Death Wish

The girls prepare for death by examining death omens and superstitions.

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We Recommend

Caitlin: Haunted Hotel on Netflix, an adult animated comedy horror 

Kaylin: the 2022 Kdrama, May I Help You? about a funeral director who convenes with the spirits at her place of employment 

Megan: the 2015 folk horror, The VVitch, for depicting Puritan-era life that requires attention to omens to survive

We Referenced

Bergen, F. D., Beauchamp, W. M., & Newell, W. W. (1889). Current superstitions. I. Omens of death. The Journal of American Folklore, 2(4), 12–22.https://www.jstor.org/stable/533697

Gamillo, E. (2023, October 31). Why do these 6 animals represent death in cultures around the world? Discover Magazine.https://www.discovermagazine.com/why-do-these-6-animals-represent-death-in-cultures-around-the-world-45511

H., S. (2025, November 24). Obscure death omens & spirits from around the world. Mythfolks.https://www.mythfolks.com/death-omens-spirits

TalkDeath. (n.d.). Omens of death around the world.https://www.talkdeath.com/omens-death-around-world/

Tetraphobia. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved November 1, 2026, fromhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetraphobia

Personifications of death. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved November 1, 2026, fromhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personifications_of_death

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In this episode the girls prepare for death by diving into the what, why, how (and how much) of graves markers.

Did you know you could have your own ‘Dream Funeral’ featured on the Death Wish Substack? Fill out this form to submit yours for consideration.

We recommend

Caitlin: the writings of Laura Lyster-Mensh on her Substack, Sandwiches in Cemeteries

Kaylin: Cinematery at the Congressional Cemetery’s for DC locals, or the concept of outdoor movie nights at your local cemetery

Kris: the 2026 film The Sheep Detectives for its kid-friendly approach to grief and for anyone in need of a good cry

Megan: the 2022 book Over My Dead Body: Unearthing the Hidden History of America’s Cemeteries by Greg Melville

We Referenced

Allen, D. (2020, November 5). Most popular types of headstones. Cache Valley Monuments.https://cachevalleymonuments.com/most-popular-types-of-headstones/

Atlas Preservation. (n.d.). American gravestone evolution: Part 1.https://atlaspreservation.com/pages/american-gravestone-evolution-part-1

Cemetery.com. (n.d.). Cost of monuments.https://www.cemetery.com/learning-center/cemetery-funeral-costs-financing-insurance/costs-monuments

Congressional Cemetery. (2022, September 5). 6 reasons why we use headstones.https://congressionalcemetery.org/blog/6-reasons-why-we-use-headstones/

Flemington Granite. (2015, November 27). The history of gravestones and memorials.https://flemingtongranite.com/the-history-of-gravestones-and-memorials/

Little, B. (2023, October 30). 7 ways the living tried to keep the dead in their graves. HISTORY.https://www.history.com/articles/graves-skeletons-burials-superstitions

Memorials.com. (n.d.). Famous epitaphs.https://www.memorials.com/info/memorial-engraving-guide/famous-epitaphs

Mossfords. (n.d.). The history of headstones and burials.https://mossfords.com/education/the-history-of-headstones-and-burials/

National Cemetery Administration. (n.d.). History of government-furnished headstones and markers. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.https://www.cem.va.gov/history/hmhist.asp

TalkDeath. (n.d.). A brief history of grave symbols in North America.https://www.talkdeath.com/a-brief-history-of-grave-symbols-in-north-america/

Timestone Monument. (n.d.). Budgeting for a monument: Detailed cost breakdown.https://www.timestonemonument.com/blog/budgeting-for-a-monument-detailed-cost-breakdown

Trigard Memorials. (2023, February 22). The history of grave markers in America.https://www.trigardmemorials.com/blog/the-history-of-grave-markers-in-america/

U.S. Funerals Online. (n.d.). Grave markers, headstones & memorials.https://us-funerals.com/grave-markers-headstones-memorials/

Gravestone art: From spooky to … (2016, October 8). Burlington County Times.https://www.burlingtoncountytimes.com/story/lifestyle/2016/10/08/gravestone-art-from-spooky-to/17585868007/

Short, beautiful words for gravestones. (n.d.). wikiHow.https://www.wikihow.com/Short-Beautiful-Words-for-Gravestone

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In this episode the girls prepare for death by learning how near death experiences (NDEs) and paranormal experiences help people process death and loss.

