Getting Back Up Podcast: Finding Life After Death

Jamal Jones & David McClain
  • 5.0 (10)
  • MENTAL HEALTH

Two fathers. Two stories of loss. One mission to get back up. Real conversations with two men learning to navigate life, raise children, and find love again…after loss. Hosted by Jamal Jones and David McClain, Getting Back Up: Life after Death is a real, raw, and often humorous podcast about what comes after the unthinkable—losing a partner, facing grief, and finding your way through it. As two widowers, now devoted girl dads (and one remarried man), Jamal and David create space for honest conversations around healing, identity, and starting over.  Getting knocked down is part of life. Getting back up is how we live.

  1. 3D AGO

    38: When Your Child Has an Emergency — Why It Hits Different After Loss

    Send us Fan Mail Episode 38: When Your Child Has an Emergency — Why It Hits Different After Loss There’s a moment every parent dreads—the call you weren’t expecting… the one that makes your heart drop before you even have the full story.  In this episode, Jamal and David open up about their first real “emergency” moments with their daughters—times when they weren’t there, couldn’t get there fast enough, and had to sit in the space between fear and truth. From a kitchen fire scare to a child passing out in public, they unpack what it feels like to face that helplessness—and how quickly your mind jumps to the worst-case scenario. But for widowed parents, those moments hit differently. An emergency doesn’t just bring fear—it can reopen the emotional memory of the moment you first lost your spouse. The same helplessness. The same urgency. The same need to get there now. Jamal and David reflect on how these experiences resurface old trauma, the weight of being the only parent in the moment, and the quiet pressure of knowing everything now falls on you. This conversation also moves into preparation—how to teach kids awareness without fear, how to navigate public safety, and how to handle those moments when you simply can’t get to them right away. Because sometimes the lesson isn’t just in what happened… it’s in what it made you feel again—and how you respond moving forward. Getting Back Up: Finding Life After Death is a podcast that explores the raw, unfiltered reality of surviving profound personal loss—and finding a way forward.  The idea for the podcast was born after David and Jamal met in 2023. Both widowers, who had lost their wives to cancer, quickly found a deep connection through multiple conversations about pain, perseverance, and parenthood. They realized that while men often bond over music, sports, or TV, they rarely speak candidly about loss or emotional recovery. Getting Back Up was created to change that narrative—blending the everyday with the existential in a format that’s as relatable as it is real.  Getting knocked down is part of life. Getting back up is how we live.  Hosts: David McClain & Jamal Jones Executive Directors: Marlon Jackson & Ted Winners (Like A Gazelle Productions) Editing: Marlon Jackson Music:  Grenada, "Treasure"  McDonald, Otis, "Phife for Life", otismusic.com Thank you for listening! Follow us on Instagram/TikTok @getbackuppodcast and on X @GBUpodcast

    54 min

  2. APR 29

    37. When Life Hits Again - Unemployed after loss

    Send us Fan Mail Episode 37: When Life Hits Again - Unemployed after loss What happens when life knocks you down… again? In this episode, Jamal and David step into something raw and unfiltered. Just weeks after being laid off, Jamal shares what it feels like to take another hit—after already navigating the loss of a spouse and rebuilding life once before. This isn’t a reflection episode. This is real time. There are no polished answers here—just honest conversation about identity, pressure, fatherhood, and the quiet weight of starting over when you thought you were already back on your feet. They talk about what grief taught them that still applies, what feels different this time, and what “getting back up” actually looks like when you don’t have clarity—only responsibility. If you’re in a season where life feels uncertain, heavy, or unfinished… this episode meets you right there. Getting Back Up: Finding Life After Death is a podcast that explores the raw, unfiltered reality of surviving profound personal loss—and finding a way forward.  The idea for the podcast was born after David and Jamal met in 2023. Both widowers, who had lost their wives to cancer, quickly found a deep connection through multiple conversations about pain, perseverance, and parenthood. They realized that while men often bond over music, sports, or TV, they rarely speak candidly about loss or emotional recovery. Getting Back Up was created to change that narrative—blending the everyday with the existential in a format that’s as relatable as it is real.  Getting knocked down is part of life. Getting back up is how we live.  Hosts: David McClain & Jamal Jones Executive Directors: Marlon Jackson & Ted Winners (Like A Gazelle Productions) Editing: Marlon Jackson Music:  Grenada, "Treasure"  McDonald, Otis, "Phife for Life", otismusic.com Thank you for listening! Follow us on Instagram/TikTok @getbackuppodcast and on X @GBUpodcast

