Dead Serious

What do you get when you mix a stand-up comic who got his start roasting Jeff Ross on Clubhouse, a funeral director with a catalog of human absurdity, and a guy who’s got bathroom codes for every Starbucks on Long Island? You get Dead Serious, Episode 119 - a hilarious, raw, and revealing conversation that sits at the intersection of hustle, humor, and humanity.

In “Punchlines, Palms, and a Shot at the Spotlight,” we dig into the unlikely rise of Joseph Lombardo aka porkchopz - from managing construction projects to managing crowds with killer punchlines. He shares how the pandemic was the best thing that ever happened to him (comedy-wise), what it’s like performing in front of 600 elderly Boca retirees, and why some comedians are funnier in a funeral home than on stage.

Along the way, the crew unpacks Long Island’s legendary roadways, the politics of lettuce on sandwiches, funeral home horror stories, and what it really means to bomb on stage. Whether you’re here for the laughs, the life lessons, or just the hot take on gay marriage stats - this one goes deep and doesn’t let up.

⏱️ Timestamps

[00:00] Intro

[05:23] Swindlehurst, Helicopters, and Long Island Mayhem

[12:47] From Clubhouse Roasts to Comedy Clubs

[24:15] Bombing, Branding, and the Business of Being Funny

[30:55] Outro

Welcome to another episode of Dead Serious, where we unpack the mysteries of life, death, and everything in between.

In Episode 118, “Spirits Among Us,” we sit down with the captivating Bianca Rose - an evidential psychic medium, modern mystic, and self-described human Ouija board. Hosts Vin and JK ask the hard questions about the spirit world, the skeptics, and what really happens after we die.

This isn't crystal ball fluff. From channeling spirits with terrifying accuracy to investigating haunted asylums and guiding families through grief, Bianca shares how she’s turned a gift rooted in childhood fear into a mission of connection, healing, and hard evidence.

Prepare to question your beliefs, confront your doubts, and maybe even discover that your late loved ones aren’t as far away as you think.

Timestamps:

[00:00] Intro

[05:23] “I’m Literally the Human Ouija Board”

[12:47] Bianca’s First Encounters with Spirits

[24:15] Duppy, Dark Entities, and Opening the Wrong Doors

[30:55] Outro

Join hosts Vin and Jon on this fascinating episode of 'Dead Serious' as they dive into the intriguing world of metal detecting and historical exploration with special guest Frank Jurs. 

Discover the secrets beneath our feet her on Long Island, from Revolutionary War buttons to coins from the 1600s, and learn about the rich history embedded in the soil of Long Island. 

Frank shares his passion for unearthing centuries-old artifacts, the meticulous research required, and the thrill of holding a piece of history. This episode offers a deep dive into the past, connecting the dots between historical events and the artifacts that reveal them. 

Whether you're a history buff or just curious, this episode is packed with eye-opening insights and captivating stories.

00:58 The Podcasting Revolution: From Rogan to Local Voices

10:03 Real Estate Insights: Long Island's Unique Market

21:46 Metal Detecting Adventures: Unearthing History

28:51 Colonial History and Early American Artifacts

31:45 Arrowhead Hunting and Native American Artifacts

34:15 Exploring Local History and Personal Discoveries

49:39 Historical Sites and Cemeteries

58:07 Living Conditions in Historical New York

59:28 Military Buttons and Their Stories

01:02:59 Colonial Coins and Their Significance

01:09:55 Historical Landmarks and Their Stories

01:15:42 Dream Excavation Sites

What happens when a nurse becomes the patient - and nearly loses it all?

In this deeply personal and emotionally charged episode of Dead Serious, Vin sits down with Joanne, a veteran ER nurse whose life was turned upside down by a mysterious illness that left her fighting for survival. With raw honesty and a survivor’s wisdom, Joanne opens up about her near-death experience, the brutal aftermath, and how she’s rebuilding life with a new heart and a new perspective.

