Dad Still Standing

It can be a force for good, it can bring you to your knees; and that’s just with a swipe of your finger. Browsing, posting, commenting or liking content on social media after loss can bring up the full range of emotions.  In this episode the dads discuss the pros and cons of social media. From it being a tool to build a community and find an empathetic ear; to the triggering and emotional onslaugh...

“Surely it won’t happen again?!” Sadly, however, the reality is that for many couples it will, and multiple losses will go on to dominate their journey with grief. In this week’s episode the dads discuss the devastating world that is losing more than one baby and how to cope in that moment, and navigate a relationship through what follows. Matt guests on his own podcast 🤣 (yeah we don’t know how...

They're back...Season Three...And what a way to kick it off. An episode Matt & Liam have been wanting to do for some time finally lands, and this week it is all about pregnancy after loss. Navigating this part of the baby loss journey is incredibly complex. Whether you're successful, suffer further losses, or for some not being able to conceive again - the pregnancy after loss world is emotional a...

As we draw a close on 2022 and Season Two of the Dad Still Standing podcast, Matt & Liam reflect on what has been a crazy year for the pod. It wouldn't be an end-of-season show without inviting some special guests along for the sleigh ride (apologies in advance the show is littered with puns). So, the dads are joined by four previous guests who have appeared on the show this year. The dads hope yo...

For most of us, we can probably think of a friend or family member who could have done more to support us or was that little bit better after our loss. But due to a lack of knowledge or thoughtfulness or experience, they just weren't there when we needed them. Well, after a suggestion from one of our listeners...we've done something different with this episode.  We've designed and recorded it for...

For some, the terrible fate of our babies death was inevitable. For many others, our tragedies avoidable. Medical science and our understanding of the human body has come on leaps and bounds; with research at the very core of how we improve patient care and provide the right advice throughout a pregnancy. However, despite an advancement in research there is still so much unknown about why and how...

🕯Wave of Light 🕯 The last episode in the BLAW specials and it’s all about the #WaveOfLight. If you don’t know what the Wave Of Light is, then you will in about three minutes as the dads discuss the finale of BLAW which takes place on Saturday 15th October 2022 at 7pm. In this episode Matt & Liam chat about what the culmination of Baby Loss Awareness Week involves, how they remember their babies, a...

Getting out the 💩 zone You know what it can be like at times… f#@king miserable. Well, in this episode the dads discuss how you can get yourself out that shit zone when you find yourself struggling. It also contains hints and tips as Matt and Liam draw on their own experiences of picking themselves up and flipping the switch on their grief. They'd love you to get in touch so please message on Ins...

👀 Seeking and giving support 👏 Day three of the Dad Still Standing BLAW specials, in this episode Matt & Liam discuss how to go about seeking support if you’re struggling with the complex emotions that come with this week. The dads also discuss the best ways to check in on those you think might be struggling and how to go about asking for support if you yourself don’t feel great. They'd love you...

👍🏼Dos and Don'ts 🙅🏻‍♂️ The second episode of the Baby Loss Awareness Week specials sees the dads discuss the dos and don’ts of navigating BLAW. This week can be an especially emotional and overwhelming time for baby loss parents, and so Liam and Matt talk about acknowledging your emotions, having a drink, and whether or not Matt is boring. They'd love you to get in touch so please message on I...

BLAW SPECIALS It’s Baby Loss Awareness Week, as if you didn’t know already, and the dads have decided to do something a little different. As great as baby loss awareness week is for raising awareness it can be exhausting and overwhelming for those dealing with the grief of baby loss. Matt and Liam decided that they’d help their listeners through it with five shorter episodes each day - think of it...

Easily one of our most requested subjects to cover, TFMR or terminating for medical reasons is an area the dads have not experienced personally. However, joining them for this week’s episode is Emma Belle from TFMR Mamas, who since her own loss has been an inspirational advocate and provided support to 1000s of parents who have had their own TFMR. The episode is sensitive at times as Emma opens up...

