I hope I haven't bit off more than I can chew but I'm going to start a youtube channel. Podcast numbers have been dwindling with the rise of short form video and tiktok. The Peripheral is my passion project and I hope to keep it going with youtube. It will always be available on every podcast platform so no worries there!

Thank you to all my patreon supporters you make this all happen.

Justin

https://www.youtube.com/@theperipheralpodcast

https://www.patreon.com/peripheralpodcast

In this heartfelt episode, I speak with Marissa realities of adult children stepping into the caregiver role for their aging parents. Our guest shares a deeply personal story of navigating healthcare decisions, managing finances, and balancing their own life while caring for a parent in decline. We discuss the unexpected challenges, the moments of connection, and the ways this journey reshapes the parent-child relationship. Whether you're currently in this position or anticipating it in the future, this episode offers insights, support, and a reminder that you're not alone.

Today, I speak with Ben Schmidt, a licensed funeral director and content creator. I ask him questions about what happens after you die, how the body is prepared for last rites, and what families should expect during the process. We also delve into the case of Kendrick Johnson—the teen who died under mysterious circumstances in a gym mat—and the condition in which his body was returned to his family.

We really get into the weeds, nerding out on the details surrounding embalming and cremation. I even ask Ben about the pros and cons of smoking formaldehyde.

Ben shares some fascinating scientific insight into the embalming process, especially in the first 20 minutes. Personally, I love the level of detail, but don’t worry—we mix up the topics regularly throughout the episode.