death with dignity

In the Intro to this episode, you'll hear Steven Petrow talking about his sister Julie Petrow’s death last June 2023. After years of battling ovarian cancer, Julie, Steven’s five-years-younger little sister, chose to die in her New Jersey home by drinking a lethal cocktail. She was surrounded by her family. And it was legal. She used a procedure called MAID or medical aid in dying, which is now legal in 10 states in the U.S. plus the district of Columbia.

But before she died, she made Steven, who is a bestselling author and a contributing columnist for The Washington Post, promise to write about how she chose to die, in order to raise awareness around MAID, a practice that many people don’t know about, or don’t understand, even though it was first legalized in Oregon, almost 30 years ago. 

So Steven did, publishing an essay about Julie and her decision in The New York Times a few months ago. It got a huge reception with over 600 comments on the NYT’s site. 

In this episode, Steven explains more:
 

• What the term medical aid in dying means and what it is exactly (it used to be called physician assisted suicide, but a physician is NOT present)
• Why he thinks only 9,000 people have availed themselves of the procedure since it first became legalized
• Why it’s mostly used by educated whites (for one thing, the cocktail of lethal drugs cost $700 to $900 and is NOT reimbursable)

This is simply a fascinating episode and Steven is a lovely guest, eloquent, respectful, and informed. It was such a pleasure to have him back on the show. As always, see below for links to his articles and books, including the NYT article, and a link to the first time he was on the show almost three years ago.  

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Don't miss Debbie's Behind The Scenes essay on Substack accompanying every episode of the podcast. 

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Mentioned in this episode or useful:

• Steven Petrow’s website
• I Promised My Sister I Would Write About How She Chose to Die by Steven Petrow (New York Times, Dec. 28, 2024)
• A cancer patient had decided how to die. Here's what I learned from her.  by Steven Petrow (Washington Post, Feb. 18, 2024)
• NPR podcast with Steven Petrow about MAID  (Feb. 22, 2024)
• He didn't want his sister to die. But her suffering helped him understand her choice (NPR, Feb. 25, 2024)
• How Aid in Dying Became Medical, Not Moral by Rachel E. Gross (New York Times, Oct. 24, 2023)
• At Peace: Choosing a Good Death After a Long Life by Samuel Harrington MD (Grand Central Life & Style; February 2018)
• States Where Medical Aid in Dying is Authorized
• [B]OLD AGE Podcast S3E24 - Steven Petrow on the Stupid Things He Won’t Do When He Gets Old
• Stupid Things I Won't Do When I Get Old: A Highly Judgmental, Unapologetically Honest Accounting of All the Things Our Elders Are Doing Wrong by Steven Petrow (Citadel; June 29, 2021)

Connect with Debbie:

• debbieweil.com
• [B]OLD AGE podcast
• [B]OLD AGE newsletter on Substack
• Email: thebolderpodcast@gmail.com
• Debbie and Sam’s blog: Gap Year After Sixty
• Facebook: @debbieweil
• Instagram: @debbieweil
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/debbieweil

Our Media Partners:

• CoGenerate (formerly Encore.org)
• MEA and with thanks to Chip Conley
• Next For Me (former media partner and in memory of Jeff Tidwell)

How to Support this podcast:

• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or Spotify

Credits:

• Host: Debbie Weil
• Producer: Far Out Media
• Music: Lakeside Path by Duck Lake

The podcast discusses death with dignity, and asks the question to search individual's person thoughts on what the point of life is.

The episode discussed on today's Sound Judgment is Near Death: Death Party. Near Death is a Dying For Media production with sales and distribution by Lemonada Media.

Nikki Boyer's takeaways

These are the takeaways from the end of the episode. For more takeaways from all of our guests, subscribe to the Sound Judgment newsletter and visit our blog. 
 

