Don't Forget To Breathe: Recent Episodes
Bruce Barker
This is a podcast that follows the journey of a father who suddenly lost his 20 year old daughter, and his life after a tragedy that no parent should ever endure. I open up and talk about my grief, anger, depression, emptiness, and even those moments of joy, happiness, and learning to laugh again. I’m joined in Season 2 by a Certified Grief Specialist who speaks of her unimaginable loss, but also offers tools and strategies to help grieving parents in our ongoing journey. You are not alone. We understand the emotions you feel. We walk this path with you. Visit our website at dontforgettobreathepodcast.com to contact us and find links to offer help in your own journey.
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Who were you before your child died? And who have you become since?
In this deeply personal conversation, Bruce Barker and Kristin Glenn explore one of the most profound realities of child loss: the person you were before your child died no longer exists.
Together, they reflect on how grief reshapes identity, relationships, priorities, purpose, and even the way we experience the world. They talk about losing not only a son or daughter, but also the future they imagined, the confidence they once carried, and the version of themselves they thought they would always be.
They also discuss the unexpected qualities that emerge through grief, deeper compassion, greater authenticity, a different understanding of success, and a renewed desire to help others, while acknowledging they would trade every lesson learned for one more moment with their children.
Throughout the episode, Bruce and Kristin invite listeners to pause and consider difficult but important questions:
- What parts of yourself do you miss?
- What parts of yourself are you proud of?
- How have your priorities changed?
- What would your child recognize in the person you've become?
If you've ever looked in the mirror after child loss and wondered, "Who am I now?" this conversation reminds you that you're not alone. Grief changes us, but it doesn't end our story. Together, we continue learning how to carry both who we were and who we are becoming.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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Marissa's daughter, Skylar, died in 2015 at just four years old. More than a decade later, Marissa shares what many bereaved parents quietly experience: the love hasn't changed, the grief hasn't disappeared, and healing can sometimes feel like betraying the child you miss every day.
In this deeply vulnerable conversation, Marissa talks about the physical pain of grief, addiction as an attempt to numb unbearable sorrow, carrying what she describes as "a rock" inside her, and the loneliness that comes when everyone around you seems to move forward while you remain emotionally anchored to the day your child died.
She also shares the hope she's beginning to discover as she starts grief counseling, why saying a child's name matters more than many people realize, and what grieving parents truly need from those who love them.
Whether you're grieving the loss of a child or supporting someone who is, this episode offers honest insight into the lifelong journey of carrying profound love alongside profound loss.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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Sometimes another person's words express exactly what our hearts have been trying to say.
In this special episode, Bruce and Kristin step away from the traditional interview format to share writings and reflections from several remarkable voices in the grief community, including Jameson Arasi, Paula Griffith, Donna Ashworth, and The Grief Table.
Together, they explore powerful themes including why grief is a lifelong expression of love, how grief and joy can exist together, the difference between memories and missing, learning to "move with" grief rather than trying to move on, and why speaking our children's names keeps their presence alive.
More than a discussion about inspirational quotes, this conversation is an invitation to discover resources that may bring comfort, validation, and hope—whether your loss is recent or decades old.
If you've ever struggled to find words for your grief, this episode may help you find them.
Because while grief changes shape, love never disappears.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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What began as one father's way of surviving the loss of his daughter has grown into something far bigger than a podcast.
In this special episode, Bruce Barker and Kristin Glenn announce the launch of the Don't Forget To Breathe Foundation, a nonprofit created to expand connection, conversation, and community for bereaved parents and those who walk beside them.
Bruce and Kristin share the story behind the foundation, the unmet needs they continue to see in the child loss community, and their vision for creating spaces where grieving parents feel heard, understood, and supported—whether their loss was recent or decades ago.
They also introduce upcoming initiatives including retreats for mothers, fathers, and couples, facilitator training, educational resources, support circles, and new conversation prompt cards designed to strengthen grief support groups.
You'll also hear about the foundation's first public appearances at the upcoming national conferences for The Compassionate Friends and Bereaved Parents of the USA, and learn how you can help ensure that no parent has to navigate child loss alone.
