70% of Americans Have No Estate Plan. Jill Mastroianni Works to Change That.

70% of Americans Have No Estate Plan. Jill Mastroianni Works to Change That.

Seventy percent of Americans have no estate plan at all, but according to estate planning attorney Jill Mastroianni, the biggest mistake isn't having the wrong documents. It's assuming everyone needs the same plan. In this episode of "Dying to Know More," Jill breaks down the estate planning basics most people never learn, including wills, trusts, probate, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. She explains why estate planning isn't just for wealthy families, how a lack of preparation can create major challenges for loved ones, and why organizing information may be just as important as creating legal documents. We also dive into special needs planning, common misconceptions about probate, and the inspiration behind Jill's Death Readiness Playbook, a practical guide designed to help families avoid confusion, conflict, and scavenger hunts during life's hardest moments. SHOW NOTES: URL: https://www.deathreadiness.com/ [https://www.deathreadiness.com/] IG: thedeathreadinesspodcast FB: Death Readiness Advance Directive Forms: https://www.caringinfo.org/planning/advance-directives/by-state/ [https://www.caringinfo.org/planning/advance-directives/by-state/]

What the Dying Teach Us About Living

What can people facing the end of life teach the rest of us about living right now?  In this episode of Dying to Know More,  palliative care chaplain Cody Hufstedler shares what he’s learned from hundreds of deathbed conversations as well as the intimate conversations he's had with terminal patients on his podcast, "Dying to Tell You."  We also talk about grief, terminal illness, fear of death, finding meaning at the end of life, and how talking openly about death can help us live more intentionally. If you’re curious about end-of-life wisdom, hospice conversations, or living with purpose, this episode is for you. Subscribe for more honest conversations about death, grief, and what it means to truly live. Find Cody online at: dttypodcast.com [http://dttypodcast.com] Instagram: @dttypod   Youtube: @dttypod     Facebook: dttypod Tiktok: dying.to.tell.you

Grief, Guilt, and Letting Go: A Raw Conversation About Suicide Loss

What happens when grief hits all at once, and how do you survive it? In this episode of Dying to Know More, author Samantha Rose shares the raw, disorienting reality of losing her mother to suicide and the unexpected ways she found healing. An Emmy Award-winning writer and bestselling author, Samantha Rose talks about her memoir Giving Up the Ghost: A Daughter’s Memoir, a powerful exploration of loss, love and the journey to healing — all with a touch of humor. Learn how Samantha navigated a season of compounded grief, including divorce, cancer, her mother’s sudden death, and the isolation of COVID, and how those experiences reshaped her understanding of survival. She shares what it’s really like to lose someone to suicide, including the shock, guilt, anger, and unanswered questions that follow. Samantha also reflects on the tools that helped her heal, from therapy to writing, and the deeply personal and surprising ways she continued a relationship with her mother after her passing. This is a conversation about grief, but also about resilience, connection, and learning how to live again. If you’ve ever wondered how people survive the unimaginable, or you’re navigating grief yourself, this episode offers honesty, comfort, and perspective you won’t hear in everyday conversations. Purchase Giving Up the Ghost: A Daughter's Memoir at https://www.amazon.com/Giving-Up-Ghost-Daughters-Memoir-ebook/dp/B0DPN6JP58 [https://www.amazon.com/Giving-Up-Ghost-Daughters-Memoir-ebook/dp/B0DPN6JP58] Learn more about Samantha Rose at the following: https://www.yellowskymedia.com/my-story [https://www.yellowskymedia.com/my-story] IG: https://www.instagram.com/samantharose_writer [https://www.instagram.com/samantharose_writer] FB: https://www.facebook.com/samantha.rose.90813/ [https://www.facebook.com/samantha.rose.90813/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantharoseswartz [https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantharoseswartz]

Pet Loss Grief? There’s a New App for That!

What happens when success no longer feels meaningful and grief changes everything? In this episode, we talk with entrepreneur-turned-death doula Phil Benavides, who walked away from a thriving tech company after experiencing multiple personal losses during COVID. What followed was a complete life pivot, one that led him into the world of grief support, end-of-life care, and ultimately, building a groundbreaking platform to help people navigate the loss of a beloved pet. Phil shares powerful insights into the emotional complexity of choosing euthanasia, what a “good death” can look like for our pets, and how simple, intentional moments can make all the difference. They also dive into the inspiration behind Remembrance, the new app designed to connect grieving pet owners with real humans who understand their pain, exactly when they need it most ... even if it's at 2 a.m. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why pet loss can feel just as painful as losing a person • The concept of “disenfranchised grief” and why it matters • How to know when it’s time to say goodbye to your pet • What actually helps people process grief (hint: it’s not articles) • How peer support and pet tech is reshaping the future of pet grief care Check out Remembrance Pets here: https://remembrancepets.com/ [https://remembrancepets.com/]

It's Not "Just a Pet": The Silent Stigma of Pet Loss with Koryn

When we lose a human loved one, society rolls out a "red carpet" of support. Meals are delivered, bereavement leave is granted, and our grief is validated. But when a "soul dog" or a beloved feline companion passes, pet parents are often met with silence, awkwardness, or the dismissive sentiment that it was "just an animal." In this episode, we talk with Koryn Greenspan, a certified pet loss bereavement specialist and end-of-life pet doula. After a 13-year career in the pet industry and the profound loss of her own soul dog, Georgia, Koryn founded The Parted Paw to fill the void in how we support those grieving a pet. In this episode, we explore: • The "Hierarchy of Species": Why the clinical definition of bereavement doesn't distinguish between humans and animals, and why your grief is 100% valid. • Anticipatory Grief: Navigating the "limbo" when a pet is aging or in palliative care. • Practical Support: What to actually say (and what not to say) to a friend who has lost a pet. • The Digital Gut-Punch: How social media memories can complicate the healing process and why we need better "digital boundaries" for grief. Whether you are currently navigating the loss of a pet, supporting a friend, or working in the animal care industry, this conversation offers a safe space to acknowledge that love is love and loss is loss. Website: https://www.thepartedpaw.com/ [https://www.thepartedpaw.com/] Instagram: thepartedpaw_griefsupport [https://www.instagram.com/thepartedpaw_griefsupport] TikTok: ThePartedPaw [https://www.tiktok.com/@thepartedpaw] About the Podcast: Dying to Know More explores the complex, often hushed conversations surrounding death, dying, and the grief that follows. Hosted by Ashley Haugen, we aim to educate and empower listeners to lean into the uncomfortable parts of life with grace and curiosity. Subscribe for more episodes.