Guys and Grief

Hey guys! Welcome back to another exciting episode of guys and grief. One of our most popular episodes was the finale of season 1 with our wives, so we decided to run it back and have two more wonderful ladies join us for a wives perspective episode.We are joined by Sarah Stoops and Amber Foy who are the wives of some of our Dadvocates: Scott Stoops & Caleb Foy. We discuss some of the following topics:- Exploring the traditional definition of masculinity- The impact of grief on emotional growth- Creating a supportive community for healing- Navigating grief as a couple- Tips for reconnecting and moving forward- Understanding how each gender expresses griefWe hope you enjoy the episode! It was one of our favorite recordings of the season! Please reach out to us at guysandgrief@gmail.com and share your stories and feedback.Please go to http://www.guysandgriefcom to find more information about the dadvocate programFollow us on social media accounts at linktr.ee/guysandgriefSave 10% on online therapy sessions at Better Help with this link:http://betterhelp.com/guysandgrief

The guys are excited to kick off season 3 with a special guest and co-founder of Modern Loss, Rebecca Soffer. We dive into topics like: - Rebecca's background and the eventual founding of Modern Loss - Navigating grief and building resiliency - Using humor to address grief - Her book "The Modern Loss Handbook" - Advice for others going through grief Thanks for listening! Don't forget to check out the Modern Loss website at www.modernloss.com and follow Rebecca on Social Media @modernloss Don't forget to reach out to us at guysandgrief@gmail.com Follow us on our social media channels here: linktr.ee/guysandgrief Save 10% on online therapy sessions at Betterhelp.com by clicking this link: https://betterhelp.com/guysandgrief

The fellas welcome in another guest co-host this week with Rob Reider from Sad Dads Club filling in for Brian again. The G&G Q&A discusses the challenges in parting from your loss child's belongings. They are then joined by guest Bryan Griffin to discuss the loss of his son Brooks from SIDS. Enjoy the episode! Please follow us on social media at: linktr.ee/guysandgrief Send us an email at guysandgrief@gmail.com to connect. Thanks for listening!

On episode 2 of season 2, the fellas expand on the topic of sex and intimacy during G&G Q&A. They discuss the difficulties of establishing a love life again after a loss. We are then joined by 1st time guest, Cale Foy, who bravely shares his journey of reoccurring loss. He gets real about how he's starting his mental health and grief journey after neglecting it for some time after his losses. Please tune in! Don't forget to reach out to us at guysandgrief@gmail.com or reach out to us on our social media platforms: linktr.ee/guysandgrief

On the season 2 premiere, the boys catch up on what they've been up to between seasons. With Fathers Day around the corner, Brad, Brian & Brandon share their thoughts on the holiday. Lastly, the guys discuss what to expect in Season 2. Thank you to all of our listeners for the support. Please feel free to reach out to us at guysandgrief@gmail.com or contact us on our social media platforms.

On the season one finale of G & G, the guys welcome their beautiful wives Jessica (Brad’s wife), Joellen (Brandon’s wife), and Lindsie (Brian’s wife) to discuss topics that couples experience after a loss. They all dive into issues such as intimacy, dealing with anger, and tips on how to improve communication. We are so excited to share this new perspective that our wives bring to the table when it comes to grief. Hopefully this episode will shed some light on the difficulties of dealing with grief as a couple, but also highlight the importance of leaning on one another to deal with the tough motions that we all experience after a loss. Thank you so much for listening to season one of our podcast. We are looking forward to diving into new stories and topics in season 2! Please reach out to us at guysandgrief@gmail.com with stories and ideas for next season!

G&G welcomes in Charles Johnson who is an incredible activist fighting to improve the outcomes of the maternal mortality crisis after he lost his wife Kira. The guys dive into topics such as racial injustice when it comes to pregnancy and maternal health care. Charles dives into his own grief and how he was able to overcome several challenges to make a true difference in the world. LOVE ALWAYS WINS! In 2016, Charles Johnson, lost his wife Kira, during a routine C-section at Cedar Sinai hospital in Los Angeles, California. He founded 4Kira4Moms in 2017 as a response to his experience, to be a voice for other mothers and families facing unnecessary maternal loss, and putting an end to the maternal mortality health crisis. Black women are disproportionately affected by this epidemic, where they are 3x more likely to die from pregnancy than white women. Implicit bias, access to healthcare, and a number of other factors highlight the need for legislation, support for community-based organizations focused on Black maternal health, and access to care, information, and resources for all underserved and disproportionately affected communities. He worked relentlessly with congress to pass the preventing maternal death act (H.R.1318). This milestone legislation is the first ever to combat the maternal death crisis in the United States. The bill was signed into law December 21, 2018 Always feel free to reach out to Brad, Brian & Brandon at guysandgrief@gmail.com. Follow us on instagram @guys_and_grief or follow our facebook page Guys and Grief.