Whether you're a bereaved parent, family member, friend, professional, or someone who simply wants to support grieving families more compassionately, this episode is an invitation to become part of a growing community built on hope, authenticity, and connection.
Together, we're creating connection, conversation, and community—so no one has to navigate child loss alone.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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What happens when a journalist who spent decades telling other people's stories suddenly finds himself living the story he never wanted?
In this deeply thoughtful conversation, Bruce Barker and Kristin Glenn welcome author, journalist, writing coach, and bereaved father John DeDakis. Together, they explore the life and legacy of John's son, Stephen, the realities of grief after child loss, and the lessons John has learned through years of writing, speaking, and walking alongside other grieving parents.
The conversation moves from fathers and grief to the power of storytelling, the healing found in authentic connection, and the role of community through organizations like The Compassionate Friends and Bereaved Parents of the USA. John shares honest reflections about masculinity, vulnerability, fear, hope, and why he believes that "hope has to be practical."
Most of all, this episode is a reminder that while grief changes us forever, it can also deepen our capacity for empathy, meaning, and connection.
Whether you are newly bereaved, many years into your journey, or walking beside someone who is grieving, we hope this conversation helps you feel seen, understood, and a little less alone.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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As we release this episode on Father's Day weekend, we recognize that this day can carry many emotions for bereaved fathers. It can be a day of love, remembrance, gratitude, heartache, and longing, often all at the same time.
In this special conversation, Bruce and Kristin sit down with Scott Allen to talk about his daughter, Jamie Summer Allen, a gifted mother of eight, talented musician, massage therapist, and deeply compassionate soul whose life touched countless people.
Scott shares Jamie's story, from her remarkable ability to connect with others to the devastating motorcycle accident that took her life seven years ago. He speaks candidly about the shock of child loss, the darkness of early grief, and the years spent learning how to survive, heal, and eventually embrace moments of joy again.
Together, they explore the realities of fatherhood after loss, the wisdom our children leave behind, the importance of finding safe people who can truly listen, and the unexpected ways healing can arrive. For Scott, some of those lessons came through Jamie's children, whose love, honesty, and resilience helped guide him forward when he wasn't sure he wanted to keep going.
This episode is filled with laughter, tears, hard-earned wisdom, and powerful reminders that grief is not something we overcome, but something we learn to carry. It is a conversation about love that continues, even after death, and about the enduring bond between a father and his child.
Whether you are a bereaved parent, supporting someone who is grieving, or navigating Father's Day while carrying the loss of a child, Scott's story offers hope, understanding, and the reassurance that you are not alone.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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In Part 2 of I Don't Know What To Say to a Grieving Parent, Bruce Barker and Kristin Glenn continue their conversation for those supporting a bereaved parent.
This episode focuses on why positivity can feel dismissive, why grief cannot be fixed, and why presence matters more than advice, answers, or silver linings.
Bruce and Kristin talk about the difference between support and fixing, the harm of phrases like “stay positive” or “God needed another angel,” and why grieving parents need people willing to stay, listen, and remember their child over time.
They also discuss the importance of supporting grieving fathers, who are often expected to hold everything together while their own grief goes unseen.
This conversation is a compassionate guide for friends, family members, co-workers, and anyone walking beside a parent after child loss.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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What do you say to a grieving parent?
For many people, the fear of saying the wrong thing leads to silence, distance, and disappearance. But for bereaved parents, that silence often hurts far more than imperfect words ever could.
In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Bruce Barker and Kristin Glenn speak directly to the friends, family members, co-workers, and supporters who want to help grieving parents but feel unsure how.
Together, they share honest insight into:
• Why presence matters more than perfect words
• Simple phrases that genuinely help
• Why saying a child’s name matters
• The impact of silence and avoidance
• Common responses that unintentionally hurt
• How grief does not need fixing, it needs witnessing
This episode is both practical and deeply personal, offering compassionate guidance for anyone walking beside a bereaved parent.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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In part two of this heartfelt conversation, Cooper shares what it has been like navigating life after the loss of his brother, Parker, following part one’s conversation with their mom, Jamie.
