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Most people expect a conversation about death to feel heavy. This one feels surprisingly hopeful.

This week on Here's What We Know, we sit down with Mike Oppenheim, host of the podcast Coffin Talk, for a conversation about fatherhood, grief, faith, forgiveness, and the question every person eventually asks: What happens when we die?

Mike shares the heartbreaking story of losing his son, how he found healing without living in anger, and why spending years with hospice patients changed everything he believed about what matters most.

Whether you share these beliefs or not, you'll find something meaningful in this episode.

In This Episode:

• Growing up in Berkeley and the culture that shaped Mike's early years
• How a spur-of-the-moment college application sent him to the University of Pittsburgh
• The custody battle and international parental child abduction that took his son to Thailand
• Working through the U.S. State Department and the reality of cross-border custody cases
• Volunteering at Hospice of the Valley in Phoenix and choosing the dementia ward
• Why hospice families struggle more than the patients themselves
• The origin story of the Coffin Talk podcast
• America's discomfort with aging and mortality compared to other cultures
• Faith, fear, and why anger never solves anything
• Blended family life, his current wife, and his two young daughters
• The moment his daughter finally got to talk to her brother

This episode is sponsored by:

Mike Counsil Plumbing & Rooter (Use code “Gary” to get $89 off any service!)

License #: 679261

Bison Junk Removal

Bio:

Mike Oppenheim is an author, speaker, and the creator of the Coffin Talk podcast, where he asks guests one timeless question: What do you think happens when you die? After experiencing profound personal loss, Mike found purpose in hospice volunteering and helping others have honest conversations about life, death, grief, and hope. Through his writing and podcast, he encourages people to live with greater compassion, curiosity, and appreciation for the time we have.

Substack: https://mikeyopp.substack.com/podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikeyopp38/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mikeyopp

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-oppenheim-8a5562186/

Tags: what happens when we die, grief, loss, healing, parental alienation, international child abduction, fatherhood, hospice, end of life, faith, purpose, podcast interview, Coffin Talk Podcast, personal growth, storytelling, meaningful conversations, forgiveness, hope, mortality

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What really happened in the months leading up to the Declaration of Independence?

Most of us learned the broad strokes of the American Revolution in school. Professor Robert G. Parkinson believes the real story is far more interesting and far more human.

In this special episode of Here's What We Know, we sit down with the Binghamton University historian and author to explore the uncertainty, political disagreements, personal conflicts, and difficult decisions that shaped America's founding.

We’ll discuss why independence was never guaranteed, why many colonists remained loyal to Britain, what really happened during the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, and how George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and King George III become far more fascinating once you see them as people instead of monuments.

The conversation also explores what we can learn from the nation's earliest struggles, why democracy has always been difficult, and why history still matters 250 years later.

In This Episode

• Why independence was never a sure thing
• The surprising divisions among the colonies
• What Thomas Jefferson was doing while writing the Declaration
• Why George Washington walked away from power
• The role newspapers played in shaping public opinion
• What America might look like if Britain had won
• The lessons the Revolutionary generation still offers today

This special episode is sponsored by:

Dignity Memorial

Sterling Oak Cabinetry

Reed Animal Hospital

Bison Junk Removal

Mike Counsil Plumbing & Rooter

License #: 679261

Bio:

Robert G. Parkinson is a professor of history at Binghamton University and an award-winning historian specializing in the American Revolution and the nation's founding. He is the author of three acclaimed books, The Common Cause, Thirteen Clocks, and Heart of American Darkness. His research explores the people, politics, and pivotal moments that shaped early America, helping bring the nation's history to life for modern audiences.

Tags: American Revolution, Declaration of Independence, Founding Fathers, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Revolutionary War, American history podcast, Fourth of July history, U.S. history, democracy, Constitution, colonial America, King George III, history interview, July 4th,

Connect with Gary:

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Thank you for listening. Let us know what you think about this episode. Leave us a review!

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What keeps someone creating after the industry changes, the paycheck shrinks, and the path gets harder?

This week on Here's What We Know, we welcome comedian, producer, and podcaster Deadair Dennis Maler for an honest conversation about radio, stand-up comedy, podcasting, and the lifelong search for your own voice.

Dennis shares how growing up in punk rock shaped his do-it-yourself mindset, why radio first captured his imagination, and what eventually pushed him toward stand-up comedy and podcasting. We’ll talk about creativity, authenticity, representation, and how staying true to yourself might be the only business model that works anymore.

If you've ever wondered whether you're on the right path or you've questioned whether it's worth continuing to create, this conversation will remind you why the work still matters.

In This Episode

• How Dennis went from punk rock DIY culture to radio to stand-up to podcasting
• The story of radio consultants who made everyone talk the same way for 10 seconds at a time
• The one thing that separates successful creators from those who burn out
• How Dennis's tour guide job in Boston became his favorite platform
• The reality of building a creative career
• The real numbers: why most podcasts die, and how to build one that doesn't
• What it actually takes to grind out content every single day

This episode is sponsored by:
Dignity Memorial
Sterling Oak Cabinetry

(Be sure to tell them Gary sent you!)

Bio:

Deadair Dennis Maler is a comedian, actor, writer, & podcaster who has been heard on radio stations throughout the country including SiriusXM, DC101, The Party Playhouse with Jackson Blue, and more.

He has been featured on comedy festivals throughout the country, is the Comedy Editor for DigBoston, and hosts the Big Comedy Network podcast So, What Do You Really Do? and the YouTube show Word of the Day with Comedians.

Deadair Dennis is funny, loud, abrasively social, and allergy-free since 1981.

Website: https://deadairdennis.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deadairdennis/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deadairdennismaler/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deadairdennis

Tags: comedy, podcast, radio broadcasting, podcasting, stand up comedy, creative career, finding your voice, storytelling, entertainment industry, radio personality, podcast interview, creativity, comedians, independent, creators, creative journey, DIY creativity, producer,

Connect with Gary:

• Gary's Website
• Follow Gary on Instagram
• Gary's Tiktok
• Gary's Facebook
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• Advertise on the Podcast

Thank you for listening. Let us know what you think about this episode. Leave us a review!