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DEAD Talks

David Ferrugio

DEAD Talks with David Ferrugio is a podcast about death, grief, loss, and what it means to truly live. After losing his father on 9/11, David created a space for honest, emotional, and sometimes funny conversations about the one thing we all face but rarely talk about.

Each episode features guests sharing real stories about grief, near-death experiences, the afterlife, healing, trauma, spirituality, and the human experience. You might cry, you might laugh, and you might leave thinking about life a little differently.

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31 episodes
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Avg 1 hr 3 min
English

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Monday · 53 min
How to Recognize Signs From Dead Loved Ones | Psychic Medium Susan Allen (#285)
Your loved ones are still trying to reach you, and most of us talk ourselves out of the signs. Psychic medium and animal communicator Susan Allen explains the most common signs from the other side (cardinals, feathers, butterflies, songs, license plates and dreams), how to know if a sign is real, and how to ask for one and actually let go. Ten minutes after I asked my dad, who died on 9/11, for a sign, a stranger on a New York street started screaming "I love you, David." Susan thinks it was him. We also get into: • Whether our loved ones are watching us (and when they're not) • What the afterlife looks like day to day • The life review and what happens to evil people when they die • Did we choose this life? Past lives, karma and Ho'oponopono • Animal communication and what pets say from the other side • Whether pets forgive us for euthanasia • Coping with grief, and what people get wrong about mediums For more on Susan Allen: https://susanallenmedium.com/ 📚 My book, You're Not Dead Yet: How Grief and Loss Can Teach You to Live: 📖 You're Not Dead Yet: How Grief and Loss Can Teach You to Live: Learn more and order David’s book at ⁠DeadTalks.net/Book⁠ Sign Up For E-Mail Updates Here: https://www.deadtalks.net/signup Support the Show Join the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $2 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/cw/deadtalks Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: https://cottonbureau.com/people/dead-talks Exclusive Discounts 10% off Neurogum – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy: https://neurogum.com/deadtalks 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 Talks 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deadtalkspodcast 📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deadtalkspodcast/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 19 · 53 min
Her 10-Year-Old Sent 2 Impossible Signs After She Died with Rachel Stewart (#284)
Rachel’s ten-year-old daughter Kenadie got a headache on Christmas Eve. A month later, she was gone. Rachel thought that was the end, until two things happened she still can’t explain: a hummingbird in her garage, and a playing card that shouldn’t exist. Today she shares both, and how she and her husband Shane turned their loss into For11, a community helping people stay connected to the ones they’ve lost. Join the For 11 Community: https://community.for11together.com/community-join Social Media: Instagram, TikTok & YouTube: @for11_together Facebook: For 11 📖 You're Not Dead Yet: How Grief and Loss Can Teach You to Live: Learn more and order David’s book at ⁠DeadTalks.net/Book⁠ Sign Up For E-Mail Updates Here: https://www.deadtalks.net/signup Support the Show Join the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $2 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/cw/deadtalks Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: https://cottonbureau.com/people/dead-talks Exclusive Discounts 10% off Neurogum – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy: https://neurogum.com/deadtalks 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 Talks (@deadtalkspodcast) YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 12 · 42 min
“I’m Pissed Off They Died”: Why There’s No Acceptance in Grief | Gary Sturgis (#283)
Gary Sturgis doesn’t believe in acceptance or closure. “How do you accept the fact that you lost someone you love?” In 2013, Gary’s husband Rob was diagnosed with stage four metastatic melanoma. Gary had spent his career in a bank and suddenly became a full-time caregiver. After Rob died, he couldn’t find the support he needed, so he started a Facebook page to share his story. It grew into one of the largest grief communities online. Gary went on to write Surviving: Finding Your Way from Grief to Healing and now leads grief workshops and support groups. In this conversation, we talk about: Why Gary rejects the words “acceptance,” “closure,” and “moving on” Why the second year of grief can be harder than the first Loving again after losing a spouse, and why it’s hard to compete with a ghost Telling grief apart from depression His “Grief 101” workshops and what he