Play This At My Funeral

💐 Episode Summary This episode explores how music can be the map we create to contend with grief, healing, and identity. Join us as music licensing expert Ken Golden shares the deeply personal songs he would want played at his own funeral. From Stevie Wonder to Jacob Banks to Nina Simone, he reflects on how each track tells part of his story, honoring love, loss, resilience, and the joy of being...

💐 Episode Summary Just 10 songs make up author Georgia Clark’s playlist, but each one holds a powerful story from an era of her life. This episode brings together so many of the creative arts into one conversation: from writing to indie music, storytelling onstage to the power of Queen’s artistry and greatest masterpiece, Bohemian Rhapsody.  💿 Songs Mentioned “Try A Little Tenderness” by The Com...

💐 Episode Summary In our first guest episode of season 3, Dinah sits down with longtime work collaborator and beautiful human, Kat Kibben, for a conversation on the reality of life’s journey taking us off course. But in the best way possible. Kat’s playlist brings to life a cozy, open mic night feel at your favorite bar which exactly how they want their funeral to feel. We’ll talk about artists l...

💐 Episode Summary Let’s kickoff Season 3 with host Dinah. You’ll hear a preview of guests and songs coming, as we launch this fresh batch of episodes with episode.    🙏🏽 Thank You to Our Supporters Huge thanks to our show supporters: TremFit — Kara Tremel’s boutique online training experience helping every body feel strong, confident, and cared for. Second Home First — The hit podcast rethinkin...

🌹 About Play This At My Funeral Play This At My Funeral is a deeply fun, slightly macabre, always heartwarming podcast about the songs that shape our lives — including the ones we’d play at our funerals. Each episode, Dinah invites a guest to curate their hypothetical send-off playlist and share the stories behind the music. Think Desert Island Discs meets Films To Be Buried With — with more vibe...

🎧 Play This At My Funeral — Nervous System Regulation in a Funeral Playlist: Part 2 of the Ben Kintisch Interview 💐 Episode Summary We’re digging into the peace, love, and pure zen vibes of Benjamin Kintisch’s funeral playlist. The singer, musician, educator, Cantor, and creator of “Life Review: The Hospice Musical” shares tender moments that influenced his musical education and profession. In t...

💐 Episode Summary In this episode, we depart from our usual format for a look into the making of a musical. Life Review: The Hospice Musical. With songs written by singer, musician, educator, and Cantor Benjamin Kintisch, this musical bridges together Fiddler on the Roof and A Chorus Line for an exploration of the meaning of life, at the end of life. This is part one of a two-part episode. Tune b...

💐 Episode Summary A fateful visit to the East Vancouver vinyl shop, Painted Lady Records (IG: @paintedlady_records ), led to a cross-continental friendship with owners Kemp and Erika Edwards. Since that day in January 2026, host Dinah has had a consistent mutual geeking out with Kemp and Erika over music, community, and the essence of life. Love. This episode is pure love. Expect mentions of Bruc...

💐 Episode Summary This week’s episode with singer and songwriter Mel L reveals the harder moments that music can usher us through. With songs from the world of Disney musical cartoons, a gorgeous introduction to Chutney music, and originals from the guest herself from her forthcoming debut album, Love Bomb Therapy, this episode will heal your midweek blues.  💿 Songs Mentioned ​ “Yam & Cassava” b...

💐 Episode Summary God’s favorite comedian, Spencer Bland, joins us in the Play This At My Funeral virtual studio to talk about questioning faith, the continuous healing power of sad music (and crying in the car), and builds worlds through memories and songs. We get into some cathartic conversations, and scrutinize the evolution of music including the subgenre of country, Y’allternative, as well a...

💐 Episode Summary When Stephanie Snartschan joins host Dinah for this episode, the emotions are overflowing. The musical selections stand the test of time, much like their 22-year-long friendship. From Jewel to Augustana, and three choice Billy Joel songs, the 90s are well alive on this funeral playlist. Dig into this episode for some real talk on aging and the legacy we leave behind. And Stephan...

💐 Episode Summary Two playlists. Two only children. Endless spiritual soul searching and nostalgia deep-diving. When our host Dinah crossed paths with Yale music major and Vancouver native Tristan Byrne on a plane ride, fate intervened to bring together these two music loving people. This episode bubbles up so many soulful moments and introspective music choices. Get ready for multiple mentions o...

