Ever wondered what it takes to bring an overgrown and forgotten cemetery back to life? Rachel Meyer and Josh Gerloff from Epoch Preservation (@epochpreservation) join us to share their incredible journey of transforming neglected burial grounds into beautifully maintained historical sites. Starting with Rachel's groundbreaking research, they moved on to tackling an overgrown cemetery in Gloucester using everything from scythes to goats. Along the way, they discovered the rich history behind their business name "Epoch," which, despite its pronunciation challenges, holds deep historical significance.

We also dive into the meticulous art of gravestone conservation, discussing the challenges of maintaining these historic sites in the face of climate change and other environmental factors. Rachel and Josh talk about their favorite gravestone iconography and the intriguing details left by unidentified carvers. They also highlight alternative pathways into the field, emphasizing the value of hands-on experience and community connections over expensive formal education. Their personal anecdotes add a touch of humor and humanity to this specialized field.

What would you want your gravestone to look like? We get creative and a bit whimsical in a segment dedicated to envisioning our own unique gravestone designs—from holographic markers to animatronic weeping angels. The conversation then shifts to the eerie allure of death masks and safety coffins, wrapping up with the poignant story behind the face of CPR dummies. Rachel and Josh's passion for their work shines through, offering a fascinating blend of historical insights, personal stories, and a dash of humor. Don't miss out on this engaging episode that brings the past into the present with a light-hearted touch!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Now with Beyond the Grave, a relaxed talk series with the crew!

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This is a KnaveryInk podcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Have you seen our NEWER and GAYER website? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.deathandfriends.gay/⁠⁠

Topics:

Epoch Preservation, Gravestone Conservation, Cemetery Restoration, Historic Burial Grounds, Climate Change, Death Masks, Safety Coffins, Cemetery Preservation, Networking, Volunteering, Apprenticeships, Hands-on Experience, Community Connections, Creative Grave Designs, Burial Preferences, Death and Remembrance, Historical Insights, Personal Anecdotes, Burying Hill, Newburyport, Graveyard Preservation, Accessibility, Community Engagement

Dr. Mary M. Alcaro, a visiting assistant professor of literature at Bryn Mawr College, takes us on a captivating journey through the intersections of plague, trauma, and Middle English texts. This episode kicks off our new interview series with Dr. Alcaro, who shares her path from undergraduate curiosity to a dissertation on the social and psychological effects of the Black Death. Through her fascinating insights, we uncover the profound influence of the plague on language and its lasting impact on literary theory and the history of medicine. Filled with humor and introspection, this conversation shines a new light on medieval literature and its contemporary relevance.

Our discussion takes a closer look at Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Book of the Duchess," highlighting how Chaucer subtly addresses the plague's impact without explicitly mentioning it. Dr. Alcaro explains the use of terms like "wound" to reflect the collective suffering of the audience, drawing intriguing parallels to modern-day euphemisms and the language of trauma. We also explore the concept of a "history of omission," where what is left unsaid can be as revealing as what is recorded, and how language evolves in response to shared traumatic experiences. This episode offers a thought-provoking examination of how literary works navigate the complexities of human grief and communal memory.

Rounding out the episode, we delve into the unexpected connections between medieval melancholia and modern-day humor, uncovering tales that resonate with contemporary comedic sensibilities. Dr. Alcaro reflects on the historical context of forced positivity during pandemics, drawing parallels to our recent experiences with COVID-19. We contemplate the long-term impacts of the pandemic on literature and society, pondering how themes of disease, isolation, and sensory perception might shape future works. Join us for an engaging and often humorous exploration of trauma, literature, and the enduring human experience across the ages.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Now with Beyond the Grave, a relaxed talk series with the crew!

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This is a KnaveryInk podcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Have you seen our NEWER and GAYER website? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.deathandfriends.gay/⁠⁠

Topics:

Trauma, Literature, Middle English, Plague, Black Death, Language, Literary Theory, History of Medicine, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Book of the Duchess, Wound, Omission, Euphemisms, Traumatic Events, Melancholia, Plague Prophylaxis, Humor, Contemporary Relevance, Grief, Memory, Pandemic, COVID-19, Isolation, Sensory Perception, Post-Pandemic Society, Social Norms, Developmental Concerns, Autism, Quarantine, Social Class, Misinformation, Social Alienation, Disease, Endemic, Identity, Irony, Dr. Mary M. Alcaro

DISCLAIMER:

Hi everybody, this is Angel. A quick reminder, Death and Friends is not a podcast for the light of heart. Dark and serious subjects may come up. Listener discretion is advised.

