DEAD Talks

Grief doesn’t just come from death — it can come from abandonment. In this episode of DEAD Talks, we explore the pain of family abandonment, the heartbreak of losing a father, and how grief from both shaped the life of Van Thu Nguyen. She shares her powerful story of being abandoned by her family while learning her father was dying, and how she faced the complex emotions of mourning both loss and...

The loss of a child is one of the deepest griefs anyone can face. In this episode of DEAD Talks, Phil Cohen shares his heartbreaking story of losing his only son, Perry, at just 14 years old in one of the largest U.S. Coast Guard search efforts in history. He opens up about how grief shattered his world — and how a powerful message from his son shifted his perspective and began a journey of healin...

The loss of a child is one of the deepest griefs anyone can face. In this episode of DEAD Talks, Phil Cohen shares his heartbreaking story of losing his only son, Perry, at just 14 years old in one of the largest U.S. Coast Guard search efforts in history. He opens up about how grief shattered his world — and how a powerful message from his son shifted his perspective and began a journey of healin...

Grief, suicide loss, eating disorders, and mental health struggles can feel impossible to overcome — but resilience is possible. In this episode of DEAD Talks, Sarah Kalmeta shares her powerful story of losing her stepfather to suicide, battling bulimia, facing the death of her Olympic figure skating dream, and how she learned to pivot her life toward healing and success. Now a mindset coach and f...

Grief, suicide loss, eating disorders, and mental health struggles can feel impossible to overcome — but resilience is possible. In this episode of DEAD Talks, Sarah Kalmeta shares her powerful story of losing her stepfather to suicide, battling bulimia, facing the death of her Olympic figure skating dream, and how she learned to pivot her life toward healing and success. Now a mindset coach and f...

Mental health struggles, suicide loss, and addiction recovery are some of the hardest battles anyone can face — and Eric B Zink has faced them all. In this episode of DEAD Talks, Eric shares his journey after losing his wife to suicide in 2015 and his father to suicide in 2017. Just one year later, he nearly lost his own life in a suicide attempt before beginning a long path of recovery. Today, Er...

Mental health struggles, suicide loss, and addiction recovery are some of the hardest battles anyone can face — and Eric B Zink has faced them all. In this episode of DEAD Talks, Eric shares his journey after losing his wife to suicide in 2015 and his father to suicide in 2017. Just one year later, he nearly lost his own life in a suicide attempt before beginning a long path of recovery. Today, Er...

What happens when religion, funerals, and grief collide? In this episode of DEAD Talks, we explore how faith and tradition shape the way we face death — and how one man is breaking away from the old ways. After 40 years as a United Methodist Minister, Hubert Cunningham became a Certified Funeral Celebrant and founded the Healing Works Institute to offer a new perspective on grieving and death. We...

What happens when religion, funerals, and grief collide? In this episode of DEAD Talks, we explore how faith and tradition shape the way we face death — and how one man is breaking away from the old ways. After 40 years as a United Methodist Minister, Hubert Cunningham became a Certified Funeral Celebrant and founded the Healing Works Institute to offer a new perspective on grieving and death. We...

Funerals don’t have to look the way they always have. In this episode of DEAD Talks, we dive into how modern funerals and end-of-life planning are being reimagined with meaning, personalization, and even humor. Elizabeth Meyer Karansky, acclaimed funeral director and co-founder of Farewelling, shares how her own loss led her to transform the traditional funeral process into something more human, m...

Funerals don’t have to look the way they always have. In this episode of DEAD Talks, we dive into how modern funerals and end-of-life planning are being reimagined with meaning, personalization, and even humor. Elizabeth Meyer Karansky, acclaimed funeral director and co-founder of Farewelling, shares how her own loss led her to transform the traditional funeral process into something more human, m...

When his pregnant wife was struck and killed by a drunk driver just six weeks before her due date, James Alvarez’s world changed forever. Doctors were able to save his daughter, Adalyn Rose, through an emergency C-section, but James was left to navigate the unimaginable — losing his wife while becoming a single father overnight. This story went viral around the world, and in this deeply emotional...

