DEAD Talks

Grief doesn’t just come from death — it can come from abandonment. In this episode of DEAD Talks, we explore the pain of family abandonment, the heartbreak of losing a father, and how grief from both shaped the life of Van Thu Nguyen. She shares her powerful story of being abandoned by her family while learning her father was dying, and how she faced the complex emotions of mourning both loss and betrayal.Van also opens up about the death of her first love, comparing how the grief of losing a partner differs from losing a parent. Her journey highlights the different layers of grief we don’t often talk about — and how healing can come through strength, self-reflection, and choosing to live the life you want despite the pain.Full Episode available on YouTubeFollow Van Thu Nguyen @vanrevival on Instagram Follow @DEADTalkspodcast on Instagram. Support the ShowJoin the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $5 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free!Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: Shop Here “Dead Dad Club” & “Dead Mom Club” – Wear your story, honor your people.Exclusive Discounts  10% off Neurogum – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy.About DEAD Talks  DEAD Talks with David Ferrugio approaches death differently. Each guest shares raw stories of grief, loss, or unique perspectives that challenge the “don’t talk about death” taboo. Grief doesn’t end—it evolves. After losing his father on September 11th at just 12 years old, David discovered the power of conversation. Through laughter, tears, and honest dialogue, DEAD Talks helps make it a little easier to talk about death, mourning, trauma, and the life that continues beyond it.Connect with DEAD TalksYouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The loss of a child is one of the deepest griefs anyone can face. In this episode of DEAD Talks, Phil Cohen shares his heartbreaking story of losing his only son, Perry, at just 14 years old in one of the largest U.S. Coast Guard search efforts in history. He opens up about how grief shattered his world — and how a powerful message from his son shifted his perspective and began a journey of healing.Phil, author and creator of *The Grief Continuum™, explains how he transformed unimaginable loss into resilience, creating a framework to help others navigate despair and find empowerment after loss. His work has been shared on TEDx stages, where he inspires others to move through grief with courage and connection.www.PhilCohen.comTED Talks:Transforming Grief on TEDx with Phil CohenSupport the ShowJoin the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $5 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free!Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: Shop Here “Dead Dad Club” & “Dead Mom Club” – Wear your story, honor your people.Exclusive Discounts  10% off Neurogum – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy.About DEAD Talks  DEAD Talks with David Ferrugio approaches death differently. Each guest shares raw stories of grief, loss, or unique perspectives that challenge the “don’t talk about death” taboo. Grief doesn’t end—it evolves. After losing his father on September 11th at just 12 years old, David discovered the power of conversation. Through laughter, tears, and honest dialogue, DEAD Talks helps make it a little easier to talk about death, mourning, trauma, and the life that continues beyond it.Connect with DEAD TalksYouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grief, suicide loss, eating disorders, and mental health struggles can feel impossible to overcome — but resilience is possible. In this episode of DEAD Talks, Sarah Kalmeta shares her powerful story of losing her stepfather to suicide, battling bulimia, facing the death of her Olympic figure skating dream, and how she learned to pivot her life toward healing and success.Now a mindset coach and founder of Pivot Point, Sarah helps others transform adversity into opportunity. She breaks down the specific practices and strategies that helped her overcome grief, manage mental health obstacles, and find purpose after loss. This conversation is filled with raw honesty, practical tools, and the inspiration to reframe even the darkest challenges.Follow Sarah:@SarahThePivoterwww.sarahkalmeta.comSupport the ShowJoin the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $5 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free!Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: Shop Here “Dead Dad Club” & “Dead Mom Club” – Wear your story, honor your people.Exclusive Discounts  10% off Neurogum – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy.About DEAD Talks  DEAD Talks with David Ferrugio approaches death differently. Each guest shares raw stories of grief, loss, or unique perspectives that challenge the “don’t talk about death” taboo. Grief doesn’t end—it evolves. After losing his father on September 11th at just 12 years old, David discovered the power of conversation. Through laughter, tears, and honest dialogue, DEAD Talks helps make it a little easier to talk about death, mourning, trauma, and the life that continues beyond it.Connect with DEAD TalksYouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mental health struggles, suicide loss, and addiction recovery are some of the hardest battles anyone can face — and Eric B Zink has faced them all. In this episode of DEAD Talks, Eric shares his journey after losing his wife to suicide in 2015 and his father to suicide in 2017. Just one year later, he nearly lost his own life in a suicide attempt before beginning a long path of recovery.Today, Eric is a mental health and addiction advocate with nearly 2 million social media followers, openly sharing his story to inspire and support others. He speaks about living with ADHD and PTSD, overcoming cocaine and alcohol addiction, and turning his pain into purpose. His mission is to break the stigma around suicide, trauma, and mental health, while helping others know they’re not alone.Instagram: @ericbzinkTikTok: @ericbzinkLinkTr.eeSupport the ShowJoin the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $5 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free!Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: Shop Here “Dead Dad Club” & “Dead Mom Club” – Wear your story, honor your people.Exclusive Discounts  10% off Neurogum – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy.About DEAD Talks  DEAD Talks with David Ferrugio approaches death differently. Each guest shares raw stories of grief, loss, or unique perspectives that challenge the “don’t talk about death” taboo. Grief doesn’t end—it evolves. After losing his father on September 11th at just 12 years old, David discovered the power of conversation. Through laughter, tears, and honest dialogue, DEAD Talks helps make it a little easier to talk about death, mourning, trauma, and the life that continues beyond it.Connect with DEAD TalksYouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when religion, funerals, and grief collide? In this episode of DEAD Talks, we explore how faith and tradition shape the way we face death — and how one man is breaking away from the old ways. After 40 years as a United Methodist Minister, Hubert Cunningham became a Certified Funeral Celebrant and founded the Healing Works Institute to offer a new perspective on grieving and death.We discuss the gap he saw between religion and grief support, how he approaches funerals differently from traditional methods, and what it means to truly honor the dead while helping the living heal. This conversation shines a light on faith, loss, grief rituals, and how rethinking death practices can bring deeper meaning to those left behind.Support the ShowJoin the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $5 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free!Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: Shop Here “Dead Dad Club” & “Dead Mom Club” – Wear your story, honor your people.Exclusive Discounts  10% off Neurogum – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy.About DEAD Talks  DEAD Talks with David Ferrugio approaches death differently. Each guest shares raw stories of grief, loss, or unique perspectives that challenge the “don’t talk about death” taboo. Grief doesn’t end—it evolves. After losing his father on September 11th at just 12 years old, David discovered the power of conversation. Through laughter, tears, and honest dialogue, DEAD Talks helps make it a little easier to talk about death, mourning, trauma, and the life that continues beyond it.Connect with DEAD TalksYouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Funerals don’t have to look the way they always have. In this episode of DEAD Talks, we dive into how modern funerals and end-of-life planning are being reimagined with meaning, personalization, and even humor.Elizabeth Meyer Karansky, acclaimed funeral director and co-founder of Farewelling, shares how her own loss led her to transform the traditional funeral process into something more human, modern, and empowering. From rethinking rituals to offering families new ways to honor their loved ones, Elizabeth explains how funerals can become a celebration of life rather than just a ceremony of death.👉 Learn how grief, healing, and funeral traditions are evolving.👉 Watch the full episode on YouTube: [insert link]👉 Subscribe to DEAD Talks for more real conversations about death and life.Support the ShowJoin the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $5 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free!Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: Shop Here “Dead Dad Club” & “Dead Mom Club” – Wear your story, honor your people.Exclusive Discounts10% off Neurogum – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy.About DEAD Talks DEAD Talks with David Ferrugio approaches death differently. Each guest shares raw stories of grief, loss, or unique perspectives that challenge the “don’t talk about death” taboo. Grief doesn’t end—it evolves. After losing his father on September 11th at just 12 years old, David discovered the power of conversation. Through laughter, tears, and honest dialogue, DEAD Talks helps make it a little easier to talk about death, mourning, trauma, and the life that continues beyond it.Connect with DEAD TalksYouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When his pregnant wife was struck and killed by a drunk driver just six weeks before her due date, James Alvarez’s world changed forever. Doctors were able to save his daughter, Adalyn Rose, through an emergency C-section, but James was left to navigate the unimaginable — losing his wife while becoming a single father overnight.This story went viral around the world, and in this deeply emotional episode James shares the raw truth of that night, how grief shaped him, and how he’s found strength as a widowed father. We talk about drunk driving awareness, surviving loss, single fatherhood, parenting through grief, and how one man’s tragedy turned into advocacy and inspiration.Follow our guest, @__JamesAlvarez, on Instagram.Article: Pregnant woman killed by alleged DUI driver gives birth to 'miracle' babySupport the ShowJoin the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $5 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free!Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: Shop Here “Dead Dad Club” & “Dead Mom Club” – Wear your story, honor your people.Exclusive Discounts  10% off Neurogum – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy.About DEAD Talks  DEAD Talks with David Ferrugio approaches death differently. Each guest shares raw stories of grief, loss, or unique perspectives that challenge the “don’t talk about death” taboo. Grief doesn’t end—it evolves. After losing his father on September 11th at just 12 years old, David discovered the power of conversation. Through laughter, tears, and honest dialogue, DEAD Talks helps make it a little easier to talk about death, mourning, trauma, and the life that continues beyond it.Connect with DEAD TalksYouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do eating disorders and grief have in common? More than you think. In this episode of DEAD Talks, we explore how death, trauma, and eating disorder recovery intersect — and how finding meaning in loss can be the key to healing both mind and body.Licensed Professional Counselor Jacquelyn LaRusso shares her insights from years of helping patients navigate eating disorders while processing death and trauma. She explains how unresolved grief can manifest in destructive ways, the importance of finding purpose after loss, and how her own experiences have shaped the way she helps others grow.Support the ShowJoin the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $5 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free!Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: Shop Here “Dead Dad Club” & “Dead Mom Club” – Wear your story, honor your people.Exclusive Discounts  10% off Neurogum – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy.About DEAD Talks  DEAD Talks with David Ferrugio approaches death differently. Each guest shares raw stories of grief, loss, or unique perspectives that challenge the “don’t talk about death” taboo. Grief doesn’t end—it evolves. After losing his father on September 11th at just 12 years old, David discovered the power of conversation. Through laughter, tears, and honest dialogue, DEAD Talks helps make it a little easier to talk about death, mourning, trauma, and the life that continues beyond it.Connect with DEAD TalksYouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net DEAD Talks with David Ferrugio engages death a little bit differently. Each new guest shares their experience with grieving or perspective on death in a way that shatters the “don’t talk about death” taboo. Grief doesn't end, it evolves. Having lost his father on September 11th when he was 12 he learned the importance of discussion and sharing other people's stories. Grief, loss, death, mourning, trauma or whatever it may be, DEAD Talks Podcast hopes to make it a little easier to talk about. You may cry; but, you also may laugh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we embrace grief and death instead of avoiding it? In this episode of DEAD Talks, we dive into the world of end-of-life care, grief support, and what it means to truly sit with death.Marifel is a guide for life and death, offering compassionate support to those at the end of life and their families. Though she doesn’t label herself a “death doula,” her work comes close — helping people process grief, find peace, and transform the way they think about dying. With years of experience as a respiratory nurse, she’s been surrounded by death and has dedicated her life to making these conversations more open, healing, and human.www.peacingout.com via MarifelSupport the ShowJoin the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $5 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free!Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: Shop Here “Dead Dad Club” & “Dead Mom Club” – Wear your story, honor your people.Exclusive Discounts  10% off Neurogum – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy.About DEAD Talks  DEAD Talks with David Ferrugio approaches death differently. Each guest shares raw stories of grief, loss, or unique perspectives that challenge the “don’t talk about death” taboo. Grief doesn’t end—it evolves. After losing his father on September 11th at just 12 years old, David discovered the power of conversation. Through laughter, tears, and honest dialogue, DEAD Talks helps make it a little easier to talk about death, mourning, trauma, and the life that continues beyond it.Connect with DEAD TalksYouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when the person you love takes their own life just as things were starting to heal? In this episode of DEAD Talks, we dive into the devastating reality of losing a parent to suicide and how grief can transform into resilience.Vance’s father died by suicide only seven days after their relationship finally started to feel positive. Instead of letting it break him, Vance turned his grief into fuel — rebuilding his life, taking control, and finding a way to grow from tragedy. His story is a raw look at loss, survival, and the power of transformation in the face of unbearable pain.Support the ShowJoin the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $5 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free!Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: Shop Here “Dead Dad Club” & “Dead Mom Club” – Wear your story, honor your people.Exclusive Discounts  10% off Neurogum – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy.About DEAD Talks  DEAD Talks with David Ferrugio approaches death differently. Each guest shares raw stories of grief, loss, or unique perspectives that challenge the “don’t talk about death” taboo. Grief doesn’t end—it evolves. After losing his father on September 11th at just 12 years old, David discovered the power of conversation. Through laughter, tears, and honest dialogue, DEAD Talks helps make it a little easier to talk about death, mourning, trauma, and the life that continues beyond it.Connect with DEAD TalksYouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices