The Peripheral

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. Email ben@mortraqr.com IG: @mortraqr @thefuneralcast    Facebook: The Funeral Science Podcast, The Funeralcast   Tik Tok:   @funeral_science   Podcasts (Spotify Links):  The Funeral Science Podcast  The Funeralcast Blog Sights: www.fri

I met Xavier many years ago at a meetup in California. He’s incredibly talented and radiates positivity. Over the years, he’s been involved in several music projects as a singer and songwriter, and we hit it off immediately. In today’s episode, we discuss a family vacation he took with his father—what should have been a relaxing getaway in a tropical paradise instead turned into a tense ordeal, navigating family conflicts. Adding alcohol to the mix doesn't help.    https://open.spotify.com/artist/0ai61DeA6TloJOZ8TYcqMf?si=Mx9Anxn1RCCbybz3QgE_WQ   https://www.instagram.com/virtualnobodies/  

"Consent is the voluntary, informed, and enthusiastic agreement to engage in an activity, particularly when it comes to personal boundaries or intimate situations. It involves clear communication, mutual respect, and understanding that any party has the right to say "no" at any time, without facing pressure or consequences. Consent is crucial for building trust, ensuring safety, and promoting healthy, respectful interactions in all areas of life." I pulled this definition of consent from ChatGPT because even a robot gets it when the rest of the world seems to struggle.  CONSENT CAN BE WITHDRAWN AT ANYTIME  Today's episode I speak with Kenna about a situation she found herself where she became intimate with a man who did not respect her wishes, care about her as a person and only wanted to take. She shares details about the attack, the actions she took and the emotional toll it left.  As much as I like to mix my topics up, I felt this was needed to piggyback off the last update episode. I have many more topics

On today's episode, I welcome back Lisa, who was featured on episode 21, "Why We Don't Report Rape." A quick recap: she served in the Coast Guard and was attacked in her room while stationed there. She couldn’t identify her attacker, nor was she allowed to put a lock on her door for security. It was a very upsetting episode, and when she reached out, I was thrilled to hear from her. I was hoping for good news, but instead, she shares how she was attacked again. From there, she confides in me the treatment that worked for her, and we discover that we have something in common. I was really excited to speak with her and had some unexpected surprises during the conversation.

Happy Halloween! For tonight's creepy episode, I interview Joe Diamond (what a name!) who is a mentalist and magician. He's had a storied career and life growing up in a conservative town while pursuing his dreams of becoming a magician. We talk about his time on Penn and Teller's Fool Us, delve into philosophy, and even do a few magic tricks. https://www.joediamondlive.com/ https://www.instagram.com/joediamondlive/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kql5oar-UIE&t=2s  

  Here on the peripheral, we talked a lot about drinking and alcoholism. Something we've never discussed is what happens once you stop drinking. What is it like to live a sober lifestyle? How does the rest of the world treat somebody who chooses not to consume alcohol? You might not realize how intertwined drinking is in our culture and society. In everything we do, alcohol is available. In any event or situation, even at church, alcohol will be provided. It's accessible anywhere, and even when there's a global pandemic, liquor stores are considered vital or essential. I stopped drinking several years ago, and at every event I attend or outing I go on, I face peer pressure, shaming, and even ridicule for not drinking. Today, I speak with Rebekah, who recently celebrated her seventh year of sobriety. I decided to have a conversation with her and ask about her experiences after choosing to give up alcohol.   Check out Rebekah's new podcast! https://www.tyfyipod.com/ https://www.instagram

I have ADHD. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. I've had it all my life but was only diagnosed a few years ago. I was told I had anxiety and depression for many years which I'm sure my ADHD presented as but ultimately the root cause for my issues had always been ADHD.  ADHD has dozens of traits or symptoms associated with it and with the advent of the smart phones and social media, lot of people are self diagnosing but there are differences between being addicted to your phone and actually having the disorder. To get a better understanding of ADHD I speak with Andrew who is a licensed therapist, Husband, father and "Neurospicy."     https://linktr.ee/neurospicycounseling https://www.instagram.com/neurospicycounseling/

