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

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/IG: thedeathreadinesspodcastFB: Death Readiness Advance Directive Forms: 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 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/B0DPN6JP58Learn more about Samantha Rose at the following: https://www.yellowskymedia.com/my-storyIG: https://www.instagram.com/samantharose_writerFB: https://www.facebook.com/samantha.rose.90813/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantharoseswartz

What Growing Up in a Funeral Home Taught Katie Radel About Life

Growing up in a funeral home is more than just a "fun fact," it can provide a life-altering perspective on how to live. Growing up in her family's third-generation funeral home taught Katie Radel so many beautiful lessons about living that can only be found by witnessing death.In this episode of Dying to Know More, Ashley Haugen talks with Katie Radel about her unique upbringing and how she got involved in the world of natural burial at Larkspur Conservation in Middle Tennessee.Katie explains the radical difference between the coffee-and-lilies atmosphere of a family funeral business and the serene wildflower meadows of Larkspur Conservation — and how there's space for both. We dive deep into the emotional weight of being with a loved one during their final moments, and how witnessing hundreds of funerals can actually help you live a more authentic life. This conversation offers a refreshing, non-taboo look at the one thing we all have in common and is — as Katie says — 100% happening to all of us.Inside This Episode We Cover:• Growing up living above a funeral home• Driving a hearse at 16: Normalizing the industry• How death gave Katie the courage to change her life• The most moving "celebration of life" story Katie's experience• The Death Positivity movement • Why "fingernails" matter in funeral prep• Finding "winks" from the other sideResources & Links:Learn about Larkspur Conservation: https://larkspurconservation.org/ Watch "Bury Me at Taylor Hollow": https://www.reelsouth.org/documentaries/bury-me-taylor-hollowFollow Dying to Know More on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dyingtoknowmorepodcast/Check out our previous episode with Alice Sullivan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Dk3NiQD8Jk&t=1s

A Guide to Caregiving, End-of-Life Planning and Navigating the "Sunset Stage" with Ebony Leary

In this episode of Dying to Know More, we welcome Ebony Leary, founder of My Sunset Doula. As a former hospice nurse and current death doula and end-of-life planning professional, Ebony demystifies the caregiving journey. We discuss the "pink flags" of cognitive decline, how families can access Medicaid funds for caregiving, and why having an advanced directive is the best gift you can leave your family. Whether you are currently a caregiver or just starting to notice your parents aging, this episode offers the roadmap you need.