Death Party Podcast

This week, Death Party dives into the strange new world of grief tech — where people use artificial intelligence to chat with digital ghosts of their loved ones. From chatbots that mimic the dead to startups promising “eternal digital life,” this week we’re exploring how A.I. is reshaping grief — and maybe redefining what it means to stay dead. Is it comfort, closure...or a new kind of haunting?

They say AI can do anything... but nobody asked it to raise the dead. 💀 Join us as we dive into the history, and the strange new world of grief tech — where people are using artificial intelligence to chat with the digital ghosts of their loved ones. Is it comfort, closure… or a new kind of haunting?

Imagine the scene:  There is no body to be found, and yet someone has gone missing. A loved one has disappeared and the longer they’re gone, the worse the imagined scenarios become.  We’ve heard the stories, but do police actually seek out help from psychics? Or do psychics insert themselves into high-profile cases? Join your hosts Aratrice and Fae as we probe into these questions and more in our...

American funerary ceremonies are so boring. Have you ever wished there was a way to observe a loved one's passing that didn't involve quietly sobbing in an unfamiliar room with the same drab pipe organ songs playing to a chorus of wet sniffles? Well then join Aratrice and Fae as they discuss a death party that puts the fun in funeral: jazz funerals!

Some bodies of water are used for mysterious things we've heard of like "fun" and "relaxation," but some are far better at killing the crap out of local wildlife and even melting faces or making your corneas fall right off.* Yet one surprising animal has adapted remarkably well to a particularly harsh lake environment, and even breeds new life there. In episode 25, your Death P...

What better way to adopt a whole new appreciation for your local, murky, gravelly swim spots than by learning about some truly treacherous things that live beneath the water? Grotesque creatures! Creatures with huge, pointy teeth! Creatures that most people never encounter in the wild, but some maniacs go out of their way to swim beside for thousands of miles in order to break some kind of record...

The subject of this episode is one that has touched your hosts Aratrice and Fae and people that we have cared about. Death by suicide brings complicated feelings and questions that loved ones are left to cope with in the void that is the aftermath. We’re going to talk about how individuals can help a loved one who is suicidal later in the episode, but first we wanted to be clear that this is a ver...

This episode is all about the guillotine; the classic, time-tested stress reliever of the masses! Your hosts Fae and Aratrice will be slicing off a piece of its history, its effectiveness, and some common myths surrounding it. Beheading machines didn't start with the guillotine though, so first we'll introduce you to some of its precursors before cutting to the chase. We'll also explor...

You've learned what defines an NDE (near death experience) and heard a couple of examples of them in parts one and two of our NDE series, now join us for part three, wherein Fae and Aratrice cover the research of Walter Pahnke. Pahnke conducted an experiment to see if it was possible to replicate the experience of an NDE without the pesky, almost-dying bit. Listen to this final episode in our...

What happens when we die? Who do we meet? What makes some people come back from the brink of death? Join us for part two in a series about NDEs (near death experiences), wherein Fae and Aratrice cover the story of Dr. Mary Neal, a spinal surgeon who died in a kayaking accident and lived to tell the world about it. Part three will be the final episode in the NDE series so check back for it. Subscri...

What happens when we die? Who do we meet first? What kind of weird sci-fi mode of transit do they use to get around in The Beyond? How consistent are experiences of the afterlife amongst people who have come back from the brink of death to tell their tale? Join us for this episode about NDEs (near death experiences) wherein Fae and Aratrice cover telltale signs of NDEs and discuss the story of phi...

If you had a lackluster Halloween this year, don’t despair because the other spooky season is upon us! We are talking about winter of course, a season which has carried a centuries-old folk custom of telling stories involving specters and spooks. So wrap yourself in a cozy blanket, light a pine-scented candle, and join us as we dig into the origins and traditions of spooky winter storytelling.

In this episode, your hosts Fae and Aratrice dig up some truly bizarre ways those who have come before us have bought the farm. From a romantic interlude gone wrong, to a “personality disturbance,” to a surprisingly lethal vegetable, this episode covers a lot of ground. The unusual deaths recounted herein prove that no matter how ready you may be to face your mortality, you never can be sure that...

