Death And Product Placement

Death And Product Placement

In this episode of "Death And," mortician and funeral director Victor M. Sweeney shares readings from his book, Now Departing: A Small Town Mortician on Death, Life, and the Moments In Between. Victor discusses the process and philosophy behind writing and designing his book, emphasizing how its physical qualities mirror his approach to death care. True to his storytelling roots, Victor M. Sweeney reads moving excerpts from the book, reflecting on small-town connections, never denying charity, and the importance of both practical help and genuine kindness in grief work. 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 Mortuary School (with Leili McMurrough)

In this episode of "Death And," mortician and funeral director Victor M. Sweeney sits down with Leili McMurrough, President of Worsham College of Mortuary Science. The conversation digs into what it takes to become a funeral director today, highlighting how most students are first-generation and many have never even attended a funeral before pursuing an education in the field. Leili shares her unique path from law to mortuary science and discusses the practical, hands-on training required, as well as the rising number of women entering the field. Together, they reflect on both the challenges and amazing benefits of an often misunderstood profession. http://worsham.edu http://www.instagram.com/worshamcollege http://www.libertyvillefuneralhome.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 Death

In this episode of Death And, funeral director Victor M. Sweeney takes the show on the road — or rather, back to its roots — recording from the quiet of his funeral chapel after a busy stretch in the real world. The episode is titled "Death and Death," and for good reason: Victor shares an unedited recording of a presentation he gave to the Arrowhead Funeral Directors Association in Duluth, Minnesota, speaking to a room full of fellow morticians — most of whom have been licensed longer than he's been alive. Victor reflects on the strange privilege of doing work that most people say they "could never do," unpacking what that phrase really means for those who have chosen to answer the phone at 2 in the morning, bury their friends, and stand at the intersection of the mundane and the profound. Along the way, he traces the unlikely chain of events that turned a quiet moment with a grieving farm family into a viral Wired magazine video, a book deal with Simon & Schuster, and a flood of reality TV offers he turned down flat. He talks candidly about the ethics of privacy in memoir-writing and on social media, the "magic" of restorative art, and why funeral service — unlike college tuition or healthcare — has barely changed in price since 1962. 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 Skydiving (with Paul Anderson)

In this episode of "Death And," undertaker Victor M. Sweeney sits down with longtime friend and pilot Paul Anderson to delve into the world of death and skydiving. Their conversation weaves between the adrenaline-charged experiences of flying and jumping out of planes, and the ever-present awareness of mortality that comes with these pursuits. Paul reflects on how embracing risk—both in the air and in life—requires making peace with death, especially after losing his uncle in a crop-dusting accident. Together, they explore the concept of "flow state," finding meaning in movement, and the ways grief is softened by sharing it with others. 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 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]