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We recommend 

Caitlin: 1) the podcast episode Criminal Broads “The Mad Scientist: Brigitte Boisselier” from (5/7/2026), 2) the 1990 film Flatliners about thrillseeking medical students simulating NDEs, 3) the 2022 horror comedy Deadstream about content creators taking things too far and getting caught up in the paranormal, and 4) Paranormal Activity, the immersive Broadway play 

Kaylin: 1) the 2016-2022 series, Search Party, particularly the Near Death Experience storyline bridging S4 to S5, and 2) the 2022 K-Drama, My Liberation Notes, for Yeom Chang-hee’s death care storyline

Kris: the 2026 Netflix series, How to Get to Heaven from Belfast

Megan: inspired by seeing Othello and Hamlet live, live Shakespeare in general

We referenced

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/375843821_Spirits_and_Spoils_Matter_Memory_and_the_Living_Culture_of_Human_Remains_in_the_Andes_and_the_Amazon

https://www.scribd.com/document/203907686/Spiritism-in-Brazil

https://www.npr.org/2009/05/22/104397005/decoding-the-mystery-of-near-death-experiences

https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/what-is-it-like-to-die-the-reassuring-science-of-near-death-experiences

https://latinonewsnetwork.com/community/latino-legends-to-haunt-your-halloween-la-llorona-el-silbon-and-el-cadejo/

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In this episode the girls prepare for death by considering what a death cult is and ensuring they aren’t in one.

Did you know you could have your own ‘Dream Funeral’ featured on the Death Wish Substack? Fill out this form to submit yours for consideration.

We recommend 

Caitlin: the 2016-2022 series, Search Party, particularly the last season, which deals with cult dynamics

Kaylin: visiting Salem, Massachusetts for its witch kitsch and old cemeteries

Kris: the 2017 sci-fi novel, Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty, about a universe with no death and lots of clones

Megan: the self-help book, Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman, to better organize your limited time on this planet

We referenced

Azab, M. (2020, June 9). The brain under the influence of power. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/neuroscience-in-everyday-life/202006/the-brain-under-the-influence-power

Banisadr, M. (2015, November 29). How do terrorist groups and cults attract followers? Fair Observer. https://www.fairobserver.com/region/middle_east_north_africa/the-illusions-of-cults-81308/

Brice, A. (2025, June 16). Who decides the difference between a cult and a religion? The IRS. Berkeley News. https://news.berkeley.edu/2025/06/16/who-decides-the-difference-between-a-cult-and-a-religion-the-irs/

Generation Cult. (2022, October 28). Ep. 1: What is a cult? with Ashlen [Audio podcast episode]. Libsyn. https://generationcult.libsyn.com/what-is-a-cult-with-ashlen

Haworth, A. (2016, November 20). Growing up with The Family: Inside Anne Hamilton-Byrne’s sinister cult. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/nov/20/growing-up-with-the-family-inside-anne-hamilton-byrnes-sinister-cult

HeinOnline Blogger. (2023, October 13). 4 notorious cults in American history. HeinOnline Blog. https://home.heinonline.org/blog/2023/10/4-notorious-cults-in-american-history/

Kellogg, C. (2013, October 19). It’s not too late to get to the Death Salon. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-death-salon-20131017-story.html

Koller, W. N., Thompson, H., & Cannon, T. D. (2023). Conspiracy mentality, subclinical paranoia, and political conservatism are associated with perceived status threat. PLOS ONE, 18(11), e0293930. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0293930

Lacayo, R. (1997, April 7). The lure of the cult. TIME. https://time.com/archive/6730588/the-lure-of-the-cult/

Metz, J. (2025). Unlearning agency: Lessons from cults. Ergo: An Open Access Journal of Philosophy, 12(57), 1510–1530. https://doi.org/10.3998/ergo.8582

People Leave Cults. (n.d.). What is a cult? https://www.peopleleavecults.com/resources/what-is-a-cult

TalkDeath. (2015, June 9). The death positive movement: What is it? https://www.talkdeath.com/the-death-positive-movement/

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Good News International Ministries. In Wikipedia. Retrieved September 19, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_News_International_Ministries

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Raël. In Wikipedia. Retrieved September 19, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ra%C3%ABl

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Death Wish returns for season two on October 23rd!

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In this episode, the girls prepare for death by reflecting on everything they’ve learned in season one.

Good news: we’re making Season 2. 

Slightly inconvenient news: you’ll have to wait for it. 

The solution? We launched a Death Wish Substack! Same vibe, different medium to grapple with all the big, weird, funny questions we have about death. Subscribe at substack.com/@thedeathwishpodcast.

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In this episode, the girls prepare for death by considering Do Not Resuscitate orders.

Did you know you could have your own ‘Dream Funeral’ featured on the Death Wish Substack? Fill out this form to submit yours for consideration.

