E23 | Grief, Truth & Becoming a Better Man: John DeDakis Opens Up
What happens when a lifetime journalist turns the camera inward? Award-winning CNN editor and author John DeDakis joins Joseph “JoJo” Simmons on the For Good Podcast to talk about truth, grief, mental health, and the painful losses that shaped him as a man, husband, and writer. He opens up about losing his sister and son, why men need to cry more, and how storytelling became his path toward healing.
John DeDakis spent decades shaping the news at CNN — but the stories that shaped him were the ones rooted in personal loss, truth, and resilience. The award-winning journalist, novelist, and writing coach sits down with Joseph “JoJo” Simmons on the For Good Podcast for one of the most heartfelt, emotionally open conversations of the season.
John opens up about losing both his sister and his youngest son, how grief never truly ends, and why he believes men must learn to feel instead of suppress. He and JoJo dive into how journaling, mindfulness, and honest emotional expression saved him from breaking — and how those same tools can help others heal, too.
They explore:
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What CNN’s fast-paced newsroom taught him about truth, storytelling, and integrity
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How grief changes a man, a marriage, and the way you show up in the world
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Why tears are necessary, not weak — and how “your tears become bullets” when you hold them in
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The evolution of journalism, misinformation, and the responsibility of telling real, human stories
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How he used fiction to process pain and why writing from a woman’s perspective changed his life
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The sixth stage of grief — and how finding meaning rebuilt his purpose
In one of the most powerful moments of the episode, John shares that the proudest accomplishment of his entire career isn’t CNN, his books, or the awards — it’s the choice to fight for his marriage after losing his son. A raw, honest, deeply human conversation about love, loss, truth, and living “for good.”
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