realities of loss. Nick shares the story behind starting his podcast after the death of his father, the anger and unresolved grief that followed, and how therapy helped him process it all. He also explains why he rebranded from Our Dead Dads to Grief Is Not A Dirty Word, expanding the conversation beyond death into all forms of grief and loss.
The discussion goes deeper into missing persons cases and ambiguous loss, including the ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie, highlighting the emotional toll on families living without answers. Together, they explore how grief shows up differently for everyone, why some people withdraw instead of speaking publicly, and how to support those navigating trauma and uncertainty.
Nick also shares insights from his work with Gabby Petito’s parents and the Gabby Petito Foundation, reinforcing the importance of awareness, compassion, and continuing to speak the names of those who are missing or gone. This episode is about grief support, mental health, and creating space for honest, meaningful conversations.
GIVE THE SHOW A 5-STAR RATING ON APPLE PODCASTS!
FOLLOW US ON APPLE OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST PLATFORM!
BOOKMARK OUR WEBSITE: www.griefisnotadirtyword.com
FOLLOW OUR DEAD DADS ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/griefisnotadirtyword
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefisnotadirtyword
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@griefisnotadirtyword
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmmv6sdmMIys3GDBjiui3kw
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-gaylord/