Bill Cooper joins the table to share stories of his father, Frank, a British-born radiologist with an adventurous spirit and a questionable approach to home maintenance. From the perils of unlabeled dish soap to the specific comfort of blaring classical music, this episode explores the "unqualified but willing" nature of fatherhood and the quiet resilience found in keeping family traditions alive.

Learn more about the podcast at: https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/

More grief resources are available at: https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/grief-resources-for-men/

Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deaddadspodcast

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@deaddadspodcast

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deaddadspodcast

Follow us on Substack: https://www.substack.com/@deaddadspodcast

Chapters:

00:00 Why We Talk About Our Dads (and the Not-a-Therapist Disclaimer)

00:54 Meet Today’s Guest: Bill Cooper, Fellow Hockey Dad

02:30 Quickfire Get-to-Know-You: Music, Comfort Habits & Napping

04:05 Fix-It Philosophy: ‘Unqualified but Willing’ Home Repairs

05:27 Introducing Frank Cooper: Names, Roots & Moving from England to Canada

06:29 Adventurous Spirit & Mischief: Camping Trips and Family Pranks

09:39 The Side of Him You Might Not Know: Classical Music at Full Volume

10:30 How He Passed: Lewy Body Dementia, Paranoia, and the Final Episode

13:32 Saying Goodbye Without Lucidity: The Last Days and a Birthday in Palliative Care

15:23 The First Days After He Passed: Who Handles What?

16:26 Staying Busy to Cope: Work, the Call, and Keeping It Together

18:01 Family Weekend Ceremony: Small Tasks That Help You Grieve

18:35 How the Kids Took It: Grandkids, Support, and Showing Emotion

19:43 Keeping Frank’s Memory Alive Through Family Meals & Stories

20:59 The Classic Camping Story: Dish Soap in the Nasal Spray

22:10 What You Inherit After Loss: Laughs, Humming, and Dad’s Traits

24:19 Why Grief Looks Different: Resilience, Guilt, and No Rulebook

28:05 Mortality & Perspective Shifts: Losing a Job, Watching Your Kids Grow

29:13 Advice, What You Miss Most, and Closing the Episode

Guest Tiff Daniels joins Scott and Roger to honour the memory of his father, George—a lifelong salesman and "Caring Canadian" award recipient who lived by a mantra of self-accountability. The group explores the heavy transition of becoming the family’s new "roof" after a father passes, shifting from the role of the protected to the protector. From the humour of a Costco-sized errand to the complexity of navigating a parent's medical advocacy, this episode is a thoughtful look at how a father's lessons on positivity and community continue to provide shelter long after he's gone.

Learn more about the podcast at: https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/

More grief resources are available at: https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/grief-resources-for-men/

Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deaddadspodcast

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@deaddadspodcast

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deaddadspodcast

Follow us on Substack: https://www.substack.com/@deaddadspodcast

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Initial Shock

00:58 Meet the Hosts and Guest

01:19 Tiff's Motivation to Join the Podcast

02:17 Tiff's Relationship with His Father

03:54 Discussing Tiff's Father's Personality

11:55 Tiff's Father's Final Days

27:00 Coping with Loss and Family Responsibilities

27:44 Reflecting on Parental Influence

28:08 Supporting a Grieving Mother

29:39 Becoming the Family Patriarch

31:35 Living Up to a Father's Legacy

33:01 Unexpected Traits and Memories

34:29 Handling Grief and Family Memories

41:42 The Practicalities of Grief

51:34 Final Thoughts and Reflections

It's time to answer the question everyone has asked: Why on earth would two guys start a podcast about their dead dads? Join hosts Scott Cunningham and Roger Nairn as they discuss their origin story, the death of their dads, what the loss has meant for each of them, and why they hope that creating a place for men to hear and share stories of their dads might help.

Learn more about the podcast at: https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/

More grief resources are available at: https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/grief-resources-for-men/

Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deaddadspodcast

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@deaddadspodcast

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deaddadspodcast

Follow us on Substack: https://www.substack.com/@deaddadspodcast

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Dead Dads Podcast

00:38 Why We Started This Podcast

01:51 Disclaimer: We're Not Professionals

02:18 Getting to Know Roger and Scott

03:57 Scott's Dad and Medical Assistance in Dying

07:46 The Impact of Scott's Dad's Suicide Attempt

12:29 Roger's Dad's Battle with Cancer

13:37 The Rollercoaster of Health

13:50 A Trip to Europe and Decline

14:22 Realizing the Severity

15:35 The Burden of Care

16:57 The Hardest Conversation

19:24 Initiating the Process

20:16 Facing the First Christmas

22:36 Living with Grief

26:46 Embracing Grief and Seeking Help

27:32 Conclusion and Call to Action