Episodes
July 25, 2024
44: A Book About What Dying is Really Like
Most of us have never seen a death up close, let alone many. How, then, can we know what to do or say to support someone else who's dying? How can we know what to expect for our own deaths? "With the End in Mind" by Kathryn …
June 14, 2024
43: How to Write an Obituary
So it's time to write an obituary. Who should do it and how? What needs to be included? What should be left out? Where does it go? What is an obituary for, anyway?
May 30, 2024
42: What does "Quality of Life" mean?
The phrase "quality of life" comes up often, particularly when completing an Advance Directive or when dealing with the medical system. But what does it mean? And who gets to define it?
May 16, 2024
41: Hello again. Birthday. Restart. Community.
Hello! After a long while, I am restarting this podcast. Because it's my birthday and that's my present to my self (and to you).
June 22, 2023
40: Aging While LGBTQ
A brief overview of the range of issues faced by LGBTQ seniors towards the end of life.
June 3, 2023
39: Sharing Collected Art
Do you have art that means a lot to you? Will others know why they mattered to you or what they're worth? Here are some quick tips to help other treasure your treasures.
May 5, 2023
38: Why I’ve Been Gone
I haven't posted a new episode for a couple of months. I've been grieving the death of my friend, Jen Angel.
Some good articles about Jen:
Food, Love, and Revolution: Jen Angel's Legacy by Carwil Bjork-James, Yes! Magazine…
Jan. 31, 2023
37: Preventing Dementia, Going Alcohol Free
I want to do what I can to age well, including preventing getting dementia. I'm learning (and sharing) a range of steps to protect my brain. One of the big ones is deciding to reduce my alcohol intake, going alcohol free.
…
Jan. 6, 2023
36: Goals and Plans for 2023
What you can expect for Dying Kindness in 2023, including ways that the decisions we make decades before retirement impact our ability to age well, and affect others in our immediate circle, beyond those we know, and for gen…
Dec. 23, 2022
35: Home for the Holidays? What to Look Out For
Most people want to die at home, but the ability to stay home depends heavily on how well it's set up to age in place. This holiday season, take advantage of being home to look around and take notes on what might make it har…
Dec. 8, 2022
34: Why You Should Write Down Your Recipes
Do you have a signature dish? Have you written down the recipe? Why you should record how to make foods associated with you so others can make it when you're gone.
Buy "Like Water for Chocolate" by Laura Esquivel at Booksh…
Nov. 11, 2022
33: Why You Should Prearrange Your Funeral
Maybe you've told people what you want done with your body when you die. Have you also written down exactly what you want for your funeral? And have you paid for it?
Dean Lambert from the Love Always Project knows firsthan…
Oct. 27, 2022
32: Holidays for the Dead (replay)
Samhain. Halloween. All Saints Day. All Souls Day. Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).
All of these holidays are about the connection between the living and the dead. And they all present the dead in different ways. Taking…
Oct. 14, 2022
31:Trusts vs Wills
What is a revocable living trust and who needs one? What's the difference between a will and a trust? If you have a will, do you need a trust?
Mentioned:
Natural Organic Reduction in California: https://recompose.life/202…
Sept. 30, 2022
30: Eco-Friendly Burial Options – You Can Help Expand Them
A discussion with Edward Bixby of the Green Burial Council on eco-friendly burial options – and the consumer's role in helping expand what's available.
Sept. 14, 2022
29: Who They Gonna Call?
In addition to choosing an emergency contact, you should prepare contact lists for who they should call if you ended up in a crisis or need longer-term support. In this episode, Cianna goes over what kinds of contact lists y…
Aug. 17, 2022
28: Preparing for Writing Your Will
We all know we should write a will, but how do you get started? Here are some tips on what to prepare that will make it easier and will save you time and money when you sit down to write your own will.
Aug. 3, 2022
27: Planning for Long-Term Care, with Matt McCann
People are living longer and longer. While generally that's a good thing, it also means that more of us are going to need long-term care – and that can get expensive. What is long-term care? What options are there? And how c…
July 20, 2022
26: In The First Hours After Your Death
If you were to become incapacitated or die suddenly, what would your people need to know?
This is a replay of Episode 1, updated to include an announcement for BinderDash, a workshop + co-working session to help you get the…
July 9, 2022
Brief Thoughts on SCOTUS and the Future
The decisions made by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) during this past session raised some concerns about how certain classes of people and situations will be different treated from state to state. Cianna sha…
June 21, 2022
24: What’s in an Obituary? A conversation with Michael Osborne, Famous & Gravy
What's the point of obituaries? Why are some people so into reading them? Should you draft your own obituary as a Dying Kindness?
Today we talk with Michael Osborne from the podcast Famous & Gravy, a podcast about what real…
June 7, 2022
23: Joint Account vs Power of Attorney for Finances - which is better?
For most of us, there will come a point when we'll need to have someone else help manage our finances. Two common approaches are to set up a joint bank account, or use a Power of Attorney for Finances. Which is better? How d…
May 24, 2022
22: How much does a funeral cost?
A funeral can get expensive. In this episode, I break down the elements of a traditional burial funeral in the United Stages, and the median costs.
April 19, 2022
21: ”Asking for Help” vs ”Being a Burden”
After a lifetime of independence, it can be tough to age or get ill and start to need help. So many of us fear becoming a burden so we resist asking for help. But at what point will our independence become a problem? What's …