BLAW 2025 - Talking Platitudes with Still Parents Podcast
Manage episode 512521958 series 3516120
A lot of people want to help—and end up reaching for the worst sentence in the English language: “Everything happens for a reason.” We go straight at the hard stuff with the hosts of the Still Parents podcast, unpacking why platitudes land like a slap, how they fuel self‑doubt for grieving parents, and what real support sounds like when words fall short. Along the way, we share the story behind Still Parents—born in lockdown, built on honest conversation, and now recognized with nominations at the British Podcast Awards—and why that visibility matters for dads who are told to “man up” instead of speak up.
Together We Care becomes more than a theme as we compare emotional pain to physical pain, explore the long tail of grief after baby loss, and underline how presence beats quick fixes every time. We talk intent versus impact, faith and friction, and the small unspectacular acts that mean everything: a hot meal, a late‑night answer, a friend who listens without trying to solve. Think of grief like a museum where the bereaved is the tour guide; your job is to follow their lead. No timetables. No reasons. Just respect for a love that didn’t end.
If you’ve ever wondered what to say to a grieving parent—or feared saying the wrong thing—this conversation offers practical language, grounded empathy, and permission to choose silence over cliché. Listen, share with someone who needs it, and if this resonated, subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: what words of care have helped you most?
Related Episode:
- E38: Still Parents - Grief, Identity, & Purpose (ft. Still Parents Podcast)
- E15: When Faith Falters in the Face of Miscarriage (ft. Chris Cheatham)
- E16: Cliché-anity: When Consolation Becomes Controversy (ft. Mary)
Listen to the Still Parents Podcast here
Show Music from Soundstripe:
- Daybreak by Ghost Beatz
- Penn Station by Ghost Beatz
- Collaverating by Sam Barsh
- Caesura by Hale (theme)
Chapters
1. Welcome and Introductions (00:00:00)
2. Why Still Parents Was Created (00:02:11)
3. British Podcast Awards Nominations (00:05:20)
4. Baby Loss Awareness Month Context (00:09:15)
5. The Problem with Platitudes (00:12:48)
6. Intent vs Impact: Why People Say Them (00:17:30)
7. Generational Norms and “Man Up” Culture (00:22:40)
8. Emotional Pain vs Physical Pain (00:28:05)
9. Harmful Phrases and Self‑Doubt (00:33:10)
10. What to Do Instead: Presence and Listening (00:37:40)
11. Let the Griever Lead (00:42:20)
12. Gratitude and Closing (00:53:21)
45 episodes