Ep 162: There Is a September 12th: Jim Giaccone on Turning 9/11 Grief Into Service and Hope

On September 11, 2001, Jim Giaccone’s older brother, Joseph Michael Giaccone, went to work on the 103rd floor of the North Tower—and never came home.

But Joe was far more than one of the thousands of people lost that day. He was a devoted husband, loving father, loyal brother, gifted cook, passionate Mets fan and successful Cantor Fitzgerald executive whose foresight helped the company recover following a catastrophic event.

In this deeply personal conversation, Jim helps us know the man behind the name engraved at the 9/11 Memorial. He shares treasured family memories, the unbearable uncertainty of September 11, and the promise he made to remain present in the lives of Joe’s children.

Jim also speaks candidly about the anger, helplessness and grief that followed—and the choice he eventually made to turn his pain into purpose. Through mentoring children who lost parents on 9/11, leading more than 100 tours at the 9/11 Tribute Museum, supporting the educational work of Tunnel to Towers and serving alongside Dignity Beyond Borders, Jim discovered that helping others could also help him heal.

At the heart of this episode is a truth we all need to remember:

September 11 brought unimaginable hatred and evil—but September 12 brought an overwhelming outpouring of love, kindness and human connection.

Jim reminds us that grief has no timetable, emotion is not weakness, service can become therapy, and “Never Forget” must be more than something we say—it must be something we live.

This episode honors the life and legacy of Joseph Michael Giaccone and every person whose life was forever changed on September 11, 2001.

• Who Joseph Michael Giaccone was as a brother, husband and father
• Jim’s memories of the morning of September 11
• Living with a loss witnessed by the entire world
• Why speaking Joe’s name has become part of Jim’s healing
• The importance of grieving on your own terms
• How mentoring and volunteering gave Jim purpose again
• Moving beyond anger, hatred and prejudice
• What younger generations need to understand about 9/11
• Why “Never Forget” requires action
• The love and goodness that emerged on September 12
• Jim’s message for anyone experiencing grief or traumatic loss

There is no formula for grief. There is no deadline for healing. Allow yourself to feel, speak about the person you lost, and accept support from others.

Most importantly, remember: There is a September 12th. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

• Jim Giaccone’s 9/11 story through Tunnel to Towers
• Dignity Beyond Borders
• Project COMMON BOND
• Jim Giaccone: “Memories, Monsters, Mountaintops

In This ConversationA Message From JimLearn More

If this conversation touches your heart, please share it with someone who needs hope—and take a moment to speak the name of someone whose memory deserves to live on.