wishes someone had told him Mediums, faith, and what brings comfort Why Gary says grief never “gets better,” but does get softer Find Gary: Website: https://sgrief.com/ Facebook: Surviving Grief Book: SURVIVING GRIEF - 365 Days A Year: https://sgrief.com/sg365/ 📖 You're Not Dead Yet: How Grief and Loss Can Teach You to Live: Learn more and order David’s book at ⁠DeadTalks.net/Book⁠ Sign Up For E-Mail Updates Here: https://www.deadtalks.net/signup Support the Show Join the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $2 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/cw/deadtalks Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: https://cottonbureau.com/people/dead-talks Exclusive Discounts 10% off Neurogum – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy: https://neurogum.com/deadtalks 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 Talks (@deadtalkspodcast) YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 5 · 1 hr 10 min
What to Say to Someone Grieving + 3 Signs From the Other Side | Richard Greene (#282)
What do you say to someone who's grieving? According to Richard Greene, who has coached presidents and prime ministers, the answer is almost nothing. Richard is a communication strategist, TED speaker, and Tony Robbins' former attorney. He studied how Bill Clinton made everyone feel like the only person in the room, and he breaks down the listening shift that helps someone who's hurting let their guard down and actually grieve. Then it gets personal. One week after his father died, Richard got three signs he puts at one-in-a-billion odds, and Bill Nye isn't buying it. We also talk about the six hours his family spent with his father's body, why the bravest souls may choose the hardest lives, and why Einstein's E=mc² might point to a new definition of God. In this episode: "Ready to pounce" vs. "tabula rasa" listening The 3 questions to ask someone who's hurting Why silence is the most powerful thing you can offer Signs from loved ones after death "Life happens for you, not to you" Sitting with a loved one's body after death 📖 You're Not Dead Yet: How Grief and Loss Can Teach You to Live: Learn more and order David’s book at ⁠DeadTalks.net/Book For more on Richard Greene: Author: "Words That Shook The World" (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0735202966) TEDTalk: bit.ly/RichardGreeneTEDTalk Website: http://www.richardgreene.org Sign Up For E-Mail Updates Here: https://www.deadtalks.net/signup Support the Show Join the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $2 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/cw/deadtalks Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: https://cottonbureau.com/people/dead-talks Exclusive Discounts 10% off Neurogum – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy: https://neurogum.com/deadtalks 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 Talks (@deadtalkspodcast) YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 28 · 1 hr 11 min
A Catholic Priest Who Helps Souls Cross Over: Afterlife, Trauma & Grief with Father Nathan Castle (#281)
A Catholic Priest Who Helps Souls Cross Over: Afterlife, Trauma & Grief with Father Nathan Castle (#281) What happens to people who die suddenly and traumatically, and what can their stories teach those of us still grieving? Father Nathan Castle, O.P., is a 70-year-old Dominican priest, author, and podcast host. For nearly 30 years he has had an unusual calling. More than 700 people who died in car crashes, floods, violence, and other sudden tragedies have come to him in dreams. With his prayer partners, he helps them find peace and move forward in the afterlife. Whether you're a believer, a skeptic, or somewhere in between, this conversation offers a hopeful and surprisingly human view of death, grief, and what might come next. Most of all, it carries one message: don't let the worst thing that happened to you define you. Connect with Father Nathan Castle: Website: https://nathan-castle.com Podcast: The Joyful Friar (Apple Podcasts / Spotify) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FatherNathanCastleOP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/father_nathan_castle Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fathernathancastle 📖 You're Not Dead Yet: How Grief and Loss Can Teach You to Live: Learn more and order David’s book at ⁠DeadTalks.net/Book⁠ Sign Up For E-Mail Updates Here: https://www.deadtalks.net/signup Support the Show Join the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $2 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/cw/deadtalks Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: https://cottonbureau.com/people/dead-talks Exclusive Discounts 10% off Neurogum – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy: https://neurogum.com/deadtalks 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 Talks (@deadtalkspodcast) YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 21 · 48 min
9/11 Families vs. Saudi Arabia: The Lawsuit 25 Years Later (#280)
