The content of dark arenas includes topics and subject matter that may not be suitable for all audiences.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individuals participating in the podcast

and do not represent those of audio chuck or its employees.

Information discussed by the host in interviewees includes content related to crimes against children, abuse, acts of terrorism and violence.

Listener discretion is advised.

To define something means that you're stating or setting forth the essence of or identifying the nature of something,

put simply your reasonably determining fact, specific fact.

When it comes to our bodies, there is one very obvious fact that sort of supersedes all others.

We're either alive or we're dead.

It's medical examiners and coroners across the world's job to figure out specific details that pertain to the latter, death.

Most notably, the manner and cause of death, the way in which a person went from being alive to being dead.

The profession of a forensic pathologist is often considered somewhat macabre by the general public,

but as you'll learn in this episode of Dark arenas, a lot of what these professionals do with death

sheds a tremendous amount of light and hope into the realm of the living.

I feel like I'm dying.

That was the thought pulsating through my mind as I lean my rental car driver's seat back to take a nap.

I was parked in a parallel space across the street from the Montgomery County Corners office in downtown Dayton, Ohio.

Okay, so I wasn't really dying, but I was sleep deprived, hungry, 30 minutes early to the interview,

and I was also several weeks pregnant and didn't know it.

So yeah, I felt like I was dying.

After a quick cat nap, I sprung into journalist mode across the street and made my way inside the brick building,

which looked like every other county office building I've ever been in or seen.

...