A far cry from the holiday you likely know, and possibly(?) love, our modern version of Christmas is rooted in paganism. You might be surprised to learn that underneath the surface of festive holiday cheer, December 25th has historically been a holiday synonymous with telling terrifying tales and advising children on how to avoid torture and being eaten. Oh, and mistletoe! Before it was used a shr...

Graves! Tombstones! Marker-y thingies for human bones mostly and other bones sometimes! In this episode, we will share with you tales about the inhabitants of some noteworthy graves, including: A woman whose life was cut short due to tragic circumstances, whereupon her grave became yet another one The story of a man so afraid of being buried alive that he rigged his burial chamber so as to avoid j...

HALLOWEEN! How did Mischief Night shape Halloween celebrations today? What are the origins of trick or treating? Who was Guy Fawkes and does he have a better mustache than John Waters? The answer to all of these questions and more shall be revealed as we continue to tread beyond the shroud in this episode of Death Party! This is the very first time we are releasing two episodes in a month (other t...

HALLOWEEN! Where did it come from? Why is it so fricking great? Why do ALL THE BEST PEOPLE love Halloween? Is it really just a modern-day Samhain celebration? Do you know the ancient (and grisly) origin of Halloween bonfires? How about which vegetable is the spOOooOOkiest? Why do strange little children come to my door and demand snacks? The answer to all of these questions and more shall be revea...

Are you human? Looking to solve that pesky (yet eternal) problem of your own mortality? Well fear not, kindred spirit! Your friendly Death Party pals have got you covered in this episode on how to live forever and ever. Unless you are actually an immortal, then maybe you can toss us some pointers. In this episode on longevity, you’ll learn about the oldest human on record, and how they may or may...

We’re at it again with another episode on being at it again! Won’t you hold our hands for a third time as we take another stroll down reincarnation lane? If you’ve already listened to the first two episodes in this series, you have a solid foundation of knowledge about how popular belief in reincarnation is (more than you might think!). We previously introduced you to James Huston and James Leinin...

How did the Egyptian Book of the Dead fit into the lives of royal and average Egyptians? Was it a vital afterlife resource or shameless cash grab? What does surviving the afterlife have in common with snap bracelets? If you’ve already listened to part one of this episode, you have a solid foundation of knowledge about what Egyptians thought the afterlife was like, and in part two we’ll reveal some...

What exactly was the Egyptian Book of the Dead and how did it fit into the lives of royal and average Egyptians? What was the difference between it and the Coffin or Pyramid Texts? What did the Egyptians believe awaited them on the other side and how many snack cakes did Fae think about when we were recording this episode? Dust off your papyri and start assembling your kohl stick payment for your...

Who or what killed Edgar Allan Poe?! Guys and dolls! Theydies and gentlethem! Death Party Theatre is pleased to bring you— Thrills! Chills! Suspense! Crime! All of this and more awaits you in this episode covering the mysterious, unsolved death of a literary legend! Throw on your favorite trenchcoat and follow us back in time as we ponder his surprising demise. We’re excited for you to hear this v...

What happens after we depart this mortal coil? A startling number of Americans think it's possible that we reincarnate. Can we? Do we? Should we? This episode tells the story of James Huston and James Leininger, the former a WWII veteran and the latter is also him, but after being reincarnated. Bonus points if you can keep track of which James (or Jim) we're talking about throughout the ep...

What happens after we depart this mortal coil? What happens after we depart this mortal coil? A startling number of Americans think it's possible that we reincarnate. Can we? Do we? Should we? Show notes Website Help Us Keep the Show Running; become a Patron! Socials: Instagram Twitter Facebook Facebook group Support Death Party Podcast by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.c...

While heavy metal may be a type of music that fans of death positivity might listen to, it's not a type of ingredient you want to smear on your skin in the name of beauty. Arsenic, mercury, lead: just some heavy metals found in cosmetic products over the centuries which resulted in pretty nasty side effects—like death. Join as we ponder why people would knowingly trade their good health for lo...