Funeral Syllabus

In this episode of Funeral Syllabus, Aisha Langford kicks off a new five-part series, The Documents That Matter, by exploring an important question: Who would make your medical decisions if you couldn't make them yourself? Aisha explains what a health care decision-maker does, why choosing someone you trust matters, and how to formally document your choice. She also discusses what happens when...

In this episode of Funeral Syllabus, Aisha Langford explores something most people never expect: how differently the people around us can respond to the very same loss. Aisha walks through the ways grief can vary from person to person, shaped by personality, culture, generation, and lived experience. She explains why those differences can create friction within families and offers three practical...

In this episode of Funeral Syllabus, Aisha Langford talks with Scott Stollar, a California-based REALTOR® and C.A.R. Certified Probate and Trust Specialist who helps families navigate inherited property after a death. Inheriting a home can bring emotional, financial, and practical decisions, including whether to keep the property, sell it, rent it, or have one family member buy out the others. Dra...

In this episode of Funeral Syllabus, Aisha Langford addresses one of the most common assumptions in end-of-life planning; that telling your family what you want is enough. Aisha explains why knowing what you want, agreeing about what you want, and having the legal authority to carry it out are three different things. Drawing on published research showing that surrogates incorrectly predict end-of-...

In this episode of Funeral Syllabus, Aisha Langford breaks down the real cost of a funeral and explains where families most often get surprised. Aisha covers what to know about caskets, embalming, and cremation — including your consumer rights under the Federal Trade Commission's Funeral Rule — and makes an important distinction between preplanning and prepaying that most people have never conside...

In this episode of Funeral Syllabus, Aisha Langford tackles something that didn't exist as a planning concern twenty years ago; what happens to your digital life after you're gone. Aisha walks through the scope of what people have online, from social media accounts and email to financial accounts and digital photos, and explains why none of it automatically transfers to your family when yo...

In this episode of Funeral Syllabus, Aisha Langford reveals something that surprises most people; when your will goes through probate after your death, it generally becomes part of the public court record. Aisha explains what probate is, why having a will does not automatically mean your estate will avoid it, and what tools like a revocable living trust can do to help keep your affairs private. Yo...

In this episode of Funeral Syllabus, Aisha Langford getspersonal by sharing her own perspective on honoring loved ones after loss and why there is no single right way to do it. Aisha openly shares that she is not someone who visitscemeteries, while fully validating those for whom grave visits are meaningful and important. She then walks through a variety of ways to keep someone present. From livin...

In this episode of Funeral Syllabus, Aisha Langford makes the case for one of the most loving things you can do for the people who will grieve you; pre-planning your own memorial. Aisha explains what to document, how to set aside funds, why life insurance matters, and how leaving clear guidance spares your loved ones from guesswork. You'll leave this episode with a simple list of things to wri...

In this episode of Funeral Syllabus, Aisha Langford covers what $500 to $1,000 makes possible for a memorial celebration and how to spend it meaningfully rather than just spend it. Aisha walks through venue options, catering considerations, and meaningful keepsakes that will outlast any food or flowers. You'll leave this episode with a clear framework for spending intentionally at this level and c...

In this episode of Funeral Syllabus, Aisha Langford walks through what $150 to $300 can actually do for a memorial gathering — and why this is the sweet spot for many families. Aisha covers smart food choices, venue options, printed programs, and personal touches that make a gathering feel complete and meaningful without stretching the budget. You'll leave this episode with a clear, practical...

In this episode of Funeral Syllabus, Aisha Langford shares one surprisingly simple decision that can save families hundreds of dollars in memorial planning — and it has nothing to do with food. Aisha explains why the time you choose to start a gathering completely resets guest expectations, and walks through morning, afternoon, and evening options including a beautiful candlelight remembrance that...

In this episode of Funeral Syllabus, Aisha Langford shares meaningful, dignified ways to honor someone you love when resources are tight. Aisha walks through six specific ideas — from a Zoom memorial to a YouTube photo tribute to a memory jar — that cost little to nothing and often mean more than expensive alternatives. You'll leave this episode with at least one idea you can use or share with...

