Love, Loss, and TikTok: How Jack Ciapciak Turned Grief into Connection

In one of our most heartfelt conversations yet, Zac and Jay sit down with writer and grief advocate Jack Ciapciak to talk about love, loss, and healing. Jack opens up about losing his fiancé – also named Jack – just days before Christmas 2022, how it shattered his world, and how he’s slowly been rebuilding.

From his years writing for the TV show Blue Bloods to the unexpected power of sharing his grief journey on TikTok, Jack brings honesty, humor, and hope to a topic so many avoid.

We talk about internalized homophobia, what it means to truly love and be loved, and why grief isn’t something you move on from – but something you move forward with. Jack shares the story behind the viral video that changed everything, the community that’s grown around his vulnerability, and why he still wears his fiancé’s bracelet and watch every day.

Grief cracks you open and reshapes you in painful, unexpected ways – but there’s beauty in what remains. Jack’s story is a reminder that healing doesn’t mean forgetting. It means carrying love forward.

This episode is for anyone who has ever lost someone—or loved someone deeply.

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If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release:

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