Death and Friends

...and how you play it. Its the second and final part of our look at ole Herman and how such a terrible human being got away with so much, and taking a look about how the systems in place failed his victims, and how we are unfortunately adding to the legend. Dark Comedy, True Crime, Love and Death, Chicago, Murder House, Conman, Suspicious Deaths, Fraud, Love Triangle, Serial Killing, Unsolved Mys...

In what seems to be the 100th time, we are back in Massachusetts. We explore the lives of Jesse Pomeroy and Sarah Jane Robinson—two killers that forced a reckoning on how society views juvenile criminality and maternal roles in 1850s Boston. Media sensationalism and failing court systems make for a really "fun" time. Insurance Fraud is a heck of a thing. Dark Comedy, True Crime, Love and...

Join Angel on a solo interview with Shelby Forsythia! Shelby Forsythia (she/her) is a grief coach, author, and podcast host. In 2020, she founded Life After Loss Academy, an online course and community that has helped dozens of grievers grow and find their way after death, divorce, diagnosis, and other major life transitions. Her new book Of Course I’m Here Right Now Shelby Forsythia - Grief Coach...

CHICAGOOOOOO. Wow we are here a lot lately. This time we are talking about the person that is highly regarded as the first known serial killer on US soil. HH Holmes. We follow how this person who had literally ALL THE RED FLAGS, was allowed to become a a prolific serial killer and over terrible human being. He sucked so much, there are two parts! Dark Comedy, True Crime, Love and Death, Chicago, M...

Murder. Unreasonable expectations. WW2 oh my! We are in Italy and today we are learning about one of the more unique ways to open a small soap boutique. Fueled by a high bar that kept getting higher and an entire bible full of trauma, we meet Leonardi Cianciulli and her ability to make soap for her friends. Wait, we meant of her friends..... Dark Comedy, True Crime, Love and Death, Italy, Black Wi...

We are back in France! We continue the story of Joseph Vacher, the 19th-century French criminal who will now come to justice, and the insane trial and overall that lead to him being caught. Also proof that maybe you should absolutely get a lawyer and not attempt to defends yourself based on vibes alone. ⁠⁠Support us on Patreon.⁠⁠⁠⁠   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on BlueSky(@deathandfriends.bsky.social)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠...

We go all the way to Chicago! Sorta. Okay fine Indiana. Unearth the spine-chilling saga of Belle Gunness, a woman whose life story reads like a morbidly fascinating crime novel. From the mysterious fires and unsettling deaths, and strange narratives including lard and very heavy cookware. We traverse Belle's life and her sinister legacy. With suitors dropping like flies and an arson trial that...

Join us as we unravel the bizarre life of Joseph Vacher, the 19th-century French criminal whose grim deeds and tragic beginnings make for a haunting yet strangely humorous tale. The chilling recount of Joseph Vacher’s violent crimes paints a terrifying portrait of fear and tragedy in rural France. We track his ruthless path from young shepherds to unsuspecting travelers, reflecting on the societal...

Picture this: we're in the midst of a brainstorming for season six, and in an effort to impress a girl, we choose true crime. Can you imagine? Anyway this season is true crime. This episode is not just about thematic choice, kick off the season with us as we navigate the twists and turns of forensic history, starting in 1882 France, where the world of fingerprints take a giant step, there'...

Join us as we explore the rich tapestry of history, art, and mystery woven into Chicago's iconic Graceland Cemetery. This episode features the fascinating insights of cemetery tour guide and historian Coimetromania , our special guest, Grace Robbins. Together, we unravel the stories behind Graceland's founding by Thomas Barbour Bryan, who sought a serene resting place after the dismal cond...

Ever wondered what it takes to bring an overgrown and forgotten cemetery back to life? Rachel Meyer and Josh Gerloff from Epoch Preservation ( @epochpreservation ) join us to share their incredible journey of transforming neglected burial grounds into beautifully maintained historical sites. Starting with Rachel's groundbreaking research, they moved on to tackling an overgrown cemetery in Glou...

Dr. Mary M. Alcaro, a visiting assistant professor of literature at Bryn Mawr College, takes us on a captivating journey through the intersections of plague, trauma, and Middle English texts. This episode kicks off our new interview series with Dr. Alcaro, who shares her path from undergraduate curiosity to a dissertation on the social and psychological effects of the Black Death. Through her fasc...