In this episode of Funeral Syllabus, Aisha Langford tackles one of the most common and least talked about dynamics in memorial planning — the pressure to overspend. Aisha explains why grief makes us vulnerable to financial decisions driven by guilt and fear of judgment, and why the size of a memorial has nothing to do with the size of your love. She gives listeners permission to plan with intentio...

In this episode of Funeral Syllabus, Aisha Langford gets personal — sharing the story of her own family's experience with the family meeting, including their first meeting in July 2018 and a follow-up meeting in July 2024.Aisha shares what topics her family covered, why she had the youngest family members speak first, and what changed between the two meetings six years later. She also reflects...

In this episode of Funeral Syllabus, Aisha Langford covers what actually happens during a family meeting. Aisha explains how to set the right tone, why having a designated note-taker is non-negotiable, and how to handle the emotions that naturally come up when families discuss money, healthcare, and end-of-life wishes. She also walks through the critical follow-up steps. You'll leave this epis...

In this episode of Funeral Syllabus, Aisha Langford walks listeners through exactly how to prepare for a family meeting — because a good meeting doesn't start when everyone sits down. It starts weeks before. Aisha covers how to define the purpose of your meeting, who to invite, how to choose a date and format, and why sharing an agenda in advance makes all the difference. She also explains whe...

In this episode of Funeral Syllabus, Aisha Langford introduces a brand new mini-series on the family meeting — one of the most important and most overlooked tools in end-of-life planning. Most families don't talk about money, healthcare, aging, or death until a crisis forces them to. A family meeting changes that. In this episode, Aisha explains what a family meeting is, why every family can b...

In this episode of Funeral Syllabus, Aisha Langford talks with Dr. Mark Evely, Director of the Mortuary Science Program at Wayne State University, about today’s most important funeral planning topics. Dr. Evely breaks down the different types of cremation, including traditional flame cremation and water cremation (alkaline hydrolysis), and explains why some options are not yet available in every s...

In this episode of the Funeral Syllabus Podcast, host Aisha Langford, MPH, PhD, speaks with Martin Simenc about the basic considerations regarding home modifications that promote safer living spaces as we age. Martin Simenc is the owner and founder of Home Safety Services, Inc., Northern California’s preeminent provider of home modification services, which enable seniors to maintain independence a...

In this episode of the Funeral Syllabus Podcast, host Aisha Langford, MPH, PhD, interviews Lynda Shrager, OTR, MSW, CAPS, nationally recognized occupational therapist, social worker, and certified aging-in-place specialist with more than 30 years of experience helping older adults live safely and independently. Known as "The Organized Caregiver," she is the author of "Age in Place:...

In this episode of the Funeral Syllabus Podcast, host AishaLangford, MPH, PhD, interviews Aishwarya Iyer, MD, MPH, a family medicinephysician as we explore the intersection of primary care basics and end-of-lifeplanning.   Resources: Funeral Syllabus:  https://www.funeralsyllabus.com/ Talking With Your Doctor or Health Care Provider:  https://www.nih.gov/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-c...

Dr. Theresa Skaar is a social psychologist, certified Mind-body Skills facilitator, and qualified Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction practitioner. She joins Funeral Syllabus Podcast, hosted by Aisha Langford, MPH, PhD, for this episode about grief and caregiving. ResourcesFuneral Syllabus: https://www.funeralsyllabus.com/ Theresa Skaar's Website: https://ccwithdrt.com/ The Negative Space: Support...

In this episode of the Funeral Syllabus Podcast, host Aisha Langford, MPH, PhD, visits with Mia Roldan, a licensed social worker, for an in-depth exploration of the grief process. More Resources Our website: https://www.funeralsyllabus.com/ Mia Roldan’s website: https://www.miaroldanaustintherapy.com/ Navigating Grief: A Guided Journal by Mia Roldan: https://www.amazon.com/Navigating-Grief-Journal...

Tara Liberman, DO, is our guest for this episode of the Funeral Syllabus Podcast, where we discuss elder orphans and aging well. Dr. Liberman is the Executive Director of Hospice Care Network, Northwell Health, and also serves as an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Health in New York. She specializes in Geriatric and Palliativ...