In Life and Death: How We Shape and Are Shaped by Our Dead

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In this episode of 'Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula,' Traci Arieli is joined by Cody Sanders, author of Corpse Care: Ethics for Tending the Dead. Together, they discuss how historical events like the treatment of Indigenous Americans, the Civil War, African American slavery, major epidemics, and the rise of ecological responsibility have shaped our practices in caring for the dead, and how these practices, in turn, have shaped us. 

Key takeaways include how these pivotal moments in history have influenced our approach to deathcare and how the evolving practices continue to reflect and shape our societal values. This episode aims to normalize conversations around death and provide a deeper understanding of the ethical implications of caring for the deceased. 

Links/Resources: 

• Guest: Cody Sanders’ Book - Corpse Care: Ethics for Tending the Dead: https://www.fortresspress.com/store/search?ss=cody+sanders 
• Contact Cody Sanders falculty page: https://www.luthersem.edu/faculty/cody-sanders 
• Host Traci Arieli's Website: https://www.comfortingclosure.com 

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In this episode, I mentioned that the U.S. spends between $110-150 million each year to research, analyze, and recover the 81,000 MIA/POWs from every war since World War II. This information is cited from:  

"Inside the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency." Task & Purpose, https://taskandpurpose.com/military-life/defense-pow-mia-accounting-agency-dpaa/. Accessed 31 July 2024. 

"POW/MIA Experience." U.S. Department of Defense, https://www.defense.gov/Multimedia/Experience/POW-MIA/. Accessed 31 July 2024.