Episodes and Extras
Episode 101: Put a ring on it
Amy and Andy kick off this deadly dialogue with a lively discussion on The Ring Theory. Learning how to comfort in and dump out can help close the gap between intention and impact and maybe, just maybe, keep a foot out of our mouths.
Episode 101 Extras
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Episode 102: Happy life, happy death
Before we get too far into what makes a good death, we explore what makes a good life. Leave it to those brainiacs at Harvard to figure it out. If relationships make for a happy life, how does that affect us at the end of our lives? We’re not sure, but we have some theories.
Episode 102 Extras
Harvard Study of Adult Development
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Episode 103: Let's Spoon
​We can never truly walk in the shoes of someone with chronic or terminal illness, but one brave soul made it her mission to give us a chance. Thus the Spoon Theory was born and offers a lexicon for the limitations and constant decision-making from the perspective of someone whose health and capabilities are compromised. The price for this episode: 0 spoons (we hope).
Episode 103 Extras
Episode 104: Aunt Marion Had Lupus
Andy tries to spoon-feed his mom the Spoon Theory and found some interesting results. Why is it so hard to talk about death and end of life? Andy shares an article from an anthropologist who is working with college students and we share the playlists for our own morning serenades of death.
Episode 104 Extras
Talking about Death in America: An Anthropologist’s View
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Episode 105: Thomas Jefferson Had it Wrong
Is the belief that we’re all entitled to the pursuit of happiness turning us into selfish a-holes? (Maybe) What is the difference between happiness and meaning? (So many differences) Where does joy fit in? (The answer involved ice cream.) And does any of this make us more eager to talk about death? (Us, yes. You? Maybe not so much.)
Episode 105 Extras
Is a Happy Life Different from a Meaningful One?
Margaret Marilyn Adler’s Obituary
The Difference Between Joy and Happiness
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Episode 106: It's About Time
Are you spending your life focused on the things you value? If you look at it mathematically, chances are good that you’ll find room for adjustment. The good news is that past performance is not a predictor of future results. It’s go time, people!
Episode 106 Extras
How Covid Stole Our Time and How to Get it Back
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Episode 107: Receiving Lines
When you’re face to face with someone who’s just suffered a loss, knowing what to say—and worrying about saying the right things—can be a real source of discomfort. In this episode, we stumble through our own attempts to offer some options and try to illuminate what it’s like for the people on the other side of the line.
Episode 107 Extras
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Episode 108: When Death Interrupts
Trigger warning: This episode includes open talk about suicidal ideation. Teenage mental health problems and suicide are an epidemic and almost every person living with or loving a teenager has been affected. This is a personal tale of Amy and her daughter’s struggle with suicidal ideation and gestures. It contains open discussion about suicide, which may be triggering to some. The 988 crisis line is a great resource for people in crisis and those who love them. Please note: This was recorded in 2022 and the situation has tempered and evolved since then.
Episode 108 Extras
Episode 109: Extraordinary Measures
People pleasers, rise up! This is your chance to have things exactly your way. We talk about why advanced directives and advocacy are essential to think about now so when it’s time for us to exit the stage, everything is as we want it to be. It’s my death and I’m not going to take it lying down! (Unless I want to. Actually, I probably should; it will be more comfortable for me and everyone around me. Can everyone see OK? Should I reposition myself so you all have a good view?)
Episode 109 Extras
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Episode 110: Hanging Up on Death
Sometimes Death is whispering to you and you don't even realize it. This episode recounts if not the closest of calls, one that was a little too close for comfort. And talks about how different the death conversation becomes when the pronouns are "I" and "me" instead of "you" and "them."