The Dead Dads Podcast
The Fatherless Manual
A raw, dark-humored, and deeply human survival guide to navigating grief, fatherhood, and legacy after loss.
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He Was Wrong About Everything. You'd Give Anything to Argue With Him Again.
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Why Expert Grief Podcasts Are Failing Men Who Lost Their Dads
Read itWho Is Your Dad Now? Finding Father Figures After You Lose Your Own
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You're Allowed to Grieve a Dad You Didn't Fully Like
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Your Dad's Old T-Shirts Are in a Box. Here's What to Do With Them.
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Pick a topic
- Dealing With Other PeopleFriends. Work. Family. The things people say. The things they don’t. How grief plays out socially.249 articles
- What Stays With YouThe stuff that doesn’t leave. Habits. Phrases. Reactions. The weird emotional leftovers.190 articles
- Anger, Regret, and Complicated StuffNot everyone had a great dad. Unresolved tension. Guilt. Relief. Mixed emotions.166 articles
- Becoming HimThe shift where you go from son to “the guy now.” Responsibility. Family dynamics. Quiet pressure.154 articles
- Legacy & ArtifactsHonoring the man, preserving his stories, and deciding what to keep.72 articles
- The Logistics of LossWills, estates, toolboxes, and the practical mess left behind.71 articles
- Stories You KeepNicknames. Moments. Jokes. The small stuff that becomes everything later.65 articles
- Milestones He MissesWeddings. Kids. Promotions. Random Tuesdays. The moments where it hits again.57 articles
- Fathering Without a FatherNavigating parenthood and raising kids when your own North Star is gone.30 articles
- The Social ShiftHow loss changes your friendships, your marriage, and your career.6 articles
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Podcast Episodes
Dead Dads Podcast episodes cover grief, estate chaos, and everything men face after losing a father. Raw, honest, and occasionally funny. Listen free on Spotify, Apple, YouTube.
Why Men Who've Lost Their Dads Find Each Other: The Brotherhood of Grief
Dead Dads Podcast explores why men who've lost their fathers find each other and what that bond does. Honest, unfiltered grief for men — no clinical BS.
Navigating Fatherhood and Major Milestones Without Your Dad
Dead Dads Podcast helps men navigate fatherhood and major milestones after losing their father. Honest, humorous, and human — listen on Spotify, Apple & more.
How to Honor Your Dad's Legacy After He Dies
Learn how to honor your dad's legacy after he dies. The Dead Dads Podcast covers the real, messy, meaningful work of grief — for men, by men who've been there.
Grief Triggers No One Warns You About After Losing Your Dad
Grief triggers no one warns you about after losing your dad — Dead Dads podcast tackles the unexpected moments that blindside you after losing your father.
Why the Standard Grief Model Fails Men Who Lose Their Fathers
Dead Dads Podcast tackles why the standard grief model fails men after losing a father — raw, honest, occasionally funny conversation for men figuring life out without a dad.
The Dead Dads Podcast: About the Show and Its Hosts
Dead Dads is the podcast for men navigating grief after losing a father. Hosted by Roger Nairn & Scott Cunningham. Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & more.
Why Dark Humor Is a Legitimate Grief Tool for Men
Dark humor after losing your dad isn't disrespectful — it's a legitimate grief tool. Explore why on The Dead Dads Podcast with Roger Nairn and Scott Cunningham.
What Happens After Your Dad Dies That No One Prepares You For
Dead Dads Podcast covers what really happens after your dad dies — the practical chaos, emotional blindsides, and grief no one warned you about. Listen free.
My Dad Just Died
Your dad just died and you don't know what to do next. Dead Dads podcast helps men navigate grief after losing a father — real talk, no clinical BS.
About the show
The Dead Dads Podcast
Dead Dads is a podcast and community platform dedicated to navigating the complex journey of grief after losing a father
About
Dead Dads is a podcast and community platform dedicated to navigating the complex journey of grief after losing a father. Through storytelling, humor, and shared experiences, the brand aims to normalize the grieving process and provide a sense of belonging to those who feel isolated by loss.
What we do
Dead Dads is a podcast hosted by Roger Nairn and Scott Cunningham — two men who have both lost their fathers — that covers everything that comes with losing your dad. The show tackles the stuff people usually skip: estate logistics, password-protected iPads, garages full of 'useful' junk, and the grief that ambushes you in everyday moments. Episodes feature real guests sharing real stories, and the show is available on all major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio. The website also features a blog, listener reviews, and a guest suggestion form for people with stories worth sharing.
Who it's for
Men Grieving the Loss of a Father
Men at any stage of grief who lost their dad and are trying to figure out life without him.