DISCLAIMER: Hi everybody, this is Angel. A quick reminder, Death and Friends is not a podcast for the light of heart. Dark and serious subjects may come up. Listener discretion is advised. This episode, we talk about a different kind of death. If you read the title and thought, "oh i like The Ramones," clearly this will be light hearted. It is not. Not even a little bit. Attempts at joke...

Join us as we unravel the extraordinary life of Jessica Mitford, starting from her birth in 1917 Oxfordshire, England, amidst a family infamous for their fascist leanings and Nazi sympathies. Listen in as we recount the unsettling history of the Mitford family, including her father's fascist tendencies, her sister Diana's marriage to British Union of Fascists leader Oswald Mosley, and the...

On the back door of the flat, chalk graffiti says “JACK RIPPER IS AT THE BACK OF THIS DOOR” and no one is mentioning that at all in the police headquarters. Join Nash and Angel as they try to parse out the most confusingly planned crime of the century, and decide for yourself whether Jack the Ripper abandoned cheery old East End London for small-town Scotland to murder his own wife.  Okay, if he w...

It’s true crime o’clock, and in today’s episode, Angel and Nash find themselves in Scotland, in a basement flat, with the body of a woman in a trunk. She definitely didn’t put herself there, and the guy that did is currently at the Dundee Police Station telling them he didn’t kill her, but he did shove her in there five days ago, and maybe he’s also admitting to being Jack the Ripper? Join the tea...

A pandemic AND a world war?? Wow, that sounds really hard. We wouldn’t know anything about that today, because we solved medicine and warfare, thankfully. Phew! Oh wait, just kidding. In today’s completely hashtag-relatable episode, come hear Nash and Angel learn about the other time these things happened in tandem - and why the 1910s were not better at coping at basically everything. Also, this e...

Angel and Nash are enjoying a lovely holiday in Paris. Or they would be, if they could expense it. Since they can’t, join them as they deep dive on the city’s catacombs and how they came to be. Hey, if you thought the bone mudslides of early Plymouth Colony (The First Thanksgiving Episode) were fun, we bet you’ll love this! (Hint: Yeah, more bone mudslides!)  In other news, we’d like to formally a...

Oh good, men are taking over women’s medicine. And history. And body autonomy. And political rights. And whatever else this list doesn’t have on it already. Ladies, get ready to hear the unfortunate true story of how 19th century men think the female brain works and how they forced their way into childbirth after a millennia of pretending they couldn’t hear babies being born.  Look, medical scienc...

Some of you have requested more relaxed content so here you go! Here's a sneak peak on our monthly Patreon exclusive content: Beyond The Grave. Nash and Angel spend about 15 minutes discussing how to eat an axolotl, some depression talk, their social security numbers, and answering some actual questions about themselves. Let us know what you think on instagram(@deathandfriendspodcast)! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Back to Egypt! And this time we don't make fun of anyone... okay so we make a little fun... alright we gave it an honest try. Come learn why monotheism can be bad sometimes (all the time), now with 30% more desert. Nash and Angel also learn why having a super hot supportive girlfriend (Nefertiti) can lead to international conflict and historical erasure. ⁠Support us on Patreon.⁠⁠   ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow...

Did you ever wonder why the ghost of your grandmother keeps harassing you with the local cats? No? Well maybe it’s because you stopped writing her letters. Join Nash and Angel as they learn all about why the living are terrified of the dead, and what you could maybe do about it. Also Harry Houdini is in the episode in a way you would not see coming. Yay, magic! ⁠Support us on Patreon.⁠⁠   ⁠⁠⁠⁠Foll...

Ever wondered why people started setting dead people on fire? We sure have! Our therapist says this isn’t a healthy thing to wonder, but what do they know? They haven’t studied ANY of the history of cremation, so we aren’t super inclined to take their opinion on this.  This isn’t a fun episode, per se, so just… go in knowing that. Well. Most of it IS fun, but there’s a section that is deeply unfun...

Let's go back to Egypt (and other places!) for the original "show me what you're made of." How far back? *checks notes* Pretty damn far. Let’s talk about the origins of looking inside your bits (non derogatory) and how it’s done. ⁠Support us on Patreon.⁠⁠   ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on BlueSky(@deathandfriends.bsky.social)⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on instagram(@deathandfriendspodcast)⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Foll...

Do you know why I pulled you over? I saw you playing saxophone in the club earlier. You have a license for that? In the depressingly-thrilling conclusion to part one, Angel, Nash, and the ever-obnoxious jazz guy Dom explore how New York City made the jazz life even harder than it already was. ⁠Support us on Patreon.⁠⁠   ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on BlueSky(@deathandfriends.bsky.social)⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on i...