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Episode 46: The Man I Never Expected to Become

Loss changes us. That's unavoidable. But every so often, if we're paying attention, we realize grief hasn't only taken something away—it has quietly shaped us into someone we never expected to become.

In this episode, Jamal and David reflect on how life after loss has transformed them as fathers, husbands, leaders, friends, and men. From becoming more emotionally available and intentional, to discovering new purpose through Getting Back Up, therapy, service, and supporting other widowers, they explore the unexpected ways grief has refined their character. They also acknowledge the tension that comes with growth—the guilt of moving forward, the fear of leaving your old identity behind, and the realization that becoming stronger doesn't mean you've loved your spouse any less.

Together, they challenge listeners to ask a different question. Instead of focusing only on "What have I lost?" they invite us to consider "Who am I becoming?" Because healing isn't about becoming the person you were before loss. It's about discovering the person you're capable of becoming because of it.

Getting knocked down is part of life. Getting back up is how we live.

Hosts: David McClain & Jamal Jones
Executive Director: Marlon Jackson
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

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Episode 45: The Lasts We Never Saw Coming

Some of the hardest moments after losing a spouse aren't the anniversaries we prepare for. They're the milestones we never realized would become "lasts."
In this episode, Jamal and David reflect on the quiet grief that can surface as children grow up and life keeps moving forward. An eighth-grade graduation. A final middle school concert. A birthday. A driver's license. A family vacation. Moments filled with pride and celebration that are suddenly accompanied by the realization that someone who should have been there is missing.

Together, they explore why grief often resurfaces during life's happiest occasions, how joy and sadness can coexist without competing, and why acknowledging your spouse's absence doesn't diminish the celebration—it deepens the love that continues to shape your family. Because every milestone is more than a reminder of what's been lost. It's also a reminder of the life and love that still live on.

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 Director: Marlon Jackson
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

Send us Fan Mail

Episode 44: Grieving a Future After Loss

Grief isn't only about losing the person you loved. Sometimes it's about losing the future you spent years imagining together.

In this episode, Jamal and David explore one of the least talked about dimensions of grief: mourning the life that never got the chance to happen. Retirement together. Watching your children become adults. College acceptance letters. Weddings. Grandchildren. Growing old side by side. They reflect on how each new milestone can quietly remind you that someone who was supposed to be there is missing.

Together, they discuss why grieving unrealized dreams is every bit as real as grieving memories, how comparison can keep you trapped in the life you thought you were supposed to have, and why allowing yourself to dream again isn't replacing your spouse—it's honoring the life that still remains. Because healing doesn't ask you to forget the future you lost. It simply invites you to believe another meaningful future is still possible.

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 Director: Marlon Jackson
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