Introduction: A Parent's Journey Through Child Loss and Grief

Don’t Forget to Breathe is a podcast about child loss, grief, and the life that follows a tragedy no parent should ever have to endure. Created and hosted by bereaved father Bruce Barker, the podcast began as one dad’s story after the sudden loss of his 20-year-old daughter, and has grown into a shared space for parents navigating unimaginable loss.

Across multiple seasons, Bruce speaks openly about grief in all its forms: anger, depression, numbness, isolation, and the moments when breathing itself feels difficult. He also explores what comes alongside the pain, connection, meaning, love, and the slow, uneven process of learning how to live again while carrying profound loss.

Beginning in Season 4, Bruce is joined by co-host Kristin Glenn, a fellow bereaved parent whose voice and lived experience deepen the conversation. Together, they create a compassionate, honest space where grief is not rushed, fixed, or minimized.

A central part of Don’t Forget to Breathe is hearing directly from parents who have lost a child. Mothers and fathers come on the podcast to tell their child’s story, speak their name, share memories, and talk honestly about life after loss. These conversations offer connection, understanding, and the reassurance that no one is alone in this journey.

This podcast is for bereaved parents, for those supporting someone through grief, and for anyone seeking a more honest conversation about death, loss, and love. Episodes aim to normalize grief, replace clichés with clarity, and honor the ongoing bond between parents and their children.

If you have lost a child, or love someone who has, you are welcome here.

This is not a how-to guide. I’m not a therapist or a counselor. I’m just a man. A dad. And now, I suppose, a storyteller.

So let’s begin, with my story.
A tragic story.
And, unfortunately, a true one.