A request for help prompted award-winning investigative journalist to reach out to his friend's friend– a woman who had chosen the exact time and date she planned to end her life. What followed evolved into a daily six-month long conversation that examined cultural language, personal agency and the right to die. In this episode, Dowie discusses how…

Some readers will begin contemplating mortality and documenting their life, death, and care wishes while their health is stable, perhaps sparked by a notable transition, loss, or another type of awakening. Others might feel motivated due to illness or the aging process. As your guide through this process, I aim to inspire you to acknowledge—and eve…

"In a world where we have managed to overcome many challenges using technology and medical advances, there are still some difficult things that just won’t go away. We have no cure for death...[and] no workarounds for daunting conversations. Whether we like it or not, sometimes we have to take a deep breath and get into a conversation that we might …

In this heartfelt episode, children's picture book author of "The End of Something Wonderful: A Practical Guide to a Backyard Funeral" explores the difficult subject of losing a pet or loved one and the importance of saying goodbye with host Jade Adgate, a death midwife. Discover more about the author in our exclusive Proustian-themed Q&A, visit: h…

Hospice pioneer, EOL educator and author of "The Little Blue Book," Barbara Karnes has been helping caregivers walk through the process and sacredness of death for over four decades. Her library of booklets have become indispensable tools for families at time of need.Discover more about the author in our exclusive Proustian-themed Q&A,visit: https:…

Writer Erica Buist recounts the evolution of her book, This Party's Dead: Grief, Joy and Spilled Rum at the World's Death Festivals for Bevival's podcast host Jade Adgate, founder of The Farewell Library. Discover more about the author in our exclusive Proustian-themed Q&A, visit: https://bevival.com/exit-interview-discussions-on-life-and-death…

Mary-Frances O'Connor is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry who researches the physical and emotional responses to grief. According to O'Connor, a neuroscientist, grief is an immediate emotional state that knocks you off your feet like a wave. While grieving is a form of adaptive learning over time - a period when the brai…

As a trend journalist, Alix Strauss has always been on the cusp of culture change. After 20 years, her newly reissued book couldn't be more relevant. It's raw and real- replete with tales of sex, death and loneliness. Think Six Feet Under meets Sex in the City. Discover more about the author in our exclusive Proustian-themed Q&A, visit: https://bev…

In her highly personal, yet universally relatable book, Morris talks openly about loss, debilitating grief, relational healing and the process of writing it all down. Discover more about the author in our exclusive Proustian-themed Q&A, visit: https://bevival.com/exit-interview-discussions-on-life-and-death…

Key insights include: 1. **Grief as a Core Human Faculty**: Weller asserts that grief is integral to the human experience, but few are taught how to engage with it effectively. He suggests that becoming skilled in processing grief, through rituals and community, leads to emotional ripeness and wisdom, particularly in later life, rather than mastery…

The balance between humor and tragedy Death as a chaotic, uncontrollable part of life Aging, beauty, and loss of identity The role of denial in how society treats death Euthanasia as both an act of control and a source of uncertainty 1. Title and Themes of the Book: The absence of a question mark in the title reflects a literary tradition, emphasiz…

Known for her unique mix of curiosity, honesty, intimacy and decades of hosting experience, Diane Rehm's weekly interview program brings many of the nation’s prominent newsmakers, journalists, artists and thinkers to talk on the biggest issues of the day, with a focus on cutting through the noise in Washington to reveal the issues beneath the polit…

Writing From The Heart: Finding Your Own Voice is a workshop that is nurturing for the beginning writer and a jump-start for the burnt-out professional. You will take home your powerful one-of-a-kind golden voice filled with self-esteem, honor and joy. Discover more about the author in our exclusive Proustian-themed Q&A, visit: https://bevival.com/…

Key Insights **Resistance & Personal Journey:** Peters explains the personal and cultural resistance to discussing these experiences. Initially, he too avoided sharing his SDEs, fearing societal rejection or being labeled as "unscientific." His journey began after his NDEs and further evolved through hospice work. Over time, he realized how these e…

When Joanne Jacobson’s writing about her mother’s respiratory illness was interrupted by her own diagnosis of a rare blood disorder, her perspective profoundly altered. Every Last Breath follows these two chronic illnesses as they become unexpectedly intertwined. As chronic illness blurs the distinction between illness and wellness, she discovers h…

Key insights include: 1. **Living with the End in Mind**: Becker emphasizes that living with an awareness of death shifts one's perspective, bringing beauty and grace into even the most mundane or difficult parts of life. The goal is to live fully and mindfully, recognizing that every moment is precious. 2. **Embracing Loss in Different Forms**: Be…

Koshin has served as the co-director of Contemplative Care Services of the Department of Integrative Medicine and as the chaplaincy supervisor for the Pain and Palliative Care Department at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center, where he also served on the Medical Ethics Committee for eighteen years. With his husband, Chodo Campbell, he co-founded…

Dr. Dugdale reminds us to get in touch with our sense of finitude- our inevitable impermanence by embracing death literacy as a practice that will help everyone live better and die well. "In this profound and compassionate book about death and its nearness, Dugdale demystifies one of the essential mysteries of our time." - Siddhartha Mukherjee, Pul…

Coombs Lee joined the Oregon Right to Die Political Action Committee that had already been working on draft bills, serving as spokesperson for the group through two statewide campaigns and 10 years defending against attacks on the nation's first Death with Dignity law in both the judicial and legislative arenas. Discover more about the author in ou…

To quote the writer, Leland says: "I write substantial, often off-the-beaten-path articles about how life is lived in New York now. I look for stories that illustrate how larger cultural or demographic forces — aging, migration, climate change, economic upheaval, etc. — play out in the lives of ordinary New Yorkers. My work often involves people wh…

Host Devorah Medwin explores how loss affected Alexandra's work in the theatre and as an award-winning writer. It was a profound transition that eventually found its way full circle. Discover more about the author in our exclusive Proustian-themed Q&A, visit: https://bevival.com/exit-interview-discussions-on-life-and-death…

Key insights include: 1. **Value-Based Healthcare** Byock explains the shift from a fee-for-service model to a value-based healthcare system, where quality of care is measured against costs. This approach encourages a focus on meaningful care rather than unnecessary treatments, particularly for those nearing the end of life. 2. **Reframing Illness*…

1. Death Doulas and End-of-Life Support Definition of Death Doulas: Non-medical professionals providing physical, emotional, and spiritual support to those facing the end of life, akin to birth doulas but at the other end of life. Training and Empowerment: O’Brien created the End-of-Life Doula model to help families manage death more gracefully, fo…

Key insights include: 1. **Death as a Teacher** Ostaseski stresses that death isn't just an event at the end of life but a constant presence that shapes our everyday experiences. He argues that by acknowledging death, we can approach life with more depth, authenticity, and awareness. 2. **Active Engagement with Life** He emphasizes the need for "ac…