Welcome back to the peripheral, I was on the wine and crime podcast,  ep 67 gossip at the corpse cart, Amanda and Lucy are hilarious and we had a lot of fun chatting. They do my astrology chart so please check that out. Also if you're in the northeast Aaron and I will be at the Berkshire podcast festival in north Adams Massachusetts . Oct 18-20 use code Generation2024 for 35% off your ticket. Today's episode is a little different. I had the pleasure of speaking with Jake Deptula from Strictly Stalking and LoveLustFear podcast. It's an interesting conservation between two similar podcasters who interview guests about traumatic events. We discuss what it's like being on the other side of the microphone, ways to protect yourself from stalking and resources that are available for stalking victims. https://linktr.ee/StrictlyStalking https://www.stalkingawareness.org/ http://www.standupresources.com/ http://www.victimconnect.org/ https://www.stopstalkingus.com/ http://www.cagoldberglaw.com/ https://www.berkshirepod

We can all sit back in our comfortable lives and question other people's decisions. Especially when it comes to relationships. We think we know what we'd do if we were put in that situation or walked in someone else's shoes but we don't. It's easy to say everyone is accountable for their own actions but what if those actions have been molded and manipulated but someone who has broken you down, striped away your identity and made you believe that you deserved all of the terrible things they've said or did to you? My guest today paints a pretty clear picture of a cycle of abuse that she endured and how it affected her judgement of others and more importantly, herself.

We hear a lot of stories about trauma and abuse on this podcast. After losing all of my siblings to mental health issues and addiction I must admit that I sometimes don't hold much hope that people can change, people can turn their lives around or persevere. We can loosely connect the dots between childhood trauma to mental health disorders as an adult. On this episode my wonderful guest and friend Shane Waters joins me. Through Shane's wonderful story telling, he connects those dots from his childhood trauma to his behavior as an adult. Here are Shane’s shows: Foul Play and Hometown History.

On today’s episode I speak with Travis Myers who is a retired NYC Detective who has some incredible stories. It was such a casual conversation that we actually forgot to talk about his books! I’ve provided links below. Travis talks about his frustrations and accomplishments as a police detective, his time in the military and what it was like during 911 living in NYC. Amazon Link to our first book Sister Margaret, I don’t think you need more books than that? Sister Margaret: A Tommy Keane Novel: Myers, Travis J, Marsiguerra, Natasha K: 9781734337006: Amazon.com: Books Bully Press link: Home | Bully Press Bully Press Instagram: BULLY PRESS (@bullypress) • Instagram photos and videos Tommy Keane Fan Page: Tommy Keane Fan Page (@official_tommy_keane_fanpage) • Instagram photos and videos

Today I speak with Marcus who hosts the podcast Secrets of a Sugar Daddy. Marcus is very honest and unapologetic about his sugar dating lifestyle. He is extremely knowledgeable and shares his personal expirences with sugar dating and advice on navigating the lifestyle. Find his Podcast here.

Welcome back to the peripheral, I missed last month so I owe you all an episode that I should be putting out in the next couple of weeks. I had made an instagram story saying I'm planning on having some big names and influencers on the peripheral this year. For this episode I speak with Aaron who was bullied from elementary school well into high school. Aaron wouldn't be able to focus on his studies and his grades would suffer. His parents transferred him to a private catholic school in hopes of helping his falling grades but things would only get worse. I also share details about how I avoided being bullied by having a friend group where we stood up for one another. You might recognize Aaron from another podcast you know and love.

Most people know I mostly steer clear of politics. I refrain from ever giving my opinion about any current events or political candidates on this podcast or generation why. I figure people are listening to this content as a When it comes to political theater of today, it’s changed a lot over my lifetime. It’s become far more polarized even to the point where conspiracy theories have become commonplace and absurd ideas are now thrown out as fact. Whether you’re the president or a gamer kid online, your words matter. Not everything is black and white, every event doesn’t have an agenda, sometimes there are shades of gray. On today’s episode I speak with Bella where politics and conspiracy become the root cause of the story.