Cooper speaks openly about the silence that filled their home after Parker died, the loss of motivation that followed, and the way grief evolved over time, from regret about the past to longing for the future they should have shared together.
He also talks about sibling grief being overlooked, the pressure young men often feel to “stay strong,” and why finding someone safe to talk to changed everything for him.
This episode is a powerful reminder that siblings grieve deeply too, and that their voices deserve to be heard.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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In Part 1 of this deeply personal conversation, Jamie shares the story of her son Parker, a vibrant, fearless ten-year-old whose life was tragically cut short during the Baja 500 in Mexico.
What follows is a raw and honest discussion about the moments that changed everything, the chaos and heartbreak of navigating unimaginable loss in a foreign country, and the impossible task of surviving while trying to hold a family together.
Jamie reflects on Parker’s larger-than-life personality, his love for football and friendships, and the meaningful ways his presence continues to show up through heart rocks, community, and acts of love. Together, Bruce, Kristin, and Jamie talk openly about grief inside a family, what it means when people call grieving parents “strong,” and why connection with others who understand can become a lifeline.
This episode is heartbreaking, beautiful, and deeply human.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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We live in a world wired to fix things. But grief, especially child loss, is not something that can be fixed.
In this episode, Bruce and Kristin explore the powerful shift from being a “fixer” to becoming a “witness.” Together, they unpack the instinct to ease pain, the discomfort that often causes people to pull away, and the quiet, lasting impact of simply staying present.
This conversation is for grieving parents, and also for those who love them but don’t know what to say or do. You’ll hear honest reflections on what helps, what hurts, and why consistency matters far more than perfect words.
Because in the face of unimaginable loss, you don’t need to have the answers. You just need to stay.
If you’ve ever wondered how to truly show up for someone in grief, this episode offers a path forward, one rooted in presence, honesty, and compassion.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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In this deeply moving episode of Don’t Forget To Breathe, Tammy shares the story of her son, Easton, a bright, joyful little boy who was deeply loved and long awaited.
What began as a normal season of life turned into unimaginable loss in a matter of hours. Tammy walks us through the shock of losing Easton, the trauma of those final moments, and the long road of learning to live with grief that doesn’t go away.
She speaks candidly about:
- The physical and emotional weight of grief
- The loneliness that many bereaved parents feel
- How loss reshapes identity, relationships, and even future joy
- The fear and complexity of loving again
- And the ways she continues to honor Easton’s life and legacy
This conversation is especially meaningful as we approach Mother’s Day, a time that can be incredibly painful for grieving mothers.
Tammy’s story is raw, honest, and full of love, a reminder that even in the deepest grief, connection and meaning can still be found.
If you are a grieving parent, or someone who loves one, this episode will stay with you.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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There’s a moment many grieving parents experience, but rarely say out loud.
A moment where laughter returns, or a sense of lightness breaks through… and almost immediately, it’s followed by guilt.
In this episode, Bruce and Kristin explore the complex and often conflicting emotions that arise when joy reenters life after child loss. Why does happiness feel like betrayal? Why do we question our right to feel anything other than grief?
Through personal stories, including Bruce’s first unexpected laugh after loss and Kristin’s experience during a pregnancy after losing her son, this conversation gently unpacks the tension between love, loyalty, and healing.
They talk about:
• The emotional “whiplash” of joy and guilt
• The pressure to appear visibly sad
• The fear of forgetting, or being seen as “over it”
• How grief and joy can exist side by side, not in opposition
• And the slow, often reluctant permission to live again
If you’ve ever felt guilty for smiling, laughing, or simply feeling okay… this episode is for you.
Joy is not a betrayal.
It’s love, continuing to find a way forward.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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In Part 2 of Gina’s story, we move beyond the moment everything changed and into the long, complicated reality of living after child loss. This conversation holds space for what grief becomes over time, the loneliness that cannot be fixed, the misunderstandings that even well-meaning people carry, and the deeply personal work of healing.
Gina shares what it means to feel “Gabe-sized loneliness,” a space no one else can fill, and how grief work looks different for everyone. From avoidance and delayed healing to the life-changing impact of family therapy, this episode brings honesty to the hard, often unspoken parts of grief.