    59 min

  3. MAR 31

    36: Finding Passion & Purpose Again

    Send us Fan Mail Episode 36: Finding Passion & Purpose Again There comes a moment in the journey where survival isn’t the question anymore… it’s now what? In this episode, Jamal and David dive into one of the hardest transitions after loss—moving from just getting through the day to actually building a life again. They explore what it means to rediscover purpose when the life you once knew no longer exists, and why so many widowers and widows feel stuck between honoring the past and wanting more from the future. Through personal reflection and real talk, they unpack how purpose doesn’t disappear—it gets disrupted. From finding small sparks of passion to rebuilding identity through action, community, and discipline, this episode offers a grounded path forward. If you’ve been asking yourself who you are now and what comes next… this conversation is for you. Getting Back Up: Finding Life After Death is a podcast that explores the raw, unfiltered reality of surviving profound personal loss—and finding a way forward.  The idea for the podcast was born after David and Jamal met in 2023. Both widowers, who had lost their wives to cancer, quickly found a deep connection through multiple conversations about pain, perseverance, and parenthood. They realized that while men often bond over music, sports, or TV, they rarely speak candidly about loss or emotional recovery. Getting Back Up was created to change that narrative—blending the everyday with the existential in a format that’s as relatable as it is real.  Thank you for your support! Hosts: David McClain & Jamal Jones Executive Directors: Marlon Jackson & Ted Winners (Like A Gazelle Productions) Editing: Marlon Jackson Music:  Grenada, "Treasure"  McDonald, Otis, "Phife for Life", otismusic.com Thank you for listening! Follow us on Instagram/TikTok @getbackuppodcast and on X @GBUpodcast

    47 min

  4. MAR 24

    35: In-Laws or Out-Laws? — Dealing with Their Family After You Move On

    Send us Fan Mail Episode 35: In-Laws or Out-Laws? — Dealing with Their Family After You Move On Moving forward after loss isn’t just about you—it can shift every relationship connected to your past. In this episode, Jamal and David tackle one of the most complicated dynamics widowers face: navigating relationships with in-laws while building a new life. They share their personal experiences—from deep bonds that continue to grow, to relationships that have changed or become more distant—and unpack the emotional reality behind it all. Why does moving forward sometimes feel like betrayal? Why can new relationships trigger tension? And how do you honor your late spouse while still choosing happiness? This conversation dives into boundaries, family expectations, loyalty tests, and the quiet pressure that can come through children and new beginnings. Whether relationships with in-laws strengthen, shift, or fade, Jamal and David remind listeners that healing isn’t a group decision—it’s personal. And moving forward doesn’t erase the past… it means you’re still choosing to live. Getting Back Up: Finding Life After Death is a podcast that explores the raw, unfiltered reality of surviving profound personal loss—and finding a way forward.  The idea for the podcast was born after David and Jamal met in 2023. Both widowers, who had lost their wives to cancer, quickly found a deep connection through multiple conversations about pain, perseverance, and parenthood. They realized that while men often bond over music, sports, or TV, they rarely speak candidly about loss or emotional recovery. Getting Back Up was created to change that narrative—blending the everyday with the existential in a format that’s as relatable as it is real.  Thank you for your support! Hosts: David McClain & Jamal Jones Executive Directors: Marlon Jackson & Ted Winners (Like A Gazelle Productions) Editing: Marlon Jackson Music:  Grenada, "Treasure"  McDonald, Otis, "Phife for Life", otismusic.com Thank you for listening! Follow us on Instagram/TikTok @getbackuppodcast and on X @GBUpodcast

