Dying to Know More

What if the most environmentally friendly thing you ever do happens after you die? In this episode of Dying to Know More, we talk with HK Lee, founder of Aeon Woods Conservation Cemetery, about her mission to create the first conservation natural burial cemetery in New York's Hudson Valley. She explains how natural burial differs from traditional burial and cremation, why abandoned cemeteries...

Seventy percent of Americans have no estate plan at all, but according to estate planning attorney Jill Mastroianni, the biggest mistake isn't having the wrong documents. It's assuming everyone needs the same plan. In this episode of "Dying to Know More," Jill breaks down the estate planning basics most people never learn, including wills, trusts, probate, powers of attorney, and...

What can people facing the end of life teach the rest of us about living right now?  In this episode of Dying to Know More,  palliative care chaplain Cody Hufstedler shares what he’s learned from hundreds of deathbed conversations as well as the intimate conversations he's had with terminal patients on his podcast, "Dying to Tell You." We also talk about grief, terminal illness, fear...

What happens when grief hits all at once, and how do you survive it? In this episode of Dying to Know More, author Samantha Rose shares the raw, disorienting reality of losing her mother to suicide and the unexpected ways she found healing. An Emmy Award-winning writer and bestselling author, Samantha Rose talks about her memoir Giving Up the Ghost: A Daughter’s Memoir, a powerful exploration of l...

Growing up in a funeral home is more than just a "fun fact," it can provide a life-altering perspective on how to live. Growing up in her family's third-generation funeral home taught Katie Radel so many beautiful lessons about living that can only be found by witnessing death. In this episode of Dying to Know More, Ashley Haugen talks with Katie Radel about her unique upbringing and...

In this episode of Dying to Know More, we welcome Ebony Leary, founder of My Sunset Doula. As a former hospice nurse and current death doula and end-of-life planning professional, Ebony demystifies the caregiving journey. We discuss the "pink flags" of cognitive decline, how families can access Medicaid funds for caregiving, and why having an advanced directive is the best gift you can l...

Death is universal, but the way we are treated in death isn't always equal. On this episode of Dying to Know More, death and grief doula Lauren Seeley explains death literacy, specifically for the LGBTQ+, trans, and sex worker communities, marginalized groups who often face the risk of being misgendered, deadnamed, or "erased" by estranged biological family after they pass. Lauren ex...

"He was the meanest man on earth." Alice Sullivan doesn't hold back in this episode as she recounts the moment she found out her abusive father had passed away—and why she and her siblings toasted with margaritas. But 2025 had more in store. From navigating a $17,000 "hoarder house" cleanup to receiving news of her mother's terminal cancer diagnosis, Alice’s story is a...

In this deeply moving conversation, Melanie Ezell shares her experience living with stage 4 ovarian cancer since 2022 while raising her 5-year-old son Velzy. A former yoga instructor, surfer, and athlete with the BRCA1 genetic mutation, Melanie offers profound insights on mortality, motherhood, and finding peace in uncertainty. We discuss: • Why she rejects "fighting" cancer and instead...

Captain Steve Ferdinando never imagined he'd be scattering ashes at sea for a living. But after 20 years in the fleet lease business, a simple request from a friend changed everything and led him to found Ashes2Oceans, a company helping families say goodbye on the water. In this episode, Captain Steve shares:✦ How his first sea burial went hilariously (and perfectly) wrong✦ The unexplainable m...

When Janet Turkula lost her father at 21, she and her siblings faced an impossible situation: planning a funeral they couldn't afford while trying to grieve. Years later, when a friend's family faced the same struggle, Janet discovered there was no modern way to help — no gift registry for funerals, just awkward Venmo pools and wilting flowers. In this episode, Janet and her co-founder Rya...

When Becky Robinson lost both her parents within three years, she discovered the overwhelming chaos of settling an estate, even when her parents had planned ahead. From death certificates to "ghost cars" titled to deceased parents, from medallion signature guarantees to probate court confusion, Becky shares the real, messy truth about what happens after someone dies on her website, deadp...

In this episode, we talk with estate planning attorney Will Ha of William Ha Law. He shares his keen insights on what a trust is and does, the hassles of probate, determining guardianship, advanced directives and so much more. Plus he explains common misconceptions that people have regarding estate planning. Whether you're curious about how to get started, or just want to make sure your loved...

