Guys and Grief

On the season one finale of G & G, the guys welcome their beautiful wives Jessica (Brad’s wife), Joellen (Brandon’s wife), and Lindsie

G&G welcomes in Charles Johnson who is an incredible activist fighting to improve the outcomes of the maternal mortality crisis after he lost his wife Kira. The guys dive into topics such as racial injustice when it comes to pregnancy and maternal health care. Charles dives into his own grief and how he was able to overcome several challenges to make a true difference in the world. LOVE ALWAYS WINS!

Always feel free to reach out to Brad, Brian & Brandon at [email protected]. Follow us on instagram @guys_and_grief or follow our facebook page Guys and Grief.

Nearly every episode of G&G has incorporated the topics of faith, the medical community, and/or therapy.  So the guys brought in experts of each of these respected fields, all of whom have supported and guided the guys throughout their grief journeys.  

Father Sam Kachuba is the pastor of St. Pius Parish in Fairfield, Connecticut.  He graduated from St. Joseph High School in Trumbull in 2001 and entered St. John Fisher Seminary in Stamford. He studied philosophy at Fordham University in the Bronx, before continuing his seminary formation at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. There, he studied theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. Fr. Sam was first assigned to St. Pius Parish as a seminarian in the summer of 2006. After he was ordained a priest in 2008, he was again assigned to St. Pius for the summer, before returning to Rome to complete his studies.  He is also the host of “The Tangent” podcast where he and his guests look at how the Catholic faith connects to our work, the news, pop culture, sports, and more.

Dr. Franasiak is a board certified Obstetrician Gynecologist, board certified Reproductive Endocrinologists, board certified High Complexity Laboratory Director in Embryology and Andrology, and lead physician of RMA’s South Jersey. He serves as Chief Medical Officer of IVI-RMA American within IVI-RMA Global, the largest Assisted Reproduction group in the world, with more than 70 clinics in 13 countries.  Dr. Franasiak graduated from The College of William & Mary Summa Cum Laude with focus in Biology and Biochemistry; he went on to pursue medicine at The University of Virginia, and he completed his residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of North Carolina. Dr. Franasiak completed his Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility fellowship training at Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey in the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson fellowship program.

Pam Presler is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker practicing in Erie, Pennsylvania. The services she provides are based on 20 years of developing new and innovative approaches to improving human relationships. Whether coaching couples, building "Grief Confidence" in individuals and families, or empowering parents to create a unified parenting plan to support their children’s needs, Pamela provides tools for healthy coping, guiding others in problem-solving their own outcomes.  Pamela earned Bachelor of Science Degrees in Psychology and Business Administration from Heidelberg University and a Master of Clinical Social Work Degree from The Ohio State University. Pamela is certified in Perinatal Loss Care, specializing in grief.  Recognizing that grief shows up in most adversities in life, Pamela generalizes the principles of grief support to all areas of practice. Utilizing a holistic approach to treating the mind, body and spirit, Pamela’s clients find education, peace and balance.  Pamela is passionate about her role on the executive board for Emma’s Footprints and dedicates time creating innovative services for grieving families. 

The guys are joined by the hosts of Sad Dads Club: Rob, Chris & Jay. The Sad Dads Club is an amazing resource for grieving fathers from daily Instagram posts, to bi-weekly open hours, and more.

Together the group of guys talk about their journeys, the biggest challenges they are hearing from loss dads, a little "nobody prepares you for" and more.

This is a can't miss episode! As always, please don't hesitate to reach us at [email protected]. Send us your feedback and stories! Thanks for listening!

During G&G Q&A, the fellas dive into the specific emotion of anger when going through tragedy and grief. We discuss ways anger presents iteself when you least expect it to. We then interview Eric Atstupenas about his heartbreaking journey with his daughter Hadley and his inspiring work with Empty Arms and bereavement support. He brings incredible insight to the greiving process. Please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] or contact us via facebook or instagram. Thanks for listening!

This week the guys discuss the difficulties of anniversaries, due dates, and other milestone moments in grief. They talk through the emotions and challenges, and how they have honored their children on these dates. Then they are joined by guest Scott Stoops who shares the loss journey of his daughter Celeste and son Dexter. Please make sure sure to follow us on social media @guys_and_grief for instagram and our facebook page. Our email is [email protected] if you would like to speak or share your story. Thanks for Listening!

The guys talk about the difficulties and thoughts of having new kids after the loss of a child. Our guest Scott Beasley then talks about Abigail and his journey through the grief process. Scott provides so much hope for grieving families. Thanks for listening. Contact us at [email protected] with your stories. 

On this week's G&G Q&A, the guys discuss the power of charity and how it can impact one another through the grief process. We then get the opportunity to talk with our guest Bryan Dailey who dives into his journey after the loss of his daughter Emma. He then talks about our co-sponsor Emma's Footprints and how it all started. 

Disclaimer: We experienced technical difficulties in recording this episode which caused occasional audio challenges. We felt the episode and its message were incredibly powerful and thus we decided to proceed with releasing. We apologize in advance and thank you for your support!

The guys dive into the triggers that happen in every day life and how to deal with them. Then Co-Host Brian talks about his journey through the loss of Austin. 

In this episode, the guys get to the core of what really happens after loss and discuss 9 topics that "Nobody Prepares You For..." as a grieving father. Get ready for an episode that truly exemplifies how men grieve - full of raw and real emotion, a ton of laughs and maybe a few extra expletives than usual. We hope you enjoy one of our favorite episodes yet! Don't forget to reach out to us at [email protected] and send in feedback or topics you would like to discuss.