    50 min

  5. MAR 17

    34: Bitter Sweet Sixteens - Navigating Fatherhood Through Milestones

    Send us Fan Mail Episode 34: Bitter Sweet Sixteens — Navigating  Fatherhood Through Milestones Turning sixteen is supposed to be a celebration — a moment where parents look at their daughters and realize childhood is slowly giving way to adulthood. But for widower fathers, milestones like a Sweet Sixteen can carry a different emotional weight. In this episode, Jamal and David reflect on their daughters’ sixteenth birthdays and the bittersweet mix of pride, preparation, and grief that comes with it. They share how they planned the celebrations, who helped make those moments special, and the quiet questions many widower dads ask themselves: Am I doing this right? Am I enough for her without her mom? From candle-lighting ceremonies to family gatherings and private reflections, this conversation explores how fathers honor the mothers who should be there, while guiding their daughters into the next chapter of life. It’s about showing up, building a circle of support, and recognizing that sometimes the most powerful thing a dad can offer isn’t perfection — it’s presence.   Getting Back Up: Finding Life After Death is a podcast that explores the raw, unfiltered reality of surviving profound personal loss—and finding a way forward.  The idea for the podcast was born after David and Jamal met in 2023. Both widowers, who had lost their wives to cancer, quickly found a deep connection through multiple conversations about pain, perseverance, and parenthood. They realized that while men often bond over music, sports, or TV, they rarely speak candidly about loss or emotional recovery. Getting Back Up was created to change that narrative—blending the everyday with the existential in a format that’s as relatable as it is real.  Thank you for your support! Hosts: David McClain & Jamal Jones Executive Directors: Marlon Jackson & Ted Winners (Like A Gazelle Productions) Editing: Marlon Jackson Music:  Grenada, "Treasure"  McDonald, Otis, "Phife for Life", otismusic.com Thank you for listening! Follow us on Instagram/TikTok @getbackuppodcast and on X @GBUpodcast

    51 min

  6. MAR 10

    33: Am I Depressed… or Am I Grieving?

    Send us Fan Mail Episode 33: Am I Depressed… or Am I Grieving? In this episode, Jamal and David take on a question many widowers wrestle with quietly: Am I depressed… or am I grieving? It’s a question that usually shows up late at night, in the quiet moments when the distractions fade and the weight of loss feels hardest to understand. Together, they unpack what grief often looks like in men — exhaustion, irritability, numbness, brain fog, and the pressure to keep functioning even when something inside feels off. They also explore the important differences between grief and depression, how the two can overlap, and why asking for help isn’t a sign that grief “failed.” It’s a sign you’re paying attention. This episode is an honest conversation about emotional limits, faith, strength, and why you’re not broken for feeling the way you do. Getting Back Up: Finding Life After Death is a podcast that explores the raw, unfiltered reality of surviving profound personal loss—and finding a way forward.  The idea for the podcast was born after David and Jamal met in 2023. Both widowers, who had lost their wives to cancer, quickly found a deep connection through multiple conversations about pain, perseverance, and parenthood. They realized that while men often bond over music, sports, or TV, they rarely speak candidly about loss or emotional recovery. Getting Back Up was created to change that narrative—blending the everyday with the existential in a format that’s as relatable as it is real.  Thank you for your support! Hosts: David McClain & Jamal Jones Executive Directors: Marlon Jackson & Ted Winners (Like A Gazelle Productions) Editing: Marlon Jackson Music:  Grenada, "Treasure"  McDonald, Otis, "Phife for Life", otismusic.com Thank you for listening! Follow us on Instagram/TikTok @getbackuppodcast and on X @GBUpodcast