You’ll also hear how love continues, through everyday rituals, through memories, and through the intentional ways Gina and her family carry Gabe forward. This is a conversation about choosing to live, about staying connected, and about finding strength you didn’t know you had.
For grieving parents and those walking beside them, this episode is a reminder, you don’t have to understand it all to show up, but presence matters.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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In Part 1 of this deeply moving conversation, Gina shares the story of her son, Gabe, a kind, funny, and compassionate 17-year-old whose presence impacted everyone around him.
From memories of his humor and heart, to the way he showed up for kids who felt unseen, this episode paints a beautiful picture of who Gabe was before everything changed.
Gina then walks us through the day of the accident, the hospital, and the unimaginable moments that followed. What unfolds is not only a story of loss, but a powerful reflection of love, community, and the way people come together in the face of tragedy.
This is a story about a life that mattered, a community that showed up, and a mother beginning to navigate the unthinkable.
This is Part 1 of Gina’s story.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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When a child dies, it can feel like everything is taken, your future, your identity, your sense of who you are. In this deeply honest conversation, Bruce and Kristin explore that raw reality, and then gently turn toward something many grieving parents eventually begin to notice, not what was taken, but what remains.
This episode sits in the tension between loss and love. It gives language to the feeling that death took everything, while also holding space for the truth that it didn’t take everything. The bond, the love, the influence of our children, those continue, even as everything else changes.
Through personal reflection, they talk about identity after loss, the fading and reshaping of memories, the evolution of relationships, and the quiet ways connection continues. They introduce the idea of continuing bonds, not letting go, but learning how to carry our children differently.
This is not about finding silver linings. It is about recognizing what still belongs to you.
If you are navigating life after child loss, or supporting someone who is, this conversation will meet you exactly where you are.
Because death may take their presence…
but it does not take your love.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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In this episode, Natalie shares the story of her daughter Brooklyn, a joyful, imaginative little girl who filled every space with life.
Through heartfelt memories and honest reflection, we talk about sudden loss, the early days of shock and numbness, and what it means to keep living while grieving a child.
This conversation explores how joy and sorrow can exist together, and how love continues to show up in everyday moments.
If you’re walking this road, this is a reminder, there is no right way to grieve… only your way.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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In this episode, Bruce and Kristin reflect on the Academy Award winning documentary All the Empty Rooms, a film that quietly and honestly invites viewers into the sacred spaces left behind after the loss of a child.
Rather than offering answers or silver linings, the film simply bears witness, to bedrooms untouched, to memories preserved, and to the deep, ongoing connection between parents and their children.
Bruce and Kristin explore why the film’s simplicity is what makes it so impactful, how grief lives in physical spaces, and why there is no “right way” to hold onto what remains. They share personal experiences of being in these rooms, both as grieving parents and as supporters walking alongside others, and reflect on the importance of curiosity, presence, and allowing grief to exist without being fixed.
This conversation also challenges the cultural instinct to soften tragedy or rush toward strength, instead inviting us to sit in the reality of loss, to honor it, and to better understand what it means to support someone living through it.
Because behind every closed door, every untouched room, is not emptiness, but love that remains.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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In Part 2, Bruce and Kristin continue their conversation about the shattered future that follows child loss. Together, they talk about the milestones that can hit without warning, birthdays, New Year’s, graduations, weddings, and the quiet moments that remind grieving parents of all that was lost.
They also speak candidly about resentment, remembrance, and the deep longing to have their children’s lives acknowledged by others. This episode is a gentle but honest conversation about grief support, the lifelong nature of bereavement, and why it matters to keep saying our children’s names, sharing their memories, and making room for love that still has nowhere to go.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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When a child dies, parents don’t just grieve the life that was lived, they grieve the life that was supposed to be.
In this episode, Bruce and Kristin talk about the invisible loss many bereaved parents carry: the future that shattered. From missed milestones and imagined grandchildren to the identities we thought we would grow into as parents, this conversation explores the quiet grief of the “what ifs” that often follow child loss.
