Peter Reek's dad Bill was a Nestle commodities trader. One night, on a purchasing trip to Columbia in the mid 80's, he watched the guy having dinner at the next table over get shot.

Everyone knew what to do, and Bill calmly followed. They got under the table, finished the meal somewhere else, and Bill flew home the next week.

That was Bill Reek. Mr. Safety. The guy who built a 40-year career on stability — and the guy who negotiated with people who carried guns to dinner.

Peter sits with Scott (Roger was unable to join the interview) to talk about a dad who was solid in every way the world could measure, and the small, strange details that only come out after he's gone.

This one's for: the guy whose dad was the "stable one." The guy whose dad worked a job he never quite understood. The guy still finding out who his dad really was after he's gone.

Probably not for: the guy looking for a tidy redemption arc. Bill Reek didn't do tidy.

*🎧 In this episode, you’ll hear about:*
Growing up with a dad who worked for Nestle for 40 years — and what "stable" actually looks like up close
The night in Colombia when the guy at the next table got shot — and what Bill did next
Negotiating cocoa prices with people who carried guns to dinner
Being Mr. Safety in one of the most dangerous jobs you've never thought about
The commodities expert who never invested a dollar of his own money (and why)
The cancer diagnosis, and the years that followed
Not being in the room when his dad died — and the regret that comes with it
The stories that only surface after someone's gone
What Peter wishes he'd asked Bill while he still could
Why you should be an active participant in your dad's life now, not after

*👨‍👦 About Peter and his dad, Bill*
Peter Reek lost his dad, Bill, after a long battle with cancer. Bill was a 40-year Nestle commodities trader — stable, steady, generous, quietly funny, and the kind of dad who reminded you to check the tire pressure right before he flew to Colombia to negotiate cocoa prices with people who carried guns to dinner.

It is a conversation about father loss, cancer, the kind of dad you think you know, the stories that only surface at the end, and the regret of not being in the room when it happened.

Also, yes, there are laughs. Because grief is weird like that. Rude, honestly.

*⏱️ Episode chapters*
00:00 Colombia Shock Opener
00:12 Meet Peter and Bill
01:27 Support the Podcast
02:47 Why Peter Joined
03:12 Bill Reek Career Story
07:57 Stability Versus Risk
08:48 Restaurant Shooting Tale
10:21 Entrepreneur Son Dynamic
12:20 Illness and Final Days
17:51 Guilt and Goodbye
22:47 Taking Over the Playbook
26:07 Keeping Dad Alive
28:34 Advice and Farewell

*Next in the club* → Matty Woods on his dad's funeral with two rules: https://youtu.be/Ocm8NTnDLX4

*🖤 About Dead Dads*
Dead Dads is a podcast for men figuring out life after losing their dad. Hosted by Roger Nairn and Scott Cunningham, the show features honest conversations about father loss, grief, identity, family, memory, masculinity, and all the strange stuff that happens after your dad dies. No grief brochure voice. No tidy healing arc. Just real conversations for guys who are grieving, remembering, avoiding, laughing, carrying on, or trying to understand what losing a father did to them.

You’re not alone.

*☕ If Dead Dads has helped you feel a little less alone, consider buying us a coffee:* https://buymeacoffee.com/deaddadspodcast

*Follow Dead Dads:*
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*New episodes every week.*

Dead Dads Podcast is produced with the support of JAR Podcast Solutions, the branded podcast agency that helps organizations build shows people actually want to spend time with. Learn more at https://jarpodcasts.com/