Twenty-five years after 9/11, the legal fight for answers is still ongoing. DEAD Talk host, David Ferrugio (who lost his father on 9/11) sits down with attorney John Eubanks of Motley Rice, who represents 9/11 families in the long-running litigation against Saudi Arabia, to break down where the case stands today, what evidence has emerged, why key government documents remain classified or heavily redacted, and what could happen next. They discuss alleged Saudi connections to individuals who assisted two of the 9/11 hijackers, the fight to obtain documents from the U.S. government, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), the upcoming federal appeals process, and why — nearly 25 years later — families are still seeking accountability and the full truth. 📖 You're Not Dead Yet: How Grief and Loss Can Teach You to Live: Learn more and order David’s book at ⁠DeadTalks.net/Book⁠ Sign Up For E-Mail Updates Here: https://www.deadtalks.net/signup Support the Show Join the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $2 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/cw/deadtalks Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: https://cottonbureau.com/people/dead-talks Exclusive Discounts 10% off Neurogum – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy: https://neurogum.com/deadtalks 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 Talks (@deadtalkspodcast) YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 14 · 50 min
25 Years After His Brother Ran Toward the Towers on 9/11 | Jay Winuk (#279)
Jay Winuk lost his brother Glenn on 9/11. Glenn was a lawyer, volunteer firefighter, and EMT who helped evacuate his office before heading toward the World Trade Center to help. His family later learned he entered the complex, but exactly what happened in his final moments remains unknown. Jay and I reflect on 9/11 from two different perspectives: I lost my father, who was working on the 105th floor of the North Tower, while Jay lost his brother after Glenn ran toward the danger to serve others. We discuss grief, unanswered questions, funerals without remains, and how Glenn’s legacy ultimately inspired Jay’s work with 9/11 Day and its mission of service and remembrance. For more on Jay Winuk foundation 911 Day check it out here: https://www.911day.org/ 📖 You're Not Dead Yet: How Grief and Loss Can Teach You to Live Learn more and order the book at ⁠DeadTalks.net/Book⁠ Sign Up For E-Mail Updates Here > https://www.deadtalks.net/signup Support the Show Join the DEAD Talks Patreon for as little as $2 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/cw/deadtalks Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: https://cottonbureau.com/people/dead-talks Exclusive Discounts 10% off Neurogum – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy: https://neurogum.com/deadtalks 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 Talks (@deadtalkspodcast) YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 7 · 54 min
9/11 Took My Dad When I Was 12: Grief 25 Years Later with David Kessler (#278)
Twenty-five years after losing his father in the September 11 attacks, DEAD Talks host David Ferrugio sits on the other side of the microphone for one of his most personal conversations yet. World-renowned grief expert David Kessler interviews David about losing his father at just 12 years old, growing up as “the 9/11 kid,” the guilt that followed, and what it means to grieve a death the entire world continues to watch and remember. They explore the memories David has lost—and the ones he has spent years trying to recover—the pressure he felt to become “the man of the house,” how grief changes over decades, and why sadness and joy don't have to be mutually exclusive. David also opens up about the experience that brought his childhood grief full circle when his mother nearly died in 2023, the lessons behind his new book, You’re Not Dead Yet: How Grief and Loss Can Teach You to Live, and why continuing to live fully can be one of the greatest ways we honor the people we’ve lost. This is a conversation about September 11, grief, loss, trauma, guilt, mortality, legacy, healing, meaning, and what it looks like to keep living when someone you love is gone. You’re Not Dead Yet: How Grief and Loss Can Teach You to Live is available now wherever books are sold. 📖 You're Not Dead Yet: How Grief and Loss Can Teach You to Live Learn more and order the book at ⁠DeadTalks.net/Book⁠ Sign Up For E-Mail Updates Here: https://www.deadtalks.net/signup Support the Show: Join the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $2 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/cw/deadtalks Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: https://cottonbureau.com/people/dead-talks Exclusive Discounts 10% off Neurogum – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy: https://neurogum.com/deadtalks 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 Talks (@deadtalkspodcast) YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 31 · 54 min