Together they reflect on how memories, milestones, and imagined futures can bring both heartbreak and unexpected moments of beauty, reminders that grief, love, and healing after the loss of a child often live side by side for grieving parents seeking understanding and support.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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In Part 3, Bruce and Kristin talk about what grieving parents often need most: to be seen, not fixed.
They explore why it matters when others say our child’s name, ask how they lived instead of how they died, and allow grief to be spoken out loud without trying to make it better.
This conversation touches on forever parenthood, the loneliness that can come from society’s invisible grief timeline, and the permission to grieve for life, while still holding joy.
Because love didn’t end.
And neither did our role as their parent.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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In Part 2, we explore one of the quieter things time actually does: it distances us from support.
As the calls become fewer and the check-ins fade, it may begin to look from the outside like we’re coping… or even moving on. But grief is patient. And when it’s avoided, it waits.
Bruce and Kristin talk about the shift that happens after the early shock, from focusing on how our child died to the fear of forgetting how they lived. The sound of their voice. Their smell. Their quirks. The memories that begin to blur with time.
They also explore what truly helps:
- Sitting with grief instead of avoiding it
- Allowing grief to become a companion rather than an enemy
- The intentional work it takes to move from survival toward living
- And why we can’t go around grief, we have to go through it
Because healing didn’t come from time.
It came from doing the work.
From brave people willing to sit beside us in the swamp.
Grief isn’t linear. It’s layered.
And it becomes a teacher...if we’re willing to listen.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
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“Time heals all wounds.”
Most grieving parents have heard that phrase. Many of us have been hurt by it.
In part 1 of this 3-part series, Bruce and Kristin challenge the myth that time alone heals the loss of a child. This isn’t a scraped knee. It’s an amputation. Time doesn’t replace what was taken.
Grief evolves; it softens, shifts, and integrates, but it doesn’t expire. The love hasn’t diminished, so why would the grief?
Bruce shares about the landmines that still feel sharp years later, the void that remains, and the difference between distraction and true healing. Together, they begin exploring what actually helps: intentional grief work, sitting with the pain, and learning to move with grief instead of trying to move on.
If time really healed grief, we'd all be fine by Tuesday. But we're not.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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This conversation opens with a promise: we will talk about child loss with honesty, tenderness, and practical care. Bruce Barker and Kristin Glenn outline the intention for Season 4 of Don’t Forget To Breathe: honest, compassionate discussions about child loss that replace clichés with clarity and care.
They outline episodes designed for parents in the earliest, raw weeks of grief, for those years down the road still carrying love and pain together, and for friends and family who want to support without causing harm. Together, they explore what grief really looks like, why it isn’t linear, how meaning is rebuilt over time, and what it means to live after loss rather than “move on.”
The conversation touches on relationships, mental health, and the outside world, how partners grieve differently, how silence can deepen isolation, and how anxiety, trauma, and depression show up along the way. Bruce and Kristin also open space for spirituality, uncertainty, and continuing bonds, and invite bereaved parents from all backgrounds to share their stories.
A grounding, invitational episode that sets the tone for a season focused on connection, understanding, and hope, without silver linings.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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As we launch this Season 4 conversation of Don’t Forget To Breathe, host Bruce Barker is joined by Kristin Glenn as they officially begin their journey together as co-hosts. This episode centers on a powerful truth shared by bereaved parents everywhere: “You get it.”
In part 1 of our conversation, Bruce and Kristin reflect on decades of life after child loss, exploring why shared understanding matters more than advice, and how grief can feel isolating even in a room full of people. They talk openly about the comfort of being in spaces where no explanations are required, the wisdom passed between parents through lived experience, and the quiet relief of being truly seen.
This episode also introduces the heart of Season 4—continuing parent stories, creating safe and compassionate spaces for grief, and expanding the conversation to include friends, family, and coworkers who want to support but don’t always know how. Bruce and Kristin discuss why grief makes people uncomfortable, how avoidance can unintentionally deepen loneliness, and how sorrow and joy can coexist over time.
This episode is for bereaved parents, those walking alongside grief, and anyone seeking to better understand loss, connection, and healing. A reminder that while every story is different, you are not alone.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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This episode of Don’t Forget To Breathe reflects on Season 3, a season focused on parents who have lost a child, life after child loss, long-term grief, and healing. Hosted by a grieving father, this recap honors the voices of bereaved parents who shared their stories of love, loss, and learning how to keep living while carrying grief.
