Episode 315: Why People Visit Graves: A Saint Hunting Priest & a Presidential Grave Hunter Compare Notes

Fr. Edward Looney and Kurt Deion may have different focuses, but they share a common passion—visiting the final resting places of significant historical figures. Kurt Deion, known as the Presidential Grave Hunter, has visited the graves of nearly every U.S. president and vice president, while Fr. Looney seeks out the burial sites of saints, blesseds, and other holy men and women.

In this episode, Fr. Looney explores the parallels between their unique hobbies, asking: What does visiting a secular grave look like compared to a saint’s grave? What draws someone to visit a historical figure’s final resting place?

🎙️ Topics Covered in This Episode:
✅ How Kurt’s passion for visiting presidential graves began with a childhood CSPAN interview
✅ The meticulous research and preparation that goes into grave hunting
✅ Why visiting a historical figure’s grave fosters a unique personal connection
✅ The most difficult graves to find—and which ones were surprisingly underwhelming
✅ How friends and family react to this unusual but fascinating hobby
✅ Fr. Looney’s insights on making Catholic graves more accessible
✅ The growing trend of grave searching, including finding and recreating recipes from gravestones!

📚 Want More?
🔹 Explore Kurt Deion’s book & website: Kurt's Historic Sites- https://www.kurtshistoricsites.com/book/
🔹 Read Fr. Looney’s travel memoir featuring notable graves: Places of Grace- https://www.amazon.com/Places-Grace-Shrines-Monasteries-Received/dp/B0D1XRLSJG/

Tune in for a fascinating conversation about history, faith, and the legacy left behind in cemeteries across the world.