We weren't supposed to die, says the Book of Genesis and many Christian sources that have been marinating this culture for two millennia. No wonder the West sees death as a catastrophe. My guest, Jennifer Kissinger, sees it as part of life—and it was a daily part of her life during her years as a deputy coroner/medicolegal death investigator. She'd like people to consider their mortality, plan for it, and accept it. Which doesn't mean you don't grieve at a loved one's death; it just means we see our mortality as part of our biology.

Jennifer and I talk about:

-Forensics! Everybody loves forensics (at least I do, and hey—it's my show)-Her training at the Body Farm, where she spent "as much time as possible"-What Christianity says about death and why that's a problem (beyond the fact that it's just not true)-What happens at a crime or death scene, what a coroner does (besides keep a few body bags in the back seat of her car)-How another, famously happy culture deals with death-The Terror Management Theory-How dealing with death every day has shaped Jennifer's view of life

Music in this episode is "Light up the Night" by Ketsa, from the album May Starlight Find You, used via a Creative Commons license.

Theme for the Big Chew Podcast is "She Say Go" by the Birdinumnums, also used via a Creative Commons license.