Episodes

April 5, 2022

20: What Goes Into A Living Will?

A discussion of the kinds of things that you could (and should) include in your living will, including examples that Cianna wrote into her own. Topics: Living Will, Advance Directive Mentioned: DyingKindness.com NOLO …
March 22, 2022

19: Which Forms? When? Living Will, DNR, POLST, Advance Directive

Living Will. DNR. Advance Directive. POLST.  You know these forms are important. But are they the same? Do you need all of them? What are they for? And when would you need them?
March 2, 2022

18: Choosing Who Will Defend Your Wishes

Selecting the right Health Care Agent is a critical factor in ensuring that we get the kind of care we want when we're critically injured or nearing the end of our lives. Your agent will be responsible for implementing your …
Feb. 24, 2022

17: On Wanting To Do What We Love As Long As Possible

Thinking about dying has me thinking about aging. And as I took my aging body on a hike, I decided maybe it's time to get used to using hiking poles—and this had me thinking about what we can do now so that we can keep what …
Feb. 16, 2022

16: Your Final Resting Place

Do you want to be buried near your parents? Want your children to scatter your ashes at your favorite beach? Would your family visit your memorial tree in a forest? What kinds of things do you need to take into consideratio…
Feb. 1, 2022

15: Final Disposition of Your Body

Burial or Cremation? That question is important, yes, and it's not the only thing that needs to be decided about what will happen with your body after you die. This episode covers some of the practical decisions that need to…
Jan. 18, 2022

14: Getting The Conversation Started

Sure, it's important to talk about death and what we want. But how do you even begin this conversation? What if you're ready to talk but someone else is resistant? And what do we even need to talk about? In this episode I i…
Jan. 5, 2022

13: What’s in a Death Binder?

Just what kinds of things would be useful to the people we'll leave behind when we die? What decisions need to be made? What goes into a "Death Binder"?
Dec. 23, 2021

12: Lessons for Living and Dying Well

Presenting three books with lessons learned from the dying on how to live (and die) well: The Top Five Regrets of the Dying - Bronnie Ware The Four Things That Matter Most - Ira Byock When Breath Becomes Air - Paul Kala…
Dec. 7, 2021

11: From Death Phobic to Death Doula

Karen Reppen describes herself as being once "the most death phobic person on the planet." Now she's on the board of the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance (NEDA) and an advocate for death education. In this interview, she …
Guest: Karen Reppen
Nov. 24, 2021

10: Holidays Can Be Complicated

Logistics are not the only things that complicate death. The holidays can be an emotional time. Here are five ways to help take care of the emotional side of the impact your death will have on those you love.
Nov. 9, 2021

9: What is a Good Death?

We often refer to the idea of a "good death" without really digging in to what that means for us. But being clear about it is critical when it comes to completing an Advance Care Directive.
Oct. 27, 2021

8-HolidaysForTheDead

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. Ta…
Oct. 12, 2021

7: An Estate Lawyer Teaches Me Things

Have questions about estate planning? Listen in on my first conversation with an estate lawyer, Kathleen Hunt. I ask basic questions and learn so much!
Guest: Kathleen Hunt
Sept. 14, 2021

6: Ashes to Ashes... and More

What can be done with cremated remains? So many things!
Sept. 7, 2021

5: Hospice - Edwina Moldover Interview

"Hospice is not giving up." Retired hospice nurse Edwina Moldover clears up misconceptions about hospice and says that the biggest mistake we make is not accessing hospice earlier.
Aug. 19, 2021

4: The Value of Physical Stuff

When we die, we'll leave behind a lot of physical stuff. How should we think about the value of that stuff? And how can we make it easier for our loved ones to distribute it after we're gone?
July 15, 2021

3: After the First Days - Your Will

What can a Will convey - and when is it not enough? Discussed in this episode: Wills Estate Planning with a lawyer Time and costs of Probate Court Thresholds for automatic Probate Beneficiary Designations Interview w/…
Guest: Miguel Torres
July 1, 2021

2: In the First Days of Your Death

Notes on what decisions will need to be made by your loved ones in the first few days after your death.   In this episode: Final disposition Finances Obituary Social media
July 1, 2021

1: Urgent Needs in the First Hours

If you were to get into an accident, what would your loved ones need to know right away? This episode introduces Dying Kindness, and walks through some practical notes on what you should have prepared for the first few hour…