In-Depth Market Research Interviews with Dead People: Tempur-Pedic

In-Depth Market Research Interviews with Dead People #3

by Alison Espach

In this at-once hilarious and heartbreaking series, In-Depth Market Research Interviews with Dead People, Alison Espach explores our collective idiosyncrasies, neuroses, and desires through the consumer choices, big and small, that we face every day.

Caroline’s mattress had nothing to do with her untimely death at the age of 28—this, she wants Tempur-Pedic’s market research representative to know. But as she reflects on her first ever mattress purchase and their interview progresses, Caroline dives into the circumstances and decisions that led her and Nicholas—her boyfriend, ten years her senior and prone to sleeping on the floor—to that particular bed in that particular shopping plaza. Ultimately, Caroline has the opportunity to reckon with the struggles she faced near the end of her life, and the story of a complex, bold young woman emerges.

Genres: Audiobook, Fiction, Short Stories, Humor, Fantasy, Novella, Magical Realism

1 pages, Audible Audio

Published September 22, 2022

About the author

Alison Espach grew up in Trumbull, Connecticut, where she lived for most of her life. She earned her BA from Providence College and her Masters in Creative Writing from Washington University in St. Louis. Her writing has appeared in McSweeney's, Five Chapters, Glamour, Salon, The Daily Beast, Writer's Digest, and other journals.

She is currently teaching in New York City.

Reviews

[Art · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! The conceit of using post-mortem market research interviews was well-conceived. The way the author gets to the internal conflicts of the characters through this is heartfelt and affecting.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Late Stage-Capitalism twist on "recently dead person talks to post-life agent about their life".

I went in thinking this would be humorous, but this consumerism post-mortem turns into a very heavy therapy session as a young woman details the rise and fall of her relationship with her boyfriend and how it impacted her life.

[Niniane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 1-hour audiobook transported me through the story of a young woman who had an affair with her professor. He seems to be having a mid-life crisis. When they both progress to the day-to-day living together, they both feel ashamed.

A lot of good details and great voice acting.

[Katherine R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again brilliantly written. It's only an hour long in audio format but it packs a punch. Funny and disturbing at the same time. Great story telling!

[Priya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the concept of this story that is based around feedback or market research interviews about products purchased by people. The catch is that the interviewees are dead people and the products they talk about have had quite an impact on their lives in one way or the other.
Here we listen to Caroline who after an untimely death too young is being asked about a mattress she purchased and her experiences using it. While the tone is light with the interviewer's dry sense of humor coming through as well as the fact that she asks some really pointed questions about the relevance of the mattress to various events in Caroline's life,the questions ultimately lead to Caroline reminiscing about her life with her professor boyfriend who was ten years older and preferred to sleep on the floor. She reflects on why buying a bed was so important to her and how it affected her relationship.
The portrait of a complex young woman who wanted acceptance and love and how it tied in with this purchase she made is well painted. I thought it was a very unique way of telling a story.
This is an Audible original story and the narrator did a great job with both the interviewer and Caroline.

[Genna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite of the series 🥹

[David Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

Favorite Quote = “Nobody but the addict knows how bad it all is. The addict is the one who feels it in their lung or their stomach. They are the ones who wake up with a terrible feeling each morning with a dry mouth and a ache in their heart, and yet they do it again anyway because they love the things that are bad for them.”

[Faye · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a fun little audiobook. Talking to people about a big purchase in their lives now that they're dead. This one about a mattress. Cool idea, well executed.

[Em Tol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was witty, funny and delightful. I definitely thought the fmc death was too obvious. The relationship was fun to watch from this perspective as I’ve absolutely been on the other side too many times to count. I definitely grabbed the popcorn and jello shots.

I definitely would consider buying a Tempur-pedic mattress after listening to this program. It sounds very fluffy and comfortable with many great features. And damn, who can beat the president using it? Am I right?

[Vamsidhar · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novel idea, that starts out as a humorous gibberish rant soon alters into an internal conflict of the character that subtly plagued her since childhood and how she come to terms with repercussions of it.

[Amanda Esthelm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these, such a fun way to discuss meaningful issues

[Suhasa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty funny. Interesting story.

[Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

For being very short, this piece really packs a punch. I truly thought I wouldn't like the main character, but she slowly became more relatable. Plus, the actress playing the interviewer had great timing so the humor struck home consistently.

Who doesn't find a post-mortem interview about a mattress fascinating?

[Krystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

A few funny moments, says “like” a lot. Would probably make more sense as a skit

[Marcy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Narrator’s voices were grating; story was 🥱 lackluster

[Tannya]

The Biologic Excipients Market is a crucial component of the modern biopharmaceutical ecosystem, enabling the formulation, stability, and safe administration of complex biologic drugs. As biologics such as monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, recombinant proteins, and cell-based therapies continue to expand their presence in global healthcare, the demand for specialized excipients tailored to sensitive biological molecules is steadily increasing. Valued at US$ 2,983.43 million in 2024, the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.90% from 2025 to 2032, reflecting sustained innovation and rising biologics production worldwide.
Market Overview and Growth Drivers
Biologic excipients are inactive substances formulated alongside active biologic ingredients to enhance solubility, stability, bioavailability, and shelf life. Unlike excipients used in conventional small-molecule drugs, biologic excipients must be highly compatible with delicate protein structures and complex formulations. Their role is essential in preventing aggregation, degradation, and loss of therapeutic efficacy.
Market growth is primarily driven by the expanding pipeline of biologic and biosimilar drugs, increasing regulatory approvals, and rising prevalence of chronic and autoimmune diseases. Additionally, growing investments in biologics manufacturing and continuous advancements in formulation science are accelerating demand for high-purity, function-specific excipients.
Product-Based Segmentation Analysis
By product, the market is segmented into solubilizers, stabilizers, preservatives, buffers, and carriers. Stabilizers hold a significant market share, as they are critical for maintaining protein structure and preventing denaturation during storage and transportation. These excipients are especially important for injectable biologics that require long shelf life under varying conditions.
Solubilizers are increasingly adopted to enhance the bioavailability of poorly soluble biologic formulations, while buffers play a key role in maintaining optimal pH levels to ensure formulation stability. Preservatives and carriers are also gaining importance, particularly in multi-dose formulations and sustained-release delivery systems.
Segmentation by Source
Based on source, biologic excipients are derived from natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic sources. Natural excipients are widely used due to their biocompatibility and favorable safety profiles, especially in protein-based therapies. However, synthetic excipients are gaining traction as they offer higher consistency, scalability, and controlled performance characteristics.
The increasing preference for well-defined and regulatory-compliant excipients is pushing manufacturers toward advanced synthetic and bioengineered solutions, particularly for high-value biologics and biosimilars.
Application Insights
By application, the market covers monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, cell and gene therapies, recombinant proteins, and other biologic formulations. Monoclonal antibodies represent the largest application segment, driven by their widespread use in oncology, immunology, and inflammatory disease treatment.
Vaccines continue to be a major application area, especially as global immunization programs expand and next-generation vaccines enter the market. Meanwhile, cell and gene therapies represent a fast-growing application segment, requiring highly specialized excipients capable of supporting ultra-sensitive formulations and advanced delivery mechanisms.
https://analystviewmarketinsights.com...

[🌶 peppersocks 🧦 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reflections and lessons learned:
“I mean it’s not the mattresses fault… it’s nobody���s fault really except my own… I was always acting you know…”

These stories are slightly daft in premise, but it’s the balance between the probable market research, dollar justifying life, approach that we may meet as an alternative afterlife (desperately tried to come up with a SurveyMonkey/surveymorbidity gag, but just not getting there - answers on a postcard and we can share the royalties…), and a short analysis of a life lived - literal full stop at the end of that. There’s not many stories with such a definite ending, and I’m enjoying these!

[zerogravitas · Rating 1 out of 5]

The beginning was a bit amusing, especially how the interviewer lady kept trying to bring the raving monologue back on track, and, I guess because it was short, I kind of enjoyed it until the end and kept waiting for the punch line, and right at the end the reveal was that i wasted my time following a complete idiot who threw up on the coats of her guests and then threw them out the window to cover the shame, as if people wouldn't need their coats when leaving. Not even in my drunkest state ever could I imagine being so dumb. To top it off, i am actually looking for a mattress and this story contained zero useful intel.

