Becoming a Dad Without a Dad

From Grief to Labor Day: The Night Kai Changed Everything

It’s been over a month since I last recorded!!!! After opening up about losing my dad, I didn’t realize how heavy that vulnerability would sit with me. Grief came back in waves — in random moments, in memories, in things we watched and did. It lingered. But now… we move forward. In this episode, I share our full Labor Day story — from the 5:30am water break to bringing our son home. This episode is about grief, endurance, and the moment everything changes. Connect With Me: Instagram: @TryingFromADadsSide TikTok: @Trying_from_a_dads_side If this episode resonated, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Sponsor: Vital Seed This episode is sponsored by Vital Seed, a science-backed men’s fertility supplement designed to support sperm health and vitality. ✔ 9 research-backed ingredients ✔ Third-party tested ✔ Made in the USA ✔ No unnecessary fillers If you’re on your fertility journey and want to take a proactive approach together, check them out. Get 10% off with this link: https://getvitalseed.com/?ref=dadsside10 [https://getvitalseed.com/?ref=dadsside10] Or use code GABRIELYLO at checkout. (Vital Seed supports fertility health and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any condition.)

Becoming a Dad Without a Dad

We spent years trying to get here. IVF. Waiting. Loss. One last embryo. And when it finally worked, I thought the fear would disappear. It didn’t. In this episode, I open up about what happens after the positive test — when you’re grateful, terrified, and realizing you’re about to become a dad… without having one of your own to lean on. I talk about: * The emotional whiplash after IVF success * The fear and silence of the first trimester * Guarded hope in the second trimester * Panic, identity shifts, and responsibility in the third trimester * Grieving a parent while becoming one * The pressure men feel to “be strong” and not talk about it This episode isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about sitting in the in-between — becoming a father while still figuring out who you are. If you’re a dad, partner, or man navigating IVF, pregnancy, or loss… this one’s for you.

The Last Embryo

This episode is about the weight of a last chance — and the absence that makes it heavier. We’re down to our final embryo. Mentally preparing for a last transfer brings fear, hope, and pressure all at once. I talk about where we were and what we were doing when we found out we were pregnant, the excitement that followed, and the moment panic quietly took over. I also open up about something I don’t talk about often — going through IVF and preparing to become a father without having a dad of my own. Losing my father a few years ago changed how this journey feels. When I found out I was going to be a dad, grief and joy collided in ways I didn’t expect. This episode is about telling our families, realizing how real everything suddenly became, and asking the question many men don’t say out loud: Am I ready to be the dad I never got to learn from? From a dad’s perspective, this is a conversation about IVF, men’s mental health, grief, and showing up for your partner when you’re still figuring things out yourself. If you’re supporting someone through IVF, navigating loss, or becoming a parent without a blueprint — this episode is for you.

Retrieval, Setbacks, and Holding Onto One

In this episode, we open up about one of the most emotionally heavy chapters of our IVF journey. Retrieval day... the day we had built so much hope around. We talk about what actually happened that day, the emotions leading up to it, and the uncertainty that followed. Shortly after, we were in Mexico when we finally received our embryo results: a moment that should’ve felt like relief, but came with complicated emotions. We then walk through our first transfer and the heartbreak of learning it failed. Transfer number two followed, bringing a brief moment of hope with a false positive on our anniversary... only to end in a failed blood test days later while I was on a plane to Orlando, struggling with guilt for not being there for my wife. As if that wasn’t enough, we share how learning that close friends gave birth during this time added another layer of pain and what it feels like to move forward knowing we have just one embryo left. This episode is about grief, resilience, missed moments, and holding onto hope when things don’t go as planned.

The Results, The Plan, The Shots

In this episode of Trying...From A Dad's Side, everything finally becomes real. I’m sharing the moment my wife and I sat down with our doctors to hear our results... the fears we carried in, the honesty that came out, and the relief and confusion that followed. Then, we walk through our first full consultation with the fertility specialist, where we finally learned what our path forward would look like. And finally… the part nobody warns you about: the shots, the schedule, and how quickly IVF demands that you adjust, adapt, and show up for each other. If you’re just starting your fertility journey, or supporting your partner through theirs, this is the episode that makes you feel a little less alone.