What Happens Next: Stories of Grief and Loss | Ryder’s Story https://nickmendelke.podbean.com This podcast explores life’s most unexpected and life-altering moments—grief, trauma, loss, and the long journey of healing after everything changes.

From devastating diagnoses to unimaginable loss, these are the moments that don’t just interrupt your life—they redefine it. Through raw personal storytelling and honest conversations, we dive into what happens next: how we cope with grief, navigate trauma, rebuild identity, and find a way forward after loss.

Season One focuses on the loss of our son, Ryder, during a full-term pregnancy—a sudden and heartbreaking experience of child loss and stillbirth. This season shares the shock, heartbreak, and emotional aftermath of losing a baby, while exploring grief in real time and the difficult path toward healing.

This is not a podcast about quick fixes or perfect healing. It’s about real grief, mental health, resilience, and what it truly looks like to survive loss—and slowly rebuild a life that will never be the same.

If you’re navigating grief, coping with trauma, or searching for hope after loss, this podcast offers honesty, connection, and a reminder that you are not alone.

]]> Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:53:09 -0500 https://podbean.com/?v=5.5 en Copyright 2026 All rights reserved. Health & Fitness:Mental Health 1440 serial This podcast is a raw and honest look at what happens when life delivers the kind of loss that changes everything. After the stillbirth of our son Ryder following a healthy, full-term pregnancy, my world—and our family’s world—was turned upside down. In this series, I share the story of the day we lost him, the immediate aftermath, and the long road through grief that followed. These episodes are not scripted or polished. They are real conversations about grief, anger, survival, therapy, relationships, and eventually learning how to live again after unimaginable loss. The first season focuses on Ryder’s story and the moments that shaped our journey—from the hospital room, to the silence of coming home without him, to finding support, rebuilding our relationship, and discovering purpose again. This podcast isn’t about having the answers. It’s about telling the truth about grief and reminding anyone walking this path that they are not alone. Content Note: This podcast contains discussions about pregnancy and infant loss, grief, trauma, and the emotional aftermath of losing a child. Some episodes include descriptions of medical events and emergency situations, and occasional mild language. Listener discretion is advised. Nick Mendelke - Parenting After Loss Nick Mendelke - Parenting After Loss No false https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/22142231/Untitled_Projectb5izv.jpg What Happens Next: Stories of Grief and Loss | Ryder’s Story https://nickmendelke.podbean.com 144 144 The Day Everything Changed: Losing Our Son Ryder | A Loss Dad’s Grief Journey The Day Everything Changed: Losing Our Son Ryder | A Loss Dad’s Grief Journey https://nickmendelke.podbean.com/e/meeting-ryder-love-and-loss-in-the-same-breath/ https://nickmendelke.podbean.com/e/meeting-ryder-love-and-loss-in-the-same-breath/#comments Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:08:50 -0600 nickmendelke.podbean.com/f2032066-2c51-3ec0-86b4-21e9cff29058 What started as an ordinary day became the day that changed our lives forever. In this episode, I recount the 911 call, the uncertainty inside the hospital, the waiting and movement from room to room, and the emergency C-section that followed. It’s the story of the day we met our son Ryder—and the devastating moment we were told he was gone.

]]> What started as an ordinary day became the day that changed our lives forever. In this episode, I recount the 911 call, the uncertainty inside the hospital, the waiting and movement from room to room, and the emergency C-section that followed. It’s the story of the day we met our son Ryder—and the devastating moment we were told he was gone.

]]> Nick Mendelke - Parenting After Loss false No 1933 1 1 full Grief Therapy After Losing a Child: How We Found Help, Healing, and Community Grief Therapy After Losing a Child: How We Found Help, Healing, and Community https://nickmendelke.podbean.com/e/episode-3-learning-to-survive-the-grief/ https://nickmendelke.podbean.com/e/episode-3-learning-to-survive-the-grief/#comments Fri, 06 Mar 2026 15:48:42 -0600 nickmendelke.podbean.com/01d45c42-5960-382d-87cd-9f16e0c7cb4b After Ryder’s death, Ann and I quickly realized we couldn’t navigate the weight of grief alone. This episode explores our experience with therapy — individual, couples, and the group sessions that ultimately helped us find understanding, community, and a path toward surviving the unimaginable.

 

]]> After Ryder’s death, Ann and I quickly realized we couldn’t navigate the weight of grief alone. This episode explores our experience with therapy — individual, couples, and the group sessions that ultimately helped us find understanding, community, and a path toward surviving the unimaginable.

 

]]> Nick Mendelke - Parenting After Loss false No 809 1 3 full Parenting With No Children: Our Fight for Answers After Losing Our Son Ryder Parenting With No Children: Our Fight for Answers After Losing Our Son Ryder https://nickmendelke.podbean.com/e/coming-home-without-ryder-the-fight-for-answers/ https://nickmendelke.podbean.com/e/coming-home-without-ryder-the-fight-for-answers/#comments Mon, 16 Mar 2026 13:47:16 -0500 nickmendelke.podbean.com/77dc51c8-efba-370c-84af-bfa4332067be The storm of Ryder’s death didn’t end at the hospital. In this episode, I talk about what happened after we walked out without our son—the grief, the anger, and the questions that followed us home. Those questions eventually led us to fight to have Ryder’s case reopened by the medical examiner, searching for answers in the middle of unimaginable loss.

