Becky Orton On Death


Becky Orton! Becky is a 45yo mother, CrossFitter, and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I met Becky while coaching at CrossFit Juggernaut in NH before entering medical school: she and her daughter would workout together and I initially thought they were sisters! A testament to her energy and love of life.

During this conversation, we discuss motherhood and the story of her eight children (four biological and four adoptive), the experience of losing Ben, and the rewards of fostering medically fragile children.

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Eric Garza On Death


Eric Garza! Eric Garza is a 41yo professor, hunter, and suicide survivor. I met Eric online through primitive skills and ancestral plant groups, and his podcast A Worldview Apart caught my interest for his unique decolonization perspective. He speaks like a professor and as you’ll learn during this interview, has many diverse interests and skills from bow-making to inner tracking.

During this conversation, we discuss hunting as connection to landscape, pushing ourselves to take the shot and learn the skills, and the near death experience of his suicide attempt.

I hope you enjoy! 🙂

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Caroline Wilson On Death


Caroline Wilson! Caroline is a 19yo college student, positive human, and survivor of a traumatic brain injury. I met Caroline while coaching crew in New Hampshire for Great Bay Rowing, and she served as a right-hand coxswain for the team. During one of our dryland practices, she fell and hit her head on cement. This caused a 2wk-long Elmer Fudd stutter and a long road to recovery. Luckily, she had her grandmother nearby, who underwent chemotherapy at the time.

In this lovely conversation, we discuss the plastic nature of memories especially when you have impaired long-term memory, how a positive reframe of a situation can change your outlook on life, and the nature of social crutches and how they help us function.

I hope you enjoy! 🙂

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Rashad Malik Davis On Death


Rashad Malik Davis! Rashad is a 26yo creative, lover of stories, and story-teller. I met Rashad during my undergraduate years at Tufts University, and I’ve quietly kept tabs on him ever since. He recently published his first illustrated children’s book, Carefree Like Me!, one that I highly recommend reading as he promotes empathy, compassion, and diversity through a heartfelt story. In this conversation, we discuss the painful genesis and healing journey of his book, his deeply rooted spirituality, and the importance of representation in the stories that we tell.

I hope you enjoy! 🙂

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On Death revisited, again

This past December, I put On Death on hiatus. The interview series, released every other week, had been going strong since inception in March 2016. Originally every week, I extended the releases to every other week to better balance the medical student with the interviewer.

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Aleks Bacewicz On Death


Aleks Bacewicz! Aleks is a 28yo fourth year medical student, future psychiatrist, and dancer. I rotated through Consult Liaison Psychiatry with her and we both grappled with a difficult case (20171008 – On “Jim”). During this conversation, we discuss her Polish heritage, her love of pole, and her restorative Sunday practices.

I hope you enjoy! 🙂

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Camille Imbo On Death


Camille Imbo! Camille is a 25yo fourth year medical student, an older sister, and a black woman. I met her during a SELECT session this year and the rawness of her laugh put her on my radar. During this conversation, we discuss the importance of names and how they change identity, the politicization of blackness, the inseparable mix of purpose and potential, and the soulmate bond between herself and her grandmother.

I hope you enjoy! 🙂

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Dave Del Negro On Death


Dave Del Negro! Dave is a 26yo third year medical student, athlete, and teacher. Dave has rotated with me through Internal Medicine and teaches wrestling at our informal fight club. During this conversation, we discuss his early diagnosis of ADHD, the value of competitive American Wrestling, and the subject of suicide.

I hope you enjoy!

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Katrina Wachter On Death


Katrina Wachter! Katrina is a 24yo third year medical student, a musician, a second Lieutenant in the US Army, and a Christian. I’ve known her since the very first days of med school as she is my peer pair partner for the SELECT program. She’s an outstanding example of a human and I am so glad to finally bring her to you. During this conversation, we discuss the value of deep breathing and journaling, her encounters with death, and her desires for a family.

