Roger Nairn

Nov 10

Meeting listeners in Tampa / Men’s Grief, Father Loss and Why It’s Okay to Laugh Again with Roger Nairn

DESCRIPTION:
Roger Nairn co-hosts Dead Dads Podcast with Scott Cunningham, a name that caught Nick Gaylord’s attention immediately: this show began as Our Dead Dads. Neither host knew about the other when their podcasts began, but both saw a need for more honest conversations about father loss and men’s grief. Roger shares memories of his dad, Ken, whose curiosity and elaborate sense of humor remain vivid years after his death. After living with Ken’s cancer for five years, Roger expected to feel devastated when he died; instead, he felt surprisingly numb and questioned whether he was grieving the “right” way. Nick and Roger talk about anticipatory grief, the future Ken will miss with his grandson and the way losing a parent can change your sense of who you are. They also explore why humor can open a conversation that might otherwise feel impossible, without making light of anyone’s pain. At its heart, this is a conversation about making room for grief as it actually shows up and helping someone else feel less alone in theirs.

WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS:
Anyone navigating childhood grief, parental loss, chronic illness, identity loss or the pressure to appear strong while quietly living in survival mode.

WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET:
An honest conversation about grief and healing, what grieving children need from the adults around them, and why resilience sometimes means slowing down instead of pushing harder.

THIS EPISODE ANSWERS:

Why do I feel numb instead of sad after my dad died?
Can you grieve someone before they die?
How does losing your father change your identity?
Is it okay to laugh or make dark jokes while grieving?
How can men talk about grief when they don’t know where to start?
KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Years of anticipating a death can affect how grief feels afterward; Roger’s numbness initially made him question himself.
Father loss can include grief for the relationship a grandchild will no longer get to have.
Losing a parent may change how you understand yourself, even when that part of grief takes time to recognize.
For Roger and Nick, humor helps lower the guard around difficult conversations. It belongs alongside honesty and care.
Talking about grief does not require the right words or a familiar pattern of sadness. A person can begin with whatever they are actually feeling.
ROGER’S LINKS:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deaddadspodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deaddadspodcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dead.dads.podcast
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dead-dads-podcast/

Website: https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/
Substack: https://substack.com/@deaddadspodcast
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dead-dads-podcast-grief-support-for-men/id1867632438
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4WWlXBPzgj151SFYRUZeSB
Grief Resources for Men: https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/grief-resources-for-men/
Suggest A Guest: https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/guests/intake/

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