]]> The storm of Ryder’s death didn’t end at the hospital. In this episode, I talk about what happened after we walked out without our son—the grief, the anger, and the questions that followed us home. Those questions eventually led us to fight to have Ryder’s case reopened by the medical examiner, searching for answers in the middle of unimaginable loss.

]]> In this episode, a father shares the devastating reality of leaving the hospital without his son and the first moments of navigating life as a loss dad. It’s a raw look at the shock, grief, and early steps in the grief journey after losing a child. Nick Mendelke - Parenting After Loss false No 1396 1 2 full Finding Your People After Loss | A Loss Dad’s Grief Journey Finding Your People After Loss | A Loss Dad’s Grief Journey https://nickmendelke.podbean.com/e/finding-your-people-after-loss-a-loss-dad-s-grief-journey/ https://nickmendelke.podbean.com/e/finding-your-people-after-loss-a-loss-dad-s-grief-journey/#comments Tue, 17 Mar 2026 07:27:05 -0500 nickmendelke.podbean.com/d8041577-3a4e-30e8-929f-04ba2abf9fad In this episode, we talk about something many grieving parents eventually discover — loss reveals who your people really are.

After losing our son Ryder, Anne and I found ourselves navigating life as parents after loss while trying to plan memorial services, travel home to the Midwest, and process a grief that felt impossible to carry.

This episode shares the next chapter of our grief journey as a loss dad and loss parents, including:

• The unexpected events that led us to hold Ryder’s service in Iowa • Bringing our son home in an urn and the emotions that came with it • The painful reality of who didn’t show up • The surprising people who did • Why there is no perfect thing to say to someone experiencing child loss • The importance of simply showing up for grieving parents

We also reflect on a moment that opened our eyes to a larger issue in the United States — maternal fetal health and infant mortality, something we will explore more deeply in future episodes.

If you are navigating parenting after loss, stillbirth, infant loss, pregnancy loss, or the grief journey of losing a child, we hope this episode reminds you that you are not alone.

And if you love someone who is grieving, this episode offers one simple reminder:

You don’t need perfect words.

Just show up.

]]> In this episode, we talk about something many grieving parents eventually discover — loss reveals who your people really are.

After losing our son Ryder, Anne and I found ourselves navigating life as parents after loss while trying to plan memorial services, travel home to the Midwest, and process a grief that felt impossible to carry.

This episode shares the next chapter of our grief journey as a loss dad and loss parents, including:

• The unexpected events that led us to hold Ryder’s service in Iowa
• Bringing our son home in an urn and the emotions that came with it
• The painful reality of who didn’t show up
• The surprising people who did
• Why there is no perfect thing to say to someone experiencing child loss
• The importance of simply showing up for grieving parents

We also reflect on a moment that opened our eyes to a larger issue in the United States — maternal fetal health and infant mortality, something we will explore more deeply in future episodes.

If you are navigating parenting after loss, stillbirth, infant loss, pregnancy loss, or the grief journey of losing a child, we hope this episode reminds you that you are not alone.

And if you love someone who is grieving, this episode offers one simple reminder:

You don’t need perfect words.

Just show up.

]]> After losing their son Ryder, a father shares the painful and unexpected reality of parenting after loss and the grief journey that follows. This episode explores who truly shows up, what grieving parents really need, and why simply being present matters more than saying the perfect thing. Nick Mendelke - Parenting After Loss false No 2082 1 4 full “Remembering Ryder: A Raw Reflection on Grief, Loss, and Family 7 Years Later” “Remembering Ryder: A Raw Reflection on Grief, Loss, and Family 7 Years Later” https://nickmendelke.podbean.com/e/remembering-ryder-a-raw-reflection-on-grief-loss-and-family-7-years-later/ https://nickmendelke.podbean.com/e/remembering-ryder-a-raw-reflection-on-grief-loss-and-family-7-years-later/#comments Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:10:53 -0500 nickmendelke.podbean.com/da0c9dae-f3c7-365c-bf70-6142737d4a63 In this deeply personal episode, I reflect on Ryder’s 7th birthday and the lasting impact of his loss on our family. I share the raw emotions of grief, the milestones that never happened, and how this journey has shaped our other children. We explore moments of magic, heartbreak, and clarity, including the story of Ryder’s hospital paperwork mistake and how we restored his voice and legacy.

This episode is unfiltered and honest, touching on faith, parenting through grief, and finding community support. If you’ve experienced child loss, infertility, or the heartbreak of milestones that never happen, this episode is for you.

Join me as I share the story of Ryder, honor his memory, and reflect on how loss shapes a family while showing that even in sorrow, there are moments of love, clarity, and resilience.

]]> In this deeply personal episode, I reflect on Ryder’s 7th birthday and the lasting impact of his loss on our family. I share the raw emotions of grief, the milestones that never happened, and how this journey has shaped our other children. We explore moments of magic, heartbreak, and clarity, including the story of Ryder’s hospital paperwork mistake and how we restored his voice and legacy.

