Life Advice from the Departed: Finding Meaning, Humor, and Humanity with Mary McGreevy
This week on Windowsill Chats, Margo is joined by Mary McGreevy, the creative mind behind the viral TikTok account Tips From Dead People. What began as a curious, ironic hobby—reading obituaries for life advice—has blossomed into a meaningful exploration of what it means to live well. With a background in public policy and a penchant for heartfelt storytelling, Mary has built a community around the simple idea that there’s wisdom in the words left behind.
Margo and Mary explore how obituaries—whether poignant, irreverent, funny, or achingly honest—reveal what really matters at the end of the day. They talk about how quirks, flaws, and tiny joys shape the legacies we leave behind, why zigzagging through careers and passions can be more fulfilling than following a set path, and how embracing our humanity—mess and all—creates space for connection.
Mary and Margo discuss:
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The beginnings of Tips From Dead People and how it evolved from a personal hobby into a viral phenomenon
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Why traditional career advice like “find your passion” can be misleading
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How reading obituaries illuminates the richness of so-called “ordinary” lives
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The value of quirks, humor, and imperfections in shaping how we’re remembered
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Shifting our definition of success from accolades to meaningful details
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Creating inclusive spaces built on shared humanity
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Why being a generalist in life and career can be a strength, not a weakness
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What obituaries can teach us about writing (and rewriting) our own life stories
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How weird, one-off ideas often turn out to be the most impactful
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The healing, grounding power of stories—especially those from unexpected places
Connect with Mary: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tipsfromdeadpeople
IG: https://www.instagram.com/tipsfromdeadpeople/
Substack: https://substack.com/@tipsfromdeadpeople
Connect with Margo:
www.instagram.com/windowsillchats
www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill
https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry
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En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.