1. Nikki loves having uncomfortable conversations. She’ll ask almost anything, and she’ll share herself in order to create a welcoming, inviting environment. The result: healing conversations about the things that matter most. 
2. It takes a lot of character to admit to the obstacles that stand in our way of doing our best, most honest work. For Nikki, the obstacle was her mindset: Before podcasting, she was an actress, a voice-over artist, and a TV personality. And, she says, she  was always seeking attention. Creating Dying for Sex changed all that. Now, she says, “I have this person’s story to tell and I can’t wait to share it with you.” She’s no longer chasing the spotlight, but giving a gift. 
3. One thing Nikki has learned from doing podcasts about death? A lot of people wait to give themselves permission to do the thing they really want to be doing. And in the end, they regret having put it off. If there’s a project you’ve been putting off, don’t wait any longer. Give yourself permission and jump in.

Near Death: Credits
Nikki Boyer: Dying for Media CEO and cofounder and host, Near Death

Kevin Sabbe: Dying For Media cofounder and executive producer, Near Death

Reverend Peggy: cohost and executive producer

Katie Amanda Keane: producer/writer

Tommy Fields: head of audio

Nikki Boyer

Nikki Boyer is the founder and CEO of Dying For Media and a three-time Emmy® award-winning TV host, producer, actress and podcaster. She created, hosted, and is executive producer of the breakout Wondery podcast, “Dying for Sex,” which won the 2021 Ambie Award for Podcast of the Year — and was named one of Apple’s favorite podcasts of 2020.

In the midst of the global pandemic, Nikki hosted nearly 200 episodes of Wondery’s “The Daily Smile,” a podcast about good news, and recently launched “Call Me Curious” via Wondery+, a lighthearted investigative series that delves into offbeat topics. Nikki cohosts the popular weekly podcast, “Straight Talk with Ross Mathews,” which recently recorded its 400th episode. 

Nikki cohosted the 2021 Ambie Awards show and was a regular guest contributor to The Wendy Williams Show for over eight seasons. She has appeared on virtually every major television talk show, most recently as a guest on The Drew Barrymore Show, supporting the launch of “Call Me Curious.” Along with Kevin Sabbe, she co-created and was co-executive producer of Step Girlfriends, a television concept based on her real life, optioned by CBS Studios. 

Nikki made her mark hosting Yahoo!’s ultra-popular Daytime in No Time, where she was the most watched host on the internet during the series' five-year run. 

Follow Nikki Boyer: 

www.dyingformedia.com

www.nikkiboyer.com

Instagram: @nikkiboyer 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-boyer-6873b847/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsnikkiboyer

If you liked this episode, you’ll love: 

Sound Judgment Season 2/Episode 10: How to Tell the Truth: The Art of Memoir with Dana Black

Sound Judgment Season 2/Episode 2: Standing Ovation Host Jay Baer: How to Craft a Million-Dollar Story

Sound Judgment Season 1/Episode 8: How Top Hosts Hook Listeners in 60 Seconds or Less

We need your support! Please give Sound Judgment a five-star rating and a review on Apple Podcasts. We’re grateful.

The Sound Judgment team is: 
Host & Producer: Elaine Appleton Grant

Production Assistant: Audrey Nelson
Audio engineer/sound designer: Kevin Kline
Podcast manager: Tina Bassir

Cover art by Sarah Edgell
Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC

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To contact us with questions, collaborations, media interviews, speaking engagements, or sponsorships, write to us at allies@podcastallies.com. We encourage your voice memos! Click the microphone icon at soundjudgmentpodcast.com. 

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Credits 

Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC. 

Host: Elaine Appleton Grant

Podcast Manager: Tina Bassir

Production Manager: Andrew Parrella

Audio Engineer: Kevin Kline

Production Assistant: Audrey Nelson

It seems most people feel obligated to cringe or shut down when the thought of the inevitable surfaces. But the simple fact exists that we will all leave this life at some point. Ali talks with Valoria Walker and Lauren Lyster-Mensh who are trained as end-of-life doulas, people who shepherd the dying and their loved ones through the often difficult, emotional, complicated process. They serve as non-medical advocates and holistic supporters of the person passing. Valoria and Laura talk about their experiences, the death positivity movement, death cafes and how we can all start planning for and normalizing conversations about death.

