Dads Don't Cry

About Dads Don't Cry

Dads Don’t Cry is a RTÉ Radio 1 series airing on Wednesday nights at 10pm on RTÉ Radio 1, and podcast hosted by Peter Shelley, created to break the silence around grief, child loss, and life after the unimaginable. Born from Peter’s own experience of losing his daughter, Aodhla, the podcast is a space where bereaved parents and families share the stories of the children they love and miss. These are honest conversations about love, loss, relationships, hope, and learning to carry grief while continuing to live. While the name is Dads Don’t Cry, these conversations are for everyone. Fathers, mothers, siblings, grandparents, friends, colleagues, and anyone who wants to better understand grief will find compassion, honesty, and connection here. Every child remembered on this podcast matters. Every story shared helps someone else feel a little less alone. Please listen with care. Some episodes contain conversations that may be emotionally difficult. Take a break if you need to, and remember that support resources for bereaved families are included in each episode description. For further information about the series, Peter’s story, and a full list of support organisations, visit the Dads Don’t Cry page on the RTÉ website.

Publisher

Peter Shelley

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

23 Oct 2025

Latest episode

2 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

29 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   2 Oct 2026

   Hunter

   In this episode of Dads Don’t Cry, host Peter is joined by Dylan, who shares the heartbreaking story of losing his own dad, followed closely by the loss of his first son, Hunter. Dylan talks openly about the anticipation and excitement surrounding Hunter’s arrival, before receiving the unimaginable news that his baby’s heartbeat had stopped at 40 weeks and 1 day. He shares the experience of his partner giving birth to Hunter while grieving, bringing him home, and finding ways to honour his son by sharing his story and keeping his memory alive. The conversation also explores the complex emotions that can come with a subsequent pregnancy, the different ways parents experience and process grief, and the importance of creating a shared space where loss can be acknowledged and remembered. Dylan also talks about his campaign to raise awareness around baby loss through the Late Late Toy Show, helping to bring conversations about grief and child loss into the wider public conversation. A raw and honest conversation about losing a father, losing a son, and finding ways to carry both losses forward.

2. 

   26 Jul 2026

   Where to Listen

   The podcast is now airing as a special series on RTÉ Radio 1, with new episodes broadcast every Wednesday at 10:00pm. Missed the live broadcast? You can catch up from around 10:45pm each Wednesday by visiting RTÉ.ie/dadsdontcry or listening on the RTÉ Radio Player. This podcast feed will continue to be home to the original Dads Don't Cry episodes, featuring honest conversations with bereaved parents, healthcare professionals and experts. If you're new here, there's a wealth of episodes waiting for you, and I'll continue to share updates here from time to time - so make sure you hit Follow to be notified. You can also keep up to date on Instagram @dadsdontcrypodcast, and if you'd like to share your thoughts or feedback, I'd love to hear from you at dadsdontcrypodcast@gmail.com (mailto:dadsdontcrypodcast@gmail.com). Thank you so much for your continued support. It means the world, and I hope you'll join me for the new series on RTÉ Radio 1.

3. 

   13 Jul 2026

   Episode 27: Listeners Questions

   After a short break, Peter returns with a solo episode to share what's been happening behind the scenes, including the exciting news of a special summer series for Dads Don't Cry. He opens up about returning to Slane Church for the christening of his daughter Réiltín, the first time back since saying goodbye to Aodhla, and reflects on how grief and joy can exist side by side. Peter also answers listener questions on some of the biggest topics facing bereaved parents: deciding whether to have another child after loss, living with the complexities of parenting a rainbow baby, feeling "okay" while grieving, the changing support of family and friends, and finding community as a bereaved parent. An honest, personal episode about carrying hope without leaving your child behind, remembering those we love, and why every grief journey is different.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

58 ratings

Contact Dads Don't Cry

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.