Dads Don't Cry

In this deeply honest episode of Dads Don’t Cry, Peter is joined by Finlay to share the emotional story of pregnancy loss, grief, healing, and hope. Finlay opens up about the excitement of expecting a baby, the devastation of discovering there was no heartbeat at the 12-week scan, and the traumatic experience that followed.

Together, they explore the realities of miscarriage, the isolation many parents feel, and why phrases like “only” can unintentionally minimise grief. Finlay reflects on the importance of partner support, therapy, memorial tattoos, and finding ways to honour baby Georgia “Sesame” through remembrance, advocacy, and openness.

The conversation also touches on pregnancy after loss, navigating anxiety, improving support systems in hospitals and workplaces, and the power of speaking openly so others feel less alone.

A heartfelt and important discussion about parenthood, loss, resilience, and remembering the babies who leave too soon.

In this deeply moving episode of Dads Don’t Cry, host Peter is joined by Lynda, Róisín’s mam and co-founder of Fairy Footprints, to share her powerful story of love, loss, and resilience.

Lynda reflects on her early journey into motherhood, including the heartbreak of miscarriage before the joy of welcoming her daughter, Róisín. She paints a vivid picture of Róisín’s bright, spirited personality and the devastating day her life was suddenly cut short.

The conversation explores the immediate aftermath of Róisín’s passing, navigating the hospital, facing the unimaginable task of returning home, and telling her son Killian that his sister was gone. Lynda speaks candidly about the rawness of grief, the silence that often surrounds it, and the struggle to find ways to cope.

She shares how her family honours Róisín, and the small signs that brought comfort in the darkest moments. Lynda also opens up about subsequent miscarriages, the birth of her daughter Anna, and the difficult but important conversations about Róisín that continue within their family.

As her family grew with the arrival of Brody, Lynda reflects on the evolving dynamics of grief, love, and parenting after loss. A key part of her journey has been transforming pain into purpose; creating memory boxes and advocating for better hospital bereavement support through the Fairy Footprints initiative.

Throughout the episode, Lynda highlights the importance of supporting grieving siblings, keeping Róisín’s memory alive, and building a lasting legacy that helps other families facing similar heartbreak.

The episode closes with a discussion on how others can support Fairy Footprints and contribute to a more compassionate approach to grief and loss.

In this episode of Dads Don’t Cry, Peter is joined by Michelle to share the powerful story of her daughter, Robyn-Grace.

After early scans revealed serious concerns, Michelle received the devastating diagnosis of a rare and fatal condition. With limited options in Ireland at the time, the difficult decision was made to travel abroad for a medical termination, facing logistical challenges and societal judgment along the way.

Michelle reflects on Robyn-Grace’s passing and birth in Liverpool, where she was able to spend precious time with her. She speaks about the complex mix of grief, guilt, and relief that followed, and the difficulty of returning home and coping with loss.

The conversation also explores ongoing grief, miscarriages, and the emotional toll of hidden sorrow, alongside Michelle’s advocacy during the Repeal the 8th campaign for greater compassion and choice.

The episode closes with her journey toward hope, including a subsequent pregnancy and the birth of her daughter Bonnie Grace, held alongside the lasting presence of grief and a commitment to supporting others.

In this episode of Dads Don’t Cry, host Peter sits down with Jane Dalrymple, Clinical Midwife Specialist in Fetal Medicine at the Rotunda Hospital, to explore the compassionate, often unseen work of supporting families through pregnancy loss.

Jane shares how listening to parents shaped the creation of the Journey Initiative, a thoughtful approach to bereavement care that prioritises dignity, connection, and meaningful support. From soft memory bunnies and storybooks to sun catchers and memorial gardens, she explains how small, human touches can make an immeasurable difference during unimaginable grief.

The conversation highlights the vital importance of clear communication after loss, creating safe spaces for follow-up care, and supporting families through subsequent pregnancies with dedicated resources. Jane also speaks candidly about bridging cultural gaps in grief, guiding siblings through difficult moments, and how her own role as a midwife evolved from “fixing” problems to simply being present with families in their darkest hours.

This episode is a reminder of the enduring need for compassionate, person-centred grief support, and the quiet heroes who provide it.

Nine years after losing his first child at birth, Nathan joins host Peter to share the story of Layla’s pregnancy and the devastating loss that followed when he was just 21 years old. He reflects on the insensitivity he and his family faced in hospital, how he coped with grief at such a young age, and the ways he has kept Layla’s memory alive ever since.

Nathan also speaks candidly about the darkest period that followed, revealing how, just months after Layla’s death, an altercation on his way home one night left him overwhelmed and he came close to taking his own life.

He opens up about the long-term effects of unprocessed trauma, how grief strained relationships, and the support he wishes he’d had at the time. Nathan also talks about navigating awkward social moments, including the painful question, “How many kids do you have?”

The conversation turns to later chapters of his life, including Carter’s pregnancy, honouring Layla through charity football matches and remembrance, and learning to carry both grief and gratitude forward.