If you have questions or guest suggestions, Ali would love to hear from you. Call or text her at (323) 364-6356. Or email go-ask-ali-podcast-at-gmail.com. (No dashes)

**Go Ask Ali has been nominated for a Webby Award for Best Interview/Talk Show Episode! Please vote for her and the whole team at https://bit.ly/415e8uN by April 20, 2023!

Links of Interest:

Washington Post Article with Laura and Valoria

Death Doula Days at Historic Congressional Cemetery

Doula by Destiny (Valoria Walker)

Valoria in Oprah Daily

INELDA: International End-of-Life Doula Association

Death Doulas Used to Be Rare. The COVID-19 Pandemic Changed That (Time Magazine)

How the Death Positive Movement Is Coming to Life

Death Cafes Spread Rapidly Around the World (Healthnews)

Death Cafe on Facebook

10 Best Books on Death and Dying (according to UpJourney)

Credits:

Executive Producers: Sandie Bailey, Alex Alcheh, Lauren Hohman, Tyler Klang & Gabrielle Collins

Producer & Editor: Brooke Peterson-Bell

Associate Producer: Akiya McKnight

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dignity is an important component of providing care for dying patients and their families. Death with dignity is an end-of-life option, governed by state legislation in the United States, and other lawmakers around the world. It
allows certain people with terminal illness to voluntarily and legally request and receive a prescription medication from their physician to hasten their death in a peaceful, humane, and dignified manner. In today's show we talk
about what you need to know about your freedom of choice when it comes to dignity in dying. It's an important conversation that could impact the discussions you have about life and death with your family and healthcare
team. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On July 16, Gabriella Walsh carried out a decision months in the making; a process involving her loved ones and medical providers. She drank a fatal dose of medication prescribed under California’s so-called death-with-dignity law, which allows some terminally ill patients to request drugs to end their lives.

Today, we tell the story of Walsh, and hear her talk about why she decided to end her life on her own terms. Read the full transcript here.

Host: Gustavo Arellano

Guests: L.A. Times reporter Marisa Gerber, and L.A. Times photographer Dania Maxwell

More reading:

One last trip: Gabriella Walsh’s decision to die — and celebrate life — on her own terms

Death-with-dignity movement springs back to life in California

California lawmakers vote to speed up state process for terminally ill to end their lives

The Zaddy Zone heads into the deep with Hospice Nurse Julie. She is a nurse who educates SO many people on death and dying (particularly on Tik Tok). Does she fear death? What is The Rally? Why do people see past relatives and pets before passing? What are common pieces of advice from the dying to the living? What happens if we allow our bodies to naturally pass instead of fighting it? We also talk about end of life medication that is now legal in California, and how she feels about it!

Julie McFadden is a registered nurse in Los Angeles, CA, worked in the ICU for nine years and has worked as a Hospice nurse for the last six years. Julie shares her story - and others' - surrounding death with her over 800k Tiktok followers in the hopes of making one of life's difficult moments that much easier.

This episode is sponsored by Qualia Night. Sleep support optimizing your body’s regenerative power at night, better sleep without botanical sedatives or giving melatonin. Designed to help the brain regulate the molecules needed to fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake feeling refreshed. https://neurohacker.com/shop/qualia-n... Coupon Code: ZADDY (good for 15% off any purchase/order including subs)

You can find her at:
https://www.tiktok.com/@hospicenursejulie?lang=en
https://www.instagram.com/hospicenursejulie/?hl=en
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW9VMkNemzqHm_YSTN4Lf5g

Subscribe or keep tuning in at:
https://www.instagram.com/thelukecook...
https://www.tiktok.com/@thelukecook?l...
https://www.youtube.com/user/1lcsmash/videos
https://thelukecook.com
Newsletter

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Abigail Favale speaks with Theology & Ethics professor Travis Pickell about the way we experience death. They discuss Americans’ understanding of the topic, why we fear it & keep it at a distance, and how certain people have demonstrated meaningful ways to engage with death.