This episode, we talk about a different kind of death. If you read the title and thought, "oh i like The Ramones," clearly this will be light hearted. It is not. Not even a little bit. Attempts at jokes will be made, but quite frankly considering how much mental health treatment still has to go. This one is a downright bummer.

We are a comedy podcast and if you've stuck around from the start, you know that we are committed to providing space to learning about death in a context that doesn’t feel as scary as the world does sometimes. Today’s episode, like all the past and future ones, is no different, and we will continue to use our collective space to examine these explorations even in the face of the worst humanity has to offer.

As a reminder, death can be tricky to talk about. So remember: you are loved, you matter, and we will always be happy to be your friend.

Description:

What if a Nobel Peace Prize was awarded for a procedure that ended up causing more harm than good? Join us as we uncover the dark and often bizarre history of early brain surgery, particularly the infamous lobotomy. We dig into the strange and unsettling world of António Egas Moniz, the so-called father of psychosurgery, whose methods have left a controversial legacy. You'll also hear about the misguided experiments conducted by Yale neuroscientist John Fulton on chimpanzees, which influenced human mental health treatments in unexpected ways. Don't worry, we'll navigate this grim terrain with our signature humor to keep things approachable.

In another fascinating chapter, we explore how a seemingly promising medical procedure backfired, worsening the patient's condition, yet bizarrely led to its originator receiving a Nobel Peace Prize. We also delve into the quirks and peculiarities of this famous figure's life, sharing amusing anecdotes and creative metaphors that shed light on his personality. To wrap up, we reflect on the procedure's impact and the intriguing character behind it, ensuring a mix of thought-provoking insights and light-hearted moments. Don't miss this engaging and thought-provoking episode!

⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Now with Beyond the Grave, a relaxed talk series with the crew!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on instagram(@deathandfriendspodcast)! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Nash Flynn @itsnashflynn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Angel Luna @GuerrillaJokes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on TikTok @deathapodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This is a KnaveryInk podcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Have you seen our NEWER and GAYER website? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.deathandfriends.gay/⁠

Topics:

Brain Surgery, Lobotomy, Mental Illness, Medical History, Psychosurgery, Nobel Peace Prize, John Fulton, Yale, Neuroscientist, Mental Health Care, Historical Figure, Unintended Consequences, Pseudoscience, Humor, Dark History, Early 20th Century, Frontal Lobes, António Egas Moniz, Controversial Methods, Quirky Anecdotes, Walter Freeman

Join us as we unravel the extraordinary life of Jessica Mitford, starting from her birth in 1917 Oxfordshire, England, amidst a family infamous for their fascist leanings and Nazi sympathies. Listen in as we recount the unsettling history of the Mitford family, including her father's fascist tendencies, her sister Diana's marriage to British Union of Fascists leader Oswald Mosley, and the disturbing ambition of another sister, Unity, who sought to marry Hitler. Through a mix of humor and horror, we navigate Jessica's defiance against her family's ideologies, painting a vivid picture of her early years.

In this episode, we also explore Jessica Mitford's adventurous and rebellious spirit, which led her to flee to Spain with Winston Churchill's nephew, Esmond Romilly, to fight fascism. Their marriage, move to the U.S., and the birth of their daughter Constancia, nicknamed Dinky, set the stage for a life filled with resilience and activism. We delve into her significant contributions to civil rights, her staunch stance before the House Committee of Un-American Activities, and her eventual disillusionment with the Communist Party, all of which highlight her relentless pursuit of justice.

Finally, we turn our attention to Jessica's groundbreaking exposé on the funeral industry with her book "The American Way of Death." We discuss her and her husband Robert's uncovering of manipulative practices within the industry, the resulting public outrage, and the impact of federal regulations in 1975. The episode wraps up with practical advice on funeral planning and reflections on the ongoing issues in the funeral business, emphasizing Jessica Mitford's legacy as a fearless critic of capitalist exploitation. Tune in for an engaging and thought-provoking exploration of Jessica Mitford's life and work.

⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Now with Beyond the Grave, a relaxed talk series with the crew!

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on TikTok @deathapodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This is a KnaveryInk podcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Have you seen our NEWER and GAYER website? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.deathandfriends.gay/⁠

Happy Pride Month!