This is more than a medical story - it's a philosophical reflection on resilience, modern healthcare, motherhood, and the unseen strength required to begin again after everything breaks.

📌 Timestamps

[00:00] Intro

[05:23] Life Before It All Changed

[12:47] The Day It Hit: Fever, Collapse, and Emergency Care

[24:15] From Coma to Rebirth: Transplant, Recovery, and Perspective

[30:55] Outro

Welcome to Dead Serious, the only show where mortality meets mystery with a side of sarcasm and Long Island wisdom. In this week's episode, "Is There Really a Body Farm in Farmingdale?", hosts Vin and JK dig into death - literally and philosophically.

Is there a secret forensic cemetery hiding in plain sight on Long Island? Why do funerals cost more than your first car? What the hell is a “green burial” and why does it sound like a Whole Foods coupon? Vin - our resident funeral philosopher - and JK unpack the economics, the ethics, and the unexpected comedy behind the business of dying. Oh, and we also talk about mold-your-own-dildo kits and strip clubs. You’ve been warned.

Prepare for a mix of dark humor, sharp insights, and unfiltered honesty as we explore death culture, celebrity body farms, funeral trends, and the occasional bizarre human behavior. Modern-day stoicism never smelled this much like embalming fluid.

Timestamps

[00:00] Intro – What is a “Body Farm” and why Farmingdale?

[05:23] Babysitters, boob jobs, and the au pair apocalypse

[12:47] Inside the Funeral Biz: Green burials, casket choices & corpse aesthetics

[24:15] Celebrity Death Draft: Who's next? (Spoiler: It might be Flavor Flav)

[30:55] Outro – Moist mics, strip club memories, and Theo Von philosophy

Welcome back to Dead Serious - the only podcast where a casual chat about cookies, Teslas, and parallel parking naturally ends with $10,000 taped to a funeral photo.

In Episode 114, Vin and JK wax poetic like two blue-collar Socrates's. From the absurdities of modern dating to the existential hell of Ozempic face, this is philosophy in a black T-shirt - with a dash of nicotine gum and cremation ash.

We question the simulation (again), debate if you can get away with murder on Long Island (you can’t), and discuss whether soft cookies are the gateway drug of adulthood (they are). Oh, and in case that wasn’t enough - someone really did find ten grand taped to a casket photo. Which begs the question: what are you burying with Nana?

💀 Dead Serious starts with laughs, but somehow always ends with us questioning our mortality. Stick around. It's cheaper than therapy.

👇 Timestamps

[00:00] Intro – Long Island Serial Killers and Glitter on the Flowers

[05:23] South Shore vs. North Shore Philosophy (and $600K shoebox houses)

[12:47] Handsome Homebuyer, Real Estate Gurus & the Cringe Olympics

[24:15] Cookies as Religion, Health Anxiety, and the Ozempic Side Hustle

[30:55] Outro – AI Doctors, Parallel Parking Trauma, and Ten Grand in the Box

In this unforgettable episode, we dive into the extraordinary life of Kevin Shea - a man who went from surviving the South Tower collapse on 9/11 to building a futuristic geodesic dome in Long Island, powered by solar, wind, and geothermal energy. A modern philosopher with the soul of a fireman and the heart of an innovator, Kevin takes us on a raw, emotional, and often hilarious journey through trauma, resilience, and reinvention.

🔥 From retrograde amnesia to Red Bull-fueled flirtations, to near-death experiences and underground pipelines - Kevin's story isn’t just a memoir; it’s a meditation on purpose, identity, and building something that lasts.

This one goes deep. This one goes wide. This one goes full dome.

👇 Timestamps:

[00:00] Intro

[05:23] Life Before 9/11 & Firehouse Culture

[12:47] The 9/11 Story: South Tower, Collapse & Survival

[24:15] From Healing to Building the Geodesic Dome

[30:55] Outro & Reflections on Purpose

Welcome back to Dead Serious - where philosophy meets reality, and the only thing guaranteed is that we’re all just figuring it out.