💐 Episode Summary We’re calling this one “Covers, Colors, and Caring.” At least that’s what our feistiest guest of all time, Tracy F****** Weiss is calling it. This episode will rock you, and pull back the veneer of the human experience to showcase the raw, real underbelly of what it means to feel deeply. Tracy has been through it all, and shares a gorgeous playlist that is an arc of a storyline...

💐 Episode Summary When work is such a major part of any life, how can we deny the parallels of ourselves at work and outside of work? With guest Claude Silver, we go deep on this topic and more as we analyze the songs on Claude’s music playlist for her book, Be Yourself At Work. With tons of deep ‘80s cuts, and an homage to the working class music mantras and New Jersey pride and joy (Bruce, Whit...

💐 Episode Summary Kara Tremel is many things. A Broadway-trained performer, certified personal trainer, and founder of Tremfit by Kara Tremel. She’s also a director and producer for TV/film and all around light of a person, and in this episode she shares her funeral playlist crafted in the most beautiful way as a Broadway Musical Soundtrack with a tight 10 tracks where every song counts. It’s glo...

💐 Episode Summary Host Dinah takes stock of season 1 of the pod and attempts to curate her own playlist with just 30, or maybe 40, songs. Themes of dance, family, and of course the 1990s makes this an especially fun one.  💿 Songs Mentioned “End of Beginning” by Djo “Whenever, Wherever” by Shakira “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison Fairuz songs “Dancing Queen” by ABBA “Dancing in the Moonlight” by...

💐 Episode Summary When music isn’t your life, but food drives everything, how do you create a set of songs that mean something to you? In this episode, food influencer and film producer Jeremy Jacobowitz shares his funeral playlist (light on the funeral, heavy on the playlist). We talk about controversial music artists, middle school memories, angsty teenage boyhood, and some live music experienc...

💐 Episode Summary Surprise! I hope you enjoy this special bonus episode of host Dinah Susan Alobeid chatting about the music and ideal funeral playlist offerings in two of her favorite holiday movies – Love Actually and The Holiday. From Aretha Franklin and The Beatles to the constantly-mentioned-on-this-show Frou Frou, let’s dig into a festive examination of music that would feel right at a fune...

💐 Episode Summary In our season 1 finale, Dinah and John bond over their mutual emotional depth, sharing the same birthday, and being weepy. The music choices will touch your heart and make you nostalgic for what was yet keep you hopeful about what can possibly be in the future. John doesn’t shy away from the deep grief and tragedy that have touched his life, and gives us all some much needed wis...

💐 Episode Summary A singer, pianist, guitarist, all around lover of all things musical, Laura Noelle bestows upon us nearly two dozen amazing music recommendations in the episode (to say nothing of her three amazing playlists she’s also sharing). When it comes to creating the mood and tone for a funeral playlist, no one has thought as long and as hard about this as Laura has. We’ll talk emo screa...

💐 Episode Summary A departure from previous episodes, this week’s guest Nicki Izakson doles out plenty of musical theory lessons and gets into the reality of how to contend with the grief of losing one of the most important people in your lives and how to honor them with grace and integrity. Concert violinist and behavior analyst and special education teacher Nicki is a New Yorker with so much kn...

💐 Episode Summary Two comms queens wax nostalgic about their dance team roots and mutual TypeA tendencies. Our seventh guest Katie Cline (award-winning publicist, podcast host, and short-term rental expert) brings realness, and reveals why we have to bring humor and levity into even the darkest moments. Will you get plenty of music recommendations and hear songs you haven’t thought about in maybe...

💐 Episode Summary In this episode host Dinah Alobeid delves into one of her most existential conversations yet. This episode’s guest is author, speaker, Punk Rock HR podcast host, and all around bad ass Laurie Ruettimann. Her playlist is short but powerful, reflecting a genre, a milestone, or a belief system for Laurie. And this guest’s unconventional approach to life, and death, will make you si...

💐 Episode Summary In this episode host Dinah Alobeid talks to her confidante and friend of over 20 years, Elyse Merlo, one of the hosts of Genre’d podcast. With a chronological breakdown of her favorite music that she wants played at her funeral, this episode features a walk through some of the best music you may have never heard of. This convo highlights fun and surprising b-sides from No Doubt,...

💐 Episode Summary In this episode of “Play This At My Funeral,” host Dinah sits down with her dear friend and writing comrade, author Nicolas DiDomizio. Get ready for some surprising sidetracks (squeals in excitement!), a defense of all things Mariah Carey, and a deep discussion on the rich storytelling roots of country music. And maybe one or two diatribes on the meaning of life and how death ca...