What happens when an anthropologist volunteers as a "demonstration corpse" at a Japanese funeral industry convention? Dr. Hannah Gould's extraordinary career studying death and dying takes her to places few of us will ever experience—from crematoriums crushing infant remains with teaspoons to coffin fashion shows complete with commentators and pumping music.

In this deeply fascinating conversation, we explore the strange contradiction of our society's relationship with death: our obsession with true crime and fictional mortality versus our reluctance to discuss real, everyday death. Hannah explains how even medical professionals receive minimal training on handling death conversations, leading young doctors to feel they've "failed" when patients die. Her work teaching "Death and Dying 101" aims to change this mindset, helping future healthcare workers understand that their job isn't preventing death but helping people "die later or die better."

The discussion takes unexpected turns as Hannah shares insights from death care conventions around the world. From robotic Buddhist priests reciting sutras for the dead to coffee ground with recycled gravestones, the death industry reveals itself as simultaneously innovative, practical, and occasionally absurd. We also explore the approaching phenomenon of "peak death"—where aging baby boomer populations will create unprecedented demand for death care services—and why young people seeking stable careers might consider this growing field.

Throughout our conversation, Hannah maintains that working with death requires strong convictions (either religious or atheistic), grounding in everyday joys, and crucially, a good sense of humor. She keeps her own cardboard coffin in her office, decorated by students who add their reflections on mortality each year—a perfect embodiment of her approach to making death approachable rather than fearsome.

Ready to rethink your relationship with mortality? Hannah's parting wisdom offers a liberating perspective: don't hold too tightly to plans, but do share your preferences with loved ones. After all, we're all going to die—why not find ways to talk about it that bring us closer together rather than push us apart?

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