📢 He carried more than his uniform, he carried the weight of loss, love, and unspoken grief.

In this deeply moving episode of Female Voices: Life & Loss, Teresa Reiniger and LaWayna Berry welcome back Papi (Nathaniel Hill) devoted husband, grandfather, U.S. veteran to share his profound journey through military trauma, unresolved grief from his father's death, and the healing power of faith and familial presence.
With raw vulnerability, Papi opens up about the emotional burden of delivering heartbreaking death notifications to families during his military career, the coping strategies he learned in the military, and the transformative release he experienced after his father’s funeral. With raw honesty, he recounts how spiritual grounding and “rap sessions” with chaplains and brothers in service helped him maintain emotional resilience. As a father and grandfather, Papi reveals how showing up vulnerably and intentionally continues to shape those he loves.

🎧 A powerful thread throughout this episode is the grounding role of Papi’s faith, how it helped him navigate unimaginable pain, reframe his purpose, and become a steady spiritual anchor for his family. Whether you’re a veteran, bereaved parent, caregiver, or someone confronting grief, this conversation offers hope, actionable support, and encouragement to open up to healing.

Key Topics Discussed:

✔️ The Weight of Military Grief and Service: Papi shares the emotional toll of his military duties, including the heart wrenching responsibility of delivering death notifications and the silent grief that often follows service.

✔️ Unspoken Loss and the Power of Emotional Release: The episode explores the long-term effects of holding grief in, particularly in men. Papi opens up about the delayed grief he experienced after losing his father, and how private moments of release became turning points in his healing.

✔️ Support Systems that Make a Difference: From chaplain led debriefings to peer support sessions in the military, Papi discusses how intentional spaces for expression were crucial for emotional resilience and why these models are so necessary in civilian life too.

✔️ Faith, Family, and the Heart of Fatherhood: Papi speaks to the strength and vulnerability required to lead with love. He reflects on his role as a husband, father, and grandfather, and how faith continues to shape his approach to presence, patience, and emotional openness.

✔️ Creating Safe Spaces for Male Grief: The conversation highlights the cultural silence around male grief and the need to dismantle shame. Through personal stories and honest dialogue, the episode advocates for deeper compassion, support, and emotional permission for men navigating loss.

Key Takeaways:

✅Healing begins with release—holding in grief only deepens pain

✅Emotional support systems are crucial, especially for men

✅Vulnerability is strength: sharing your truth creates connection

✅Faith, family, and intentional love can reshape our grief journey

✅Even after deep loss, we can rediscover hope and purpose

Quotes to Remember:

💭  “When I give the flag to them… I had to be strong… That was emotional time for me.”

💭  “Once you release that burden, you feel that much better. Then God can heal you.”

💭  “No man is an island… we all need each other.”

✨ Mentions:

NAMI – Support resources for veterans and caregivers

Upcoming Bereaved Father’s Day event in the St. Louis area

👉 Connect With Us:

Have a story to share?  Interested in being a guest?  Need Support?  DM us on social media or send an email.

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