On this episode of Dying to Know More, Deputy Coroner Clair Valeriano shares what it's really like to work the scene of a death, her favorite part of her job, and details you may be surprised to find out. Find out more about the fascinating field of forensics with this bright and brilliant woman. Find Deputy Coroner Clair on the following socials:TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@deputycoronerclair...

We are launching our podcast with our first episode focused on anticipatory grief. We talked with Kristin Scaglione, whose husband Mike passed away on March 1, 2025, after an 18-month battle with lung cancer. She shares what the anticipatory grief was like for her and her children, shares the ways in which she honors Mike, and share her best advice for anyone who is newly embarked on a similar jou...

Lisa Pahl is a hospice and emergency medicine social worker. It is through her work that she also became the co-founder and CEO of The Death Deck, a lively game that sparks conversation around death and dying as well as our individual desires for what we want our own end of life experiences to look like. Here, she shares her unique insight into hospice as well as shares some of the interesting too...

In this episode, Gwen Taylor, a mom and therapist, shares her personal journey of experiencing fear of death after the tragic and traumatic loss of her mother. Her insights into psychology and mental health offer guidance on emotional healing and navigating grief after a trauma and tragedy. Get her keen insights on healing after loss and learn how to find peace.#deathanddying #death #deathanxiety...

Gina Black is a paranormal investigator and author who has spent the past near-decade learning and teaching about paranormal activity and ghosts. She also recently released her new book, Etched in Stone: Decoding Hidden Meanings in Cemeteries, which uncovers the some fascinating historical facts that have long since been lost to time. Here, she shares more about how she conducts her investigations...

Mary McGreevy is a lifelong obituary consumer, and on her wildly popular Tips From Dead People social channels, she shares the hidden messages she finds in some of the most moving, humorous, and — as she says — savage obituaries. But it's what she hopes to accomplish by sharing those "tips" that makes her work truly noteworthy. EPISODE LINKS:Renay's obit: https://www.fayobserver....

On this episode of Dying to Know More, The Modern Mortician (aka Melissa Meadow) shares some unreal (shocking, actually, but we don't want to be too dramatic...) stories from her decades in the industry as well as her keen and incredibly beautiful experience in the green burial and eco-friendly funeral space. This is the episode you do NOT want to skip. FIND MELISSA AT: https://www.themodernmo...

In the past, people left behind belongings and memories. Today, we also leave a massive digital footprint ... our online lives that continue after we’re gone. This is what’s called a digital afterlife. What happens to your digital legacy when you die? From social media accounts to online assets, we explore how people are navigating this new frontier of death in the digital age—and what you should...

Meet Scott Ginsberg and Josh Siegel of Titan Casket—two men on a mission to bring transparency, choice, and even a little humor to an industry that hasn’t changed in over a century. In this episode, you’ll hear how they’re reshaping funeral planning, explore their one-of-a-kind casket selection (yes, even mushroom caskets), meet their cheeky mascot Mort, and discover which caskets they’ve personal...

Death doula and hospice nurse Suzanne Kilpatrick joins the Dying to Know More podcast to share more about what a death doula is and does, the importance of this role in end-of-life transitions, and what led her to do this important work. Center for Conscious Living and Dying - https://www.ccld.community/ INELDA (International End of Life Doula Association) - https://inelda.org/ Conscious Dying Col...

In this Dying to Know More Mini episode, we dive into the history of embalming, tracing its origins from ancient Egyptian mummification (and even before!) to the rise of embalming in the Civil War and its place in modern funeral traditions. Learn how embalming shaped the way societies honor the dead, why it became a central practice in the United States, and how its role continues to evolve — and...

Kelly Roberts is disrupting the funeral industry with his fresh take on funerals. The SendOff founder shares with Dying to Know More listeners what compelled him to launch his company, what a truly customized sendoff can look like, and more. SendOff : Funerals Reimagined: https://sendoff.co/Instagram: @sendoffmnFacebook: @sendoffmnYouTube: @SendOffMN #funeralservices #funeraltraditions #funeralhom...