Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Taylor.
Hi Heather, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey has always been rooted in a fascination with the unusual, the macabre, and the stories that exist outside the mainstream. I originally built my career in the deathcare industry, earning my degree in Mortuary Science and working in funeral homes, anatomical services, organ and tissue recovery, and eventually surgical sales. Those experiences gave me a unique perspective on anatomy, medicine, death, and the people and stories connected to them.
Along the way, I started creating content online under the name @beforethecoffin. What began as a creative outlet grew into a career of its own. I found my niche combining my love of horror, alternative culture, travel, deathcare, and film into content that was educational, entertaining, and distinctly my own. Over time, my audience grew across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and other platforms, allowing me to turn my passion for storytelling into a full-time media and creator career.
I’ve also expanded beyond social media into journalism and entertainment coverage. I’ve covered major events including SXSW, interviewed celebrities, attended red carpets, and pursued opportunities to cover film festivals and industry events such as TIFF. My content has also led to collaborations with major entertainment and travel brands.
Today, I’m essentially combining all of the things I’ve been passionate about throughout my life: film, horror, travel, anatomy, deathcare, and storytelling. What started as an interest in the darker and more unconventional sides of life has grown into a platform where I get to share those interests with a large audience while continuing to build my career as an independent journalist, creator, and media personality.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of the biggest challenges I faced was losing my dad when I was 18. Because of my family circumstances, I was legally orphaned at a very young age and had to learn how to navigate adulthood and become self-sufficient much earlier than most people.
I’ve also moved around a lot throughout my life, and the state I live in now is my fourth. Each move meant starting over, rebuilding my support system, and finding my place somewhere new. There were a lot of moments when I had to figure things out on my own and keep moving forward even when life felt uncertain.
Those experiences were difficult, but they also made me incredibly independent and resilient. They taught me that I could start over, adapt, and build something for myself no matter where I was or what circumstances I was facing. Now, I live with my husband, and I’m proud of the life we’ve built together.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m most proud of turning my platform into a legitimate media career and being able to work directly with major entertainment and travel brands, attend industry events, interview talent, and cover films and festivals as an independent journalist.
What sets me apart is that I’m not trying to fit into a traditional media mold. I have a very distinct voice and perspective, and my content blends journalism with the personality and accessibility of social media. I’ve built an audience that trusts me to give them something they can’t get from a standard entertainment outlet.
I think that combination of experience is what makes my work unique. I can approach a location from a travel and entertainment perspective while also understanding the darker history and subject matter behind it. The same goes for horror films. I’m not just watching a movie and giving my opinion. I can bring real knowledge of anatomy, deathcare, and the macabre into the conversation. I’ve spent years building my content around these subjects because I genuinely love them, and that authenticity comes through in everything I create.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite childhood memories is going to the movies with my uncle. He was a huge comic book nerd, so movies were a big deal to us, especially anything involving superheroes or comic book characters. I loved getting to experience those movies with someone who was just as excited about them as I was. Looking back, I think those trips to the theater really helped shape my love for film and the excitement I still get from movies today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/beforethecoffin