    57 min

  7. MAR 3

    32: Telling the Story With Heart — A Conversation with Dr. Nicole Clark

    Send us Fan Mail Episode 32: Telling the Story With Heart — A Conversation with Dr. Nicole Clark  In this episode, Jamal and David sit down with Dr. Nicole Clark, Emmy award-winning anchor and reporter for Spectrum News Texas — but before the newsroom, before the camera, there was nearly two decades in psychology. Nicole opens up about how her background as a Ph.D.-level psychotherapist shapes the way she tells stories today — especially the hard ones. From covering families in crisis to interviewing individuals turning pain into purpose, she shares how empathy, emotional intelligence, and credibility intersect in journalism. We talk about the stories that stay with you long after the mic is off. How to report on trauma without becoming detached. And what it means to use media not just to inform — but to humanize. Nicole reflects on why she does this work, what continues to inspire her, and how storytelling can create light even in the darkest moments. This conversation is about purpose, resilience, and the responsibility that comes with holding someone else’s story. Getting Back Up: Finding Life After Death is a podcast that explores the raw, unfiltered reality of surviving profound personal loss—and finding a way forward.  The idea for the podcast was born after David and Jamal met in 2023. Both widowers, who had lost their wives to cancer, quickly found a deep connection through multiple conversations about pain, perseverance, and parenthood. They realized that while men often bond over music, sports, or TV, they rarely speak candidly about loss or emotional recovery. Getting Back Up was created to change that narrative—blending the everyday with the existential in a format that’s as relatable as it is real.  Thank you for your support! Hosts: David McClain & Jamal Jones Guest:  Jocelyn Barrera, Executive Director of The Christi Center Executive Directors: Marlon Jackson & Ted Winners (Like A Gazelle Productions) Editing: Marlon Jackson Music:  Grenada, "Treasure"  McDonald, Otis, "Phife for Life", otismusic.com Thank you for listening! Follow us on Instagram/TikTok @getbackuppodcast and on X @GBUpodcast

    41 min

  8. FEB 24

    31: Grief Beyond Death — A Conversation with Jocelyn Barrera of The Christi Center

    Send us Fan Mail Episode 31: Grief Beyond Death — A Conversation with Jocelyn Barrera of The Christi Center In this on-location episode in Austin, Jamal and David sit down with Jocelyn Barrera, Executive and Clinical Director of The Christi Center, to explore grief in all its forms — not just death, but displacement, illness, violence, and the quiet losses that reshape families. Jocelyn shares her journey from bilingual services coordinator to leading one of Austin’s most impactful grief support organizations. The conversation moves beyond textbook definitions of grief and into lived realities — supporting families navigating loss due to sickness, sudden violence, and even the emotional rupture caused by ICE raids and deportation. Together, they unpack how race, racism, culture, and community all shape how grief is experienced and expressed — and why peer-based support can be life-changing. This episode challenges the idea that grief is only about funerals. Sometimes grief looks like fear. Sometimes it looks like separation. Sometimes it looks like carrying a weight no one else can see. And in every case, connection matters. Getting Back Up: Finding Life After Death is a podcast that explores the raw, unfiltered reality of surviving profound personal loss—and finding a way forward.  The idea for the podcast was born after David and Jamal met in 2023. Both widowers, who had lost their wives to cancer, quickly found a deep connection through multiple conversations about pain, perseverance, and parenthood. They realized that while men often bond over music, sports, or TV, they rarely speak candidly about loss or emotional recovery. Getting Back Up was created to change that narrative—blending the everyday with the existential in a format that’s as relatable as it is real.  Thank you for your support! Hosts: David McClain & Jamal Jones Guest:  Jocelyn Barrera, Executive Director of The Christi Center Executive Directors: Marlon Jackson & Ted Winners (Like A Gazelle Productions) Editing: Marlon Jackson Music:  Grenada, "Treasure"  McDonald, Otis, "Phife for Life", otismusic.com Thank you for listening! Follow us on Instagram/TikTok @getbackuppodcast and on X @GBUpodcast

    50 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Two fathers. Two stories of loss. One mission to get back up. Real conversations with two men learning to navigate life, raise children, and find love again…after loss. Hosted by Jamal Jones and David McClain, Getting Back Up: Life after Death is a real, raw, and often humorous podcast about what comes after the unthinkable—losing a partner, facing grief, and finding your way through it. As two widowers, now devoted girl dads (and one remarried man), Jamal and David create space for honest conversations around healing, identity, and starting over.  Getting knocked down is part of life. Getting back up is how we live.

Information

  • Creator
    Jamal Jones & David McClain
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 2025 Getting Back Up Podcast: Finding Life After Death (Running Man Ventures/ Enclave Endeavors Group)
  • Show Website
    Getting Back Up Podcast: Finding Life After Death

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