In this episode of "Death And," mortician and funeral director Victor M. Sweeney welcomes Paul Kloppenburg, co-founder of Crestone End of Life Project, to explore the theme of open-air cremation. The conversation demystifies the legendary “Viking send-off,” comparing it to the real, community-centered cremations Paul helps orchestrate in Crestone, Colorado—the only outdoor crematory in the US. Paul shares how the process empowers families to care for their loved ones, from tending the body at home to participating in the open-air ritual, all while honoring personal beliefs and traditions. They discuss the emotional impact of hands-on death care, the importance of ritual, and how returning death to a natural, tangible context can help families process grief.
https://crestoneendoflifeproject.org/
http://deathandpodcast.com
http://youtube.com/@victormsweeney
http://instagram.com/victor.m.sweeney
http://tiktok.com/@victormsweeney
http://x.com/victormsweeney
http://simonandschuster.com/books/Now-Departing/Victor-M-Sweeney/9781668062111
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices