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Artwork for When We Die Talks

When We Die Talks

Zach Ancell
Death
Grief
Mortality
Time
Spirituality
Science
Afterlife
Consciousness
Mindfulness
Buddhism
Gratitude
Reincarnation
Suicide
Religion
Impermanence
Meaning
Death and Grief
Identity
End Of Year
Reflection

When We Die Talks is a collection of real conversations with real people about death, meaning, and what it’s like to be human.

Each week, host Zach Ancell speaks with an anonymous caller. It begins with one question: What do you think happens when we die? From there, the conversation goes wherever it goes. Belief. Doubt. Loss. Relief. Fear. Sometimes even laughter.

These aren’t experts or public ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes75Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Health & FitnessMental HealthPhilosophySociety & Culture

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Artwork for When We Die Talks

Latest Episodes

This week's caller grew up in a Roman Catholic household where death was treated as simply another part of life. Something to be at peace with rather than afraid of. But the conversation quickly turns to something that's shaped most of their adult li... more

This week's caller is a retired physician who spent decades at the bedside of dying patients and now works at a funeral home. They have been present for death on both sides: as the person trying to slow it down, and as the person who shows up after. ... more

YouTube

This week's caller is 79 years old and has spent the last three years going down every rabbit hole death has to offer. All in service of a book that's about to come out.

They have lost a husband and a mother. They have survived breast cancer. And so... more

YouTube

This week's caller was diagnosed with a terminal illness at eight years old. They have never not known that death was part of their life.

They are an actor, a writer, a reader, a person who rescues snails and keeps a pet millipede and loves sharks b... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Recent Guests

Don Sires
ALS patient and longtime guest who discussed death, faith, and meaning on the show
Episode: Bonus — Don Sires: Exit Interview

Host

Zach Ancell
Host of end-of-life conversations; guides anonymous callers through questions about death, meaning, and how to live fully.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 23 ratings
  • What a thoughtful premise!

    This is the type of show we all need. So many people avoid the conversation around what happens when we die, even though it’s something we all have in common. Zach’s done something incredible by putting this question into the spotlight. I hope the episodes keep coming for years to come!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The Naked Room
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Challenging topics handled with care and curiosity; engaging for guests and sponsors alike.
The host creates a safe space for hard questions about death.
Tough, intimate, and thoughtful reflection on mortality.
Genuine, human-centered conversations with diverse callers and stories.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Anonymous #9 — What If Nature Can Teach You About Death in Ways Religion Can't?
Q: What do you think happens when we die?
The guest describes a belief in energy persisting after death, potentially transforming or reincarnating into different forms, rather than a simple heaven or eternal dream, reflecting a synthesis of personal experience, science-inspired thinking, and a flexible, open-ended metaphysics.
Anonymous #9 — What If Nature Can Teach You About Death in Ways Religion Can't?
Q: So maybe you can let me know your favorite book and why.
The guest shares two books that deeply influenced them: The Secret Garden, for its themes of loss, belonging, and navigating a complicated family dynamic, and The Giver, which resonated due to its critique of organized belief systems and its messages about perception and growth. These picks reveal a longing for belonging and meaning beyond strict dogma.
Anonymous #6 — Has the Fear of Death Ever Just... Not Applied to You?
Q: Why are you interested in doing this call?
The caller has been processing a family member's hospice journey and a broader curiosity about mortality, seeking understanding and comfort through conversation.
Anonymous #6 — Has the Fear of Death Ever Just... Not Applied to You?
Q: What do you think happens when we die?
The guest believes that the mind or spirit persists in some form, with ideas like purgatory, heaven, or even living forever shaping a less fearful stance toward death.
Anonymous #8 — Can You Actually Prepare Yourself for Loss Before It Happens?
Q: Did you ever see the show The Good Place?
The guest mentions The Good Place as a thought-experiment reference for eternity, discussing how such media shapes thinking about an afterlife and the human relationship to time and infinity.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About When We Die Talks

What is When We Die Talks about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A collection of intimate conversations about death, meaning, and humanity, featuring anonymous callers guided by a single host. Episodes explore mortality, grief, faith, afterlife, caregiving, and resilience through personal stories that blend vulnerability with practical perspectives on end-of-life choices. The format centers on ordinary people sharing quiet, honest reflections rather than experts, making discussions raw, relatable, and deeply human. Notable is the consistent focus on what death teaches about living, with guests embracing doubt, hope, and connection in the face of mortality.

Where can I find podcast stats for When We Die Talks?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for When We Die Talks. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to When We Die Talks and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does When We Die Talks get?

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What are the audience demographics for When We Die Talks?

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How many subscribers and views does When We Die Talks have?

To see how many followers or subscribers When We Die Talks has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to When We Die Talks?

These podcasts share a similar audience with When We Die Talks:

1. End-of-Life University
2. playing god?
3. Ask a Death Doula
4. All There Is with Anderson Cooper
5. We Can Do Hard Things

How many episodes of When We Die Talks are there?

When We Die Talks launched 2 years ago and published 75 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact When We Die Talks?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for When We Die Talks?

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What guests have appeared on When We Die Talks?

Recent guests on When We Die Talks include:

1. Don Sires

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