Nearly every episode of G&G has incorporated the topics of faith, the medical community, and/or therapy.  So the guys brought in experts of each of these respected fields, all of whom have supported and guided the guys throughout their grief journeys.   Father Sam Kachuba is the pastor of St. Pius Parish in Fairfield, Connecticut.  He graduated from St. Joseph High School in Trumbull in 2001 and entered St. John Fisher Seminary in Stamford. He studied philosophy at Fordham University in the Bronx, before continuing his seminary formation at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. There, he studied theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. Fr. Sam was first assigned to St. Pius Parish as a seminarian in the summer of 2006. After he was ordained a priest in 2008, he was again assigned to St. Pius for the summer, before returning to Rome to complete his studies.  He is also the host of “The Tangent” podcast where he and his guests look at how the Catholic faith connects to our work, the news, pop culture, sports, and more. Dr. Franasiak is a board certified Obstetrician Gynecologist, board certified Reproductive Endocrinologists, board certified High Complexity Laboratory Director in Embryology and Andrology, and lead physician of RMA’s South Jersey. He serves as Chief Medical Officer of IVI-RMA American within IVI-RMA Global, the largest Assisted Reproduction group in the world, with more than 70 clinics in 13 countries.  Dr. Franasiak graduated from The College of William & Mary Summa Cum Laude with focus in Biology and Biochemistry; he went on to pursue medicine at The University of Virginia, and he completed his residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of North Carolina. Dr. Franasiak completed his Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility fellowship training at Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey in the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson fellowship program. Pam Presler is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker practicing in Erie, Pennsylvania. The services she provides are based on 20 years of developing new and innovative approaches to improving human relationships. Whether coaching couples, building "Grief Confidence" in individuals and families, or empowering parents to create a unified parenting plan to support their children’s needs, Pamela provides tools for healthy coping, guiding others in problem-solving their own outcomes.  Pamela earned Bachelor of Science Degrees in Psychology and Business Administration from Heidelberg University and a Master of Clinical Social Work Degree from The Ohio State University. Pamela is certified in Perinatal Loss Care, specializing in grief.  Recognizing that grief shows up in most adversities in life, Pamela generalizes the principles of grief support to all areas of practice. Utilizing a holistic approach to treating the mind, body and spirit, Pamela’s clients find education, peace and balance.  Pamela is passionate about her role on the executive board for Emma’s Footprints and dedicates time creating innovative services for grieving families. 

The guys are joined by the hosts of Sad Dads Club: Rob, Chris & Jay. The Sad Dads Club is an amazing resource for grieving fathers from daily Instagram posts, to bi-weekly open hours, and more. Together the group of guys talk about their journeys, the biggest challenges they are hearing from loss dads, a little "nobody prepares you for" and more. This is a can't miss episode! As always, please don't hesitate to reach us at guysandgrief@gmail.com. Send us your feedback and stories! Thanks for listening!

During G&G Q&A, the fellas dive into the specific emotion of anger when going through tragedy and grief. We discuss ways anger presents iteself when you least expect it to. We then interview Eric Atstupenas about his heartbreaking journey with his daughter Hadley and his inspiring work with Empty Arms and bereavement support. He brings incredible insight to the greiving process. Please feel free to reach out to us at guysandgrief@gmail.com or contact us via facebook or instagram. Thanks for listening!

This week the guys discuss the difficulties of anniversaries, due dates, and other milestone moments in grief. They talk through the emotions and challenges, and how they have honored their children on these dates. Then they are joined by guest Scott Stoops who shares the loss journey of his daughter Celeste and son Dexter. Please make sure sure to follow us on social media @guys_and_grief for instagram and our facebook page. Our email is guysandgrief@gmail.com if you would like to speak or share your story. Thanks for Listening!

The guys talk about the difficulties and thoughts of having new kids after the loss of a child. Our guest Scott Beasley then talks about Abigail and his journey through the grief process. Scott provides so much hope for grieving families. Thanks for listening. Contact us at guysandgrief@gmail.com with your stories. 

On this week's G&G Q&A, the guys discuss the power of charity and how it can impact one another through the grief process. We then get the opportunity to talk with our guest Bryan Dailey who dives into his journey after the loss of his daughter Emma. He then talks about our co-sponsor Emma's Footprints and how it all started.  Disclaimer: We experienced technical difficulties in recording this episode which caused occasional audio challenges. We felt the episode and its message were incredibly powerful and thus we decided to proceed with releasing. We apologize in advance and thank you for your support!

The guys dive into the triggers that happen in every day life and how to deal with them. Then Co-Host Brian talks about his journey through the loss of Austin. 

In this episode, the guys get to the core of what really happens after loss and discuss 9 topics that "Nobody Prepares You For..." as a grieving father. Get ready for an episode that truly exemplifies how men grieve - full of raw and real emotion, a ton of laughs and maybe a few extra expletives than usual. We hope you enjoy one of our favorite episodes yet! Don't forget to reach out to us at guysandgrief@gmail.com and send in feedback or topics you would like to discuss. 

In this episode, the guys discuss positive coping mechanisms that helped them through the grieving process. We then get to learn about co-host Brad's journey when he shares the story of Beckham & Ariana. Remember to reach out to guysandgrief@gmail.com to communicate with Brian, Brad & Brandon and give us a follow on instagram @guys_and_grief and our facebook page. Thanks for listening!

This week the guys dive into a discussion about supporting your partner after a child or pregnancy loss and the difficulties and pressures that come with it. The guys then interview Mitch Mittelstaedt who shows great courage to be so vulnerable when talking about his son Hudson and his journey. Thanks for Listening. Remember to reach out at guysandgrief@gmail.com to send in some interesting topics for the guys to discuss. 

In our latest episode, our G&G FAQ topic is the impact of living children after a loss. We discuss the importance of our living children and how they impact the grieving process. We then follow that up with our Co-Host Brandon Thurman who tells the listeners about his journey. His "Stori". Thanks for listening!

The guys unveil a new reoccurring segment called "G&G Q&A" and discuss the challenge of going back to work after loss.  They are then joined by Shane Connelly, who lost his daughter Sloane at 6 weeks old due to a heart defect, to share Sloane's story and talk through additional topics such as dealing with the immediate aftermath of loss, supporting you spouse and family, and statements from others that either help or hurt in grieving.

On the first episode, co-hosts Brad, Brian, and Brandon discuss the purpose behind the pod, future topics, and an overview of their own journeys.