DEAD Talks

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

How do we talk about suicide when there are no warning signs? In this emotional and unfiltered conversation, Jeff Landreville shares the heartbreaking story of losing a close friend who took his own life—and how that loss forced Jeff to confront his own breaking point. This powerful episode explores: The hidden struggles behind suicidal thoughts Jeff’s personal journey through grief, survival, and...

How do you talk to children about death, grief, and loss? Bestselling author Patrice Karst has helped millions through her beloved book The Invisible String, a story that teaches kids (and adults) about the unseen connections that keep us bonded to loved ones—even after loss. In this heartfelt conversation, Patrice shares: The origin story of The Invisible String and how it grew from a bedtime tal...

What happens when the love of your life is diagnosed with cancer while you’re still in college? At just 21, Candace Cheatwood faced the unimaginable when her boyfriend was diagnosed with testicular cancer. For two years she stood by his side through the battle—until his final day. In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Candace opens up about: The shock of facing illness and loss so you...

What does it mean to bridge the gap between life and death? In this conversation, we explore the world of mediums, psychics, and empaths—people who claim to connect with the other side and bring back powerful messages for the living. Eileen Daley, an empath and medium, shares her story of discovering her gifts and how she now helps others find meaning, calm, and connection after loss. Drawing from...

How does the death of a loved one reveal the patterns we inherit—and the cycles we can break? In this episode, we dive into the raw story of how the loss of a grandfather reshaped one man’s life, forcing him to confront grief, identity, and the weight of generational trauma. Through humor and honesty, Jake Malott shares: How his grandfather’s death opened a path of self-discovery What it’s like to...

Can grief guide us toward our life’s purpose? In this episode, we explore the intersection of loss, spirituality, and healing with a Reiki Master and Intuitive Healer who discovered the ability to connect with those who have passed. Erika Tran, an Oncology Reiki Practitioner and NLP Practitioner, shares how her personal loss shaped her path and how her work with cancer patients has helped others f...

What does it mean to lose two life partners in completely different ways? TV director Norman Buckley (Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, The OC) opens up about his deeply personal story of love, loss, and resilience. Norman shares how his first partner died of AIDS and, years later, how his second partner took his own life—two tragedies that forced him to navigate grief from very different angles....

What does it mean to move forward after losing a sibling? In this episode, we hear the powerful story of Dan Hahn, whose brother died of an overdose 18 years ago. His raw honesty opens the door to conversations about grief, relationships, and how death reshapes not only our emotional world but even our physical health. Dan’s level of immediate acceptance offers a unique perspective on loss—showing...

Today's guest shares three unique and entertaining stories about how death has impacted his life through the loss of three different people. He discusses his evolved belief system and how these deaths (or, haven't) effected those beliefs, a lucid dream experience where his grandfather came to him and we even jump into psychedelics. We had plenty of laughs through all of this despite plenty of deep...

What does it mean to be a death doula? In this episode, we dive into the world of end-of-life support and healing with Jessie Kavanaugh, a Conscious Creator, Soul-Centered Coach, Reiki Healer, and Master Herbalist who has dedicated her life to helping people navigate death and grief. Jessie shares her own journey of grieving her father’s death and explains how the role of a death doula can help ot...

What happens when loss forces you to grow up faster than you should? In this emotional episode, Rebecca shares her story of caring for her terminally ill sister from a young age and the grief that shaped her life after her sister’s passing. Through her vulnerability, Rebecca reveals: The impact of childhood grief and caregiving at an early age How losing a sibling shapes identity, resilience, and...

How do you find humor in the darkest moments? In this episode, agent and comedian Jorge Perez shares his heartfelt and hilarious reflections on losing his father to leukemia. Through wisdom and wit, Jorge shows how laughter can coexist with grief—and even help us process it. In this conversation, Jorge opens up about: What his father’s death taught him about life and mortality How humor can be a t...

What does grief look like after losing someone to a murder-suicide? Actress and activist Cassie Scerbo (Sharknado, Grand Hotel), VP of Boo2Bullying, shares the heartbreaking story of losing her best friend and the lessons she’s carried about grief, vulnerability, and domestic violence awareness. In this powerful and emotional episode, Cassie opens up about: Coping with the sudden loss of a best fr...