Field Notes & Cuttings
Press, books, podcasts, classes, and everything landing in my corner of the death-and-garden world
A lot has been coming across this thanatologist’s desk lately and I’d be remiss not to share. In the below, I just know you’ll find a new book to pick up, a new podcast to subscribe to, or a new journalist to learn about.
And at the very top—thank you for reading, for supporting my work, for referring me, for booking me to speak at your conferences, for buying my book, for taking the time to tell me about what you’re navigating. I am lucky I get to wake up to things I care about.
RECENT NEWS ARTICLES
“Why Famous People Want to be Death Doulas” by Anna North for Vox
• A social media package went out with this one and I know a lot of you saw it on YouTube, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, or Facebook. As many of you correctly assumed, there was a discussion about the saying ‘may their memory be a blessing’ coming from the Jewish tradition (I am Jewish) but it was cut due to time constraints connected to each platform.
“Understanding Shadowloss: An Interview with Cole Imperi” by Donelle Dreese for Psychology Today
“Tackling Life’s Biggest Questions Over Cake: What You Should Know About the Queer Death Cafe in Ferndale” by Kelli Dunham for PrideSource
RECENT BOOKS I’VE ENDORSED
My Parents Are Dead, What Now? A Panic-Free Guide to the Practicalities of Death by Becky Robison
Thanks for including Thanabotany in your book, Becky!
Of Course I’m Here Right Now: Three Actually Helpful Things To Say To Someone Who Is Grieving by Shelby Forsythia
The Nature of Being Human by Jeanne Denney
RECENT PODCAST INTERVIEWS
“Cole Imperi on Grief, Thanatology, Shadowloss, and Non-Clinical Tools in Support of Those Experiencing Loss and Grief” The Death Studies Podcast
“Thanatology, Shadowloss, Thanabotany, and Deathwork with Cole Imperi” We Are All Dying Podcast
UPCOMING TRAININGS
If you’ve wanted to study thanatology, the next cohort of the Art of Dying x School of American Thanatology Integrative Thanatology program begins in August of 2026. This is a 9 month program with 15+ teaching faculty all online.
FREE & COMMUNITY OFFERINGS
Grief support should include non-clinical tools (nature, food, ritual, beauty, curiosity) and that as many of them as possible should be available to everyone. I try to put my time where that conviction is.
Garden to Glass: Winter Mocktails [Online] is a free online class I co-taught alongside my fellow Master Food Preservers. In this class you’ll learn how to make a shrub, a mocktini, and more about all kinds of non-alcoholic beverages. We work with what’s growing, what’s in season, and what can be preserved (which, if you think about it, is a pretty good description of grief work too.)
Garden to Glass: Winter Mocktails
Hummingbird Talks at The Huntington Botanical Garden [Los Angeles] are free with admission and take place the first Sunday of the month from 11am-12pm. I lead these monthly as the Huntington’s Resident Hummingbird Specialist. You’ll learn about hummingbirds of course, but also a little bit about grief and loss too.
Hummingbirds at the Huntington
AVAILABLE NOW: A GUIDE TO GRIEF
My book is available now! Order it from your local bookshop or here.
That’s all from my desk this month. What’d I miss?!
-Cole