Скачать или смотреть Episode 6 | Heroes of Health, Haunted Water, and the Strange Afterlife of Death Care

In this episode of The Hearse Whisperers, we pull back the curtain on the death care industry through history, headlines, and the wonderfully weird.

We begin with a powerful piece of cemetery trivia: the forgotten legacy of Dr. John Leal, the public health hero who helped introduce chlorinated drinking water to New Jersey—quietly saving millions of lives and reshaping public health forever. From cholera epidemics to court battles and secret overnight water purification, this story proves that not all heroes get statues… but they probably should.

From there, we dive into current funeral and death care news, including a major investigation into New Jersey’s organ procurement network and what it means for public trust, ethics, and organ donation fears. We explore how misinformation spreads, why oversight matters, and why organ donation still saves countless lives.

We also explore one of the strangest funeral-adjacent structures ever built: a house made entirely of glass embalming fluid bottles—yes, really—and unpack the history behind the infamous “Crystal Castle.”

Finally, we discuss new legislation ensuring unclaimed cremated remains of veterans receive dignified burial, along with a broader conversation about unclaimed remains, indigent burials, body donation to science, medical schools, and body farms—and why these topics matter more than most people realize.

From heartfelt to historical, from ethical to eccentric, this episode is a reminder that talking openly about death helps us live more informed, empowered lives.