Hacking the Afterlife with Jennifer Shaffer, Anthy Martini, Beethoven, Shakespeare and Company

Hacking The Afterlife podcast

Another unusual podcast. This time my mom shows up to say hello, to talk about "what it's like on the flipside." She was a concert pianist, and she talks about our home in Northbrook Illinois, only how she's recreated it on the flipside.

Then one of her favorite composers stops by, someone we've spoken to before, Ludwig - and he talks a little bit about what the experience on the flipside is like for him, and recounts his "most favorite lifetime."

Also Will Shakespeare stops by - again, we've interviewed these folks in BACKSTAGE PASS TO THE FLIPSIDE, or in the book TUNING INTO THE AFTERLIFE, but in this case, Will offers that his "favorite lifetime" was not the one we know him for - and his "favorite performance of one of his plays."

Beethoven also refers to a favorite performance of his music - Jennifer couldn't know this, but he's referring to a performance of the 9th symphony I took my daughter to see at the Hollywood Bowl.

I looked it up - the concert was conducted by Dudamel a year earlier - so for those keeping score, that could the detail that allows them to say "See! I told you it wasn't true!" But the fact that he would be a year off, from someone who's been off the planet for a couple hundred of them, is forgiveable.

Actually quite funny. Because I was emotional listening to it - it's really what I'd like people to see/hear at my funeral. Just a full orchestra playing BEETHOVEN'S NINTH - because I believe that everything we need to know about music, about art, about life, is contained within - written by someone who couldn't hear.

And Jennifer's comment "He can hear now" - was said too fast for her to be the creator of it. I know her pretty well, and she says whatever they suggest her to say.

Indeed, he can hear now.

Our loved ones are not far away. Anyone can reach out to them. They're standing by and want to communicate. Let them.

You can hear mom play some Beethoven at AnthyMartini.com - thanks for tuning in!