There's probably not an episode where the dads haven't discussed how your mental health is altered after losing a child. So, with that in mind, Matt & Liam have decided to spend this whole one talking about the effects, both positive and negative on a dad's mental health. Also, in a returning segment for the show, they asked dads to send them a message answering the question: "How has your mental...

The dads have a very special episode this week as they’re joined by US host, comedian, writer, producer and entertainment reporter Paul Costabile . Paul and his wife Christina Perri have had two losses with their most recent being their daughter Rosie in November 2020. The three dads discuss all things baby loss, and despite being thousands of miles apart the shared experiences they’ve been throug...

Whether you call them anniversaries or birthdays, marking each year after your child has passed will be emotionally fraught. Anxiety about what the day will feel like; nervous for how family and friends will react; differences of opinions on how to celebrate their life. In this episode Matt & Liam discuss what it is like approaching the first birthday of your child and how you can best prepare for...

We’ve all been triggered at some point since our losses and in this episode, Matt & Liam talk through some of those potential triggers and how to prepare yourself for them.  However, while we know that some triggers can be seen in advance, we also are well aware that they can come out of nowhere and slap us right in the chops! So, the dads discuss coping mechanisms for when triggers arise and what...

In this episode, the dads discuss how baby loss changes you as an individual, for both better and worse. They also chat about the search to find and adapt to the 'new' you following your child's death. This 'new' you can be a positive and a negative, and we've reached out to our incredible listeners for some examples, so this episode features a few other dads contributing to the pod.  We'd love yo...

The dads are back after a little hiatus and returning for an episode all about coping with Father's Day.  Whether it is your first Father's Day after losing your baby or your 20th, the emotions can still feel the same.  So, alongside delving into their own experiences, Liam and Matt chat through the best ways to cope with the pressures the day can bring, give out their top five tips for dads, and...

In this episode of the podcast, the dads discuss an important part of the grief journey - how we say that final goodbye to our babies.  Depending on your circumstances and type of loss, you may or may not have had to plan a funeral for your child.  Matt & Liam discuss both of these experiences, having held funerals and not held funerals for their children. Discussing all the difficult questions; w...

The dads begin 2022 with a very special guest - Raul Navarro Jr - a listener all the way from California.  This episode focuses on how bereavement doesn't discriminate, and that the experiences of dads in London, Lisbon, Lahore, or Los Angeles can be incredibly similar. We can be from distant cities but our grief feels the same - we can live in different time zones but have the same sleepless nigh...

While amazing and full of spirit, Christmas and other seasonal holidays can also cause a lot of emotional pain. A reminder our babies are not with us at a time when we are forced to act merry! Matt and Liam spend this episode chatting through all their tips on how to navigate the nativities and sidestep the Santas. 

There are many ways in which baby loss leaves you unprepared. One of the most unexpected is having to tell a child that their brother or sister has died.  Matt and Liam have both experienced this challenge, in different circumstances and with differing results. When the podcast was first dreamt up this was an episode that they both were keen to do.  Joining them to talk through their work is Kirst...

We know that friends and family play such an important role in the healing process and can be crucial to our journeys through grief. However, their close proximity to our pain doesn't necessarily mean that they are always helpful or support us in the way that we would like. In this episode, Liam and Matt discuss how friends and family can be more supportive in the immediate days after a loss and a...

In this episode, Liam & Matt interview the podcast's first guest as they talk with mental health expert, Christ Stuart , from Minding Minds . The episode covers the difficult prospect that is returning to work after losing a baby. For some, they may be lucky enough to get a few weeks off, for others, it may be an immediate return.  Regardless of how fast, returning to work can be an anxiety-ridden...

One of the most challenging aspects of losing a child is the strain it puts on your partner, relationship, and family.  In this episode, Matt and Liam discuss their experiences of how mums and dads grieve in different ways.  It is a theme that comes up often and a subject that has been mentioned in almost all of the messages the podcast has received.  Frequently, dads reach out to us because they...