Does This Make My Ash Look Big?

This week we dropped a chaotic little bonus episode featuring Chelsea’s parents, Jim and Cary, for a round of Flame It or Frame It. We put them on the spot with some questionable, mildly unhinged scenarios and forced them to decide: are these ideas getting absolutely roasted (flamed) or proudly displayed forever (framed)? Between their surprisingly strong opinions and some truly questionable takes from us, things got weird fast. It’s short, ridiculous, and proof that inviting your parents onto a podcast about death and bad decisions always goes exactly how you’d expect.

In this week’s episode, we take the phrase “sending someone off” a little too literally by exploring the idea of launching ashes into the sky with weather balloons—because apparently the afterlife might come with a better view than Maine has had all winter. While dreaming about airborne cremains, we also take a moment (okay… several moments) to complain about the absolutely horrific Maine winter weather and question why we continue to live somewhere that feels personally attacked by snow.The real highlight of the episode is welcoming Chelsea’s wonderful parents to the show. They join us to talk about their post-death wishes, what they want done with their ashes, and all the important details that belong in a proper death folder, you know, the comforting collection of documents your family will definitely panic-search for later.Between practical planning, questionable balloon logistics, and family banter, the episode mixes dark humor with surprisingly thoughtful conversations about what happens after we’re gone, and how much planning our loved ones might actually appreciate.Make sure to tune in next week for a fun, short bonus episode where we play a round of Flame It or Frame It with Jim and Cary, because once you hear someone’s post-death wishes, the only logical next step is putting their opinions to the test.

This week’s episode really said: if we’re going out, we’re going out molten.Things escalated quickly from “peaceful scattering” to launching cremains straight into an active volcano, because apparently a gentle breeze just isn’t dramatic enough. The logistics? Questionable. The vibes? Explosive. A deep dive into underwater volcanoes also happened, and by “deep dive,” think two people confidently misunderstanding oceanic tectonics while admitting we absolutely do not get how lava just… happens under water.Special guest Sydnee joined the chaos to share her post-mortem wishes, and let’s just say she has thoughts. Practical? Debatable. Iconic? Absolutely. From where she wants to end up to how she wants to be remembered, nothing was off limits.Naturally, the episode wrapped with a round of Flame It or Frame It featuring Sydnee, judging questionable death trends, memorial ideas, and probably a few things no funeral director wants to co-sign.It’s fiery. It’s slightly educational (accidentally). It’s unhinged in the best way.

We dive headfirst into the world of unhinged obituaries, the petty, the dramatic, the suspiciously honest, and the ones that absolutely should’ve gone through a second draft. Then we debate the ultimate question: is it bad luck to write your own obituary… or is it just proactive brand management? Naturally, we workshop what bullet points we’d demand be included (achievements optional, personality flaws mandatory).We also play a particularly chaotic round of Frame It or Flame It, but the real star of the show is our deep exploration of the “roast disguised as a tribute.” You know the vibe, technically honoring the deceased, but also reminding everyone that they did once get banned from Applebee’s.It’s heartfelt. It’s unhinged. It’s passive-aggressive closure wrapped in a bow.Basically: if you can’t control your legacy, at least control the punchlines.

This week gets horticultural, surgical, and slightly inappropriate.It starts wholesome: planting a flower garden using ashes in the seeds because nothing says "circle of life" like becoming seasonal landscaping. Is it beautiful? Is it unregulated? We discuss. Then we pivot to the betrayal. The thyroidectomy saga. The audacity. The surgeon. The absolute refusal to hand over the removed thyroid like it was a lost item at a restaurant. Apparently, you can't just take your own organ home as a souvenir. Rude. We're joined by our angels Dani and Keira, workplace heroes, Italy brides to be, and owner of a very hot, very single brother (or brother-in-law). We talk about their post-mortem wishes, their upcoming Italian nuptials, and then spiral into a truly unhinged round of Flame it or Frame it. It's botany. It's body parts. It's eligible siblings. And somehow...it all makes sense.

This episode marks the podcast’s one-year anniversary, celebrated the only appropriate way, by sharing unhinged funeral home horror stories from people who truly know better. Things spiral further with a round of Frame It or Flame It, followed by a Basic Betch segment dedicated to trends that will never be tried under any circumstances, living or deceased.Sound disclaimer: Chelsea joined by phone for this episode, so the audio quality isn’t winning any awards, but neither are the stories.

This week we’re getting bold (and a little rude). We dive into some truly unhinged celebrity final wishes, then balance the chaos by honoring a few iconic women and their legendary post-death plans. We also swap recommendations for TV shows that revolve around death, dying, and cremation, because nothing pairs better with existential dread than binge-watching. After what feels like a lifelong scavenger hunt, we finally uncover the information we’ve been searching for from Downeast Direct Cremation, and yes, we have thoughts. We’re joined by a special guest to share her own post-mortem wishes, and we wrap things up with a round of Frame It or Flame It, judging afterlife aesthetics like the professionals we are not

Sound disclaimer: We regret to inform you that the soundboard did not survive this recording. The audio is slightly off brand, slightly quieter, and 100% soundboard free. Please lower your expectations accordingly.This week, we explore the idea of turning cremated remains into frequent flyers, sealing ashes into tiny vials and sending them out into the world to be photographed, displayed in art exhibits, featured on Instagram, or immortalized in a very niche coffee table book. We also get existential (and a little delusional) about where we actually want to travel in our lifetimes versus where we realistically end up. And somehow, as always, the conversation lands at Applebee’s, because no matter how aspirational the topic, nothing grounds you quite like a neighborhood grill.Morbid, mildly artistic, and aggressively casual, Season 3 continues to deliver. 🍸✈️🖼️

We’re back, and somehow starting the season exactly how you’d expect. This episode spirals from the surprisingly real concept of turning cremated remains into dessert (no, we’re not okay either) to Chelsea’s past as a fifth grade bus patrol narc who absolutely would have written you up. We also take a nostalgic detour into the D.A.R.E. program, what it taught us, what it didn’t, and why it felt more like a threat than prevention.It’s dark, it’s dumb, it’s deeply unserious… and it’s the perfect way to kick off Season 3 of Does This Make My Ash Look Big? 🍰🚓💀