Death And Magical Thinking

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]

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]