Episodios

  • Death And Disney Adults (with AJ Wolfe)

    Death And Disney Adults (with AJ Wolfe)
    Mar 11 2026
    In this episode of "Death And," mortician and funeral director Victor M. Sweeney sits down with AJ Wolfe, author of Disney Adults: Exploring and Falling in Love with a Magical Subculture, to discuss the curious world of so-called "Disney adults." The conversation unpacks what it really means to be a Disney adult—whether it's simply a longing for childhood nostalgia, a healthy way to embrace magic and joy in everyday life, or something wholly different. AJ shares her own Disney fandom rooted in personal memories with her late father, reflecting on how these relationships shape our experiences and even how we process loss. Together, they explore broader themes of nostalgia, community, and the blurred lines between comfort and escapism. http://ajwolfe.com
 http://instagram.com/ajwolfeofficial http://disneyfoodblog.com
https://www.powells.com/book/disney-adults-exploring-falling-in-love-with-a-magical-subculture-9781668069219?srsltid=AfmBOopvvj-_H48I7gl08ms6c2bgCNK40vsmETfRr23AS3mnwDz1tWqk 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
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    44 m
  • Death and Finding Home (with Daniel Nayeri)

    Death and Finding Home (with Daniel Nayeri)
    Mar 4 2026
    In this episode of "Death And," mortician and funeral director Victor M. Sweeney sits down with author and refugee Daniel Nayeri to talk about "Death And Finding Home." Their conversation weaves through Daniel’s experience fleeing Iran as a child after his mother’s religious conversion, what it means to build a sense of home, and the “patchwork” nature of identity for refugees. Daniel reflects on the "fertilizer generation"—being the bridge between an old world left behind and the hope of a future home for his son—while Victor draws parallels to his own journey through different regions and cultures. Together, they unpack how grief, gratitude, and the search for belonging shape our lives, especially for those forced to start anew. http://danielnayeri.com
 https://www.instagram.com/danielnayeri
 https://x.com/DanielNayeri
https://www.facebook.com/danielnayeri https://www.powells.com/book/everything-sad-is-untrue-a-true-story-9781646142729?srsltid=AfmBOort6cuhhgw3T_DwVVkQLJWo5d5frzaqCi4_q4jmlnllzhVy6HHE 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
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    57 m
  • Death and Charity

    Death and Charity
    Feb 25 2026
    In this episode of "Death And," mortician and funeral director Victor M. Sweeney takes the mic solo to explore the theme of "Death and Charity." Victor reflects on what charity—rooted in the Latin "caritas," meaning love—really looks like in the context of his work as a funeral director and undertaker. Through personal stories, like burning his hand helping at a funeral lunch and sharing time with grieving families, he illustrates how acts of charity, big and small, connect the living and the dead. Victor delves into the importance of both accepting and giving charity, even when it feels uncomfortable, and how those exchanges create a feedback loop of love and kindness. He answers listener questions about grave goods, green burials, and discusses being charitable to those we may not like. 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
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    32 m
  • Death And Healthspan (with Dr. Baxter Bell)

    Death And Healthspan (with Dr. Baxter Bell)
    Feb 18 2026
    In this episode of "Death And," mortician Victor M. Sweeney sits down with certified Yoga Therapist Baxter Bell to explore the concept of healthspan and how it intersects with our experience of death and aging. Victor admits that "healthspan" was a new term for him, but quickly connects it to his daily work with the realities of lifespan and mortality. Dr. Bell, who transitioned from family medicine to practicing and teaching yoga, shares how proactive lifestyle choices—like yoga and mindfulness—can extend our years of good health and reduce time spent in illness. The conversation winds through personal stories, the privilege of caring for loved ones at the end of life, and the ways in which facing mortality (even through pre-planning a funeral) can actually alleviate stress and boost well-being. Together, they discuss the inevitability of suffering but also how our mindset, daily rituals, and a holistic approach to health can make those hard times more meaningful. http://baxterbell.com https://www.instagram.com/baxterbellyoga
https://www.facebook.com/baxterbellyoga
https://www.youtube.com/user/BaxterBellYoga/videos https://www.shambhala.com/authors/a-f/baxter-bell/yoga-for-healthy-aging-15028.html 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
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    49 m
  • Death and Breath (with Dr. Lucy Kalanithi)

