Everything Happens with Kate Bowler

Rob Delaney: A Heart that Works is a Heart that Hurts

Sep 12, 2023

Comedian Rob Delaney opens up about the death of his son in an honest and hilarious conversation with Kate. They discuss finding understanding, what not to say to grieving parents, and how tragedy transforms us. Rob reminds us that even in unthinkable circumstances, our hearts still beat strong with truth and love.

45:45

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Episode guests

Rob Delaney

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Quick takeaways

The importance of finding understanding and empathetic people to support you in grief.

The power of honesty, dark humor, and open discussions about grief to navigate through tragedy and find comfort.

Deep dives

The Unvarnished Truth of Grief

Rob D'Elaney, a comedian and author, shares his unsparing account of his son's death and his journey through grief. He discusses the importance of not shielding others from the reality of loss and the power of honesty and dark humor in navigating through tragedy. Rob highlights the coexistence of joy and suffering, emphasizing the love and resilience that arise from deep pain. He also reflects on the profound impact his other children had on caring for their brother and learning invaluable life skills.

Introduction

2min

A Heart That Works: An Honest and Funny Memoir

7min

Children Asking About Death and Parents Trying to Prevent It

3min

Reflections on Loss: Tina Turner and Father's Passing

8min

Perspectives on Death, Finding Comfort, and Life's Challenges

3min

Navigating Unimaginable Pain

10min

Celebrating Christmas Without Henry

12min

Navigating Through Grief

6min

Comedians have the ability to be unsparingly honest in ways that buck all cultural norms. It’s a truth-telling that so many of us crave.

Cue Rob Delaney.

Rob is a comedian, actor, writer, and director. His memoir, A Heart That Works is an unsparing account of the death of his beautiful son, Henry. Rob lives in London with his family where Kate visited him for this honest and hilarious conversation.

Kate and Rob discuss:

The importance of finding people who really understand what you’re feeling

What not to say to people whose kids have died

How tragic loss exiles you to a planet where only those who understand grief live

The ways we hope grief metabolizes in us and transforms us into empathetic, heart-open kinds of people

Rob wants us all to understand that if the unthinkable happens, our hearts still beat so strong in truth and love.

CW: hard-earned explicit language of a bereaved parent, death of parent, Suicide, death of a child

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Watch clips from this conversation, read the full transcript, and access discussion questions by clicking here.

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Everything Happens with Kate Bowler

Rob Delaney: A Heart that Works is a Heart that Hurts

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Unvarnished Truth of Grief

Navigating the New Normal

The Language of Grief and Love

Moving Forward with Love and Courage

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts