Don't Forget To Breathe: A Podcast for Living after Child Loss.

Bruce Barker
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Biweekly

Don’t Forget To Breathe is a podcast for parents living after child loss, and for those walking beside them through grief. Hosted by bereaved parents Bruce Barker and Kristin Glenn, this show offers honest, compassionate conversations about life after child loss, long-term grief, healing, and learning how to keep living while carrying profound loss. Together, Bruce and Kristin create a space where grief does not need to be explained, and where parents can feel understood, supported, and less alone. Originally launched in 2020, the podcast began as a form of soul-cleansing and healing, as Bruce shared his journey as a father who suddenly lost his 20-year-old daughter in 2006, a tragedy no parent should ever have to endure. After a three-year hiatus marked by deep personal transformation, including divorce, closing a business, intensive therapy, and continued healing, the podcast returns with a renewed heart and a deeper, more expansive perspective. With Kristin joining as co-host in Season 4, the conversation widens. Drawing from decades of lived experience, Bruce and Kristin are joined by parents who bravely share their stories of grief, resilience, and life after the loss of a child. Together, they explore how grief changes over time, and how sorrow, hope, love, and even laughter can exist side by side. The podcast also creates space for spouses, family members, friends, and anyone walking beside a bereaved parent, offering insight into the realities of grief and the power of simply showing up with compassion and presence. You’ll hear the shift in voice, perspective, and presence, from surviving to living. Wherever you are in or around grief, this podcast offers connection, understanding, and the quiet reassurance that no one has to carry loss alone.

  1. 5d ago

    Who Am I After Child Loss -E443

    Get in touch 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

  2. Jul 12

    Marissa's Story: Healing Isn't Betrayal, Even When It Feels That Way -E442

    Get in touch 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

  3. Jul 5

    Grief in Their Words: Voices That understand Child Loss -E441

    Get in touch 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

  4. Jul 2

    A New Chapter: Introducing the Don't Forget To Breathe Foundation -E440

    Get in touch 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

  5. Jun 26

    One Breath at a Time with John DeDakis -E439

    Get in touch 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

  6. Jun 20

    Scott's Story: A Father’s Journey Through Loss, Love and Living Again -E438

    Get in touch 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

  7. Jun 14

    I Don't Know What To Say to a Grieving Parent (part 2) -E437

    Get in touch 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

  8. Jun 7

    I Don't Know What To Say to a Grieving Parent (part 1) -E436

    Get in touch 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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5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Don’t Forget To Breathe is a podcast for parents living after child loss, and for those walking beside them through grief. Hosted by bereaved parents Bruce Barker and Kristin Glenn, this show offers honest, compassionate conversations about life after child loss, long-term grief, healing, and learning how to keep living while carrying profound loss. Together, Bruce and Kristin create a space where grief does not need to be explained, and where parents can feel understood, supported, and less alone. Originally launched in 2020, the podcast began as a form of soul-cleansing and healing, as Bruce shared his journey as a father who suddenly lost his 20-year-old daughter in 2006, a tragedy no parent should ever have to endure. After a three-year hiatus marked by deep personal transformation, including divorce, closing a business, intensive therapy, and continued healing, the podcast returns with a renewed heart and a deeper, more expansive perspective. With Kristin joining as co-host in Season 4, the conversation widens. Drawing from decades of lived experience, Bruce and Kristin are joined by parents who bravely share their stories of grief, resilience, and life after the loss of a child. Together, they explore how grief changes over time, and how sorrow, hope, love, and even laughter can exist side by side. The podcast also creates space for spouses, family members, friends, and anyone walking beside a bereaved parent, offering insight into the realities of grief and the power of simply showing up with compassion and presence. You’ll hear the shift in voice, perspective, and presence, from surviving to living. Wherever you are in or around grief, this podcast offers connection, understanding, and the quiet reassurance that no one has to carry loss alone.

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