    Death and Breath (with Dr. Lucy Kalanithi)
    Feb 11 2026
    In this episode of "Death And," undertaker and mortician Victor M. Sweeney is joined by physician and writer, Dr. Lucy Kalanithi. The conversation centers around Lucy Kalanithi's experience as a widow to Dr. Paul Kalanithi, author of When Breath Becomes Air, and what it was like to help bring his memoir to life during his final days. Together, they reflect on caring for a loved one at the end of life, parenting through loss, and the delicate balance between honoring someone’s memory while not turning them into a myth. Lucy Kalanithi shares insights on grief, raising her daughter without Paul, and how the realities of death can sit side by side with moments of humor and celebration. The episode also touches on topics like the practicalities of funerals, the importance of talking openly about those we’ve lost, and how love and presence can endure in unexpected ways. https://lucykalanithi.com https://www.powells.com/book/when-breath-becomes-air-9780812988406?condition=Used%20-%20Good https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/lucy-kalanithi
https://www.instagram.com/lucygoddard970
https://x.com/rocketgirlmd 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
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    55 m
  • Death and Fear

    Death and Fear
    Feb 4 2026
    In this monologue episode of "Death And," mortician and funeral director Victor M. Sweeney explores the theme of death and fear, inviting listeners to reflect on their own anxieties around mortality and the grieving process. Victor shares personal stories from his life and career, demystifying the fear people often have about being near the dead and the unfamiliar rituals of funerals. He talks about how children naturally approach death with curiosity, and how adults might benefit from adopting a similar openness instead of avoidance. Victor emphasizes the power of permission—encouraging listeners to stay present in difficult moments, touch their loved ones goodbye, and let themselves experience grief without shame or fear. The episode offers a compassionate guide through the unknown, reassuring listeners that it’s okay to ask questions, feel uneasy, and seek support when facing loss. 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
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    43 m
  • Death And Midwifery (with Paige Pederson)

    Death And Midwifery (with Paige Pederson)
    Jan 28 2026
    In this episode of "Death And," mortician and funeral director Victor M. Sweeney sits down with Paige Pederson, a certified midwife from Grand Forks, North Dakota, to explore the fascinating overlap between death and the practice of midwifery. The conversation reveals how both professions, though on seemingly opposite ends of life, revolve around being present with families in moments of profound transition—birth and death. Paige opens up about the hands-on, relationship-based nature of her work, caring for women from conception through postpartum and valuing the trust that develops along the way. Victor shares parallels from funeral service, including the importance of simply sitting with families and allowing space for grief and healing. 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
https://birthwithgenesis.com https://www.facebook.com/genesismidwifery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h
  • Death And Near Death Experiences (with Dr. Tony Cicoria)

    Death And Near Death Experiences (with Dr. Tony Cicoria)
    Jan 21 2026
    In this episode of "Death And," mortician and funeral director Victor M. Sweeney sits down with Dr. Tony Cicoria, an orthopedic surgeon who shares his remarkable near death experience after being struck by lightning. The conversation centers on Tony’s experience of dying, and what it means to come back, fundamentally changed…touching on the spiritual, medical, and personal impact of such an event. Dr. Cicoria recounts leaving his body, observing his own resuscitation, and experiencing a profound sense of peace and love, which then led to an unexpected affinity for classical music, a new skill he didn’t have prior, and a transformation in how he relates to others through his medical practice. Together, they explore the deeper questions of spirituality, the nature of consciousness, and how moments at the edge of life can inspire lasting change. 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
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6179476/ https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2007/07/23/a-bolt-from-the-blue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    55 m