Part I of my Occult October podcast 

series!

In this interview, I got to speak with Sarah Chavez, historian and Executive Director of the Order of the Good Death. We discuss the American Civil War’s effect on funeral traditions and the historical power of beans to ward off ghosts and vampires. Find out if it’s bad luck to step on a grave and what’s it mean to be “death positive”! Plus, learn about some ancient, cannibalistic funeral traditions from around the world (like making beer from intestines!)

Death positivity: Contemplation and gratefulness for the time you had with your ancestors

Follow Sarah on Twitter | Instagram | Death and the Maiden | Nourishing Death | Order of the Good Death

You can listen to the episode below or on Soundcloud.

Show Notes:

• Jinx!
• Linda Vista Hospital
• American Civil War
• Embalming
• Abe Lincoln
• Queen Victoria
• Hubert Eaton
• Forest Lawn Cemetery
• Hollywood Forever Cemetery
• Journey Cakes
• Etruscan tombs
• Funeral eggs
• Zoot Suit Riots
• Mourning fashion
• Halloween and Samhain
• M.A.S.H books (remember those?!)
• Devil’s Night! (origin of Trick or Treat)
• Dia de los Muertos origins
• Calaveras
• Grandma’s Gingerbread muffins (recipe video)
• The Order of the Good Death
• Death Salon
• Funeral potatoes (Sarah’s recipe)
• Beans
• “Shades of my ancestors depart!”
• All Souls Day
• Fave dei morti (Sarah’s recipe)
• Osso dei morti
• Cannibalism
• Waray people of the Philipinnes
• Kuru
• Intestine beer
• Cooking with cremated remains
• “Death positive”
• Caitlin Doughty
• Mysteries of the death process and laws
• Book, movie and podcast recommendations