John Gerst

Dec 17

The Influence of Community and Parental Legacy with John Gerst

DESCRIPTION:
In this episode of Our Dead Dads, host Nick Gaylord sits down with his childhood friend John Gerst, who lost his father, John Sr., at just 21 years old. Together, Nick and John reflect on grief that lingers for decades, the regrets of never getting to know a parent as an adult, and how parenting revives old lessons passed down through generations. John shares his recent experience revisiting his childhood home on Long Island—an emotional journey that forced him to confront unresolved grief, say goodbye to his past, and pass on family values to his son. This heartfelt conversation dives deep into father loss, childhood memories, parenting, and the importance of community. Through humor, honesty, and shared reflection, Nick and John reveal how grief never fully disappears but instead reshapes who we become.

WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS:
Anyone grieving the loss of a parent, struggling with unprocessed grief, or searching for ways to honor their father’s memory while raising their own children.

WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET:
Insight into father loss, healing through revisiting childhood memories, and practical ways to process grief that resurfaces decades later.

THIS EPISODE ANSWERS: