Obsessed With Death

This week, Rob is joined by Mort, funeral director and owner of It’s Your Funeral Home & Crematorium. Mort talks about life in the funeral business, finding humor in death, his thoughts on the paranormal, and the challenges of dating as a funeral director. Plus, Rob pitches Mort a few new business ideas that could change the funeral industry forever. Make sure you support our sponsor: Cre-Mates.net

In this episode of The Final Word, Rob and Jordan discuss the latest Obsessed with Death giveaway with Shampoooty, open up about health anxiety and the mental tricks that come with it and react to some of the week’s strangest stories..including cancer-detecting pigeons and an actress who claims Dennis Hopper’s ghost visited her.

Shampoooty returns to Obsessed With Death one year after his first appearance to catch up on everything that's happened since. Rob and Shampoooty revisit the unexpected impact of their custom urn giveaway, share stories from listeners who found comfort through the project, brainstorm new ideas for future collaborations, and dive into the launch of Shampoooty Medical, his satirical line of medical-inspired collectibles.Be sure to follow us on Instagram so you don't miss details about our next giveaway!

In this episode of The Final Word, Rob and Jordan discuss a tarot card influencer who falsely accused a University of Idaho professor of murder and was hit with a multi-million-dollar defamation verdict. They also react to a hantavirus outbreak linked to a research cruise ship, leading to an absurd and dark conversation about cruise culture and how they would handle a floating public health crisis. 

In this episode, Rob speaks with writer and editor Charley Burlock about the rise of AI-powered grief bots. The conversation examines the emotional complexity of using AI as a tool for mourning, the ethical risks of monetizing grief, and the ways this technology could reshape or potentially isolate the human experience of loss. Read the full article here.

In this episode, Rob speaks with Janelle Ketcher, founder of Postal Service for the Dead, a community art and grief project inviting people to send handwritten letters to those they’ve lost. Janelle shares how her mother’s illness and passing shaped her relationship with death, the origins of the project, and the emotional power of snail mail in a digital world. She also reads part of an unreleased letter, offering a glimpse into the tender, private grief people entrust to the project.

In this episode of The Final Word, Rob and Jordan catch up on life, sobriety milestones, and the documentaries they can’t stop thinking about. They unpack the shocking Elizabeth Smart Netflix documentary and explore how someone survives and rebuilds after unimaginable trauma. The conversation drifts into the psychology of suspects, and why it’s almost impossible to get away with murder today.They also dive deep into their obsession with HBO’s The Pitt, debating binge-watching versus weekly episodes and breaking down favorite characters and hidden details.

In this episode of Obsessed With Death, Rob sits down with educator and Kid Talk creator Katie Plunkett to explore how we talk to children about death and why so many adults struggle to do it. Katie breaks down how kids understand death at different ages, why honesty matters more than protecting them, and how avoiding the conversation can actually create more confusion and fear. Follow Katie’s work at Kid Talk on Substack for more insights on communicating with kids.

In this episode of Obsessed With Death, Rob sits down with psychiatrist and dream researcher Dr. Erik Goodwyn for a deep dive into mortality, ritual, grief, and the strange intelligence of the dreaming mind.

In Episode 19 of The Final Word, Rob and Jordan dive into the strange and unsettling rise of AI “dead relative” apps, debating whether digital avatars of loved ones are a helpful grief tool or a dystopian step too far. They also unpack the bizarre story of a man who disguised himself as his deceased mother to collect her pension and the even darker discovery that followed. Finally, they explore a 23andMe family bombshell involving a $28.8 million malpractice settlement awarded after the sisters’ father died from a misdiagnosed aneurysm and a newly discovered half-sister who later surfaced asking for a share.

In this episode, acclaimed cartoonist and author Anders Nilsen joins to talk about how death and loss have shaped both his life and creative work. He reflects on losing his fiancée, Cheryl Weaver, to cancer and how that experience led to his books Don’t Go Where I Can’t Follow and The End. Anders shares how grief evolved from something deeply personal to a universal artistic theme, how his views on death and the afterlife have shifted over 20 years, and the power of art and music in healing.Learn more about Anders and his work here.

On the anniversary of Ted Bundy’s execution, Obsessed With Death revisits the moment veteran correspondent John Koch witnessed his first execution in 1989, the death of Ted Bundy. Koch reflects on covering Bundy’s crimes and the events leading up to that night, and how experiencing his first execution at the center of such a notorious case shaped his approach to journalism.

The Final Word returns from hiatus with a new co-host, Jordan. In their first episode together, Rob and Jordan dive into death-related stories, including Jesse Eisenberg donating a kidney to a stranger, Julia Fox’s Jackie Kennedy costume, and why millennials in America are dying at higher rates than their peers abroad, while exploring why talking openly about death can be both comforting and strangely fun.

In this episode of Obsessed With Death, Rob sits down with creator Sidney Raz for a deeply honest and often darkly funny conversation about grief, mortality, and survival. Sidney opens up about losing all three of his parents before turning 30, the devastating loss of his daughter, and how that tragedy ultimately led to the discovery of a genetic mutation and an early stomach cancer diagnosis that saved his life.

In this episode, Jordan shares the remarkable story of discovering her late father’s handwritten Alcoholics Anonymous notes a decade after his death and how reading them on TikTok has built a community of connection, reflection, and healing in her own journey through sobriety.

In this episode of Obsessed with Death, Rob talks with Mary McGreevy, creator of Tips From Dead People, a social media project born from her lifelong fascination with obituaries. Mary shares how a childhood habit of clipping obits evolved into a viral exploration of how we live, die, and tell our stories.

From the Victorian terror of being buried alive to the rise of spiritualist séances, haunted science experiments, and Houdini’s crusade against fake mediums, this episode digs into the true and truly bizarre history behind our fascination with the dead. Happy Halloween!

In this episode of Obsessed With Death, Rob talks with author and artist FREAKBAiT about how mortality fuels creativity, using death as motivation, balancing humor with darker themes, psychedelic experiences, and the idea of leaving behind unfinished work to be shared after death.

Bestselling author Mary Roach joins Obsessed With Death to talk about her new book Replaceable You, the fears of aging vs. dying, what it’s like to step inside a 1950s iron lung, and why she originally fought against the now iconic toe-tag cover of Stiff.

We’re revisiting powerful conversations as part of our Archive Spotlight, where we highlight meaningful conversations from the past.In this episode we dive into the complex and often misunderstood world of assisted death, exploring the emotional, ethical, and deeply human sides of end-of-life choices. From eligibility requirements and shifting legislation to powerful stories of final moments.Originally published on February 8th, 2022.

In this episode, Rob is joined by Grace, whose lifelong fascination with death and cemeteries led her to an unexpected career documenting grave sites and sharing the stories of those who’ve passed. Grace shares how her connection to the other side evolved into a meaningful mission to honor the forgotten, support grieving families, and keep memories alive.

Comedian Jay Larson joins Obsessed with Death to talk about growing up with an older family, random chest pains, why being a dad makes him want to stick around a lot longer, and how dark thoughts can still come from a good place.

We’re revisiting powerful conversations as part of our Archive Spotlight, where we highlight meaningful conversations from the past.In this episode, Rob chats with bestselling author Sam Kean about the dark, bizarre history of grave robbing in the name of science. From drunken med students digging up fresh corpses to the riot-inducing public backlash, they explore how anatomy’s early days were fueled by body snatching—and how some doctors even did the digging themselves. Inspired by Kean’s book The Ice Pick Surgeon.Originally published on 7/16/21.

In this episode of Obsessed with Death, Rob sits down with artist Shampoooty, known for creating nostalgic, adult-themed toys that explore death, addiction, and the messiness of adulthood through humor and physical art. They discuss how a childhood panic about death evolved into a creative mission to spark conversations about mortality using playful objects like toy hearses and funeral sets, even catching the attention of grief therapists looking for tools to help kids process loss.

