Department of Unusual Occupations

In this solo episode of Department of Unusual Occupations , Ari explores why Western culture hides death in real life while endlessly consuming it through media. From ancient “forbidden jobs” to modern death workers, Ari unpacks the contradictions of fear and fascination of why we avoid death, why we fixate on it and what these unusual occupations reveal about our humanity. Drawing on history, psy...

In this episode of Department of Unusual Occupations , I talk with Dr. Judy Melinek, a widley renowned forensic pathologist, author and expert witness who has spent her career uncovering the truths our bodies leave behind. I explore Dr. Melinek's thoughts on what death can teach us about life, why Western culture fears mortality and how science and empathy intersect in the quiet work of the m...

In this episode of Department of Unusual Occupations , I sit down with Erika Lim, whose occupation is a death doula. She helps guide individuals and families through the final stages and really any stage of life with compassion, honesty and care. Together, we discussed why death remains one of society’s deepest taboos, what it means to find purpose in the moments most people turn away from, and ho...

Welcome to Department of Unusual Occupations , a podcast that dives into  strange, morbid and dangerous jobs most people would never dream of doing.  From unsettling work in the deep shadows to the bizarre and unique roles that keep the world turning, each episode blends storytelling, curiosity and some dark humor to reveal the human side of the world’s oddest occupations. This trailer gives you a...