#164 - What healing power can be found in visiting sites of tragedy and suffering? For Dr. Chad Scott, dark tourism became an unexpected lifeline during his darkest days.
When severe health issues led to a liver transplant, Dr. Scott discovered profound meaning and purpose by exploring places marked by historical tragedy. From standing in gas chambers at Auschwitz to witnessing the aftermath of atomic destruction in Hiroshima, these powerful experiences helped him process his own struggles with divorce, career setbacks, and chronic illness.
"When you're going through hell, keep going," became his mantra, borrowed from Churchill's famous words. Throughout our conversation, Chad reveals how confronting mortality at history's darkest sites paradoxically taught him to live with greater intention and purpose. The practice of "memento mori"—remembering one's mortality—isn't about dwelling in darkness, but using awareness of life's brevity to live more meaningfully.
As a therapist with decades of experience, Chad brings unique professional insights to how dark tourism functions as a form of existential therapy. He explains that standing in places where countless people suffered and died doesn't leave you unchanged—it transforms you into someone with deeper compassion and greater resilience. These experiences, from Paris catacombs to plantation slavery museums, challenge visitors to connect with humanity's shared suffering while finding strength in storytelling and remembrance.
Chad's journey culminated in his book "Beyond the Darkness: Transformative Journeys Through Dark Tourism," where he details how these profound experiences helped him overcome crippling anxiety and find purpose during his health crisis. His story reminds us that sometimes the path through personal darkness requires confronting humanity's darkest moments—not to wallow in despair, but to find the meaning that illuminates our way forward.
Listen to discover how pushing beyond your comfort zone—whether through adventure or confronting difficult histories—might just transform your own life. What places have changed you? Where might you go to find yourself?

To learn more about Dr. Chad Scott and Dark Tourism visit his website www.drchadscott.com. You can also purchase a copy of his book from his website.

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