Death Party Podcast

This week, Death Party dives into the strange new world of grief tech — where people use artificial intelligence to chat with digital ghosts of their loved ones. From chatbots that mimic the dead to startups promising “eternal digital life,” this week we’re exploring how A.I. is reshaping grief — and maybe redefining what it means to stay dead.Is it comfort, closure...or a new kind of haunting?

They say AI can do anything... but nobody asked it to raise the dead. 💀Join us as we dive into the history, and the strange new world of grief tech — where people are using artificial intelligence to chat with the digital ghosts of their loved ones.Is it comfort, closure… or a new kind of haunting?

Imagine the scene: There is no body to be found, and yet someone has gone missing. A loved one has disappeared and the longer they’re gone, the worse the imagined scenarios become. We’ve heard the stories, but do police actually seek out help from psychics? Or do psychics insert themselves into high-profile cases? Join your hosts Aratrice and Fae as we probe into these questions and more in our true crime-iest episode yet (but don’t expect it to become a trend).

American funerary ceremonies are so boring. Have you ever wished there was a way to observe a loved one's passing that didn't involve quietly sobbing in an unfamiliar room with the same drab pipe organ songs playing to a chorus of wet sniffles? Well then join Aratrice and Fae as they discuss a death party that puts the fun in funeral: jazz funerals!

Some bodies of water are used for mysterious things we've heard of like "fun" and "relaxation," but some are far better at killing the crap out of local wildlife and even melting faces or making your corneas fall right off.* Yet one surprising animal has adapted remarkably well to a particularly harsh lake environment, and even breeds new life there. In episode 25, your Death Party hosts Fae and Aratrice argue that some lakes are so inhospitable to life that we should probably just avoid all lakes everywhere. Just to be on the safe side.*Some facts may be embellished for dramatic purposes.

What better way to adopt a whole new appreciation for your local, murky, gravelly swim spots than by learning about some truly treacherous things that live beneath the water? Grotesque creatures! Creatures with huge, pointy teeth! Creatures that most people never encounter in the wild, but some maniacs go out of their way to swim beside for thousands of miles in order to break some kind of record or make a point about besmirched bodies of water or something.Join us for this episode wherein Aratrice and Fae cover five deadly water dwellers, all of which inhabit the same treacherous river, as well as one surprisingly deadly land dweller. And don't forget to like, subscribe, leave a review, and share the show with friends! After all, you do get to listen for free without ads so you owe us a liiiiiittle something in return. Actually, those four things are big somethings to us, but we didn't want put too much pressure on you; we're still in the early stages of this relationship.

The subject of this episode is one that has touched your hosts Aratrice and Fae and people that we have cared about. Death by suicide brings complicated feelings and questions that loved ones are left to cope with in the void that is the aftermath. We’re going to talk about how individuals can help a loved one who is suicidal later in the episode, but first we wanted to be clear that this is a very serious subject which has historically been dealt with as a taboo and is only recently being more responsibly reported, with, for example, the terminology surrounding suicide shifting from “committed suicide” to “died by suicide” to reduce associations with crime. So instead of giving you a bunch of depressing facts about suicide or covering it in a historical context—which, if you’re new to the show, that’s kinda Aratrice's jam normally—instead we’re going to use this episode to tell you about some amazing suicide preventers who are really fantastic, everyday people who made a difference by caring enough to intervene.https://deathpartypodcast.wixsite.com/listen/show-notes

This episode is all about the guillotine; the classic, time-tested stress reliever of the masses! Your hosts Fae and Aratrice will be slicing off a piece of its history, its effectiveness, and some common myths surrounding it.Beheading machines didn't start with the guillotine though, so first we'll introduce you to some of its precursors before cutting to the chase. We'll also explore why it has continued to persevere in the minds of the peasantry over the centuries because, uh, it's such a marvel of efficiency!https://deathpartypodcast.wixsite.com/listen/show-notes

You've learned what defines an NDE (near death experience) and heard a couple of examples of them in parts one and two of our NDE series, now join us for part three, wherein Fae and Aratrice cover the research of Walter Pahnke. Pahnke conducted an experiment to see if it was possible to replicate the experience of an NDE without the pesky, almost-dying bit. Listen to this final episode in our NDE series to learn about his fascinating findings. https://deathpartypodcast.wixsite.com/listen/show-notes

What happens when we die? Who do we meet? What makes some people come back from the brink of death? Join us for part two in a series about NDEs (near death experiences), wherein Fae and Aratrice cover the story of Dr. Mary Neal, a spinal surgeon who died in a kayaking accident and lived to tell the world about it.Part three will be the final episode in the NDE series so check back for it. Subscribe and be the first to know when it's out. And while you wait, leave us a rating and review so we can find more listeners and thus the motivation to keep the episodes coming!https://deathpartypodcast.wixsite.com/listen/show-notesHere's a bonus spOOooOOky moody instrumental Spotify playlist curated by yours truly to help you embrace the winter darkness all season long. It really helped set the tone while writing our upcoming episode about government-sanctioned executions:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0IMPfRV0h4Nhuvhqbh0zPz?si=jv3sYnlTSMKlYyvIzw78ug

What happens when we die? Who do we meet first? What kind of weird sci-fi mode of transit do they use to get around in The Beyond? How consistent are experiences of the afterlife amongst people who have come back from the brink of death to tell their tale? Join us for this episode about NDEs (near death experiences) wherein Fae and Aratrice cover telltale signs of NDEs and discuss the story of philosopher and educator A.J. Ayer's NDE. Ayer was a famous atheist who died and lived to tell about the world about it. This is part one in a series so check back for the rest. Subscribe and be the first to know when it's out. And while you wait, leave us a rating and review so we can find more listeners and thus the motivation to keep the episodes coming! https://deathpartypodcast.wixsite.com/listen/show-notesHere's a bonus spOOooOOky moody instrumental Spotify playlist curated by yours truly to help you embrace the winter darkness all season long. It really helped set the tone while writing our upcoming episode about government-sanctioned executions:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0IMPfRV0h4Nhuvhqbh0zPz?si=jv3sYnlTSMKlYyvIzw78ug

Are you intrigued, curious, or scared to death by death? Join the party(!) for our ongoing discussion, as each new episode attempts to ease our death anxiety (and maybe yours along the way!) with strange facts, historical Darwinism, and more gallows humor than your weird uncle brings to Thanksgiving dinner. Pull up a seat at our existential tea party, as we dust off the Ouija board and invite Death in to ask life’s most enduring riddles—What’s it all about? Where do we go after we depart this mortal coil? Why are they named finger sandwiches? Because that’s really misleading. Join us as we flesh out answers to our deepest, darkest questions on the new podcast that digs deep: Death Party!

In this episode, your hosts Fae and Aratrice dig up some truly bizarre ways those who have come before us have bought the farm. From a romantic interlude gone wrong, to a “personality disturbance,” to a surprisingly lethal vegetable, this episode covers a lot of ground. The unusual deaths recounted herein prove that no matter how ready you may be to face your mortality, you never can be sure that death isn't lurking behind the next innocuous vegetable, animal, or even garment. Show notes Website Help Us Keep the Show Running; become a Patron! Socials: Instagram Twitter Facebook Facebook group Support Death Party Podcast by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/death-party-podcast

A far cry from the holiday you likely know, and possibly(?) love, our modern version of Christmas is rooted in paganism. You might be surprised to learn that underneath the surface of festive holiday cheer, December 25th has historically been a holiday synonymous with telling terrifying tales and advising children on how to avoid torture and being eaten. Oh, and mistletoe! Before it was used a shrubbery to trade lip spit with someone under, it was known for a far more nefarious purpose…murder! Check out this winter holiday episode of Death Party for the history of Christmas' much more sinister origins, complete with introductions to Krampus, Frau Perchta, and the ever-popular Yule Goat. Show notes Website Help Us Keep the Show Running; become a Patron! Socials: Instagram Twitter Facebook Facebook group Support Death Party Podcast by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/death-party-podcast

Graves! Tombstones! Marker-y thingies for human bones mostly and other bones sometimes! In this episode, we will share with you tales about the inhabitants of some noteworthy graves, including: A woman whose life was cut short due to tragic circumstances, whereupon her grave became yet another one The story of a man so afraid of being buried alive that he rigged his burial chamber so as to avoid just such a fate A whole community of people living fairly happily amongst the dead A dude who might have built an elaborate memorial as a final middle finger to his community I’ll let you guess which one of those last two is in the United States. You don't want to miss this episode, friend! Number four will knock your socks off and leave your jaw on the floor! Show notes Website Help Us Keep the Show Running; become a Patron! Socials: Instagram Twitter Facebook Facebook group Support Death Party Podcast by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/death-party-podcast