9/11 Kids: Losing Our Fathers and Growing Up With Grief with Katie Pereira (#277)
David sits down with Katie Pereira for a deeply personal conversation between two people who both lost their fathers on September 11, 2001. Katie was just seven years old when her father, Franco Lalama, was killed in the World Trade Center. David was twelve when he lost his father that same morning. Twenty-five years later, they compare what it was like growing up as “9/11 kids,” living with such a public loss, watching the footage, approaching the anniversary each year, and grieving all the memories with their fathers they never got to make. They also talk about childhood trauma, dark humor, the strange guilt and gratitude that can coexist with grief, how losing a parent changes the way you see life, and why Katie still finds herself watching 9/11 footage hoping she might somehow catch one last glimpse of her dad. Katie also shares how Comfort Zone Camp helped give her childhood back after loss—and how she eventually turned that experience into a career helping grieving children. A raw conversation about 9/11, losing a parent, childhood grief, resilience, and what it means to keep living after the day that changed everything. For more on the incredible organization for grieving children check out Comfort Zone Camp here: https://comfortzonecamp.org/ 📖 You're Not Dead Yet: How Grief and Loss Can Teach You to Live Learn more and order the book at ⁠⁠DeadTalks.net/Book⁠⁠ Sign Up For E-Mail Updates Here: ⁠https://www.deadtalks.net/signup⁠ Support the Show: Join the ⁠DEAD Talks Patreon⁠ for just $2 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/deadtalks⁠ Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: ⁠https://cottonbureau.com/people/dead-talks⁠ Exclusive Discounts⁠10% off Neurogum⁠ – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy: ⁠https://neurogum.com/deadtalks⁠ 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 Talks (@deadtalkspodcast)⁠YouTube⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠TikTok⁠ | ⁠www.deadtalks.net⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 24 · 1 hr 1 min
Des Bishop: Can You Ever Really Get Over Grief? (#276)
Comedian Des Bishop opens up about losing both parents, why their deaths affected him so differently, and the complicated idea of ever truly “getting over” grief. Des talks about using humor to process death, recording his thoughts in the raw days after his mother died, sobriety and recovery, anxiety, masculinity, complicated family relationships, and the moment he realized that constantly turning grief into material may have kept him from fully sitting with it. He also reflects on generational patterns, love, vulnerability, and what he hopes to do differently if he becomes a father. Des Bishop's comedy special Bridge and Tunnel is available now on Hulu and YouTube. DEAD Talks Podcast — Episode 276 📖 You're Not Dead Yet: How Grief and Loss Can Teach You to Live Learn more and order the book at ⁠DeadTalks.net/Book⁠ Sign Up For E-Mail Updates Here > https://www.deadtalks.net/signup Support the Show Join the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $2 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/cw/deadtalks Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: https://cottonbureau.com/people/dead-talks Exclusive Discounts 10% off Neurogum – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy: https://neurogum.com/deadtalks 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 Talks (@deadtalkspodcast) YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 17 · 1 hr 9 min
He's The Conjuring Investigators' Grandson — And He Doesn't Believe In Demons | Chris McKinnell (#275)
Chris McKinnell, grandson of legendary paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, has spent more than 40 years investigating ghosts, hauntings, consciousness and the unexplained. But after growing up inside the world that inspired The Conjuring films, Chris came to a surprising conclusion: he doesn’t believe in demons. In this episode of Dead Talks, Chris shares terrifying firsthand paranormal encounters, what he learned from Ed and Lorraine Warren, why he believes fear can shape paranormal experiences, and his evidence for consciousness surviving death. We also explore ghosts, poltergeists, manifestation, near-death experiences, the power of belief, quantum physics, the afterlife, and deeply personal encounters Chris says he had with his deceased fiancée, grandmother and great-grandfather. In this episode: Ed & Lorraine Warren and the real Warren legacy Why Chris McKinnell no longer believes in demons The paranormal cases that terrified him as a teenager Ghosts, poltergeists and unexplained phenomena Consciousness and life after death His fiancée visiting him after she died Whether fear and belief can influence paranormal experiences What The Conjuring gets people thinking about—and what Chris sees differently Learn more about Chris McKinnell and the Warren Legacy Foundation: www.chrismckinnell.com www.warrenlegacyfoundation.com @warrenfiles on IG 📖 You're Not Dead Yet: How Grief and Loss Can Teach You to Live Learn more and order David's book at ⁠DeadTalks.net/Book⁠ Sign Up For E-Mail Updates Here: https://www.deadtalks.net/signup Support the Show Join the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $2 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/cw/deadtalks Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: https://cottonbureau.com/people/dead-talks Exclusive Discounts 10% off Neurogum – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy: https://neurogum.com/deadtalks 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 Talks (@deadtalkspodcast) YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 10 · 1 hr 11 min