Topics:

Jessica Mitford, Fascist Family, Nazi Sympathizers, Civil Rights Activism, Funeral Industry, Funeral Planning, Capitalist Greed, Federal Regulations, Cremations, Green Alternatives, American Way of Death, Winston Churchill, Esmond Romilly, House Committee of Un-American Activities, Cold War, National Funeral Directors Association, Catholic Views, Monopolies, MI5, Ethan Hunt, Sleep Paralysis Demon

On the back door of the flat, chalk graffiti says “JACK RIPPER IS AT THE BACK OF THIS DOOR” and no one is mentioning that at all in the police headquarters. Join Nash and Angel as they try to parse out the most confusingly planned crime of the century, and decide for yourself whether Jack the Ripper abandoned cheery old East End London for small-town Scotland to murder his own wife.

Okay, if he were Jack the Ripper, though, wouldn’t it have been easier to murder her in Whitechapel and frame the notorious serial killer? Even if he was Jack the Ripper?? But if he wasn’t Jack the Ripper, then why did he basically admit he was?? This, this right here - exactly why we hate true crime.

⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Now with Beyond the Grave, a relaxed talk series with the crew!

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Nash Flynn @itsnashflynn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Angel Luna @GuerrillaJokes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This is a KnaveryInk podcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Have you seen our NEWER and GAYER website? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.deathandfriends.gay/⁠

It’s true crime o’clock, and in today’s episode, Angel and Nash find themselves in Scotland, in a basement flat, with the body of a woman in a trunk. She definitely didn’t put herself there, and the guy that did is currently at the Dundee Police Station telling them he didn’t kill her, but he did shove her in there five days ago, and maybe he’s also admitting to being Jack the Ripper? Join the team as they try to parse out maybe the stupidest, maybe the smartest crime of the century in the first part of a chaotic story. This venn diagram is a circle!

Content warning: This episode contains descriptions of domestic violence which some listeners might find disturbing. If you or a loved one needs help, you aren’t alone.

For US listeners: thehotline.org

UK: https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/

Ireland: https://www.safeireland.ie/get-help/

Mexico: https://findahelpline.com/countries/mx/topics/abuse-domestic-violence

Canada: https://www.dawncanada.net/issues/crisis-hotlines/

⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Now with Beyond the Grave, a relaxed talk series with the crew!

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Nash Flynn @itsnashflynn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Angel Luna @GuerrillaJokes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on TikTok @deathapodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This is a KnaveryInk podcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Have you seen our NEWER and GAYER website? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.deathandfriends.gay/⁠

A pandemic AND a world war?? Wow, that sounds really hard. We wouldn’t know anything about that today, because we solved medicine and warfare, thankfully. Phew!

Oh wait, just kidding. In today’s completely hashtag-relatable episode, come hear Nash and Angel learn about the other time these things happened in tandem - and why the 1910s were not better at coping at basically everything. Also, this entire thing is probably Kansas’s fault, despite the name “Spanish Flu”. So that’s… fun?

⁠⁠Support us on Patreon.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Now with Beyond the Grave, a relaxed talk series with the crew!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on instagram(@deathandfriendspodcast)! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Nash Flynn @itsnashflynn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Angel Luna @GuerrillaJokes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on TikTok @deathapodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This is a KnaveryInk podcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Have you seen our NEWER and GAYER website? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.deathandfriends.gay/⁠

Angel and Nash are enjoying a lovely holiday in Paris. Or they would be, if they could expense it. Since they can’t, join them as they deep dive on the city’s catacombs and how they came to be. Hey, if you thought the bone mudslides of early Plymouth Colony (The First Thanksgiving Episode) were fun, we bet you’ll love this! (Hint: Yeah, more bone mudslides!)

In other news, we’d like to formally apologize for our French accents. We’re bad at them, and yes, we feel bad. Not enough to change (just like your toxic ex) but enough to ask you to stay (also like your toxic ex).

⁠⁠Support us on Patreon.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Now with Beyond the Grave, a relaxed talk series with the crew!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on instagram(@deathandfriendspodcast)! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Nash Flynn @itsnashflynn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Angel Luna @GuerrillaJokes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on TikTok @deathapodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This is a KnaveryInk podcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Have you seen our NEWER and GAYER website? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.deathandfriends.gay/⁠