INTERVIEW: Uncovering Pet Death's Greatest Mystery

Death in the Afternoon

Caitlin Doughty

Education, Society & Culture

5 • 1.8K Ratings

🗓️ 14 April 2023

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The author of history's most influential piece of animal mourning literature had been lost...until now. Learn the incredible true story behind The Rainbow Bridge.

Episode Guest

Paul Koudounaris is a founding member of The Order of the Good Death. He has a PhD in Art History and has written three books about the use of skeletal remains in sacred spaces, Empire of Death, Heavenly Bodies, and Memento Mori. When he’s not hunting skeletons he moonlights as a cat historian, and his book co-authored by his tabby cat Baba, A Cat’s Tale: A Journey Through Feline History, was a 2020 Barnes and Noble Book of the Year.

Episode Resources

The Rainbow Bridge: The True Story Behind History’s Most Influential Piece of Animal Mourning Literature

Episode Credits

Hosted by Caitlin Doughty

Guest Paul Koudounaris

Produced by the Order of the Good Death, Sarah Chavez

Edited by Alex de Freitas

Music by Kissed Her Little Sister

Podcast artwork by Jessica Peng

The Order of the Good Death (https://www.orderofthegooddeath.com) Is supported by listeners like you! Support the Order by becoming a member (https://www.orderofthegooddeath.com/donate?)

Transcript

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0:00.0	Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
0:06.0	When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, your pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
0:13.6	There are meadows and hills for all our special friends so they can run and play together.
0:20.4	There's plenty of food, water, and sunshine and friends are warm and comfortable.
0:26.3	All the animals who have been ill and old are restored to health and strength.
0:32.8	Those who were hurt are made better and strong again like we remember them before they go to heaven.
0:40.0	They are happy and content except for one small thing.
0:45.7	They each miss someone very special to them who had to be left behind.
0:51.9	They all run and play together but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance.
0:59.7	His bright eyes are shining his body shakes.
1:03.2	Suddenly he begins to run from the herd rushing over the grass.
1:07.0	His legs carrying him faster and faster.
1:10.2	And when you and your special friend finally meet, you cuddle in a happy hug never to be a part again.
1:19.6	You and your pet are in tears.
1:22.5	Your hands again cuddle his head and you look again into his trusting eyes so long gone from life
1:29.7	but never absent from your heart.
1:33.2	And then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together.
1:49.0	Welcome to death in the afternoon, a very special final episode of the season.
2:02.8	Anyone who has ever had a beloved pet die has probably heard of the Rainbow Bridge,
2:08.2	if not the full description at least the concept.
2:11.5	The bridge are fluffy family members await their owners after death.
2:16.1	Today we're going to be talking about a decades old mystery as to the true source of the Rainbow
	...

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