I hope you enjoy! 😀

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Joel Eisenberg On Death


Joel Eisenberg! Joel is a 25yo third year medical student, a native of Florida, and lover of food. I’ve rotated with Joel throughout medical school and I’m excited to bring him to you. During this conversation, we discuss authenticity, how culinary school is more intense than medical school, and how his mother taught him about death.

I hope you enjoy!

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Emily Duerr On Death


Emily Duerr! Emily is a 24yo third-year medical student, a 2nd lieutenant in the US Army, and a future farmer. I’ve known Emily since the first week of medical school and I’m excited to see where her drive takes her career. During this conversation, we discuss her Lutheran upbringing, the importance of raising chickens, and her passion for veteran’s care.

I hope you enjoy!

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Andre Lee On Death


Andre Lee! Andre is a 27yo third year medical student, martial artist, and musician. I met him early on in my Tampa adventures and I am glad to live with him as we transition to Pennsylvania. During this conversation, we discuss the importance of independence, holding up his uncle, how mosh pits respect musicians, and how every party needs a healer.

I hope you enjoy! 🙂

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Rahul Paul On Death


Rahul Paul! Rahul is a 26yo Hindu-raised Bangladeshi, a third year medical student interested in emergency medicine, and a scientist. During this conversation, we discuss the relatable story of Krishna, the value of earned perspective, and why you should breathe into your balls.

I hope you enjoy! 🙂

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Pooja Jayaprakash On Death


Pooja Jayaprakash! Pooja is 23yo second year medical student and Indian woman with a liberal arts background. I met Pooja during the first week of med school and I have known that she would make an outstanding guest on the podcast. During this conversation, we discuss growing up Indian in Utah, imagining her mixed-race children, resisting the draw of medicine, and the death of her 109yo grandfather with his complicated legacy.

I hope you enjoy! 🙂

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Lui Espinosa On Death


Lui Espinosa! Lui is a 31yo second year medical student, a burgeoning philosopher-physician, and a runner. He has stood out among my classmates as a human with lived experiences and earned wisdom. During this conversation, you’ll learn about the death of his grandfather as well as his Portuguese friend Anibal, his setbacks and obstacles while growing up and attaining his education, and his joy of life throughout it all.

I hope you enjoy! 🙂

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Brian Bernal On Death


Brian Bernal! Brian is a 24yo first-generation Ecuadorian, a second year DPT student at USF, and cousin to many. I met Brian while slacklining last year and he has been a close friend for adventures ever since. During this conversation, we discuss leaving a legacy, his bouts with pneumothorax, and the joys of wandering.

I hope you enjoy! 🙂

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Talha Rashid On Death


Talha Rashid! Talha is a 27yo second year medical student, a Muslim, and a pessimist. As a quiet and reserved classmate, I’ve been itching to sit him down for an interview and to learn about his past. In this conversation, we cover the passing of his grandmother, Oblivion, and how Pakistani corruption formed the basis of his moral code.

I hope you enjoy! 🙂

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On the end of a long month

November 2016 is finally in the rear-view mirror. It’s been a long and challenging month, but with the solstice ahead and winter break only two weeks away, I can revel in the fact that the grind will pause. So here’s a stream-of-consciousness reflection.

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Steven Manobianco On Death


Steven Manobianco! Steve is a second year medical student, a late bloomer, and martial artist. In this conversation, we talk about the importance of getting a punch to the face, failure as a practice for success, and the spirituality in a doctor’s office.

I hope you enjoy! 🙂

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Julia Rauchfuss On Death


Julia Rauchfuss! Julia is a medical student (MS3 now, MS2 during recording in March), a sister, and a daughter. In this conversation, we cover why she’s a dreamer, how she wants to reuse her organs after death, and what family means to her.

I hope you enjoy! 🙂

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Ben Croll On Death


Ben Croll! Ben is a 24yo second year medical student, former EMT, and 2nd Lieutenant in the US Air Force. In this lovely conversation, we talk about everything from Slaughterhouse Five, to what he learned from the passing of his father, and the importance of virtue versus accomplishment. Additionally, you’ll hear his undergrad philosophy background in his thoughtful and intellectually clear responses to the four prompts!

