In this episode of Hey Pops, I start with a heartfelt thank you to all of you who’ve been tuning in. Your support means the world to me. Today, I’m diving into the unexpected twists of launching this podcast and how it’s been a dual exercise—processing grief and learning new skills along the way.

I’m sharing some of the struggles and small victories, like figuring out podcast platforms, celebrating my first paid gig, and navigating through the vulnerability of putting myself out there. I also touch on the deeper challenges: adjusting to life without my dad, figuring out who I am now, and trying to live in this new skin that grief has forced me into.

Join me as I reflect on all that I’m grieving—not just the loss of my dad but the many other parts of life that have shifted. It’s raw, it’s real, and at times a little rambly. But that’s grief, right? It doesn’t follow a plan.

I’d love to hear from you—whether you knew my dad or have gone through your own journey of grief. Send me a voicemail, a message, or even just a "hi." Let’s keep this connection going. And hey, while you're at it, learn something!

Episode Highlights:

• [00:00:00] - Opening with Gratitude: A heartfelt thank you to listeners for their support.
• [00:01:00] - The Struggles of Letting Go of Control: Grief isn't something you can structure, and that’s been a hard lesson.
• [00:03:00] - Learning Through Podcasting: From post-production to publishing, it's all new territory.
• [00:04:00] - Celebrating the Small Victories: My first paid gig in this new chapter of life.
• [00:05:00] - Vulnerability and Marketing Myself: The fear of being seen and heard as I rebuild my career.
• [00:07:00] - Grieving More Than Just My Dad: Exploring all the different forms of grief I'm carrying.
• [00:10:00] - Who Am I Now? Discovering who this new version of me is post-loss.
• [00:11:00] - The Constant Presence of Grief: It never goes away, but we grow around it.
• [00:12:00] - Finding My Style and Identity Again: How grief has changed my perspective on everything, including how I present myself.
• [00:16:00] - Closing Thoughts: This podcast is bringing me back to life, and I’m excited to see where it goes from here.

My Fave Takeaways:

• Grief is nonlinear and unique to each person.
• Small victories are worth celebrating, especially in times of darkness.
• It’s okay to ask for help—whether that’s financial, emotional, or otherwise.
• Figuring out who you are after loss is a journey in itself.
• Lean into what feels good, even when the world feels heavy.

Links & Resources:

• Learn more about the podcast - https://coriorak.com/hey-pops-podcast
• Submit your own voicemail or story about Dan - https://www.speakpipe.com/HeyPops
• Get involved and learn more about the Dan Culhane Memorial Fund - https://www.danculhanememorialfund.org/

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