Obsessed With Death

In this episode of The Final Word, Rob and Jordan discuss a tarot card influencer who falsely accused a University of Idaho professor of murder and was hit with a multi-million-dollar defamation verdict. They also react to a hantavirus outbreak linked to a research cruise ship, leading to an absurd and dark conversation about cruise culture and how they would handle a floating public health crisis.

In this episode of Obsessed With Death, Rob talks with author and artist FREAKBAiT about how mortality fuels creativity, using death as motivation, balancing humor with darker themes, psychedelic experiences, and the idea of leaving behind unfinished work to be shared after death.

We’re revisiting powerful conversations as part of our Archive Spotlight, where we highlight meaningful conversations from the past.In this episode we dive into the complex and often misunderstood world of assisted death, exploring the emotional, ethical, and deeply human sides of end-of-life choices. From eligibility requirements and shifting legislation to powerful stories of final moments.Originally published on February 8th, 2022.

Comedian Jay Larson joins Obsessed with Death to talk about growing up with an older family, random chest pains, why being a dad makes him want to stick around a lot longer, and how dark thoughts can still come from a good place.

In this episode of Obsessed with Death, Rob sits down with artist Shampoooty, known for creating nostalgic, adult-themed toys that explore death, addiction, and the messiness of adulthood through humor and physical art. They discuss how a childhood panic about death evolved into a creative mission to spark conversations about mortality using playful objects like toy hearses and funeral sets, even catching the attention of grief therapists looking for tools to help kids process loss.

In this episode of Obsessed with Death, Rob is joined by writer and artist Z.G. Burnett, who unexpectedly won a colonial-era gravestone at an auction and is now on a mission to uncover its origins and return it to its rightful resting place. Together, they explore the ethics of buying and selling grave markers, the cultural disconnect from death in America, and the deep and sometimes unconventional ways we try to leave a legacy.

Diagnosed with end-stage heart failure, Sofia walks us through the mysterious early symptoms, her emergency hospitalization, and the rapid decision to receive an LVAD that now keeps her alive. You can follow Sofia on TikTok here.