S1:E6 | My First Born

All right, everyone, welcome back to the podcast! We’ve got a special one today—it’s real, it’s raw, and it’s definitely not an easy conversation, but sometimes those are the most important. This episode is about grief, loss, and love. It’s a deep dive into my personal journey, starting with how my wife and I navigated the tragedy of losing our firstborn, Emmitt.

I open up about the emotions that come with not just the loss of a child but also how it hit me—a father dealing with the pain of seeing my son’s life hang by a thread. We talk about how my wife, Dakota (yes, we have the same name, which has made for some funny and confusing moments), was my rock throughout the whole experience, and how we grieved differently but still managed to come out stronger.

I get into the difficult decisions, like choosing to have Emmitt cremated so that he’s always with us. We travel with “Emmitt Bear” as a way to keep his memory alive. It’s been our way of coping and honoring him. We’ll also touch on the stigma around how men process grief, especially when society expects us to always be the strong, silent type.

This episode is tough, but it’s one of the most important ones yet. We’re pulling back the curtain and sharing our story, not just to tell you what happened but to help others going through something similar. Grief doesn’t have a playbook, but maybe by hearing our story, you’ll find some comfort or connection.

So grab a tissue, settle in, and let’s talk about life, loss, and everything in between. Trust me, this one’s from the heart.