DEAD Talks

When Vernita Bostick suddenly lost her boyfriend in 2019, her world was turned upside down. As a stand-up comedian, she found an unexpected way to process grief — by using humor alongside raw honesty to share her journey. In this episode, Vernita opens up about navigating the pain of sudden loss, creating a supportive community for grievers on Instagram, and finding meaning through both laughter a...

Writer and brand owner Tay sits down to share her story of loss, grief, and the powerful signs she believes connect her to loved ones on the other side. From spirituality to mental health, this conversation explores how grief can open us to new perspectives on the afterlife and how those experiences can help us heal. Tay is the founder of Season Of, a streetwear brand built around the philosophy o...

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Mystical Advisor Tara Brandel returns to DEAD Talks to share stories and insights from her work in mediumship, psychic readings, tarot, palm readings, reiki energy work, and astrology. This is her second time on the podcast, bringing even more incredible stories about connecting with the other side. Whether you’re a believer or a skeptic, this conversation explores powerful experiences that sugges...

In 2017, Bryan Martin lost his father — and just four months later, his partner Clayton was hospitalized with acute liver failure. Bryan cared for him while working full-time, until Clayton passed away in 2018. Faced with devastating back-to-back losses, Bryan was left in deep grief — but he slowly found a way to turn pain into purpose. In this episode, Bryan shares his journey of losing both his...

In 2018, celebrity makeup and hair artist Christina Flach lost her husband, professional tennis player Ken Flach, to a sudden and fatal case of sepsis. His unexpected death became the catalyst for Christina’s mission to raise awareness about the dangers of sepsis and the importance of early detection. Since then, Christina has partnered with Sepsis Alliance and spoken on major outlets including Fo...

Bruce H. Lipton, PhD — internationally recognized stem cell biologist, bestselling author of The Biology of Belief, and recipient of the Goi Peace Award — joins DEAD Talks to share his groundbreaking insights into the biology of death and the science of epigenetics. Known for bridging science and spirit, Dr. Lipton challenges traditional views of life and death by exploring how our genes are influ...

Stand-up comedian Fanto joins DEAD Talks to share the surreal and often hilarious experiences he’s had with visions of the dead and dreams where his late relatives appeared to communicate with him. Known for his sharp crowd work and his YouTube show Double or Nothing, Fanto blends raw honesty with humor while diving into deeply personal stories. From growing up in the former Soviet Union to making...

With over 900,000 TikTok followers, Hospice Nurse Julie has become a viral voice for changing how we see death — and how we can live better because of it. Through her educational and entertaining videos, she shares raw, compassionate insights from her years in hospice care, helping people navigate grief, loss, and acceptance. In this episode, Julie opens up about the most powerful lessons she’s le...

BJ Miller is a physician, author, and leading voice in hospice and palliative medicine, widely known for his 2015 TED Talk, What Really Matters at the End of Life. In this deeply moving episode, BJ reflects on his own near-death experience at 19, how it shaped his understanding of life and mortality, and why rethinking the way we approach death is essential. Speaking with clarity and compassion, B...

Hospice Nurse Penny has built a massive online following by doing something few people are willing to do: talking openly — and even humorously — about death. With her witty, sarcastic, and deeply compassionate approach, Penny has created viral content that normalizes conversations around dying, grief, and what it means to truly live. In this episode, Penny shares her journey as a hospice RN, the l...

Amber Jeffrey, host of The Grief Gang Podcast in the UK, knows firsthand what it means to live with sudden loss. After losing her mother in 2016 to a heart attack, Amber spent years bottling up her emotions before realizing she needed an outlet. What started as a personal release soon became The Grief Gang — a community and movement dedicated to normalizing grief. In this episode, Amber shares her...

Scarlett Lewis is the mother of Jesse Lewis, one of the children killed in the tragic Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on December 14, 2012. In the aftermath of losing her son, Scarlett founded the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Foundation, inspired by a message Jesse left on their family’s kitchen chalkboard shortly before he died: “Nurturing Healing Love.” In this episode, Scarlett shares her jour...

