What if the cemetery goes out of business? (classic)
Summary
Host PJ Vogt explores what happens when a cemetery goes out of business, prompted by a listener’s question about a desperate online ad. Guest David Sloan, a USC professor and cemetery historian, discusses the evolution of American burial practices, the shift from public mourning to modern distance, and economic pressures like rising cremation rates. The episode explains that failing cemeteries are typically absorbed by corporations, maintained by volunteers, or taken over by the state, ensuring bodies remain undisturbed in permanent plots.
Topics discussed
Intro and Sponsor Ads (Bombas, Framer)
Listener Question: What happens when a cemetery goes out of business?
Sponsor Ads (Odoo, Planet Money, No Such Thing)
Interview with Douglas Shinn: History of American Cemeteries
The Rise of Rural Cemeteries and Public Health Concerns
Changing Attitudes Toward Death and Grief in America
Modern Pressures: Cremation, Land Scarcity, and Migration
Sponsor Ads (Son of a Tailor, Instacart, Ring)
Outcomes for Failed Cemeteries: Buyouts, Volunteers, and State Takeover
Personal Plans for Death and the Enduring Need for Memorials
Outro, Credits, and Final Sponsor Ad
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