Father of 3, Widower by Cancer, and Founder of Unvoiced

In this deeply honest episode of the Solo Dad Podcast, Matt is joined by CJ for a powerful, wide-ranging conversation about grief, anger, mental health, and rebuilding family life after the death of a spouse. The discussion moves beyond surface-level grief talk and into the lived realities of nervous system trauma, emotional regulation, and the long-term work of healing as a solo parent.

CJ shares his experience of losing his wife, Ariana, and raising three children while navigating years of unaddressed mental health struggles. He opens up about being misdiagnosed for over a decade, eventually learning that OCD, ADHD, and unresolved grief were shaping his anxiety, stress, and emotional responses. The episode explores how grief can mask itself as depression, anger, or burnout, and why logic alone can’t pull someone out of pain.

A major theme of the conversation is anger and where it lives in the body. CJ explains how physical movement, resistance, and intense exertion helped him access emotions he had been suppressing for years. Matt and CJ discuss why grief is stored in the nervous system, how sadness can sometimes hide anger, and why safe physical outlets are essential for releasing emotions that words can’t reach.

The episode also dives deeply into parenting after loss. CJ reflects on the shift from being a family of five to learning how to become a family of four, emphasizing transparency, honesty, and shared decision-making with his children. He talks about apologizing to kids, naming emotional limits, and modeling humanity rather than perfection. The conversation highlights how children grieve differently at different ages, and why parents must learn to respond to what kids actually need—not what the parent needs them to need.

Mental health care is another central thread. CJ shares his experience with therapy, medication, and somatic work, explaining how finding the right diagnosis created space to finally use the tools he had spent years learning. Matt reflects on how grief can resurface years later when life slows down, anniversaries approach, or the body finally feels safe enough to release what it’s been holding.

The episode also introduces CJ’s work with Unvoiced, a platform dedicated to bringing grief out of the shadows through storytelling, community, and workplace advocacy. CJ explains how sharing his story led to real policy change at a major tech company and how Unvoiced is now helping organizations create more humane, grief-aware workplaces.

This episode isn’t about fixing grief or finding closure. It’s about honoring the body, seeing your own humanity, and learning how to live with loss rather than run from it. If you’re a widower, solo dad, or grieving parent struggling with anger, stress, mental health, or family dynamics after loss, this conversation offers depth, validation, and hard-earned wisdom.