Zach Ancell speaks with Elizabeth Twardy about her profound experiences with death and loss, particularly regarding her father's battle with cancer. Elizabeth candidly shares the emotional challenges of navigating grief, the signs we look for from loved ones who have passed, and the importance of honoring their memory. This heartfelt conversation invites listeners to reflect on their own experiences with mortality and the enduring connections that shape our lives.

In this episode, Zach is joined by Ryan, a thoughtful and reflective member of the Portland Buddhist community, for an insightful conversation about life, death, and the spiritual journey in between. Ryan shares his unique perspective on mortality, drawing from his personal experience transitioning from a Christian upbringing to practicing Buddhism. Together, Zach and Ryan explore how death has become one of Ryan’s greatest teachers, the impact of meditation on understanding life’s impermanence, and the lessons we can learn from contemplating mortality. Their conversation touches on the role of mindfulness in shaping how we live, the nature of existence, and what truly matters at the end of life.

In this episode, Zach Ancell speaks with his longtime friend Annah Yevelenko about life, death, and everything in between. Annah has been a major supporter of the project since its inception and played a key role in pushing Zach to turn this idea into reality. Having known each other for over a decade through the photography industry, their friendship deepened last year when Zach launched the voicemail project, sparking more meaningful conversations about mortality. Annah’s perspective on death is shaped by her certification as a death doula, providing unique insights into the end of life. Together, they explore how death influences how we live, the importance of breaking societal stigmas around discussing mortality, and why having open conversations about death is vital.

In this introductory episode of When We Die Talks, host Zach Ancell opens up about his personal journey with death anxiety and why he created this podcast. Before diving into future interviews, Zach shares his story and what he hopes to discover by exploring life’s biggest question: what happens when we die?

In this trailer for When We Die Talks, host Zach Ancell shares his personal journey with death anxiety and how it led him to create a space for open conversations about what happens when we die. Get a glimpse of what’s to come as Zach explores beliefs, fears, and stories that help us face life’s biggest question.