Hip hop artist Lil Xan (Diego) gets raw and honest in this episode of DEAD Talks, opening up about grief, addiction, and the death of his close friend Citgo to suicide. He reflects on how loss shaped his struggles with drugs, his path to sobriety, and the lessons he’s learned watching fellow artists like Lil Peep, XXXTentacion, and Juice WRLD die too soon. Lil Xan is joined by Durag Dev, designer...

Bobby Boyd faced the unimaginable — losing both of his parents less than two months apart to cancer. In this raw and deeply personal episode, Bobby opens up about spending their final moments together, how he processed the grief during and after, and what life looks like when your foundation is gone. Beyond his loss, Bobby is known as a luxury realtor in Los Angeles, a former model, and a vibrant...

Julia Fisher has endured more loss in a short span of time than most face in a lifetime. From the devastating death of her father to suicide, to several other family deaths within just a few years, Julia has had to navigate grief after grief while still trying to move forward with life. An actor by trade, Julia brings both depth and wit to this difficult subject. In this conversation, she reflects...

Sports psychologist Paige E. Roberts, LICSW PhD, is on a mission to find better ways to treat mental illness, prevent suicide, and help athletes heal both mentally and physically. A sports and fitness enthusiast herself, Paige developed Performance Neuro Training — a unique blend of sports psychology, Brainspotting, and hot & cold photobiomodulation laser-light therapy. In this episode of DEAD Tal...

In this moving episode of DEAD Talks, Jorge Perez returns to share the story of losing his mother, Yolanda, to cancer. Having previously spoken about his father’s passing, Jorge now reflects on what it was like to witness his mother’s final days — and the unexpected peace that came with them. Jorge brings both humor and deep perspective as he explores the meaning he found in her passing, the lesso...

This is Part 2 and the finale of Penny Wittbrodt’s Near-Death Experience (NDE), where she describes meeting God and what she was shown about forgiveness, future events, and the power of our thoughts. In this compelling story, Penny explains how she finally emerged from the void and the life-changing wisdom she brought back with her. As a registered nurse, she has since shared her NDE widely — cont...

This is Part 1 of Penny Wittbrodt’s Near-Death Experience (NDE), where she shares the beginning of her extraordinary journey. Penny describes meeting God, escaping the void, and the profound lessons she was shown — including forgiveness, the power of thoughts, and glimpses of future events. As a registered nurse, Penny has since become a powerful voice in the NDE community, contributing to Dr. Pen...

Megan Pormer — TV host on Fox and doctor of biomedical engineering — opens up about her personal journey of loss, growth, and reinvention. After losing her father, Megan realized she was suffering from what she calls “Princess Syndrome” and began the process of stepping into her own power. She shares the story of her family’s financial struggles, including not being able to afford her father’s fun...

Mark Lemon shares the heartbreaking story of losing his father, who was murdered when Mark was just 12 years old. Now a writer, grief speaker, and podcaster, Mark openly discusses his healing journey and how grief has shaped his life. This episode carries a special weight, as both Mark and I (David, the host) lost our fathers at the same age. We explore the parallels of growing up fatherless, bein...

Michael Galante — actor from Good Trouble, Tyler Perry’s The Have and the Have Nots, Will & Grace, and more — shares his personal story of loss and resilience. Michael opens up about the death of his grandmother, who was like a best friend to him, and how that loss continues to shape his life. Despite carrying the pain of grief, Michael radiates energy and positivity. He reflects on the paradox of...

A heartbreaking but inspiring breast cancer story of love, loss, and resilience. Photographer Angelo Merendino shares how just five months after getting married, his wife Jennifer was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 36. From chemotherapy to radiation to reconstructive surgery, they faced every step together — and documented it all in a powerful series of photographs that went viral worl...

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...