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Intelligence Squared

Checking Out: The Industry That Takes Care Of The Dead

Intelligence Squared

Intelligence Squared

News, Society & Culture, Arts, News Commentary

4.21.2K Ratings

🗓️ 17 March 2023

⏱️ 48 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Ever since she was a young child, journalist Hayley Campbell has been fascinated by death. It's the theme of her new book, All the Living and the Dead: An Exploration of the People Who Make Death Their Life’s Work, which has been acclaimed by the likes of Neil Gaiman, Nigella Lawson and Tuppence Middleton. In conversation with writer Blanche Girouard, Campbell relates the encounters she has had with the people who make a living by working with the dead, including mass fatality investigators, embalmers and a former executioner who is responsible for ending 62 lives. This episode contains discussion about grief and bereavement that some listeners may find distressing.  We’d love to hear your feedback and what you think we should talk about next, who we should have on and what our future debates should be about. Send us an email or voice note with your thoughts to podcasts@intelligencesquared.com.  At Intelligence Squared we’ve got our own online streaming platform, Intelligence Squared+ and we’d love you to give it a go. It’s packed with more than 20 years’ worth of video debates and conversations on the world’s most important topics as well as exclusive podcast content. Tune in to live events, ask your questions or watch on-demand, totally ad-free with hours of discussion to dive into. Visit intelligencesquaredplus.com to start watching today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

I mean, Sirling, and today I'm at a McCain Potato Field.

0:04.0

Being chased by a massive wasp!

0:06.0

It's just a lady bird, Ian.

0:08.0

Well, it had a real wasp in her J.

0:10.0

Why are they here?

0:12.0

Well, we plot wildflowers to help encourage wildlife, like birds and insects.

0:16.0

So, we eat McCain chips. I'm helping do some good.

0:19.0

Yeah, exactly. You're supporting the move to regenerative farming.

0:22.0

Okay, this time it's definitely a wasp. My life's in danger.

0:25.0

Ian, that's a butterfly.

0:27.0

McCain, let's all jump in.

0:57.0

Welcome to Intelligent Squared. I'm senior producer Connor Boyle.

1:05.0

On today's podcast, we're talking about those who have made a life's work

1:09.0

from dealing with death as a profession.

1:11.0

Journalist and author Hayley Campbell is with us to talk about her extraordinary book,

1:16.0

All the Living and the Dead.

1:18.0

This conversation, coming up, is hosted by Broadcaster and writer,

1:29.0

Blanche Zero-Ard, and as you might expect from a book about death,

1:33.0

it contains some themes surrounding grief and bereavement

1:36.0

that some listeners may find distressing.

1:38.0

Let's join Blanche talking to Hayley Campbell now.

1:41.0

This is a gruesome book, a grizzly book,

...

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