The Death & Sex Podcast | Episode 3: The Grief That Binds Us — Why The Last of Us Hurts So Good

What makes a post-apocalyptic zombie game one of the most profound meditations on grief, love, and revenge? In this episode, Stephen Thomas (LPPC-S) and Dr. Kailey Bradley (Ph.D, LPCC-S, CFT) are joined by neuroscientist and gamer Dr. Matthew Stratton for a deep dive into The Last of Us — from the brutality of Joel’s choices to the tragedy of Ellie’s loss.

They unpack themes of unprocessed grief, attachment theory, consent, religious trauma, and how the game forces players into complicity. They also explore why the game’s violence isn’t just gratuitous — it’s the point.

This episode is about more than just a video game. It’s about what we do with our pain, and how sometimes the most human stories are told through the most unlikely mediums.