DEAD Talks

His mother’s cancer. His friend’s murder. Standup comic Harrison Skopes faced unthinkable back-to-back tragedies—and turned to comedy to survive.

In this episode of DEAD Talks:

• Facing grief and trauma in court
• Finding humor in tragedy

Lessons on resilience, death, and living fully

For more on Harrison Skopes: ⁠@hskopes⁠

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A raw conversation about grief, loss, and mental health. Katie shares her story of losing both her mother and brother to suicide, the anxiety and PTSD that followed, and the long process of finding peace again. This episode is about more than pain—it’s about resilience, patience, and the reminder that it doesn’t stay this dark forever.

Guest: ⁠Katie Schlegel⁠

Content note: discussion of suicide (non-graphic, recovery-focused)...

lessons hidden in loss and the meaning we can take from it.

Follow DEAD Talks for more powerful episodes on grief, loss, and the truths we usually keep hidden.

Disclaimer: The following conversation was recorded with Joe Exotic with his full knowledge and consent. The views and opinions expressed are solely his and do not necessarily reflect those of the DEAD Talks Podcast or its host. Nothing in this episode should be taken a...

What if your dead mom kept sending you signs? From an impossible phone call on Mother’s Day to strange synchronicities and powerful moments of connection, Colin Havey shares the unbelievable stories that changed his beliefs about grief, love, and the afterlife. This episode of DEAD Talks explores how signs from those we’ve lost can reshape the way we live.

Guest: @colinhavey

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Join the DEAD Talks Patreon...

Blind since birth, Mike Hingson was on the 78th floor of the World Trade Center when the planes hit on September 11th, 2001. With his guide dog Roselle, he navigated chaos, panic, and smoke to escape.

In this powerful conversation, Mike shares:

• What really happened inside the Towers
• Lessons of leadership, resilience, and grief
• How to face the unexpected with courage

🎧 Available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and all podcast platf...

Rabbi Manis Friedman joins me on DEAD Talks to unpack some of life’s biggest questions: Why are we here? Why do we fear death? What really happens after we die?

From Judaism’s view on the afterlife, reincarnation, heaven, and resurrection, to the universal search for meaning and purpose.

💡 In this episode, we dive deep into:

• Why Judaism teaches bringing God to earth is more important than “getting to heaven”
• Why death is temporary...

Ricki Lake joins David on DEAD Talks to share her deeply personal journey through grief, resilience, and rediscovering joy. She opens up about losing her husband, the challenges of navigating heartbreak, and finding love again later in life. With candor and warmth, Ricki reflects on her career, her personal struggles, and the life lessons that emerged from loss.

If you’ve ever faced grief or wondered how to rebuild a meaningful life...

In this deeply moving episode of DEAD Talks, David Ferrugio speaks with Anita Moorjani, internationally bestselling author and speaker, about her extraordinary near-death experience during end-stage cancer.

Anita shares how she slipped into a coma, left her body, and experienced a state of pure love, awareness, and connection — and how this transformed her understanding of life, death, and healing. Within weeks of returning,...

Patricia Oliver, mother of Joaquin “Guac” Oliver, joins David Ferrugio on the DEAD Talks Podcast to share her journey of grief, resilience, and advocacy after the Parkland school shooting. Patricia opens up about losing her son in the tragedy, transforming unimaginable pain into purpose, and building a legacy of change in his honor.

Through Change the Ref, the foundation inspired by Joaquin’s spirit, Patricia has turned grief into a...

What does the Bible really say about death, heaven, and the afterlife? In this episode of DEAD Talks, David Ferrugio sits down with New Testament scholar Dr. Eric Zito to uncover the Bible’s true teachings on life after death, resurrection, and what Christian hope actually means.

They explore some of the most misunderstood—and controversial—topics, including:

• The Bible’s real view on death, heaven, and resurrection
• How near-death ...

When Whitney Lyn Allen’s husband died suddenly in her arms, her entire world shattered. In this powerful episode of the DEAD Talks Podcast, Whitney opens up about the shock of sudden death, the raw pain of early grief, and the signs that convinced her her husband was still with her.

Now, three years later, Whitney reflects on what really helps in the journey through loss—offering wisdom, compassion, and hope to anyone navigating gri...

Actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise opens up about the heartbreaking loss of his son Mac to a rare cancer and the personal grief journey that followed. In this moving episode of the DEAD Talks Podcast, Gary shares how service has kept him grounded, the role of fatherhood in shaping his healing, and the power of vulnerability in the face of loss.

Through raw reflections on grief, love, purpose, and storytelling, Gary reveals why shari...

Tom Nash was given just a 2% chance to live when meningococcal septicemia changed his life forever at 19. The disease cost him both arms and legs, but instead of despair, Tom discovered a radical new perspective—reframing tragedy as a gift.

In this powerful episode of the DEAD Talks Podcast, Tom shares how surviving near-certain death gave him a new outlook on life, mortality, and meaning. From learning to play guitar again with hoo...

Grammy-nominated singer Keri Hilson joins the DEAD Talks Podcast to share her deeply personal journey of grief after losing her father in 2020. With raw honesty, Keri reflects on the pain of loss, the unexpected signs she’s received from the afterlife, and how her father’s presence continues to shape her life and career.

From mystical encounters with butterflies, geese, and cardinals to the emotional weight of writing her father’s o...

Medium Alysa Conger joins David Ferrugio on the DEAD Talks Podcast for an honest and unfiltered conversation about grief, healing, and the power of perspective. Together, they explore why the idea that grief can “get better” often triggers anger, and how belief systems shape the way we process loss.

From trauma identity to the “glimmers” that bring hope, Alysa dives into the uncomfortable truths and unexpected lessons of grief. With...

After flatlining multiple times and surviving a traumatic brain injury, Landon Dennis shares his unforgettable near-death experience. From watching his own body in the back of an ambulance to standing in a glowing field where “even the grass loved him,” Landon’s story is a vivid glimpse into the afterlife.

This raw, emotional, and deeply spiritual conversation explores the power of prayer, the presence of unconditional love, and why...

Brian Clark is one of the few people who escaped from above the impact zone of the South Tower on 9/11. In this powerful episode of the DEAD Talks Podcast, host David Ferrugio sits down with Brian to hear his extraordinary firsthand account of survival from the World Trade Center.

From being on the 84th floor on September 11th when Flight 175 struck just below him, to hearing mysterious voices that guided him to a stairwell, Brian r...

Jaymee Carpenter shares a raw and soul-shaking story of addiction, near-death, and spiritual rebirth. After hitting rock bottom, a psychedelic ayahuasca experience left him face-to-face with death and changed everything. Through Tibetan Buddhism, Jaymee rewired his life, moving from darkness and despair to reflection, healing, and renewal.

From his early days as a rising musician to living homeless on Skid Row, Jaymee’s journey show...

In this powerful and soul-stirring episode of DEAD Talks, David Ferrugio sits down with ALOK—internationally acclaimed author, poet, and performer—for one of the most profound conversations we’ve ever had. Together, they dive deep into death, grief, identity, the illusion of control, the meaning of presence, and how love and loss are forever intertwined.

ALOK shares how confronting mortality has shaped their art and activism, reveal...