HALLOWEEN! How did Mischief Night shape Halloween celebrations today? What are the origins of trick or treating? Who was Guy Fawkes and does he have a better mustache than John Waters? The answer to all of these questions and more shall be revealed as we continue to tread beyond the shroud in this episode of Death Party! This is the very first time we are releasing two episodes in a month (other than our inaugural episode). So if you want episodes to come out more frequently than they have, be the wind beneath our wings and leave us a rating and review so we can find more listeners! Here are some spOOooOOky Spotify playlists curated by yours truly to help keep you in the spirit of the season: Mostly Gothy Stuff Goofy/Appropriate for Children (8+?) Raucous Party Tunes Punky Stuff Show notes Website Help Us Keep the Show Running; become a Patron! Socials: Instagram Twitter Facebook Facebook group Support Death Party Podcast by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/death-party-podcast

HALLOWEEN! Where did it come from? Why is it so fricking great? Why do ALL THE BEST PEOPLE love Halloween? Is it really just a modern-day Samhain celebration? Do you know the ancient (and grisly) origin of Halloween bonfires? How about which vegetable is the spOOooOOkiest? Why do strange little children come to my door and demand snacks? The answer to all of these questions and more shall be revealed as we slip behind the veil in this episode of Death Party! Part two imminent — as in before Halloween — but we don't know when yet! Subscribe and be the first to know when it's out. And while you wait, leave us a rating and review so we can find more listeners and thus the motivation to keep the episodes coming out as frequently as they have been, if not more frequently! Here are some spOOooOOky Spotify playlists curated by yours truly to help keep you in the spirit of the season all month long: Mostly Gothy Stuff Goofy/Appropriate for Children (8+?) Raucous Party Tunes Punky Stuff Show notes Website Help Us Keep the Show Running; become a Patron! Socials: Instagram Twitter Facebook Facebook group Support Death Party Podcast by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/death-party-podcast

Are you human? Looking to solve that pesky (yet eternal) problem of your own mortality? Well fear not, kindred spirit! Your friendly Death Party pals have got you covered in this episode on how to live forever and ever. Unless you are actually an immortal, then maybe you can toss us some pointers. In this episode on longevity, you’ll learn about the oldest human on record, and how they may or may not have been lying through their false teeth about their age. Then we’ll take you through nine principles followed by the longest living among us (people living in areas known as “Blue Zones”) so you can try to emulate their success. Number six came as a huge surprise to both of us, so check your preconceived notions at the door and get your notebook ready — the fountain of youth lies before you. Show notes Website Help Us Keep the Show Running; become a Patron! Socials: Instagram Twitter Facebook Facebook group Support Death Party Podcast by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/death-party-podcast

We’re at it again with another episode on being at it again! Won’t you hold our hands for a third time as we take another stroll down reincarnation lane? If you’ve already listened to the first two episodes in this series, you have a solid foundation of knowledge about how popular belief in reincarnation is (more than you might think!). We previously introduced you to James Huston and James Leininger, two white dudes who maybe were really only one white dude? In this installment, you will meet the captivating Purnima Ekanayake, a young girl who remembered her previous life as an adult male, proving(?) that you don't have to stay in society's prescribed gender lane to have all the undead fun in your next go-round on this great big blue and green marble we're all spinning around on. Show notes Website Help Us Keep the Show Running; become a Patron! Socials: Instagram Twitter Facebook Facebook group Support Death Party Podcast by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/death-party-podcast

How did the Egyptian Book of the Dead fit into the lives of royal and average Egyptians? Was it a vital afterlife resource or shameless cash grab? What does surviving the afterlife have in common with snap bracelets? If you’ve already listened to part one of this episode, you have a solid foundation of knowledge about what Egyptians thought the afterlife was like, and in part two we’ll reveal some ancient Egyptian tips and tricks for skating easily into it—even if you have more in common with Dorian Gray than with Gandhi. Also in part two, we shall keep you on tenterhooks no longer as to some examples of negative confessions. Dust off your papyri and start assembling your kohl stick payment for your local scribe as we answer these questions and more in What’s Black and White and Dead All Over? Pt 2. Show notes Website Help Us Keep the Show Running; become a Patron! Socials: Instagram Twitter Facebook Facebook group Support Death Party Podcast by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/death-party-podcast