[January · Rating 2 out of 5]

In-Depth Market Research Interviews with Dead People: Tempur-Pedic by Alison Espach
58m narrated by Elizabeth Evans and Suzanne Savoy
In-Depth Market Research Interviews with Dead People #3

Genre: Satire, Short Stories, Humor, Fiction, Fantasy

Featuring: Interview Format, Dead People, Actress, Dating, Mothers, Mattresses

Rating as a movie: PG-13

My rating: ⭐️⭐️½

My thoughts: These people were so annoying, and the story was flat. I think the narration made it worse.

Recommend to others?: 🙅🏾‍♀️ Nope. Skippable.

[Norma · Rating 4 out of 5]

( Format : Audiobook )
"Soft. It was really, really soft."
The third and arguably the best of the series of market research in depth interviews with dead people: a cooky idea for some in depth examination more of the people interviewed than the topic under discussion. This time an actress is asked about her Tempur-pedic matress.
Both interviewer and interviewed are narrated by different people: Elizabeth Evans and Suzanne Savoy. Funny yet also sad. Available for free with the Audible Plus programme, this is well worth a read - only just under an hour in length.

[RatGrrrl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Espach is a Wizard of Intimate Pain & Emotion!

I'm gutted to have finished this trilogy of short stories because I have lobed them and the phenomenal performances so very much. Espach truly is a maestro of heartbreak and reflection with the posthumous product interview being such a glorious amusing and disarming framing device.

All three stories have truly been perfection in short stories/ audio dramas and performances. I'm in awe.

[KT Reviews It Kayla Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this trilogy!!! Wowza!! This concept of using post-mortem market research interviews, after the death of the consumer were extremely entertaining, genius, and heartfelt. I really LOVED all the characters, their stories, conflicts etc.
I felt this story was very “soft,” and not too springy compared to the others.

“I mean…it’s not the mattresses fault…it’s nobody’s fault really, except my own…I was always acting you know…”

[Ashlee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m glad that I lasted until July before I encountered my first 1 star book of the year.

I like the format of a post mortem customer interview, but I don’t think it added anything valuable to this specific story. The novel feels like it is trying to express a potent message about life and its circumstances, but is poorly balanced with absurdist humour.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

0. I don't recommend you spend your time on this. At best a poor allegory. At worst, a very uninspiring, bland, and uneventful "short story" which, whilst perhaps useful for the author to create, was unnecessary to publish. Even if one were compelled to publish with this allegory, it could've been redirected to be re-written in a much more engaging, enthralling, and/or creative and artistic way.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating scale:
5☆ - I loved this book and it brought out true emotion in me (laughter, anger, a good cry, etc)
4☆ - I loved this book.
3☆ - I liked this book.
2☆ - I didn't really care for this book.
1☆ - I did not like this book at all and probably did not finish it.

[Jacob Faulkner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a unique version of telling the story of love that wasn't working from the perspective of the person in the relationship after their deaths I'm excited to check out the other two in the series!

[Nivedita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpectedly Wonderful! The underlying message is wonderful, something everyone should understand. An understanding that shouldn't have to wait until you are 6 ft under.
The fun idea of presenting this as a mattress market research survey - brilliant

[Krysta Angotti · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is such a different book and fresh take. I’ve never read something like this. Interviewing someone who is dead about their life. It is marketed as “brand marketing research” but you learn about the persons life. You hear about her life and how it surrounded the mattress she bought.

[Ankita Goswami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am going through a reading slump. I haven't been able to get into anything I have picked up lately, so the fact that I was actively engaged with this short story says a lot about how well written (and well-narrated at 1.5x speed) it is. I enjoyed it and it kept me hooked from start to finish.

[Vidhi Shah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love this series, the bounty episode was my favorite. This one was alright. It's an account of why a very young woman bought a very expensive mattress, what led to this decision, what it meant to her and how it effected her relationship.