Dr. Travis Pickell was a lecturer and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Virginia before teaching at George Fox University. He also taught extensively at Anselm House, a center for Christian study at the University of Minnesota.

More on Travis here.

Professor Abigail Favale completed her doctorate at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where she was a recipient of the competitive Overseas Research Award. In 2011, her dissertation was granted the Samuel Rutherford Prize for the most distinguished thesis in English literature.
Check out Abigail's academic profile.

To connect with more of her work, visit her website.

These podcasts are also all video recorded and on our YouTube channel! You can also visit our website at https://georgefox.edu/talks for more content like this. 

Death! How comfortable are you thinking about it? Talking about? What rights should be afforded to you when it's your time to "meet your maker?"  Jack Kevorkian thought you,  under certain conditions, should be able to have a physician help you peacefully release yourself from a life of unbearable, incurable pain. Do you agree? Or do you think everyone needs to soldier on, no matter what they're suffering from, until the bitter end? There are a lot of people on each side of the right to die debate. We explore both sides, and also look into the history of how we humans have faced death, in addition to the history of Dr. Death - Jack Kevorkian. No one did more in the 20th century to get America thinking and talking about death. Should living in the land of the free include having the freedom to terminate your time on Earth in a way of your choosing that could include having your doctor give you one last, very final injection?  I learned a lot this week. Hope you do to! 

The Bad Magic Charity of the month is New Orleans Community Fridges  will be this months recipient of the Bad Magic Donation! We donated $13,900 to them and $1,500 to our new scholarship fund. Such a cool charity, providing free food and drink to those who are food insecure. Visit nolacommunityfridges.org for more info!

TICKETS FOR HOT WET BAD MAGIC SUMMER CAMP!  Go to www.badmagicmerch.com

Watch the Suck on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NRpfn-i3-oU

Merch: https://www.badmagicmerch.com

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Want to join the Cult of the Curious private Facebook Group? Go directly to Facebook and search for "Cult of the Curious" in order to locate whatever happens to be our most current page :)

For all merch related questions/problems: store@badmagicproductions.com (copy and paste)

Please rate and subscribe on iTunes and elsewhere and follow the suck on social media!! @timesuckpodcast on IG and http://www.facebook.com/timesuckpodcast

Wanna become a Space Lizard?  Click here: https://www.patreon.com/timesuckpodcast

Sign up through Patreon and for $5 a month you get to listen to the Secret Suck, which will drop Thursdays at Noon, PST. You'll also get 20% off of all regular Timesuck merch PLUS access to exclusive Space Lizard merch. You get to vote on two Monday topics each month via the app. And you get the download link for my new comedy album, Feel the Heat. Check the Patreon posts to find out how to download the new album and take advantage of other benefits.

Wander through he recent episodes with Jamie and Sarah as they answer YOUR questions and clarify some tricky topics.

Come along with Jamie and Sarah as they spin the death with dignity talk in another direction...how do nurses handle it?  What is the role of the nurse? and how about some training for this stuff??? Am i right?

Come along with Jamie and Sarah as they discuss the very layered issues of the right to die and the right to die with dignity.  We have all faced situations - whether at work or in our personal lives - where this issues rears its ugly head.... But what about the legal side of it?  Should the courts have a say??  Stay tuned....

In this episode we talk about how a daughter responds to her mother's search for assisted death.  Her story is an informative one if you or a family member are considering assisted death.  Please visit our website for resources and other discussions on this topic.

Follow us on Facebook | Instagram | Email us at mail@every1dies.org

Click on this link to Rate and Review our podcast!

On the last episode of the season, Dr. Daniel Bubb shares a very personal account of what it was like to lose his father to stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He addresses some of the reasons why the "Death with Dignity" bill should have been passed here in Nevada. It is a bill that would allow competent adults with a terminal illness to request a prescription that would allow them to end their life at the place and time of their choosing. 

Dr. Bubb also shares some backlash the bill faced from religious groups/organizations, and we compare human euthanasia to animal euthanasia.