I hope you enjoy 🙂

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Haley Goetz On Death


Haley Goetz! Haley is a rising sophomore in college, almost 19 years old, and an aspiring filmmaker with dreams of changing and exploring the world. I met Haley while coaching for Great Bay Rowing Club: she stood out as a mischievous and thoughtful individual. In this conversation, we talk about the difference between paganism and animism, the beauty of questioning through science-fiction, and what she learned from the passing of her canine companion Buster.

I hope you enjoy!

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Stephen Grow On Death


Stephen Grow! Stephen is a father of two, a follower of Christ, and a loving husband. In this conversation, we discuss the difficulties and benefits of homeschooling, the difference between being a Christian and having a relationship with Jesus, and how a hug can change a life.

I hope you enjoy! 🙂

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Karen Holland On Death


Karen Holland! Karen is a mother of two, a teacher, and a yogi. I met her during a yoga for teens training, which she led with grace and intelligence. She currently teaches elementary and middle school aged children, and her thoughtful responses to the four prompts will leave you thinking for quite some time! We chat about her Catholic upbringing, how to raise sensitive and old-soul daughters, and what spirituality means to her.

I hope you enjoy! 🙂

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Kenny Henderson On Death


Kenny Henderson! Kenny is a 42yo artist living in Tampa; his canvases include the human body, murals, and clothing. He specializes in sacred geometry, but identifies first as a father. In this conversation, we discuss how to raise your child as a questioner of authority, what is the muse, and practicing death.
I hope you enjoy!

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Nick Plimpton On Death

Nick Plimpton! Nick is a 32yo second year medical student, a polite Minnesotan, and a thoughtful future pediatrician. In this interview, we talk about the turbulence of a medical education, Minnesota and Disney princesses, and how to operate in this diverse world with folks of various gender identities, sexual orientations, ethnicities, and backgrounds.

I hope you enjoy! 🙂

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Eugene Kim On Death

Eugene Kim! Eugene is a rising second year medical student at USF, a coach of crossfit and crew, and the initiator of this podcast! This week, Mackenzi Frost (previous On Death interviewee) turns the four prompts on your usual host for a delightful and sometimes rambling conversation on teaching versus coaching, love versus fear, and the value of a practice.

I hope you enjoy! 🙂

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Bansi Savla On Death

Bansi Savla! Bansi is a medical student, a Jain, and an incredibly thoughtful 22-year-old. During this lovely conversation, we talk about time, death, her faith, all in a way that is relatable and digs at essential truths.

I hope you enjoy! 🙂

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Preethi Rajan On Death

This week, we listen to Preethi Rajan‘s responses to the four prompts!

She’s a first year medical student without a science degree (big deal!), the daughter of immigrants, as well as a thoughtful lady with a depth of life experience. We talk about arranged marriages, breaking bad news, and love. She currently aspires to be a pediatrician, and also actively performs with Say Ahh! Capella, a USF Health student acapella group.

Preethi’s responses will leave you thinking, and I hope you enjoy!

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Julia Rauchfuss On Death

This week On Death, we sit down and chat with Julia Rauchfuss!

She’s a lovely (and quite mousy) MS2 that I’ve known for a while now, but this is the first time I’ve really ever sat down one-on-one with her and dove into some deep subjects! I think you’ll enjoy this conversation and be delighted by her responses 🙂

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Michael Watson On Death

This week On Death, we sit down with Michael Watson, a good friend of mine and a second year medical student at USF! We talk about coaching, fear, hunting, and skin in the game. This is a lovely conversation and I am glad to share it with you 🙂

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On Death (or: Life, as told through four prompts)

I am a student, coach, and writer.
Before I die, I want love to outweigh fear.
When I die, I want to return to nature and the collective consciousness.
After I die, I want the experiments of technology, civilization, mammals, and life to flourish sustainably.

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