Retirement & Longevity: How Purpose and AI Can Transform Your Second Act | Jay Samit (#274)
What happens when you retire, lose your career, lose someone you love, or simply realize the life that once gave you purpose no longer does? Entrepreneur and author Jay Samit joins DEAD Talks to explore why purpose may be one of the most important factors in how we age, how we rebuild after loss, and what we do with the second act of our lives. We discuss retirement, longevity, identity, grief, motivation, and finding purpose later in life, plus how artificial intelligence is changing the future of work. Jay explains how AI can help people start businesses, create new careers, pursue meaningful projects, and use decades of experience rather than feeling pushed aside by technology. We also get into losing your identity after retirement or grief, the importance of social connection, entrepreneurship, mindset, legacy, and why your most meaningful chapter may still be ahead of you. Jay Samit is the author of The Second Act Advantage Here 📖 You're Not Dead Yet: How Grief and Loss Can Teach You to Live: Learn more and order David’s book at ⁠DeadTalks.net/Book⁠ Sign Up For E-Mail Updates Here: https://www.deadtalks.net/signup Support the Show Join the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $2 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/cw/deadtalks Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: https://cottonbureau.com/people/dead-talks Exclusive Discounts 10% off Neurogum – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy: https://neurogum.com/deadtalks 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 Talks (@deadtalkspodcast) YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 3 · 1 hr 1 min
Jeff Arcuri: The Lie He Told Himself to Stay "Strong" for His Wife (#273)
He told himself he had to be strong for her. His therapist told him that was the problem. Comedian Jeff Arcuri sits down to talk about the year his wife's health scare changed how he understood what "being there" actually means — and the moment a therapist called out the one thing he was doing wrong. https://www.jeffarcuri.com/ Watch Jeff Arcuri’s new Netflix special: https://www.netflix.com/title/82032506 📖 You're Not Dead Yet: How Grief and Loss Can Teach You to Live: Learn more and order David’s book at ⁠DeadTalks.net/Book⁠ Sign Up For E-Mail Updates Here: https://www.deadtalks.net/signup Support the Show Join the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $2 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/cw/deadtalks Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: https://cottonbureau.com/people/dead-talks Exclusive Discounts 10% off Neurogum – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy: https://neurogum.com/deadtalks 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 Talks (@deadtalkspodcast) YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 27 · 1 hr 13 min
3 Psychic Sisters Reveal How They Actually Got Their Powers (#273)
One thought she was losing her mind. One heard a voice standing in a Dollar Tree. One started dreaming the future at age seven — and all three became psychics and mediums. Erika, Jasmine, and Candace join me for one of the most unexplained conversations I've ever had on this show. We go deep on their origin stories, the voices they've been hearing since childhood, what Archangel Michael actually revealed, and what the spirits have shared about what happens the moment you die. Believer or skeptic — this one is hard to explain away. 👁️ Haven't seen Part 1 yet? 918,000 people already have. Watch it here → https://youtu.be/SaNwAY_GJzk For more on the @TrinityOracles : https://trinityoracles.com/ 📖 You're Not Dead Yet: How Grief and Loss Can Teach You to Live: Learn more and order David’s book at ⁠DeadTalks.net/Book⁠ Sign Up For E-Mail Updates Here: https://www.deadtalks.net/signup Support the Show Join the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $2 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/cw/deadtalks Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: https://cottonbureau.com/people/dead-talks Exclusive Discounts 10% off Neurogum – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy: https://neurogum.com/deadtalks 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 Talks (@deadtalkspodcast) YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 20 · 1 hr 14 min
Jaimie Alexander Was Dying When a Voice Asked Her to Choose: Stay or Go (#271)
In 2018, Jaimie Alexander's ruptured appendix nearly killed her. During her near-death experience, a voice spoke to her — and asked her to choose: stay or go. Most people know Jaimie from Blindspot and Thor. But this episode isn't about Hollywood. It's about the night her body started failing — and the spiritual encounter that changed the rest of her life. She's rarely opened up about this publicly. The voice she heard. The choice she was given. The reason she chose to stay — and what a doctor told her immediately after that she was completely unprepared for.In this conversation, we go deep on: → How she almost didn't make it to the hospital in time → The near-death experience she had during emergency surgery → What the voice said — and why she answered the way she did → How coming that close to dying led to her sobriety → What death taught her about how to actually live For more on Jaime Alexander: @jaimiealexander 📖 You're Not Dead Yet: How Grief and Loss Can Teach You to Live: Learn more and order David’s book at ⁠DeadTalks.net/Book⁠ Sign Up For E-Mail Updates Here: https://www.deadtalks.net/signup Support the Show Join the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $2 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/cw/deadtalks Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: https://cottonbureau.com/people/dead-talks Exclusive Discounts 10% off Neurogum – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy: https://neurogum.com/deadtalks 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 Talks (@deadtalkspodcast) YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 13 · 1 hr 5 min
Rabbi says that God needs YOU, not the other way around | Rabbi Manis Friedman (#270)
What if nothing bad has ever happened? Not once. Not to anyone. Rabbi Manis Friedman made that claim — and then I told him about losing my dad on 9/11. What followed changed how I think about everything. Rabbi Manis Friedman — one of the most respected Jewish thinkers alive — joins the show for the second time and argues that God is not all-powerful and self-sufficient. He's infinitely vulnerable. And He desperately needs YOU. This isn't theology for theologians. It's a reframe that hits grief, depression, purpose, and the question everyone asks after loss: why did this happen? If you've ever asked what happens when you die, why God allows suffering, or whether your life actually matters — this conversation is for you. Missed our first conversation? Watch or listen here: YouTube: https://youtu.be/z9Y8egUuQXc?si=8s8AE5G7zBU04Dhx Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-judaism-really-says-about-death-heaven-reincarnation/id1498553334?i=1000758295415 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0xPv39S9nU6opV40UjUYxB?si=9c94e51fc3e0497b 🔗 Rabbi Manis Friedman: Website: https://itsgoodtoknow.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rabbimanisfriedman/ Book — Divinely Vulnerable: Why God Needs Us: https://store.itsgoodtoknow.org/books/ 📖 You're Not Dead Yet: How Grief and Loss Can Teach You to Live: Learn more and order David’s book at ⁠DeadTalks.net/Book⁠ Sign Up For E-Mail Updates Here: https://www.deadtalks.net/signup Support the Show Join the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $2 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/cw/deadtalks Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: https://cottonbureau.com/people/dead-talks Exclusive Discounts 10% off Neurogum – powered by natural caffeine, L-theanine, and vitamins B6 & B12 to boost focus and energy: https://neurogum.com/deadtalks 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 Talks (@deadtalkspodcast) YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 6 · 1 hr 7 min
Hours From Death, She Saw the Other Side — And Learned What's Killing Us | Anita Moorjani (#269)
Everyone knows Anita Moorjani's near-death story. This conversation is about what almost no one asks — what she actually understood in that coma, and why she says fear, not cancer, was killing her. In our first episode together, Anita walked through her NDE in full — the 30-hour coma, the 360° awareness, meeting her late father on the other side. This time we go deeper: past the event and into the realization that reshaped how she lives. If you've ever wondered what happens when you die — or what it should change about how you're living right now — this one goes somewhere the retellings don't. ▶️ LISTEN TO PART ONE — Anita's full NDE story: On Youtube - https://youtu.be/FAXaLVk53Hs⁠ On Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3G0igZP7qVAbB2a01Ky941?si=30718214a3894691 Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-near-death-experience-that-changed-everything/id1498553334?i=1000758295416 For more information on Anita Moorjani check her links out here: https://linktr.ee/anitamoorjani?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=9aa5070c-6531-42b4-af2b-d2e0c7b2ebab 📚 Grab David's book You're Not Dead Yet: www.deadtalks.net/book Sign Up For E-Mail Updates Here > Submit Your Email If you're looking for Grief Support check out our new Grief Journey App www.studio.com/griefjourney Support the Show Join the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $2 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 Talks YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 29 · 1 hr 3 min