When his pregnant wife was struck and killed by a drunk driver just six weeks before her due date, James Alvarez’s world changed forever. Doctors were able to save his daughter, Adalyn Rose, through an emergency C-section, but James was left to navigate the unimaginable — losing his wife while becoming a single father overnight. This story went viral around the world, and in this deeply emotional...

What do eating disorders and grief have in common? More than you think. In this episode of DEAD Talks, we explore how death, trauma, and eating disorder recovery intersect — and how finding meaning in loss can be the key to healing both mind and body. Licensed Professional Counselor Jacquelyn LaRusso shares her insights from years of helping patients navigate eating disorders while processing deat...

What do eating disorders and grief have in common? More than you think. In this episode of DEAD Talks, we explore how death, trauma, and eating disorder recovery intersect — and how finding meaning in loss can be the key to healing both mind and body. Licensed Professional Counselor Jacquelyn LaRusso shares her insights from years of helping patients navigate eating disorders while processing deat...

How do we embrace grief and death instead of avoiding it? In this episode of DEAD Talks, we dive into the world of end-of-life care, grief support, and what it means to truly sit with death. Marifel is a guide for life and death, offering compassionate support to those at the end of life and their families. Though she doesn’t label herself a “death doula,” her work comes close — helping people pro...

How do we embrace grief and death instead of avoiding it? In this episode of DEAD Talks, we dive into the world of end-of-life care, grief support, and what it means to truly sit with death. Marifel is a guide for life and death, offering compassionate support to those at the end of life and their families. Though she doesn’t label herself a “death doula,” her work comes close — helping people pro...

What happens when the person you love takes their own life just as things were starting to heal? In this episode of DEAD Talks, we dive into the devastating reality of losing a parent to suicide and how grief can transform into resilience. Vance’s father died by suicide only seven days after their relationship finally started to feel positive. Instead of letting it break him, Vance turned his grie...

What happens when the person you love takes their own life just as things were starting to heal? In this episode of DEAD Talks, we dive into the devastating reality of losing a parent to suicide and how grief can transform into resilience. Vance’s father died by suicide only seven days after their relationship finally started to feel positive. Instead of letting it break him, Vance turned his grie...

What happens when you sit down with a medium who claims to connect with the other side? In this episode, we explore the mystical world of tarot readings, palm readings, Reiki energy work, astrology, and mediumship—unpacking what it really means to communicate with the dead. Tara Brandel shares her journey of discovering and refining her gifts, including how she channels messages through her readin...

What happens when you sit down with a medium who claims to connect with the other side? In this episode, we explore the mystical world of tarot readings, palm readings, Reiki energy work, astrology, and mediumship—unpacking what it really means to communicate with the dead. Tara Brandel shares her journey of discovering and refining her gifts, including how she channels messages through her readin...

What can we learn about living from those who are dying? In this powerful episode, hospice nurse Hadley shares raw stories and wisdom from her patients at the end of life—reminding us how fragile and beautiful life really is. As a registered nurse specializing in hospice and palliative care near New Orleans, Hadley brings inspiring insights on: The lessons patients teach when facing death How to s...

What can we learn about living from those who are dying? In this powerful episode, hospice nurse Hadley shares raw stories and wisdom from her patients at the end of life—reminding us how fragile and beautiful life really is. As a registered nurse specializing in hospice and palliative care near New Orleans, Hadley brings inspiring insights on: The lessons patients teach when facing death How to s...

Grief is unavoidable—but what happens if we try to skip it? Renowned grief expert and bestselling author Claire Bidwell Smith shares her personal journey through loss and the powerful lessons she’s learned along the way. Claire has written three acclaimed books—The Rules of Inheritance, After This: When Life is Over Where Do We Go?, and Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief—that have guided thousand...

Grief is unavoidable—but what happens if we try to skip it? Renowned grief expert and bestselling author Claire Bidwell Smith shares her personal journey through loss and the powerful lessons she’s learned along the way. Claire has written three acclaimed books—The Rules of Inheritance, After This: When Life is Over Where Do We Go?, and Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief—that have guided thousand...