Season 3 centered on conversations with mothers and fathers navigating parental grief years after losing a child. This recap is both a thank-you to the parents who bravely shared their stories and a moment of reflection for grieving parents who may be listening quietly from wherever they are in their grief journey.
The episode also looks ahead to Season 4 of Don’t Forget To Breathe and how the podcast will continue offering child loss grief support, honest conversations, and a place for bereaved parents to find voice, hope, and connection.
If you are a parent who has lost a child, or someone supporting a grieving parent, this episode is for you. You are not alone.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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In this first half of a two-part conversation, host Bruce Barker talks with Kristin—one of the founders and former Executive Director of a Colorado nonprofit that supports grieving parents.
Kristin opens up about her child, her loss, and the early days of her grief journey. She reflects on how her pain transformed into compassion and why she dedicated herself to walking with families through unimaginable moments.
In this episode:
• The story of her child and the grief that followed
• The beginnings of her nonprofit work
• What it’s like to show up for grieving families
• The emotional labor of holding space for others
• How community and connection help sustain healing
Part Two continues the conversation and explores what comes next after years of serving others.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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In this first part of a two-episode conversation, host Bruce Barker sits down with Kristin, one of the founders and former Executive Director of a Colorado-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting families who have experienced child loss.
Kristin shares the early chapters of her grief journey and the deeply personal story that led her to create a safe haven for parents in their darkest moments. She reflects on her own loss, the compassion that shaped her work, and the emotional weight of walking alongside countless families over the years.
This episode explores:
• The origins of her grief and the impact of her child’s loss
• How her personal pain led to community support
• The realities of supporting grieving parents day after day
• The heart, strength, and vulnerability behind her leadership
Part One lays the foundation of Kristin’s powerful story.
Part Two continues the conversation as she explores what comes after years of serving others.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
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The holidays can be one of the hardest times for grieving parents. Between memories of what once was and the silence of what’s missing, emotions can feel overwhelming. In this heartfelt episode of Don’t Forget To Breathe, host Bruce Barker shares gentle reflections and practical coping strategies for navigating the season after child loss.
Discover ways to approach family gatherings, honor your child’s memory through meaningful traditions, and give yourself permission to rest and feel. Whether this is your first or fifteenth holiday season without your child, this conversation reminds you that grief and love can coexist; and that hope, connection, and compassion can still be found, even in November and December.
You’re not alone. Together, we can find meaning and connection in the season that reminds us to breathe, remember, and hold onto hope.
grief support, child loss, holidays, coping with grief, bereaved parents, emotional healing, hope after loss, grief podcast.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
Send us a text
My guest, Sheila Johnson Wilson, a writer, musician, and professional coordinator, has endured the loss of more than 20 loved ones, including 17 in just five years. Through deep personal work, she’s found healing and now shares her story to inspire others with courage to heal, support one another, and dream again.
Contact information for Shiela and William Wood are:
ohohshielaonline@gmail.com
William Wood: william.wood@northernutahhypnosis.com
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
Send us a text
In part three of my conversation with Marnie, she shares life after Joey’s death in 2022—the weight of grief, the struggles, and the ways she continues forward while holding onto her daughter’s memory. Unlike the first two episodes, we recorded this in Marnie’s home, where she invited me into Joey’s room, unchanged since the last time she slept there. Surrounded by Joey’s art and presence, it was a sacred, moving experience. I now invite you to lean in and hear Marnie’s honest and heartfelt story.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
Send us a text
In the second of three conversations, Marnie continues sharing the story of her daughter, Joey—this time moving into the heartbreaking account of her final days and the moment of her death. Alongside the deep pain, Marnie reflects with tenderness and honesty on the love that carried them through. Recorded in a bustling coffeehouse, this episode invites you to listen past the background sounds and into a mother’s unflinching story of loss, love, and remembrance.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
Send us a text
In the first of three conversations, Marnie from Colorado opens her heart to share memories of her daughter, Joey—the devastating medical diagnosis, countless hospital visits, and the daily fight to keep her alive, as well as the laughter, adventures, and everyday moments that filled their life with love. Recorded in a cozy coffeehouse, this episode invites you to see Joey through her mother’s eyes, before the tragedy that changed everything.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
Send us a text
In this episode, I revisit one of the most talked-about topics from Season 2, Episode 9: Did You Really Just Say That?
We’ll reflect on some of the surprising, hurtful, or well-meaning-but-wrong things people say to grieving parents. I also share a few new comments I’ve heard recently from others in my grief support groups. If you've ever been on the receiving end of words that missed the mark—or if you want to better support someone in grief—this episode is for you.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
Send us a text
Nineteen years ago today, Kristen died. In this short episode, I reflect on the weight of this day—what it brings up, how I’ve coped, and the ways I’ve honored her memory through the years. Grief changes, but it never disappears. This is a quiet space to remember, to feel, and to share the journey of healing.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
Send us a text
Where Has Bruce Been?
After a three-year pause, Don’t Forget To Breathe returns with a raw and transparent look at the life-changing events that kept Bruce away from the mic. In this powerful relaunch, Bruce shares his journey through divorce, trauma, therapy, self-discovery, healing, and a new direction in life. It's a fresh chapter—honest, heartfelt, and rooted in the hope of moving forward together.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
Send us a text
After more than three years away from the mic, I’m back with Season 3—bringing heartfelt, healing conversations around life after child loss. This season features solo reflections, revisits to powerful past topics, and honest stories from fellow grieving parents. I may not be a professional, just a dad walking this journey, but I hope these episodes help you feel seen, heard, and less alone. Let’s take one step at a time, together.
Support the show
Help keep the Don’t Forget To Breathe podcast going. Become a supporter today and be part of the movement to bring light, connection, and hope to those living with loss. Follow this link to become a Supporter:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1376761/support
Rena and Bruce look at another layer of the Holiday Sandwich, and talk about more personal experiences and offer resources, help lines and text lines to have close if you feel overwhelmed during the Holidays.
We find ourselves in the Holiday Sandwich; the space between Thanksgiving and Christmas. In this episode, Bruce talks very candidly about the Thanksgiving experience he just had, his STERB of anger and what comes next.
With the Holidays upon us, we discuss the impact the Holidays have had on them, along with what's coming up this year. We talk about the necessity of allowing yourself to do and feel what comes up for you during an especially emotional time of the year. We also put out a call for you to send a message to the loved ones who won't be with you this season.
We are joined by a special guest, Dr. Jody Barker, who talks about the concept of secondary trauma with public educators. And the episode takes a turn to dive into the "trigger" event Bruce and Jody experienced, that led to the original discussion of secondary trauma. It was a deep dive.
In this episode, we try to explain what it means by "Doing the Work". And by doing do, Rena gets very open and personal about a loss she experienced this week, and how she is doing the work.
The word "grief" has typically been associated with death. In this episode, Rena and I discuss the actual meaning of Grief, and begin talking about the 40 different forms of Grief. In a world full of trauma and loss, you will encounter many people in your daily life that are grieving. Let's talk about that and the need to create space for Grief.
In this episode, Rena and I continue our "unperson" session from Nashville, as we discuss finding your joy during celebratory events, all the while you continue your journey through grief. We talk about some specific tools that can help you navigate the invitations that may or may not come.
Can you experience joy at a special occasion when you are in your journey of grief? Is it even ok to feel joy? What will people think of your tears? Does it mean you are "moving on"? Rena and Bruce dive into this subject and discuss those questions in this special episode recored just a few days before Bruce's Son's wedding.
Have you been in the grocery aisle, maybe near your child's favorite snack or food; maybe it was a certain brand of chips? And you could hear your child asking for their favorite; really hear their voice in your mind? Rena and I dive into those moments when the chips start to talk in the grocery aisle.
After The Show is a series of conversations Rena and I have after we’ve stopped recording the podcast. We noticed that we spend a great deal of time talking after the shows, continuing our conversations about grief and recovery or sometimes just talking about our experiences, thoughts and ideas. And then we realized that some of what we talk about should be shared with our listeners; sort of a casual, more intimate chat. So we’d like you to find a comfy spot and be with us while we just talk.
