On civics and memory: Jule Banville and Jad Abumrad reimagine the obituary with ‘The Obit Project’ (Extended)

In this extended episode of The Right Question, host Lauren Korn interviews Jewel Banville and Jad Abumrad about The Obit Project, a groundbreaking podcast that reimagines the obituary as an intimate, audio-driven form of storytelling. Born from Banville’s journalism class at the University of Montana, the project began as a written assignment where students wrote obituaries inspired by the work of Jim Sheeler, a master of narrative nonfiction. Over time, the project evolved into a podcast after Jad Abumrad was moved by the emotional depth of student recordings—particularly one about a grieving friend’s memories of his late partner. This led to a collaboration that transformed personal, handwritten obituaries into rich, audio narratives that center on memory, legacy, and the people left behind. The project highlights ordinary Montanans, non-human entities like elephants and towns, and explores how communities collectively remember those who’ve passed. The episode delves into the civic and emotional power of storytelling, emphasizing how obituaries are not just records of life but acts of communal noticing and empathy. Banville and Abumrad reflect on the shift from traditional newspaper obituaries to a more personal, audio-based form that captures the intangible—how a person made others feel. They discuss the role of sound design, with Erica Huang’s music and soundscapes transforming raw interviews into immersive experiences. Ultimately, The Obit Project is presented as both a tribute to the overlooked and a call to rekindle civic connection in an age of fragmented media. The conversation underscores public radio’s enduring value as a space for meaningful, non-commercial storytelling that fosters empathy and shared humanity.