Our Dead Dads Navigating Grief, Regret, and Family Healing After Losing a Dad Young with John Gerst - Episode 29
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WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone grieving the loss of a parent, struggling with unprocessed grief, or searching for ways to honor their father’s memory while raising their own children.
WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: Insight into father loss, healing through revisiting childhood memories, and practical ways to process grief that resurfaces decades later.
DESCRIPTION:
In this episode of Our Dead Dads, host Nick Gaylord sits down with his childhood friend John Gerst, who lost his father, John Sr., at just 21 years old. Together, Nick and John reflect on grief that lingers for decades, the regrets of never getting to know a parent as an adult, and how parenting revives old lessons passed down through generations. John shares his recent experience revisiting his childhood home on Long Island—an emotional journey that forced him to confront unresolved grief, say goodbye to his past, and pass on family values to his son. This heartfelt conversation dives deep into father loss, childhood memories, parenting, and the importance of community. Through humor, honesty, and shared reflection, Nick and John reveal how grief never fully disappears but instead reshapes who we become.
This episode answers:
- What is it like to lose a father right before graduating college?
- How does revisiting a childhood home trigger unprocessed grief?
- Why do regrets about father loss resurface later in life?
- How can parenting bring forward lessons from a deceased father?
- What role does community play in healing grief after father loss?
Key Takeaways:
- Grief can resurface decades later, often triggered by unexpected life events.
- Revisiting childhood homes can unlock powerful and unresolved emotions.
- Losing a parent young creates regrets about missed adult relationships.
- Parenting often revives lessons from deceased parents in unexpected ways.
- Community, friendship, and shared memories are vital to healing grief.
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