This episode is unfiltered and honest, touching on faith, parenting through grief, and finding community support. If you’ve experienced child loss, infertility, or the heartbreak of milestones that never happen, this episode is for you.

Join me as I share the story of Ryder, honor his memory, and reflect on how loss shapes a family while showing that even in sorrow, there are moments of love, clarity, and resilience.

]]> Episode 5 is out, and it’s one of the most personal yet. This week, I reflect on Ryder’s 7th birthday and the ways loss continues to shape our family—Chandler, Marek, Camden—and our own journey as parents. It’s raw, unfiltered, and honest. I talk about the milestones that never happened, moments of grief, and even glimpses of magic that remind us he’s still here in our hearts. If you’ve experienced child loss, infertility, or the quiet grief of missed milestones, this episode is for you. Nick Mendelke - Parenting After Loss false No 1564 1 5 full “Mother’s Day After Loss: Navigating Grief and Finding Moments of Joy” “Mother’s Day After Loss: Navigating Grief and Finding Moments of Joy” https://nickmendelke.podbean.com/e/mother-s-day-after-loss-navigating-grief-and-finding-moments-of-joy/ https://nickmendelke.podbean.com/e/mother-s-day-after-loss-navigating-grief-and-finding-moments-of-joy/#comments Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:10:30 -0500 nickmendelke.podbean.com/9305a5d2-18db-31ea-aa0c-c52357607df3 In this episode, we share the raw and unfiltered experience of the weeks following the memorial services for our son, Ryder. We discuss the heavy silence at home, navigating grief alongside everyday life, and the overwhelming emotions leading up to Mother’s Day. From struggles with returning to work, coping in therapy, to a necessary escape to Jamaica, we explore how grief and small moments of joy can coexist. This episode is for parents, families, and anyone processing loss, offering a candid look at surviving, healing, and finding space for life after tragedy.

]]> In this episode, we share the raw and unfiltered experience of the weeks following the memorial services for our son, Ryder. We discuss the heavy silence at home, navigating grief alongside everyday life, and the overwhelming emotions leading up to Mother’s Day. From struggles with returning to work, coping in therapy, to a necessary escape to Jamaica, we explore how grief and small moments of joy can coexist. This episode is for parents, families, and anyone processing loss, offering a candid look at surviving, healing, and finding space for life after tragedy.

]]> In this episode, we share the raw and unfiltered experience of the weeks following the memorial services for our son, Ryder. We discuss the heavy silence at home, navigating grief alongside everyday life, and the overwhelming emotions leading up to Mother’s Day. From struggles with returning to work, coping in therapy, to a necessary escape to Jamaica, we explore how grief and small moments of joy can coexist. This episode is for parents, families, and anyone processing loss, offering a candid look at surviving, healing, and finding space for life after tragedy. Nick Mendelke - Parenting After Loss false No 1163 1 6 full Versa (Disney+) Review | A Powerful Story of Child Loss, Grief & Healing with My Wife Anne Versa (Disney+) Review | A Powerful Story of Child Loss, Grief & Healing with My Wife Anne https://nickmendelke.podbean.com/e/versa-disney-review-a-powerful-story-of-child-loss-grief-healing-with-my-wife-anne/ https://nickmendelke.podbean.com/e/versa-disney-review-a-powerful-story-of-child-loss-grief-healing-with-my-wife-anne/#comments Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:53:09 -0500 nickmendelke.podbean.com/a49077f4-dac2-3e65-a4a6-2617a5dd6510 In this special episode, I’m joined for the first time by my wife Anne as we dive into a full review and discussion of the animated short film “Versa,” streaming on Disney+. We break down the story, animation style, themes, and emotional impact while sharing our honest reactions and different perspectives throughout the film.

This episode blends first-time guest energy with thoughtful conversation as we explore what makes “Versa” stand out as a short-form animated experience. Whether you’ve already seen it or are curious about watching it, this review offers insight, interpretation, and a fun back-and-forth dynamic between hosts.

 

]]> In this special episode, I’m joined for the first time by my wife Anne as we dive into a full review and discussion of the animated short film “Versa,” streaming on Disney+. We break down the story, animation style, themes, and emotional impact while sharing our honest reactions and different perspectives throughout the film.

This episode blends first-time guest energy with thoughtful conversation as we explore what makes “Versa” stand out as a short-form animated experience. Whether you’ve already seen it or are curious about watching it, this review offers insight, interpretation, and a fun back-and-forth dynamic between hosts.

 

]]> In this special episode, I’m joined for the first time by my wife Anne as we dive into a full review and discussion of the animated short film “Versa,” streaming on Disney+. We break down the story, animation style, themes, and emotional impact while sharing our honest reactions and different perspectives throughout the film. This episode blends first-time guest energy with thoughtful conversation as we explore what makes “Versa” stand out as a short-form animated experience. Whether you’ve already seen it or are curious about watching it, this review offers insight, interpretation, and a fun back-and-forth dynamic between hosts. Nick Mendelke - Parenting After Loss false No 1871 1 7 full