We recommend:

Caitlin: the 1964 vintage horror film, The Masque of the Red Death

Kaylin: the protest song, Coffin for a Head of State, by Fela Kuti

Kris: the November 2025 BBC coverage of the Thai woman who was nearly cremated alive

Megan: the Guardian article, Incredible story of Irish labourer buried alive in coffin for 61 days told in new documentary, about the Irish language film, Buried Alive

We referenced:

• Doctors Saved Her Life. She Didn’t Want Them To.
• Overview of Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Care
• Variation Found Among Hospitals in Carrying out DNR Orders
• Patients with do-not-resuscitate orders have worse outcomes, higher death rates, study finds
• Hospital DNR Orders – WTF (Why They Failed)
• Can a DNR be Revoked by Family? What You Need to Know
• What Does a Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) Order Mean and Why Are They Used?

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In this episode, the girls prepare for death with some preliminary funeral plans.

Did you know you could have your own ‘Dream Funeral’ featured on the Death Wish Substack? Fill out this form to submit yours for consideration.

We recommend:

Caitlin: The Golden Girls: S5.E7, “Not Another Monday”, aired Nov 11, 1989 for how it tackles Medical Assistance in Dying 

Kaylin: the classic, gothic novel, Wuthering Heights, specifically the scene where a grieving Heathcliff exhumes his lover, Cathy’s, corpse 

Kris: The X-Files; S1.E13 “Beyond the Sea,” and how that episode depicts grief 

Megan: the 2001 novel, Year of Wonders, by Geraldine Brooks, for its portrayal of an English town in 1666 touched by mass death

We referenced:

After. (n.d.). Memorial service vs. funeral: What’s the difference?https://www.after.com/articles/memorial-service-vs-funeral

Dignity Memorial. (n.d.). Trends in celebration-of-life planning.https://www.dignitymemorial.com/memorial-services/planning-a-celebration-of-life/trends

Order of the Good Death. (n.d.). History of the death positive movement.https://www.orderofthegooddeath.com/history-of-death-positive-movement/

Wildflower Funeral Concepts. (2026, January 8). 9 ways the funeral industry is changing in 2026 and beyond.https://www.wildflowerfuneralconcepts.com/post/9-ways-the-funeral-industry-is-changing-in-2026-and-beyond

CNBC Select. (2025, February 20). How much does a funeral cost?https://www.cnbc.com/select/how-much-does-funeral-cost/

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In this episode, the girls prepare for death by getting into mourning traditions.

We recommend:

Caitlin: the 2025 book, Morbidly Curious: A Scientist Explains Why We Can't Look Away by Coltan Scrivner, PhD

Kaylin: the 2025 FX/Hulu series, Dying for Sex, for its complex depiction of a woman’s final months of life

Kris: the 2025 HBO series, The Pitt, for its trauma-informed storytelling about death in an ER

Megan: the 2024 spy thriller series, Day of the Jackal, which made her root for an assassin

We referenced:

Forget me not – revealing Victorian… | National Trust for Scotland

How rituals around Irish deaths, wakes and funerals have changed

7 Unique Burial Rituals Across the World | Britannica

Funeral practices and beliefs about the afterlife in South and Southeast Asia | Pew Research Center

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In this episode the girls prepare for death by considering “sustainable” body disposal practices.

We recommend:

Caitlin: the Apple TV series, Pluribus for depicting body disposal labor

Kaylin: the 2019 film, The Lighthouse, and Peacock’s Pokerface season 2 episode 2 for knowing cremated remains are pulverised bones

Kris: The Pitt season 2 for continuing to raise DNR awareness, and Netflix’s His and Hers

Megan: the Netflix series, Derry Girls for the Irish wake scene

We referenced:

• https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jul/09/greener-way-to-go-eco-friendly-way-dispose-of-body-burial-cremation
• https://recompose.life/
• https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-is-human-composting 
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_composting 
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_American_Way_of_Death
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promession
• https://earthfuneral.com/resources/sky-burials-eco-friendly-funerals/
• https://www.conservationburialalliance.org/
• http://www.naturaldeath.org.uk/index.php?page=find-a-natural-burial-site
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burial_at_sea
• https://www.epa.gov/marine-protection-permitting/burial-sea#instructions
• https://resomation.com/
• https://ncceh.ca/resources/evidence-reviews/alternative-disposition-services-green-burial-alkaline-hydrolysis-and
• https://curious.earth/blog/sustainable-green-burials/
• https://www.eternalreefs.com/
• https://www.eternalreefs.com/the-eternal-reefs-story/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_cremation
• https://www.greenmatters.com/p/eco-friendly-burial-methods
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1126630/
• https://funerals.org/get-help/green-options/
• https://www.interraburial.com/ecological-burial-options
• https://davidsuzuki.org/living-green/green-end-of-life-options/
• https://returnhome.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-eco-friendly-burials/

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