EPISODE 3: Doing Death Better

EPISODE 3: Doing Death Better

by | Jun 11, 2026 | A3, FT2J Podcast

Memorial Day made me think of how, over the years, I have gotten better at “Doing Death.” That skill is not one I am proud of or enjoy discussing, but that discussion is an important one. Like dealing with trauma, dealing with death is a skill you can learn… and in Episode 3, Wade, Tim and I discuss three general topics: (1) General Thoughts on Doing Death; (2) Wade’s Commemorative Event for Juan, One Year after his suicide; and (3) What Do You Say When You Get to the Front of the Line at a Funeral?

Here is a more specific list of what we cover in Episode 3:

  •  Introduction
  •  The Fear of Never Living
  •  The Circle of Life
  •  Death and “The Serenity Prayer”
  •  Teaching Young People How to Do Death
  •  Not the Circle of Life
  •  Life’s Not Fair
  •  The Only Thing You Actually Control in Life is Your Reaction to Events
  •  The Difficult Task of Accepting Life’s Randomness
  •  Life’s Difficult Moments are Teaching Opportunities
  •  Keeping People Alive in Your Life
  •  Learning to Celebrate Someone’s Life Is Not a Natural Thing
  •  Wade’s Idea to Gather His Family & Friends to Commemorate Juan’s Death
  •  Memorials in Your Home Bring Both Joy & Sadness
  •  Joy & Pain are Part of Every Memorial
  •  Sweet & Sour Chicken for the Rest of Your Life!
  •  “I Can’t Have Him Here”
  •  What Do You Say When You Get to the Front of the Line?
  •  Tim: “Mac’s Not a Hugging Person!”
  •  Somebody’s Gotta Teach You These Things
  •  Don’t Try to Explain Anything… Hug Them

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO WATCH THE YOUTUBE VIDEO

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS | More

Shame & guilt often accompany suicide & sexual violence… Not talking about those issues makes them worse

Shame & guilt often accompany suicide & sexual violence… Not talking about those issues makes them worse

by | Jun 11, 2026 | A3, FT2J Podcast

Suicide and sexual violence are almost always accompanied by feelings of shame and guilt. Because these feelings are so deeply personal, we lock them deep inside a place we rarely visit… a place others are never allowed to enter.

In that isolated space, we often convince ourselves that these events were our fault and that we could have prevented them, thereby increasing the terrible guilt and shame we live with.

Wade’s twenty-year-old son killed himself in his bedroom, in Wade’s home, with Wade’s shotgun. Wade understands that if he’s to live a great life, he has to talk about Juan’s suicide and all the feelings that go with it.

If you know someone who is struggling in isolation, send them the link to this short video and open a door to a conversation that could be life-changing.

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO WATCH THE YOUTUBE VIDEO