In this episode, JK and Vin sit down to answer every question you’ve ever had (and some you wish you didn’t) about the business of death. From what actually happens behind the scenes at a funeral home, to the psychological weight of dealing with grief daily, we go deep - no pun intended.

We also talk about the shifting funeral industry, the growing corporate takeover of mom-and-pop funeral homes, and why dying has become so expensive. Plus, the strange rituals, surprising legalities, and unexpected moments that come with the job.

If you’ve ever wondered about the real cost of a funeral, what goes into preserving a body, or why funerals are so important for the living, this one’s for you. No taboos. No fluff. Just real talk.

Timestamps:

00:32 Political Disgust and Anxiety

05:55 Economic Struggles and High Costs

07:02 Bird Flu and Egg Prices

11:16 Government Inefficiency and Corruption

19:38 Social Security and Future Concerns

29:52 Balancing Work and Family Life

35:08 Skiing with Kids

43:46 Rat Encounters in the Subway

47:54 Personal Loss and Coping Mechanisms

53:45 Generational Differences and Financial Struggles

56:07 Real Estate and Community Changes

59:25 Funeral Industry Insights and Challenges

01:06:09 Corporate Takeovers in the Funeral Business

01:25:23 Political Views and Social Commentary

The harsh reality of Alzheimer’s, its evolving research, and the emotional toll on caregivers.

Welcome back to Dead Serious, where we tackle life’s toughest conversations with brutal honesty and a touch of dark humor. In this episode, we dive deep into the devastating impact of Alzheimer’s—what it does to the brain, how families cope, and the latest research that’s challenging everything we thought we knew.

From theories about Alzheimer’s being an autoimmune disease to the eerie connection between sugar and cognitive decline, we pull no punches in discussing the science, the heartbreak, and the unexpected moments of humor that arise in the face of it all.

Timestamps:

00:00 The Brain's Mysteries and Theories on Alzheimer's

01:50 Classified Jobs and Government Work

04:40 Career Shifts: From Kids to Geriatrics

06:10 Psychiatric Stories and Schizophrenia

11:42 Seizures and Workplace Trauma

15:29 Alzheimer's: Symptoms, Misconceptions, and Care

28:21 Music and Art Therapy for Dementia

34:55 Navigating Assisted Living Decisions

36:46 Raising Funds and Community Support

38:47 Connecting Families with Resources

50:10 Discussing Dementia and Alzheimer's

01:02:57 Funeral Planning and Personal Reflections

This episode is all over the map—just the way we like it. From black squirrels in Uniondale to dogs in carriages, from the future of AI-powered funerals to the very real possibility of sex robots ruining civilization, we’re covering it all.

We dive into:

🔥 The weirdest emotional support animal you’ve ever heard of (spoiler: it’s in a baby carriage).

🦌 A deep (and kind of reluctant) discussion on hunting, deer population control, and whether we’d actually pull the trigger.

📱 The evolution of anxiety—are we all just hopelessly addicted to our phones?

👀 Political theater and whether we’re all just pawns in a game that’s been playing us forever.

💀 How AI is coming for the funeral business—holographic wakes, anyone?

And, of course, a whole lot of nonsense in between 🤔

00:53 Hunting and Ethical Dilemmas

02:43 Political Commentary and Social Observations

09:41 Health Anxiety and Modern Technology

12:54 Funeral Home Stories and Emotional Moments

25:51 Nostalgia and Modern Life

30:56 Mediums and Skepticism

37:21 Celebrity Moms and Their Influence

39:38 Online Criticism and Keyboard Warriors

40:59 Immigration and Deportation Issues

46:13 Political Polarization and Media Influence

49:18 AI and Its Impact on Society

58:45 Conspiracy Theories and Government Distrust

01:09:30 Social Media Personalities and Mental Health