This episode is in loving memory of Ken Bubb.

In this episode I talk with my guest Jack Austin about his father Don's decision to utilize the Oregon death with dignity law. We talk about Dr. Don's story, it's impact on their family and Jack himself, and then we finish by discussing some philosophical questions and implications regarding death with dignity laws.

Thank you again to Jack, the entire Austin family, and Don, for being an amazing, courageous person.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255

Timeframes:

• :45 - Comments on the previous The Problems with Microaggressions episode. 
• 7:48 - Listener shout-outs.
• 11:29 - Best beer of the week and Leikam Brewing. 
• 14:00 - Intro to Jack Austin
• 16:00 - Discussion with Jack begins and brew review. 
• 20:07 - Discussion of Death with Dignity begins. 

References/Links

• The Hill - Pete Buttigieg campaign surveyed staffers of color about microaggressions in the workplace
• Politico - Pelosi cites 'element of misogyny' after Warren drops out
• The Washington Post - "THE. Nina. Turner." Bernie Sanders’s most visible and passionate surrogate is helping him connect with black voters
• 1994 Oregon Ballot Measure 16
• Oregon Death with Dignity Act: Annual Reports
• America's Health Rankings Annual Report on Suicide
• Oregon Death with Dignity Act 2018 Data Summary
• Oregon SCR28 In memoriam: Dr. Donald F. Austin.

Contact Information
Untappd: psychologer
Email: meaningofthemindspodcast@gmail.com

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US, and the trends are on the rise. There seems to be a question about whether or not life is worth living that very few are talking about. On October 2nd, 2018, The Thinking Atheist published an episode titled “A Secular Perspective on Suicide,” which, in our estimation, offered little hope. But does Christianity offer a higher calling for suicidal people, or is it actually a contributing cause of their anguish? Is life worth the effort it takes to endure the pain? Is there any hope for people struggling with severe depression or suicidal ideation, or are cliches and slogans the best we can offer? Perhaps happiness is better obtained as an accidental byproduct rather than the chief end of a well lived life.

Notes

Links
Visit our website: https://www.wellreadchristian.com
Check our our blog: https://www.wellreadchristian.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellreadchristian
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/WellReadChrist1
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfGxz4OH1-hVD0fL9AWR4Xg

The Stories Of Terri Schiavo, Brittany Maynard And Karen Ann Quinlan And The Battle Over Their Lives

**KD IS NO LONGER WITH ORBITAL JIGSAW OR BLUBRRY**

Today, we are going to take a look at the stories of Terri Schiavo, Brittany Maynard, and Karen Ann Quinlan.   Each of their extraordinary stories had a major impact on the way Americans viewed the controversial issues regarding the right-to-die, death with dignity, and physician assisted death.  This episode is not meant to be a lesson in what is right and what is wrong, but rather choices and making the tough decisions.  Voicemail intro from Bernadette from the Murderific Podcast.  Promos from The Unseen Podcast and I Said God Damn! Podcast

LINKS:
 
Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/killaforniapod
PayPal:  https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/killaforniapod
Merchandise:  https://killaforniadreamingpodcast.threadless.com/
Website:  https://killaforniadreamingpodcast.buzzsprout.com/
Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1296620370450345/
Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/killaforniadreaming
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/killaforniadreamingpod/?hl=en
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/killaforniapod
Email:  killaforniapod@gmail.com

Public radio host Diane Rehm lost her husband to Parkinson’s disease nearly two years ago. His was an unconventional death, where, in the end, he refused food, water, and medication. Physician-assisted suicide isn’t permitted in Maryland, the state where he died, so he took matters into his own hands. Now, Diane Rehm is an advocate in the right-to-die debate, or what she terms “right-to-choose.” In this episode, she talks about her memoir On My Own, which details the struggle to reconstruct her life after the death of John. The couple was married for 54 years. Rehm spoke as part of the Alma and Joseph Gildenhorn Book Series at the Aspen Institute.

aspenideas.org