Episodes

In this episode of "Death And," mortician and funeral director Victor M. Sweeney sits down with writer and producer Jessica Alpert to delve into the deep and spiritual tradition of ritual washing in Jewish death customs. The theme centers on Tahara, the ancient practice performed by volunteers in a ...

In this episode of "Death And," funeral director Victor M. Sweeney sits down with David Berg to explore the theme of death and attitude. Dave, who has a terminal diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, opens up about how his perspective on life and relationships has shifted since receiving the news. The dis...

In this episode of "Death And," mortician and funeral director Victor M. Sweeney explores the theme of "death and balance," reflecting on the unique challenges that come with working in the death care profession. Victor answers thoughtful listener questions about coping with emotionally heavy cases,...

In this episode of "Death And," funeral director Victor M. Sweeney sits down with guest James Marck, Director of Music at St. Francis de Sales Oratory, to explore the rich tradition of the New Orleans jazz funeral. The conversation covers how music at funerals has evolved—from somber Gregorian chant...

In this episode of "Death And," mortician and funeral director Victor M. Sweeney sits down with Susan Barsky Reid, psychotherapist and the mother of Death Cafe founder Jon Underwood, to talk about the worldwide Death Cafe movement. The conversation centers on how gathering to openly discuss death—wi...

In this episode of "Death And," mortician Victor M. Sweeney sits down with online coach and podcaster Karl Schudt. The two delve into how death—as the ultimate inconvenient physical reality—forces us to confront both the tangible and intangible aspects of being human. Their wide-ranging discussion c...

In this episode of "Death And," mortician and funeral director Victor M. Sweeney dives deep into what it means to pursue a career in deathcare. Responding to a wave of listener questions about entering the funeral industry, Victor shares his personal journey—from wrestling with his vocation as a you...

In this episode of "Death And," mortician and funeral director Victor M. Sweeney invites woodworker John Enger, to chat about the deep connections between death and woodworking. They explore how working with wood—living material that must die to become something new—mirrors the cycle of life and los...

In this episode of "Death And," Victor M. Sweeney is joined by philosophy professor Axel Seemann to explore the connection between death and loneliness. The pair dig into the different forms of loneliness, from the obvious ache left behind by losing loved ones to the deeper, existential kind that ca...