I Discovered I'm a Psychic Medium with the help of two mediums (#268)
I never planned to become a psychic medium. But when I closed my eyes and said whatever came up — an apple, a pixel, ice cubes — two professional mediums couldn't explain what I was seeing. Then one time on the way home, something happened that I still can't fully rationalize. A stranger screamed my name in the street. The hosts of Medium Curious Podcast Jane Morgan and Sarah Rathke join the show to talk mediumship, afterlife and how we can all tap into this. I was on their podcast as a guest where they asked me to do a cold reading on them. In this podcast we break that down. Check out their show here: www.mediumcurious.com My first book “You’re Not Dead Yet”: https://www.deadtalks.net/book Sign Up For E-Mail Updates Here > Submit Your Email If you're looking for Grief Support check out our new Grief Journey App www.studio.com/griefjourney Support the Show Join the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $2 to support the mission—and get episodes early & ad-free! Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More: Shop Here 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 Talks YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 22 · 1 hr
The Loneliness Nobody Talks About After Death with Dr. Sylvia K (#267)
Doctors said her mom was schizophrenic. She wasn't — she had a brain aneurysm, and it killed her 4 months later. Dr. Sylvia Kay was 2 when her grandmother kidnapped her and her brother to escape a home unraveling under grief and misdiagnosis. She didn't speak again for months. On this episode, host David Ferrugio talks with Dr. Sylvia Kay — psychotherapist and author of Lonely AF — about how childhood grief becomes lifelong loneliness, growing up enmeshed with a narcissistic parent, the therapy exercise that exposed years of self-hate she didn't know she carried, and how a Joe Dispenza manifestation practice helped her land her first book deal. 📖 Get Lonely AF:https://drsylviak.com/lonely-af 📷 @drsylviakay 🎥 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zvVqjRGtCnQ My first book “You’re Not Dead Yet”: https://www.deadtalks.net/book Sign Up For E-Mail Updates Here > Submit Your Email If you're looking for Grief Support check out our new Grief Journey App www.studio.com/griefjourney Support the Show Join the DEAD Talks Patreon for just $2 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 Talks YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | www.deadtalks.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 15 · 1 hr 8 min
Dead for 47 Minutes: Vinney Tolman’s Near-Death Experience (#266)
Vinney Tolman was declared dead, placed in a body bag, and later revived after what he says were 47 documented minutes. In this episode of DEAD Talks with David Ferrugio, Vinney shares the full story of his near-death experience and what he believes happened on the other side. He describes watching his own body from above, going through a life review, feeling an overwhelming source of love, meeting a guide named Drake, and learning lessons about authenticity, trauma, prejudice, intuition, and why we may be here. David and Vinney also discuss heaven, religion, spirit guides, breathwork, seeing spirits after returning, and the idea that Earth may be a classroom for the soul rather than a courtroom. This episode is for anyone curious about near-death experiences, life after death, grief, spirituality, signs from loved ones, and what death might reveal about how to live. VINNEY’S WEBSITE LINK: https://livinggodslight.org/ BOOK A SESSION WITH VINNEY: https://livinggodslight.org/guidance/#sessions VINNEY’S INSTAGRAM LINK: https://www.instagram.com/livinggodslight/ Order David's book You’re Not Dead Yet: https://www.deadtalks.net/book Exclusive Offer: Build a website in minutes (no coding needed) with Squarespace. Save 10% off your first purchase using code DEADTALKS: ⁠ https://www.squarespace.com/DEADTALKS⁠ Resources & Support: Join the Email List: ⁠ Stay Up To Date!⁠ Grief Support / Grief Journey App: ⁠ www.studio.com/griefjourney⁠ Support the Show: Patreon (Early + Ad-Free Episodes): ⁠ Join Here⁠ Merch: ⁠ Hats, Shirts, Hoodies + More⁠ About DEAD Talks: DEAD Talks with David Ferrugio normalizes conversations around death. Each episode features raw, honest stories of grief, loss, and the deeper meaning behind it—helping make the hardest topic in life easier to talk about. Follow DEAD Talks: ⁠YouTube⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠Substack⁠ www.deadtalks.net⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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