As parents who have experienced the death of your child, we have all had things said to us that make us say...inside..."Did you really just say that to me?" We have internal explosions or gasps of disbelief. In this episode, we expose and share some of the things that have been said to us and said to friends that leave us shaking our heads. We are getting real and raw in our talk, so there is definitely use of explicit language; there's your warning.
We are diving into a few ways survivors feel a sense of guilt, or is it just another form of grief. We talk about how that can manifest itself into a sense of not allowing yourself to feel joy, and if you do have a moment of joy, it might be immediately followed with a sense of guilt. That guilt can be debilitating and lead you to anger, sadness, and even depression and despair. But is it really "guilt"?
In the first season of our podcast, you got a very clear view of who I am by me telling my story. Now that we've added a Co-Host, I think it’s important for you to get to know her and hear her story as well. Rena is a Certified Grief Specialist, but so much more...
We begin Season 2 by adding a very special co-host, Rena Ooi, a Certified Grief Specialist. Rena has walked in your shoes in a powerful way. She will share her story in Season 2, Episode 7.
In this Preview, we talk about some of the subjects we will discuss this season and how we hope to help you navigate your grief and recovery.
This will be a really short chat; I didn’t plan on doing an episode for a couple of weeks, but this thought popped up and I wanted to share it. This will be short, but hopefully, you will find something in it that might help. The big theme of my New Year’s Message…YOU MADE IT!
In the midst of the Holidays, The First Time Since talks about those events, favorite places and special occasions that we experience for the first time since losing a child, or anyone close to us. Simply living life day by day will reveal moments of remembrance that can trigger sorrow, pain, anger and more. But this can feel overwhelming during the Holiday season. If only to know that you are not alone with your avalanche of emotions, maybe this episode will give you a glimmer of connection with another grieving parent.
I believe that during the course of our lives, both individually and collectively, our daily activities, experiences and relationships are woven together to eventually form an amazing and complex tapestry; our very own life’s tapestry. A tapestry is made up of so many threads, each with its own purpose and distinct place in the pattern being created. But why those threads; why then; why now. Let's discover some of those threads in my life's tapestry.
It was time to go back to Denver; time to get out of Louisiana; time to leave behind the horrible experience of burying my daughter. There was nothing to live for any longer. I was cloaked in despair; a walking death-wish. But someone had another plan for my life. This is the story of a divine encounter that changed everything.
From the moment I entered the Funeral Home until the time I exited, I was left with a lasting impression of the "business" of funerals. On top of being there because my child had died, the experience was one that I hope no parent will need to go through, even though I know it happens every single day to someone.
So on a day like any other, I got the call no parent ever wants to get, or ever really imagines they will, and one they never should. My daughter was dead. This episode covers the moment my life changed forever, and the living nightmare that began the next chapter of my life.
Don’t Forget To Breathe is a podcast that follows the journey of a father who suddenly lost his 20 year old daughter, and his life after a tragedy that no parent should ever endure.
In these podcast episodes, I’ll talk about the last 14 years, my grief, my anger, my depression, my emptiness, and even those moments of joy, of happiness, of learning to laugh again. I’m planning to open my deepest thoughts and feeling to you during this ongoing journey. Also, we’ll talk about a variety of thoughts and feeling that you have, either from your loss of a child, or if you are walking beside some who is living the unimaginable. I’ll talk with guests who have their own story to share that might help you, and I’ll chat with a therapist who can share her tools and advise that also might help.
So if you have a friend that has lost a child, please share this podcast with them. If it is you who has lost a child, then I hope you find something here that helps. Or at the very least, a feeling of knowing that someone, somewhere, understands the emotions you feel. You’re not alone.
If you have questions or topics you’d like to discuss, let me know.
But please don’t look at this podcast series as a “how to” on anything, but I will try to help. I’m no therapist or counselor. I’m just a man, a Dad, and now I guess, a storyteller. So let’s begin with my story, a tragic story…and unfortunately…a true story.