Episode 9

full
Published on:

3rd Sep 2025

Two Single Dads, One Powerful Friendship After Loss

Two dads share raw stories of grief, single fatherhood, and healing while building friendship and hope after loss. In this episode of Call Me Friend, host Daryn Kagan connects with David McClain and Jamal Jones, two fathers who each lost their wives to cancer and her husband Trent, who walked a similar path. Together, they open up about parenting through grief, rediscovering love, and starting their podcast Getting Back Up. Their conversation highlights resilience, fatherhood, and the importance of honest dialogue about loss and healing.

What You’ll Learn

  • ✅ How two single dads turned tragedy into friendship and healing.
  • ✅ The challenges of parenting after losing a spouse.
  • ✅ Why men’s conversations about grief and mental health matter.
  • ✅ How shared stories can inspire resilience and hope.

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Timestamps

  • 00:00 Jamal introduces the journey of becoming a single dad
  • 04:40 Jamal’s story of love, loss, and raising three kids
  • 07:12 David shares his marriage, diagnosis, and raising two daughters
  • 10:47 How their daughters brought them together at a bowling alley
  • 16:21 The idea for their podcast Getting Back Up
  • 22:31 Trent shares his own story of grief and fatherhood
  • 26:19 Balancing fatherhood, dating, and honoring legacy
  • 33:33 The realities of “dad-mom” parenting moments
  • 38:44 A powerful connection through their daughters’ names
  • 42:00 Final recommendations: vinegar, stretching, and credit health

Key Takeaways

  • 💎 Grief can become a bridge that connects people in unexpected ways.
  • 💎 Parenting after loss requires resilience, humor, and community.
  • 💎 Men need more spaces to openly share feelings and struggles.
  • 💎 Healing doesn’t erase the past, it honors it while building forward.

 Resources & Links

Guest Bios

Jamal Jones is a father of three navigating life after the loss of his wife to cancer. He co-hosts Getting Back Up, a podcast helping men face grief with honesty and resilience.

David McClain is a devoted dad raising two daughters after losing his wife to uterine sarcoma. His mission is to create open conversations about fatherhood, loss, and rebuilding.

Trent Swanson is husband to host Daryn Kagan and father who also experienced profound loss. His story brings perspective on resilience, love, and second chances.


Keywords: single dads, grief journey, parenting after loss, men’s mental health, fatherhood stories, getting back up podcast, friendship after tragedy, resilience and healing, widowed dads, Call Me Friend podcast, life after loss, healing conversations, inspirational fatherhood, dads raising kids, coping with grief

Transcript

CMF_EP09_David_Jamal_Trent

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About the Podcast

Call Me Friend
Who do you call when life gets real? When the good news hits, the heartbreak lands, or you're just having one of those days—you call a friend. That’s the heartbeat of Call Me Friend—a feel good biweekly podcast that drops you into the kind of conversations that remind us who we are, where we belong, and why friendship matters.

Hosted by former network news anchor, wife, mom, and Airbnb host Daryn Kagan, Call Me Friend is your weekly reminder of the joy, laughter, and healing that come with connection. Each week, Daryn picks up the phone from Ms. Lou’s Cabin—a 50-year-old log home she and her husband lovingly restored and turned into an Airbnb—to chat with someone in her world, whether it’s a celebrity, her childhood bestie, or someone she just met along the way or maybe even YOU. No matter who she’s calling, the focus is always the same: celebrating the power of friendship and connection.

Every episode kicks off with a ring-ring and drops you into a real-life conversations between friends. These aren’t interviews with hot takes or polished soundbites—just raw, funny, heartfelt, deeply human chats between people who genuinely know and care about each other. From lifelong friendships to surprise connections, everyday legends to familiar names, Call Me Friend is a front-row seat to how beautiful, messy, and meaningful friendships can be.

This show is for anyone craving more depth, more heart, and more of the good stuff that makes life not just bearable—but beautiful. It’s a cozy corner of the podcast world where emotional wellness, storytelling, and humor live in harmony. Whether you’re looking for comfort, relatable stories, or a pick-me-up on a hard day, this podcast is for you, yes YOU. Expect wild stories, sweet memories, laugh-out-loud moments, and those quiet “Yeah… me too” pauses that make you feel truly seen.

Fun segments like “You Gotta Meet My Friend” spotlight special guests introducing someone they love, while “Call Me, Friend” invites listeners to write in with questions and stories. And the “Friend Questionnaire” keeps things surprising, uncovering the quirks and connections that make every friendship unique.

What makes Call Me Friend stand out? This show isn’t about networking or hustle. It’s not self-help. It’s heart-help. Because friendship isn’t just background noise—it’s the main character. If you’ve ever found joy, comfort, or healing through a friend—or just needed someone to say, “I get it”—this is your space.

Call Me Friend is more than a podcast. It’s a weekly call you can count on. A soft place to land. A reminder that even when life feels messy, everything gets better when you talk to a friend. If you love heartfelt conversations, personal stories, and a little laughter with your life lessons, this is the one you’ve been waiting for.

So whether you're commuting, folding laundry, walking the dog, or just trying to quiet your mind—remember this: you’re not alone. Someone out there gets it. Someone out there would totally take your call.

Go ahead, pick up the phone.
Let’s laugh. Let’s cry. Let’s Call a Friend.

About the Host:

Daryn Kagan is a former CNN anchor turned full-time storyteller. After leaving the fast-paced world of network news, she built a life rooted in purpose, connection, and authenticity. Now living on the quiet Georgia coast, Daryn records Call Me Friend from Ms. Lou’s Cabin, a restored 50-year-old log home turned Airbnb. From there she runs the nationwide Just One More Foundation giving grants for second chances. A wife, mom, dog mama, and connection junkie, Daryn’s superpower is bringing people together—and her gift for real conversation is what makes this podcast feel like catching up with your favorite friend.

Just One More Foundation : https://www.justonemorefoundation.org/
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Website: https://darynkagan.com/
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Daryn Kagan