Patton Oswalt Learns to Laugh Again

Patton Oswalt Learns to Laugh Again

From Before We Go by Podcast Nation

September 25, 2025 · 32 min · Season 2 · Episode 2

About this episode

Patton Oswalt shares his journey of grief and single parenting after the loss of his wife, alongside insights from psychologist Julie Kaplow on childhood grief.

Patton Oswalt—a comedian, storyteller, and devoted dad—shares the story of losing his wife, Michelle, and becoming a single parent overnight. Grief, he learned, was anything but a straight line, and he feared what it would mean for his 7-year-old daughter, Alice. We also hear from Julie Kaplow, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in childhood grief and trauma, who reminds us that most children who experience loss go on to live full and healthy lives. Join us on Instagram @beforewegopodcast for more stories, behind-the-scenes moments, and reflections on living and dying. Thank you to our Sponsor: Quince: Visit  www.quince.com/beforewego  for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. This podcast is brought to you by Podcast Nation. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

People in this episode

Host: Podcast Nation

Guests: Patton Oswalt, Julie Kaplow

Topics covered

  • grief
  • parenting
  • childhood trauma
  • comedy
  • loss
  • mental health

Keywords

  • grief
  • single parent
  • childhood trauma
  • comedy
  • mental health
  • loss
  • Patton Oswalt

Sponsors

Quince

More episodes of Before We Go

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Before We Go podcast page.