Episodes
37: Preventing Dementia, Going Alcohol Free
Jan. 31, 2023
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. …
36: Goals and Plans for 2023
Jan. 6, 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…
35: Home for the Holidays? What to Look Out For
Dec. 23, 2022
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…
34: Why You Should Write Down Your Recipes
Dec. 8, 2022
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…
33: Why You Should Prearrange Your Funeral
Nov. 11, 2022
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…
32: Holidays for the Dead (replay)
Oct. 27, 2022
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…
31:Trusts vs Wills
Oct. 14, 2022
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…
30: Eco-Friendly Burial Options – You Can Help Expand Them
Sept. 30, 2022
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.
29: Who They Gonna Call?
Sept. 14, 2022
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…
28: Preparing for Writing Your Will
Aug. 17, 2022
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.
27: Planning for Long-Term Care, with Matt McCann
Aug. 3, 2022
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…
26: In The First Hours After Your Death
July 20, 2022
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…
Brief Thoughts on SCOTUS and the Future
July 9, 2022
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…
24: What’s in an Obituary? A conversation with Michael Osborne, Famous & Gravy
June 21, 2022
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…
23: Joint Account vs Power of Attorney for Finances - which is better?
June 7, 2022
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…
22: How much does a funeral cost?
May 24, 2022
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.
21: ”Asking for Help” vs ”Being a Burden”
April 19, 2022
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 …
20: What Goes Into A Living Will?
April 5, 2022
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 …
19: Which Forms? When? Living Will, DNR, POLST, Advance Directive
March 22, 2022
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?
18: Choosing Who Will Defend Your Wishes
March 2, 2022
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 …
17: On Wanting To Do What We Love As Long As Possible
Feb. 24, 2022
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 …
16: Your Final Resting Place
Feb. 16, 2022
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…
15: Final Disposition of Your Body
Feb. 1, 2022
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…
14: Getting The Conversation Started
Jan. 18, 2022
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…