Death Wish

Kaylin, Caitlin, Megan, and Kris
  • 5.0 (21)
  • Society & Culture

Four elder millennials prepare for death.

  1. 6d ago

    S2E3. Grave Markers

    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 Text us to let us know what you think of the episode! Follow us on Instagram and Substack for more.

  2. Oct 30

    S2E2. Near Death Experiences & the Paranormal

    In this episode the girls prepare for death by learning how near death experiences (NDEs) and paranormal experiences help people process death and loss. 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: 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/ Text us to let us know what you think of the episode! Follow us on Instagram and Substack for more.

  3. Oct 23

    S2E1. Is This a Death Cult?

    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 Text us to let us know what you think of the episode! Follow us on Instagram and Substack for more.

  4. Season 2 Trailer

    Season 2 Trailer: Death Wish Returns

    Death Wish returns for season two on October 23rd! Text us to let us know what you think of the episode! Follow us on Instagram and Substack for more.

  5. Mar 6

    10. Season Finale

    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. Text us to let us know what you think of the episode! Follow us on Instagram and Substack for more.

  6. Feb 27

    9. Do Not Resuscitate Orders

    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 CareVariation Found Among Hospitals in Carrying out DNR OrdersPatients with do-not-resuscitate orders have worse outcomes, higher death rates, study findsHospital DNR Orders – WTF (Why They Failed)Can a DNR be Revoked by Family? What You Need to KnowWhat Does a Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) Order Mean and Why Are They Used?Text us to let us know what you think of the episode! Follow us on Instagram and Substack for more.

  7. Feb 20

    8. Your Dream Funeral

    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/ Text us to let us know what you think of the episode! Follow us on Instagram and Substack for more.

  8. Feb 13

    7. Mourning Rituals

    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 Text us to let us know what you think of the episode! Follow us on Instagram and Substack for more.

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5
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About

Four elder millennials prepare for death.

Information

  • Creator
    Kaylin, Caitlin, Megan, and Kris
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Death Wish
  • Show Website
    Death Wish

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