We’re revisiting a powerful conversation as part of our Archive Spotlight, where we highlight meaningful conversations from the past.In this episode of Obsessed with Death, we talk with Joshua, who used AI to create a chatbot modeled after his late fiancée, Jessica—a striking and deeply personal attempt to process long-buried grief.Originally published July 29, 2021

In this episode of Obsessed with Death, Rob is joined by writer and artist Z.G. Burnett, who unexpectedly won a colonial-era gravestone at an auction and is now on a mission to uncover its origins and return it to its rightful resting place. Together, they explore the ethics of buying and selling grave markers, the cultural disconnect from death in America, and the deep and sometimes unconventional ways we try to leave a legacy.

Comedian Anthony DeVito joins Rob and Greg for a hilarious and deeply personal conversation about mortality, family secrets, and their lifelong flirtation with hypochondria. Anthony opens up about learning in adulthood that his father was killed in a mob-related murder, and how a childhood filled with loss shaped his outlook on life and death. They also spiral into absurd territory, debating ethical cloning, and cannibalism, making this episode absolutely unhinged, and weirdly inspiring.

Diagnosed with end-stage heart failure, Sofia walks us through the mysterious early symptoms, her emergency hospitalization, and the rapid decision to receive an LVAD that now keeps her alive. You can follow Sofia on TikTok here.

In this episode, Rob and Greg discuss the decision to deny parole to Yolanda Saldívar, who killed singer Selena Quintanilla-Perez in 1995, and whether a 64-year-old grandma should still be considered a public threat. They also dive into the bizarre case of Dr. Gerhardt Konig, a Maui anesthesiologist accused of trying to kill his wife during a hike by using a rock and a cliff - plus much more!

On this episode of Obsessed with Death, singer-songwriter Kevin Devine joins for a candid and wide-ranging conversation about mortality, grief, and how becoming a parent changed his perspective on purpose and risk. He reflects on early encounters with death, the emotional impact of losing his brother, sobriety, artistic interpretation, and how music about death fosters connection more than explanation.

In this episode, Rob and Greg discuss an Australian man who lived 100 days with a titanium artificial heart before a successful transplant, signaling a potential shift in heart failure treatment. In South Carolina, Brad Sigmon was executed by firing squad, the first in the U.S. in 15 years—raising questions about whether it's more humane than lethal injection. Finally, we unpack the mysterious deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, whose timeline of events, hantavirus diagnosis, and tragic pet situation have sparked new intrigue.

On this episode of Obsessed with Death, we dive into the fascinating world of gravestone recipes with Rosie Grant, a TikTok creator and author of an upcoming cookbook that uncovers the stories behind culinary epitaphs. Rosie shares her journey of tracking down families, collecting recipes from headstones, and preserving the legacies of those who left their favorite dishes behind. We explore the intersection of food, memory, and death, and how a simple recipe can tell a lifetime of stories.

In this episode, Rob and Greg discuss an Indiana jump-rope champion who used his double-Dutch ropes to rescue a drowning man and his dog, NASA’s concerns over asteroid 2024 YR4 and its small but real chance of hitting Earth—or the moon—and Delta’s unexpected $30,000 payout to passengers after a flight flipped on landing in Toronto.

Ömer Sami, the director of Eternal Father, joins the show to talk about his documentary about how a father’s attempt to defy death with cryonic preservation affects his family’s lives.You can watch the full documentary by clickinghere.

In this episode, Rob and Greg dive into the importance of making that yearly check-up with your doctor a non-negotiable part of your routine and explore the idea of having open text communication with your doctor—should it really be that accessible? They also uncover a startling and often overlooked trend: death rates spike on Christmas Day, the day after Christmas, and New Year’s Day, a phenomenon that still leaves scientists puzzled.

Hosts Kendel & Rachel, aren’t professionals just professional grievers who started a podcast to help normalize and build community for those dealing with grief and loss.