In this episode of Dads Don’t Cry, host Peter is joined by Vanessa, Elsie’s mam, who shares her family’s powerful and heartbreaking story. What begins as the joy of a surprise twin pregnancy soon becomes a high-risk journey when serious heart defects are discovered in one twin, Elsie. Vanessa and her husband navigate hope, fear, and anticipation as they prepare for complex surgery after birth, only to face the devastating loss of Elsie at 34 weeks.

Vanessa opens up about the emotional whiplash of welcoming one healthy twin, Riley, while grieving the loss of her identical sister. She speaks about planning a child’s funeral, surviving the early days of profound grief, and the lasting impact of raising a twin without her other half. The conversation explores milestones, isolation, and the challenge of holding both joy and sorrow at once.

Through community support, including time at Barretstown, Vanessa begins to find connection and purpose, learning that grief is deeply personal and cannot be compared. This episode is a raw and honest reflection on loss, resilience, and keeping Elsie’s memory alive while answering life’s hardest questions, especially for the children growing up with her story.

In Episode 17 of Dads Don’t Cry, host Peter sits down with Elaine to share the story of her daughter, Willow - a story that begins with hope and love, and unfolds into unimaginable heartbreak.

Elaine speaks openly about Willow’s earliest days and the quiet, persistent instinct that something wasn’t right. Reassured it was “first-time mother syndrome,” she tried to trust the professionals. Willow was diagnosed with silent reflux - but deep down, Elaine’s worry never left.

What was meant to be a family trip to Tenerife became a medical emergency. In a hospital far from home, Elaine and her partner Ross were given devastating news: their baby girl had a tumour. Soon after came the words no parent should ever hear - Stage 4 cancer.

In this raw and powerful conversation, Elaine shares what it meant to fight for Willow, and then, heartbreakingly, what it meant to shift from fighting to comforting. She speaks about grief, maternal instinct, anger, faith, and the sacred tenderness of Willow’s final days.

She also reflects on life after loss - the anxiety and sleepless nights, carrying Willow’s ashes, mourning the milestones that will never come, and finding connection with other bereaved parents who truly understand.

Above all, this episode is a tribute to Willow, a little girl whose life, though heartbreakingly short, continues to guide her family every day.

This week, we’re doing something different.

While Dads Don’t Cry usually explores the impact of losing a child, this episode gently turns the lens the other way, asking what it means to lose a parent, especially as a young adult.

Old enough to understand the weight of what’s gone…
But often still young enough to feel completely unanchored without them.

In this deeply personal conversation, Donna joins us to speak about her dad, Paddy. We explore the unique shape of parental loss, anticipatory grief, addiction, dementia, nursing home care, funeral arrangements, and the sudden shift of becoming “the strong one.”

We talk about mental health crises, signs and symbolism, tattoos and memorials, and the long road of grief eight years on.

We also gently acknowledge something that can be difficult to say out loud: losing a child and losing a parent are not the same. Both are devastating, but they shape us in different ways. And understanding those differences matters if we truly want to support one another.

This is a one-off episode - something I wanted to try. And depending on the feedback, it might become something we revisit every 10/15 episodes.
A space to open a different conversation about grief, identity, responsibility, and how loss shapes the kind of person you become.

Grief doesn’t follow a rulebook.
And it doesn’t only show up in one form.

If this conversation resonates, you can reach me here on Instagram @dadsdontcrypodcast or by email at [email protected] 

In this deeply vulnerable conversation, Caroline shares the beautiful life and radiant personality of her daughter, Indie Mai, a joyful, loving child who touched everyone around her. She reflects on Indie’s final weekend, the heartbreaking moment everything changed, and the desperate efforts to save her.

Caroline speaks openly about the reality of child loss and suicide, the shock, the unanswered questions, and the silent weight of guilt so many grieving parents carry. She shares her experience of the hospital, bringing Indie home, and how the loss profoundly affected their entire family.

As both a mother and a nurse, Caroline also opens up about navigating grief and how support from community groups and the HUGG charity became a lifeline during the darkest days.

By honoring Indie with a remembrance 3K run for what would have been her 13th birthday this March, finding comfort in signs, and holding onto hope, Caroline reflects on enduring love, resilience, and the strength it takes to keep going.

On this episode of Dads Don’t Cry, Peter is joined by Izzy’s mam, Lauren, during a week that should have been filled with joy celebrating Izzy’s second birthday. Instead, Lauren bravely shares the unimaginable story of losing her daughter.

Together, they walk through the frantic attempts to save Izzy, and the devastating moments that followed - from the ambulance ride to the hospital, to hearing the words no parent should ever have to hear. Lauren opens up about navigating post-mortem decisions, explaining Izzy’s death to her siblings, and the heartbreaking choices around her funeral and cremation.

The conversation also explores the raw reality of grief: the trauma, the isolation, the suicidal thoughts, and the vital role of mental health support and healing during Lauren’s time in a psychiatric ward. Lauren reflects on receiving Izzy’s SIDS diagnosis, the intensified pain that comes with the second year of loss, and how grief continues to evolve.

At its heart, this episode is about love, remembrance, and legacy. Through cherished memories and honest reflection, Lauren keeps Izzy’s spirit alive, showing that even in the deepest sorrow, a child’s impact never fades.