Why do we joke about death so much? In this episode of Without Fear: Life, Death, and Everything In Between, Alexis Hughes dives headfirst into the weird, irreverent world of dark humor as a coping mechanism. From meme culture and gallows humor to TikTok trends and trauma recovery, we explore why making jokes about our own mortality helps us survive the existential weight of modern life.
We'll unpack:
- Why dark humor is more than just edgy: it’s a survival skill
- How generational trauma, economic precarity, and constant crisis birthed a new language of grief
- What the science says about humor and resilience
- How laughing at death might just be the most honest way to face it
This episode isn’t about making death cute. It’s about making it bearable.
Watch: https://youtu.be/2Xe8oyI8m_s