In this episode, Rob and Greg discuss Anthony “TJ” Hoover, a man declared brain dead who woke up during organ harvesting surgery, raising questions about medical protocols and organ donation. Next, they talk about Barry Griffiths, who tragically stabbed himself while trying to separate frozen burgers, highlighting the risks of living alone. Finally, they explore a new exercise pill, LaKe, which mimics the effects of running a 10K without physical effort, and its potential impact on health and fitness.

Penny Smith, BSN, RN is a (US) nationally certified hospice and palliative care nurse, social media influencer and author of Influencing Death, Reframing Dying for Better Living. 

Comedian and Podcaster Greg Stone joins the final word as guest co-host, and to be honest, we didn't get into one story...but it's a great episode and you'll love it! I promise we'll get back to more stories next episode. Watch Greg's Full Special - Greg Stone Nobody Presents

Grace Wethor is an award-winning actress, director, bestselling author, and leading advocate for brain cancer and pediatric health. Diagnosed with an untreatable brain tumor at 13, she turned her experience into a mission, working with the White House and Capitol Hill to advance legislation securing over $100 million in funding for youth healthcare. Her latest book, Seven Thompson & the Art of Remembering, is a global bestseller and available here.

We celebrate one year of The Final Word! Thank you for listening!

Don't miss comedian Benny Blue's debut comedy special, Live From My Mother's Funeral, now streaming on YouTube!

In this episode, Rob and Gary kick things off by exploring the idea that having a lot of possessions is linked to mortality and death, with Rob sharing the strange reactions he gets when people realize he doesn’t own much. They then dive into fascinating new research on human aging, revealing that it occurs in two accelerated bursts rather than gradually, impacting cardiovascular health, metabolism, and immune function around ages 44 and 60. The conversation also touches on James Earl Jones' decision to preserve his iconic Darth Vader voice through AI for future Star Wars projects. Finally, they discuss NASA's upcoming rescue mission to the International Space Station and the challenges of safely bringing astronauts back to Earth.

Charley Burlock and Rob explore the tension between traditional private grief and the public nature of online mourning. Should we appreciate how the internet allows for a communal experience of mourning? Read Charley's full article from The Atlantic. My Brother Died. His Facebook Page Lives On.

The Final Word - A Monthly Series from Obsessed with Death! In this episode Rob and Gary discuss some new funeral ideas that Rob would like to take place when he passes, Disney's legal battle to dismiss a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Jeffrey Piccolo, citing a prior arbitration agreement linked to his Disney+ subscription. We also cover the charges brought against two doctors, a personal assistant, and others in connection with the overdose death of actor Matthew Perry, exploring the tragic misuse of ketamine therapy and the exploitation of Perry's struggles with addiction.

Sheldon Solomon is a leading figure in psychology, known for his extensive research on the effects of death awareness on human behavior. His influential studies have not only advanced academic understanding but also reached wider audiences through impactful documentaries and publications.

The Final Word - A Monthly Series from Obsessed with Death! In this episode, Rob and Gary reflect on the one-year anniversary of the passing of actor and comedian Paul Reubens. They discuss the impact of losing beloved musicians and artists to suicide, and delve into the ongoing ordeal of two NASA astronauts who have been stranded in space for over two months due to issues with their Boeing spacecraft.

Alix Strauss is a trend, culture and lifestyle journalist; an award-winning, four-time published author; speaker; and frequent contributor to The New York Times.  You can purchase the 20th Anniversary Edition of The Joy of Funerals, here.

The Final Word - A Monthly Series from Obsessed with Death! In this episode, Rob and Gary delve into the story of a California man who survived ten harrowing days stranded in Big Basin Redwoods State Park, California’s oldest state park known for its ancient coast redwoods. They also examine Boeing's ongoing public relations nightmare as their Starliner spacecraft, carrying two astronauts, remains stuck in orbit and the in memoriam segment honoring O.J. Simpson who was credited on screen as "former NFL player."

Doug Stanhope is an American stand-up comedian, author, actor, and podcast host. Doug joined the show to talk all things death, comedy hospice and much more, enjoy!