The third episode of Glossophilia's podcast series addresses a sensitive but sadly pertinent subject: how we talk about death and dying. With the US recently passing the grim milestone of 500,000 lives lost from COVID-19, we explore the enduring difficulties we all have in discussing the matter of death.

For more about the language of death, see Glosso's earlier post from 2014: The Language of Death and Dying.

Episode credits and resources:

Sound mixer & engineer: Aytac Aybak

Interstitial music: “The Day Thou Gavest, Lord Is Ended” arranged and performed by Doug MacGowan

Outro music: “Don’t Fear the Reaper" - Blue Oyster Cult cover performed by Kaeli Fletcher

Books about death and dying discussed in this episode:On Death and Dying by Elisabeth Kübler-RossBeing Mortal by Atul GawandeThe Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal RinpocheNothing to Be Frightened Of by Julian BarnesThe Year of Magical Thinking by Joan DidionWhen Breath Becomes Air by Dr. Paul Kalanithi

Poems read in this episode:Paul read “Afterwards” by Thomas HardyLouise read “Dirge without Music” by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Photo image: 'Reeds' by P. Moran

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