- Feeling isolated because male grief is rarely spoken about openly
- Unable to find non-clinical, relatable resources that speak their language
- Grief hitting unexpectedly in ordinary moments with no outlet to process it
Men Dealing with Post-Death Practicalities
Men navigating the logistical chaos that follows a father's death — estate admin, clearing out belongings, managing family dynamics.
- No one prepares you for the paperwork marathons and estate headaches
- Sorting through a lifetime of a dad's belongings with no emotional roadmap
- Carrying the burden of family communication around the death alone
Men Who Bottle Up Their Grief
Men who acknowledge their loss privately but have never found a safe, peer-level space to process it out loud.
- Cultural pressure to stay strong means grief goes unexpressed
- Traditional grief resources feel overly clinical or not made for men
- Dark humor and honesty feel more natural than formal therapy language
Podcast Listeners Seeking Authentic Storytelling
Podcast audiences who value raw, conversational content over polished, produced self-help shows.
- Tired of grief content that feels sanitized or overly prescriptive
- Want to hear real voices and real stories, not expert-only monologues
- Looking for a show that acknowledges life's messiness without forcing optimism
What makes us different
Providing a relatable, non-clinical space where grief is handled with both vulnerability and humor to foster genuine community connection.
At a glance
- Industry
- Media and Entertainment
- Where we work
- Global
- Hosts
- Roger Nairn & Scott Cunningham
- Both Hosts' Personal Experience
- Both Roger and Scott have personally lost their fathers
- Primary Audience
- Men grieving the loss of a father
- Show Tone
- Honest, conversational, and occasionally humorous — not clinical
- Platform Availability
- Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, PocketCasts, Castbox, PlayerFM, Podchaser
- Content Format
- Conversational, storytelling-driven episodes featuring real guests with real stories
- Community Features
- Listener reviews, guest suggestion form, 'Leave a message about your dad' feature on website
- Additional Content
- Blog with written posts and episode browsing by topic/category
Credibility
Hosted by two men with firsthand experience of losing a father — built from lived experience, not theory
Available across 9 major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube
Verified 5-star listener reviews praising the show for tackling subjects men rarely discuss
Listener review: 'Touches on things that we as guys either don't discuss or are afraid to discuss about the deaths of our dads'
Listener review from Eiman A.: 'I felt some pain relief' — describing it as the type of topic he had bottled up for years
Active presence across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Substack
Frequently asked questions
What is The Dead Dads Podcast?
Dead Dads is a podcast hosted by Roger Nairn and Scott Cunningham, dedicated to helping men navigate grief after losing a father. It covers both the emotional and practical realities of loss — from grief triggers in everyday life to estate logistics — with an honest, conversational, and occasionally humorous tone.
Who is The Dead Dads Podcast for?
The show is primarily for men who have lost their fathers and are trying to process grief without a clinical or overly polished resource. It's especially resonant for men who feel isolated by their grief or who have never found a peer-level space to talk about losing a dad.
What topics does the podcast cover?
The show covers everything that follows a father's death: the paperwork and estate logistics, clearing out belongings, grief that surfaces unexpectedly in ordinary moments (like a trip to the hardware store), family dynamics, and the emotional silence that follows loss — all handled with humor and honesty.
Where can I listen to Dead Dads?
Dead Dads is available on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4WWlXBPzgj151SFYRUZeSB), Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dead-dads/id1867632438), YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@deaddadspodcast), iHeartRadio (https://iheart.com/podcast/320265953/), Amazon Music, PocketCasts, Castbox, PlayerFM, and Podchaser.
Is there a cost to listen to The Dead Dads Podcast?
The podcast is free to listen to on all major platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. No subscription or payment is required to access episodes.
How is Dead Dads different from other grief podcasts or resources?
Dead Dads is built for men, by men who have personally lost their fathers. Unlike clinical grief resources or self-help podcasts, it uses raw storytelling and honest — sometimes dark — humor to create a peer-to-peer atmosphere. The hosts started it because they couldn't find the conversation they were looking for.
Can listeners participate or share their own stories?
Yes. The website features a 'Leave a message about your dad' tool, a listener review system, and a guest suggestion form where visitors can nominate real people with real stories. The show explicitly states: 'No PR pitches. No polished bios. Just real people with real stories.'
Who are the hosts of The Dead Dads Podcast?
The podcast is hosted by Roger Nairn and Scott Cunningham. Both hosts have personally lost their fathers, which informs the show's authentic, experience-driven perspective. Roger has noted: 'We started it because we couldn't find the conversation we were looking for.'