Death and Dying in the Digital Age

If the thought of estate planning, digital security, or talking with aging parents makes you feel overwhelmed, you’re not alone. In this insightful episode, host Niki Weiss sits down with private wealth manager Kurt Baker to gently walk us through how to protect what matters most: our loved ones, our legacy, and our peace of mind. Kurt shares real-life stories, including a heartbreaking scam that...

In this heartfelt episode of Death and Dying in the Digital Age, host Niki Weiss speaks with Greg Barnsdale: author, funeral director, and financial insider. The two explore the emotional and practical realities of preparing for end-of-life. Greg shares his deeply personal story, from decades working with grieving families to his own health crisis and viral video after a brain tumor diagnosis. Tog...

In this thought-provoking episode of the Death & Dying in the Digital Age podcast, host Niki Weiss sits down with death tech innovator Symon Braun Freck to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, grief, and digital deathcare. From her early experience volunteering in hospice to building the Ai Death Doula, Symon shares how her journey shaped a groundbreaking app designed to suppor...

What if your final act could give life back to the earth? In this enlightening episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss speaks with Brienna “Brie” Smith, licensed funeral director and social media educator at Return Home, about the revolutionary process of terramation—also known as human composting. Brienna explains how this sustainable, nature-based alternative to cremation and trad...

What happens to your Social Security when life takes an unexpected turn? In this eye-opening episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss welcomes financial planner Bob Goldberg, CFP to demystify Social Security and survivor benefits in the context of end-of-life and legacy planning. Bob breaks down key Social Security strategies, including when to start collecting benefits, how spousal...

In this powerful episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss welcomes Michelle Desmond, MBA, MS. A former corporate executive turned thanatologist, she and Niki explore death, grief, and the digital age. Michelle shares her deeply personal journey—losing her father, husband, close friend, and mother—leading to her career shift into grief and death studies. Discover how she transitioned...

In this powerful episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki welcomes Su Park, founder of Amori, a groundbreaking emotional legacy app helping parents preserve heartfelt messages for their children. Su shares the deeply personal story of losing her mother to cancer and how that grief inspired her mission to redefine how we approach end-of-life communication in the digital age. Discover how to...

In this must-listen episode of Death and Dying in the Digital Age, host Niki chats with estate planning attorney and viral TikTok educator Michelangelo Mortellaro about the urgent need for proactive end-of-life planning. With over $2 million in revenue generated through educational content, Michelangelo shares why digital platforms like TikTok are revolutionizing how families approach topics like...

In this powerful episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki sits down with Dr. Michael Madison, a neurointerventional surgeon and founder of Thanacare, to explore the urgent need for advanced care planning in today’s medical landscape. Dr. Madison shares moving insights from his work treating stroke and aneurysm patients, where families often face emotional and ethical dilemmas due to the la...

In this episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki talks with Cody Barbo, CEO and founder of Trust & Will, the nation’s leading online estate planning platform. Together, they explore how digital innovation is revolutionizing the way everyday families approach wills, trusts, probate, and end-of-life planning. Cody shares his personal story of why he created Trust & Will, tackling com...

In this episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki chats with expert estate appraiser Ray Nugent from Value Pros about the critical importance of estate planning, downsizing, and asset valuation. Whether you're an executor managing a loved one’s estate or looking to future-proof your legacy, this conversation dives deep into the realities of estate settlements, personal property valuation, a...

In this episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki sits down with Crista Hermance, Esq, widely known as the Estate Planning Mom (www.estateplanningmom.com), to discuss the critical importance of estate planning—especially for young families. From wills vs. trusts to the hidden dangers of probate, Crista shares expert insights on protecting your children, assets, and future. Learn why every p...

In this powerful episode of Death and Dying in the Digital Age, host Niki welcomes Dr. Faith Banks, DVM, CHPV, a hospice veterinarian from Toronto, to discuss the emotional and practical aspects of end-of-life care for pets. With over a decade of experience in pet hospice and euthanasia, Dr. Banks shares her journey into this specialized field, the importance of quality of life assessments, and ho...

