Nathan's father was a palliative care physician in Eau Claire. That's where this film was born. The two of them talk about what it means to tell stories about death honestly, what filmmaking and end-of-life work have in common, and why Nathan believes the Midwest has something unique to say about all of it.

Plus — you can see Winter Hymns live. Nathan joined Linda ahead of a screening at the Rivoli Theater in La Crosse, and this episode is the perfect reason to go.

About the film:

Winter Hymns (2026) — written and directed by Nathan Deming. A 158-minute feature following a palliative care physician through ten conversations with terminal patients and their families. Shot in Wisconsin. Premieres locally at the Rivoli Theater, La Crosse — Saturday, June 6th at 3pm.

Showtimes and info:

winterhymnsfilm.com

rivoli.net

Beth, a local business owner, shares the story of her father's death at home — a story told with bravery, tenderness, and love. There's no interview format here, no back-and-forth. Just Beth, her experience, and the kind of honest storytelling that reminds us death doesn't have to be something we fear or hide from.

This is exactly the kind of conversation Death is Weird exists for.

Beth's book recommendation:

The Art of Dying Well: A Practical Guide to a Good End of Life by Katy Butler A compassionate, practical guide for anyone who wants to think ahead — for themselves or someone they love.

Jacqui brings years of frontline experience to the table, and Linda brings the questions most of us are too afraid to ask. Together they cover the misconceptions people have when they first encounter hospice, what the day-to-day reality looks like for patients and families, and the unexpected ways hospice changes the people who work in it.

Both Jacqui and Linda also open up about their own personal experiences — because when it comes to death and dying, it's never just clinical.

Guest: Jacqui Marcou, Hospice Nurse at Agrace Hospice Care, La Crosse, WI

Connect & Learn More:

• Agrace Hospice Care: agrace.org
• Follow Death is Weird for new episodes

For the first episode, host Linda Vale sits down with her cousin Ellen Lilla — a licensed clinical social worker and grief counselor — to talk about what loss actually does to your brain.

Guest: Ellen Lilla, MSW, LICSW

Look Up Counseling lookupcounselingmn.com

507-722-2303 (call or text)

ellen@lookupcounselingmn.com