Max and Dorian come clambering back from break to discuss CREMATION, the act of burning dead bodies! Cremation has essentially become end-of-life option number 2 in America today, but the practice has deep and worldwide historical roots. Learn about the roughly 40,000-year-old remains of the earliest known cremation, how open-air funeral pyres are used around the world today, the environmental impact of different cremation techniques, and the communities fighting for global awareness that there is more than one option for your funeral. By contrast, listen as Max oppresses Dorian by limiting his options. Very rude! Check out the show notes on our Patreon, and consider supporting us for extra rewards! (https://www.patreon.com/predeadboys)

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65: Cremation

We've got an EXTRA SPECIAL episode for ya - an interview with Human Remains Detection Dog trainer & handler Kyla Rice, and her German Shepherd Emrick! Kyla gives us the lowdown on why she got into this field, how to train and maintain a working dog, and how HRD dogs (a.k.a. cadaver dogs) can help criminal investigations.

64: Kyla Rice - Cadaver Dog Trainer

Whether or not there's life beyond our planet, there's plenty of death! Max and Dorian discuss these accounts, as well as what happens to bodies in vaccuum, the long list of animals sent into space, and a new method for burying bodies on Mars.

63: Death in Space

In Spooky Seasons past, the boys have taken on vampires, zombies, and frankensteins. This year, their crosshairs are set on the scammy world of spirits! Retrace the history of ghosts from religious concepts to physical beings, explore the origins of the first-ever haunted house, and expose the misdeeds of the scumbag who tried to weigh the human soul. Is it scary? Nah. Is it SEXY? Oh baby, just wait til our last story.

62: Ghosts

HAPPY SPOOKY SEASON! Here’s an UNLOCKED BONUS EPISODE. To get access to MORE bonus episodes like this and lotsa extra goodies, support us on Patreon! Patreon.com/PreDeadBoys (https://www.patreon.com/predeadboys) -- Before there was a cabin-in-the-woods movie trope, an inventive young filmmaker and his friends made their first feature-length movie on a shoestring budget. The result remains one of the most influential and enduring horror films of all time. In this episode, Max and Dorian crack open the book on:  - the history and making of Evil Dead  - how Evil Dead is, in some ways, the most accurate depiction of Lovecraftian horror on film  - the tension between violence and comedy in entertainment  - a brief breakdown of the other movies, shows, and games in the franchise Content warning: we briefly discuss (but not in detail) and critique a sexual assault scene in the film.

BONUS: Evil Dead

Oh, you think the current leaders of the world are old and decrepit? YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN' YET. In this episode, Max and Dorian plunge into the wacky world of countries ruled by dead people! But first, the boys discuss the history of city coroners... including the most scandalous ad campaign in coroner history.

61: Politics & Death

Too many bones? Not enough graves? Time for some interior design! Join Max and Dorian as they examine several grim, yet beautiful locations decorated floor-to-ceiling with bones - as well as the reasoning for this surprisingly practical and poignant creative solution. 

60: Ossuaries

The most fascinating organ in the body is still the one we know the least about... But that won't stop Max and Dorian from illuminating what we DO know. Learn more about the exact point when a brain dies, some shockingly well-preserved ancient brains, and celebrity brain theft. We also cover some doofuses that accidentally liquified their own brains. Yum!

59: The Brain

The funeral industry faces many challenges. But the segment of it that serves, and is comprised of, Black Americans faces its own unique struggles. Join Max and Dorian as they explore homegoing celebrations, the use of coffins in the Underground Railroad, the distinct issues befalling Black-owned funeral homes, and the open-casket funeral of Emmett Till. Needless to say, this episode gets pretty heavy. But we also talk about a baseball player turned happy funeral director to lighted things up - so give it a listen and tell us what you think!

58: Black American Death Care

This week, Max and Dorian look at more animal stories! It’s a little bit of a bummer at first as they examine how animals grieve, but they end on an uplifting note by honoring some HEROIC DOGS. For more animal stories, go back and listen to episode 22. (https://audioboom.com/posts/7128246-animals) Need a mask? Check out LunarPoison’s shop! (https://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarPoison)

57: Animals 2

Mere minutes before Dorian sets out on a death-defying stunt, Max teaches him about the religious act of honoring a dead person through relics! Although most of their discussion revolves around the (often dubious) personal items and remains of the Catholic saints, a dramatic Buddhist self-mummification tradition bears mentioning as well. And oh boy, do we have some disturbing news about the planets and a certain famous baby.

56: Veneration

In an extremely online world, no one truly disappears when they die. Join Max and Dorian as they explore death in the era of Web 2.0! It's a realm of digital remains, post-mortem social media profiles, public mourning of celebrities... and brands being very, very dumb. Click here to read Natalie Kane's transcribed talk on Death and the Internet. (https://hauntedmachines.com/A-SHORT-HISTORY-OF-DEATH-AND-THE-INTERNET-Transcript-of-a-talk-given) Click here to watch Mark Zuckerberg smoke these meats. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBxTEoseZak)

55: Death and the Internet

Love food? TOO BAD, according to several cultures! While some funeral celebrations have sweet confections and savory meals for the mourners to enjoy, others strictly prohibit the enjoyment of funeral food and keep things as bland as possible. Listen to this episode to learn all about these traditions, the system of sin-eating, and the worst food America has to offer. Click here to read Gastro Obscura's article on funerary comfort foods. (https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/funeral-foods-around-the-world)

54: Food

Dorian found a dead squirrel. He wants its bones. Click here to read Jake's Bones. (http://www.jakes-bones.com/)

1: Bone Diaries ep. 1

Cities of the dead (a.k.a. Necropolises) sound scary, but are actually pretty chill! This week, Max and Dorian learn about the Vatican, the Giza pyramids, and other large burial destinations around the world.  As time goes on, society will have more and more dead to bury. Will we build more of these massive cemeteries in the future? GLAD YOU ASKED... because there's one in progress that's shaping up to be pretty cool.

53: Necropolises

You're gonna rot - but that doesn't have to be a bummer! Prepare for the inevitable with Max and Dorian as they explore the history and culture of death and decomposition. Twitter & Insta: @predeadboys

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