Welcome back to the peripheral and happy new year. We all have our new year's resolutions. What is a resolution? It's something you want to change about your life, yourself, something you want to do differently. Maybe it's seeing the world in a better light. It's doing something for yourself, setting a boundary, exercising, eating better, or stopping a bad habit. But all of those things are a transition. All of those things are a conscious decision that you want to make to be more true to yourself. On today's episode, I speak with Holden a trans man who knew they were in the wrong body from a young age. Visit us online.

The holidays are typically about family, togetherness and celebration. On today’s episode I speak with Kim who went through one of the worst tragedies a parent could go through. I want encourage anyone who is spending the holidays alone to reach out, make a phone call, accept that invite and know that you are loved and there are others who can relate to what you’ve been through. Amber Morrow's life was filled with a dream to teach and uplift children. To honor her memory and keep her aspirations alive, the Amber Morrow Memorial Scholarship was established. This annual scholarship supports a high school senior who shares Amber's passion for helping children and is pursuing a related college major. Your contribution to this scholarship is more than a donation; it's a way to continue Amber's legacy of nurturing young minds. If Amber's story touches your heart and you wish to support this cause, you can send your contribution to the address below. Every donation helps keep Amber's spirit and dreams alive in fut

Welcome back to the peripheral, for every episode I put out I try to create this intro where I tell the audience a little about what my guest will be discussing just to give everyone a heads up. I feel that is the trigger warning if it’s a topic that sadly a lot of people have been through and might not want to hear or just be prepared before hearing about it. This episode I was at a complete lose for words. It’s about rape and that rape being recorded. I asked a few friends who gave me ideas and my friend Joe referenced another case that happened. I couldn’t remember all the details so we both searched online for it. After 30 mins of digging through hundreds of cases that involve rape being recorded and shared both Joe and I were horrified. Today I speak with the brave and wonderful Erika who recalls a traumatic event from high school where she was raped and then finds out there was video of the event.

...1 eerie corn maze... ...9 haunting figures... ...9 spine-tingling tales... ...Will YOU find your way out? This holiday season, step into a labyrinth of shadows and suspense with Shane Waters as your guide. In this chilling collaboration, you'll encounter the hosts of 9 acclaimed true crime podcasts, each offering a dark tale and a life lesson to send shivers down your spine. This is not just a special episode; it's an immersive journey through a maze of twisted paths and unsolved mysteries. So, lift your lantern high and venture into 'Maze of Secrets'...  ...but be warned...  ...not everyone makes it to the end… Prepare to get lost in the stories, but find yourself in their lessons. It's an odyssey of crime, mystery, and eerie life lessons that you won't soon forget. This is Shane’s 5th holiday collaboration. If you dare to walk this twisted path with us, you're in for a night you'll never forget. Are you ready? Podcasts are listed here in order of appearance: Frightful Marooned Rotten to the Core Murder,

Have you ever felt like you live a cursed life or that your family had a curse leveled upon them? We think lightning can’t strike twice but what if it does?  Today I speak with Janet who has suffered multiple tragic losses within her family.  With all of the loss she’s endured and health issues she’s experienced Janet assumed she or anyone within her vicinity would suffer a brutal fate.  Janet would find solace with her husband and eventually find out that her dark curse would have more scientific explanation. This would allow her to find closure and unlimited compassion for the rest of her life. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sudden-cardiac-arrest/symptoms-causes/syc-20350634 https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr

On today’s episode I decided to cover a story that was more lighthearted. I have some heavy topics coming up so I needed a break. Have you ever felt out of place? Decided to take a DNA test to find your roots and uncover a family secret that will turn your world upside down? Episode Sponsor: Head to FACTORMEALS.com/peripheral50 and use code peripheral50 to get 50% off.