In this powerful episode of Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki sits down with Dr. Marianne Matzo, FAAN—palliative care expert, nurse, and host of Everyone Dies Podcast—to explore the complexities of death, hospice, and end-of-life decision-making in the digital era. Dr. Matzo shares her 46 years of experience in palliative care, shedding light on the evolution of hospice, the critical role of palli...

In this eye-opening episode of Death and Dying in the Digital Age, Niki sits down with YouTube tech expert David Cox to tackle one of the most overlooked aspects of end-of-life planning: your digital legacy. What happens to your passwords, accounts, and digital assets when you're gone? David breaks it down with step-by-step guidance on setting up Apple’s Legacy Contacts, managing passwords securel...

In this insightful episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss sits down with Sylvia Gordon, an expert in Medicare, Social Security, and estate planning. With over 30 years of experience, Sylvia shares her journey from being an estate planning attorney to training insurance agents on navigating complex government programs. The conversation dives deep into the challenges of planning for...

In this powerful episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss dives into the transformative journey of Christopher Robbins, founder of Soul Degree and a certified death doula. Together, they explore profound themes of mortality, personal growth, and the healing power of meaningful conversations around death and dying. Christopher shares the inspiration behind Soul Degree, a unique wilder...

In this insightful episode of Death and Dying in the Digital Age, host Niki Weiss is joined by corporate and intellectual property attorney David Postolski to tackle the often-overlooked yet critical topic of preparing your business and intellectual property for life's uncertainties. Drawing from his personal experiences with loss and his professional expertise, David shares compelling stories and...

In this episode, host Niki interviews Lisa Pahl, LCSW and co-creator of the Death Deck—a card game designed to make difficult conversations about death approachable, and even fun. Lisa, a hospice social worker with nearly two decades of experience, discusses the inspiration behind the Death Deck: witnessing families struggle without having had critical end-of-life discussions. By blending humor wi...

They say we die twice: once when we take our last breath and again when our name is spoken for the final time. But in today's world, there's a third passing to consider - our digital death. Welcome to Death and Dying in the Digital Age, a podcast that explores the uncharted territory of our online afterlife. Join host Niki Weiss each week as she navigates the complexities of end-of-life pl...

In this episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss explores the profound intersection of music therapy, end-of-life care, and lasting legacies with accomplished music therapists Brooke and Karen. Together, they reveal how music can bridge the deep emotional gaps when words fall short. The conversation dives into the fascinating science behind music's unique ability to communicate e...

In this episode, we explore the deeply personal journey of dating after loss with relationship expert Whitney Kobrin, who shares her own transformative story of finding love again after her husband's unexpected passing. Whitney opens up about navigating the complexities of honoring her late husband's memory while embracing new love, offering raw insights into the delicate balance between g...

Join us as we slide into the world of death technology and digital legacies with Dr. Sarah Parker Ward, an end-of-life strategist and professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Dr. Parker Ward shares her journey from digital advertising to becoming a pioneering voice in the intersection of technology and end-of-life planning. She offers unique insights into how the digital revolution is transf...

In this episode of Death & Dying in the Digital Age, host Nikki chats with Glenn Shimkus, founder of Prisidio and former DocuSign executive, about the urgent need to plan for life’s unexpected events. From heart-stopping personal stories—like a health scare during a Bora Bora vacation—to lessons from the digital transformation of e-signatures, Glenn shares why secure digital organization is es...

Discover the growing movement that's revolutionizing how we think about our final farewell. In this episode of Death and Dying in the Digital Age, funeral celebrant and green burial advocate Carin Bonifacino reveals how modern burial practices are returning to their natural roots—where bodies can nurture the earth rather than be sealed away from it. Learn why the 'six feet under'...