About this talk
Could you count on your fingers the number of corpses you’ve seen, touched, kissed, or embraced? Death Thought Leader Kevin Toolis challenges us to look past our fear of death. After all, we will all face mortality in due time. Kevin reminds us of rituals that have existed across cultures and centuries that allow us to see, experience, and embrace death with acceptance rather than fear. From Irish Wakes to ancient Greek and Roman folklore, death was respected and given worth. There was a sense of closure to this cycle through the rituals that guided death. Kevin urges us to connect back to these traditions and find comfort and acceptance in death.
Recognizing death through the lens of community, tradition, and acceptance helps us come to terms with our own cycle of life and death. Watch Kevin Toolis’ TEDMED 2020 Talk “Our existential flight from death – and wisdom on connecting to grief” to learn how we can conquer our fear of death and confront our own mortality.
About Kevin Toolis
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About Kevin
Kevin Toolis is a celebrated filmmaker, writer, and poet from Ireland known for his powerful work on death, memory, and conflict. He has a unique ability to combine his personal experiences with a deep understanding of cultural rituals. In his acclaimed book, My Father’s Wake: How the Irish Teach Us to Live, Love and Die, Kevin shares a moving account of his father’s passing. The book beautifully explores the ancient Irish tradition of the wake, highlighting its role in helping communities cope with grief and celebrate life. As an investigative journalist and documentary director, Kevin has reported from some of the world’s most challenging regions, including Iran, Syria, and Afghanistan. His work covers major global events, including wars, famines, and plagues. He was nominated for an Emmy for a five-part series that examined the rise of suicide bombings. He is also the founder of Many Rivers Films and is a member of the traditional Irish arts band Wonders of the Wake. This band uses music, song, and poetry to honor the range of emotions of the traditional Irish wake, from sorrow to joy. His work, including his highly regarded book on the Irish Republican Army, Rebel Hearts: Journeys Within the IRA’s Soul, shows his commitment to exploring complex human experiences with honesty and compassion.
