DEATH AND with Victor M. Sweeney

Death And Magical Thinking

In this episode of "Death And," funeral director Victor M. Sweeney takes listeners on a solo exploration, reflecting on his own tendency toward magical thinking despite being a natural skeptic. Victor shares personal stories from the funeral home that reveal how small moments of coincidence, ritual, and whimsy can bring comfort in the face of loss. He discusses the professional ethics of mortuary work and finding beauty in the absurd and serious alike, reminding us that when it comes to death, logic and mystery often exist side by side. 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 [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Death And The Void (with Dr. Liz Scott)

In this episode of "Death And," mortician Victor M. Sweeney welcomes psychologist and author Dr. Liz Scott to grapple with the big question of death and what comes next. The conversation revolves around the concept of “annihilation” and the fear of nothingness after death, contrasting Victor’s steady belief in an afterlife with Dr. Scott’s journey from near-terror to near-acceptance of mortality. They discuss Liz’s book “You're Going To Die But Not Me!” and Dr. Scott opens up about her personal experiences, including the loss of her husband and how that shaped her exploration of legacy, meaning, and what really remains after we’re gone. http://lizscottwriter.com https://www.powells.com/book/youre-going-to-die-but-not-me-a-psychologist-wrestles-death-9781965784372?condition=New&srsltid=AfmBOorgRtfkYO4h05LJuiJQ8EoBuXyOTf5whKPnDi59POHgxMF1Awoj 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 [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Death And Toxic Families

In this episode of "Death And," mortician and funeral director Victor M. Sweeney tackles the challenging theme of death and toxic families, addressing a complex listener question about navigating family conflict during a funeral. Victor reflects on the realities of fractured relationships that surface when a loved one dies and the surprising frequency of family drama in his profession. He shares stories of mediating difficult dynamics, offers advice for those facing estrangement at funerals, and stresses the value of leaning on the funeral director as a compassionate middleman. Victor encourages listeners to consider what it means to be the bigger person, even when forgiveness seems impossible, and reminds us that love can take many forms—even if it's just wishing someone well from afar. 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 [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Death And Grief Resources (with Laura Jaye Cramer)

In this episode of "Death And," mortician Victor M. Sweeney sits down with Laura Jaye Cramer, founder of Candlelight Magazine, to explore the world of grief resources and the power of connection in navigating loss. The conversation centers on Laura’s personal story of losing both her father and brother to suicide in quick succession, and how those experiences inspired her to create a grief periodical that embraces a wide range of voices and experiences. Victor and Laura candidly discuss how people struggle to say the right thing after a death, the complexity of emotions around suicide, and the often-messy realities of grieving, the importance of community, and the resources viable to those experiencing the grief of a loved one. 988 SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE: Call or text 988 NATIONAL SUICIDE HELPLINE: Call 1-800-622-HELP TREVOR PROJECT ONLINE (dedicated to LGBTQ+): Call 1-866-488-7386 or text 678-678 BOYS TOWN NATIONAL HOTLINE: Text “Voice” to 20121 CRISIS TEXT LINE: Text “Heal” to 741-741 TEEN LINE: Call 800-852-8336 or text “Teen” to 839-863 YOUR LIFE YOUR VOICE: Call 800-448-3000 YOU ARE NOT ALONE NETWORK: Call 1-877-209-1266 https://waitingroompublishing.com 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 [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Death And Cryonics (with James Arrowood)

In this episode of "Death And," mortician and funeral director Victor M. Sweeney sits down with James Arrowood, CEO of Alcor Life Extension Foundation, to explore what cryonics actually is—preserving the viability of cells after death for possible future resuscitation—while busting myths about “raising the dead.” James explains how Alcor operates as a nonprofit dedicated more to scientific progress than sci-fi dreams, and shares personal stories, including the recent cryopreservation of a beloved staff member. Victor and James reflect on the emotional, ethical, and even spiritual sides of this process, drawing surprising parallels between funeral service and cryonics. https://www.alcor.org https://www.instagram.com/alcorcryonics https://www.facebook.com/alcor.life.extension.foundation/ 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 [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]