engAGINGconversations's podcast

When we take time off from work to care for our families, whether it's to raise children or care for an aging parent, many of us don't realize the long-term financial impact this has. This impact has a steam roller effect, which can last the rest of your life.

When you can't cut out any more "extras" from your expenses, the only option is to earn more. Learning how to generate additional income, into retirement is going to be a necessity for most of us. But how?

Lisa Linfield is a Certified Financial Planner, on a mission to teach one million women about money. Listen to this episode to find out from Lisa:

• What percentage of us will have enough money to live in the same manner as we did before we retire (it's scary…)
• When is the right time to start a new business?
• Why, even if you do have enough money, you should consider a side hustle?
• How do you even get started?

Check out her course to learn how to start your own side hustle and earn more money. Enrollment begins August 6th! workingwomenswealth.com

Follow Lisa:

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Eldercare Practice Leader at Torchlight, Lenore Tracey is on the show today. She explains what Torchlight is and does in ways that employees and employers should understand and seek more of.

Find out about Torchlight:

• The services they provide
• Why their services are good for not only the employee but the employer, and all of us
• How you can advocate for yourself and your family as caregivers
• Why these types of services are important to to our aging society

Find out more at Torchlight.care , listen to their podcast Eldercare Illuminated, and follow them on social media:

Facebook Twitter and LinkedIn

Why do physicians feel unprepared to initiate conversations about end of life wishes and palliative care with their patients? I talked with two recent medical school graduates to gain some insight. And what I found out was both interesting and hopeful.

• Hear what medical students are asking for more of in their training
• Learn about goal of care discussions
• Understand why lack of communication is costly to both patients and providers
• Find out how palliative care can help improve the patient experience

Check out the documentary, Extremis on Netflix, to see first hand why communicating your wishes is so important:

A special thank you to Dr. Brian Emmert and Dr. Danielle Qing, recent grads of The Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell for sharing their thoughts and experience. Best of luck to you both as your begin your journey!

How do you overcome your fear of death? If you're Erica Buist, you attend 7 death festivals around the world where cultures celebrate death. Not to say they don't fear it like the rest of us. They just see death as a normal part of life.

In today's episode, you will find out:

• What agoraphobia is and 3 ways to help overcome it
• Why an academy award winning Disney movie can help you understand a "death-tival"
• How you can join Erica on her journey to the last 3 death festivals she is writing about

Pre-order Erica's book here:

This Party's Dead and follow her on social media:

Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn

John Cleese said "life is a terminal illness that is sexually transmitted". He's not wrong.

How we die matters. Or at least it should. Did you know you have a choice to de-medicalize your dying process? This can actually improve your quality of life without necessarily shortening it.

The addition of palliative care to medical intervention, or instead of medical intervention is something you can opt for. But where does the responsibility lie for having conversations about these choices?

Listen to today's episode to hear Kathy Kortes-Miller PhD talk about:

• Aging and health
• Educating our healthcare workforce
• Why you should take responsibility for starting conversations with your healthcare provider
• Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID)

Get Kathy's book here:

Talking About Death Won't Kill You: The Essential Guide to End of Life Conversations

Follow her on Twitter

Have you heard the phrase "the devil is in the details"? Well, THEY are right! Lori LoCicero learned the hard way. Lisa Pahl has learned from years of professional experience. Talking about end of life wishes ahead of time, makes things less stressful when death is near. Do you think you "have your affairs in order"? You may well not. There is a lot to consider about your own death.

Lori and Lisa have created a game called The Death Deck to help you break the ice and start those difficult conversations with loved ones. And also get you thinking. They use humor to ease the tension, and it works.

Listen and learn:

• If you "have your affairs in order"
• why you should "get your affairs in order", no matter how old you are
• something I will NEVER do!

Purchase The Death Deck here

Find Lisa and Lori on Social:

Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Do you remember Hawkeye Pierce? That surgeon from M*A*S*H played by Alan Alda? He was a surgeon with great hands and wit, but with even better communication skills with his patients.

Alan became interested in communication when a life-long interest in science led to his hosting Scientific American Frontiers for 11 years on PBS. The Alda Center is the result of his combined interest in science and communication, and is celebrating a 1o year anniversary.

Dr. Susmita Pati, the chief medical advisor for the center, talks with me about their mission. And how they accomplish it. They use improvisation skills taught to actors to helps professional caregivers improve their skills.

Listen to today's episode and find out:

• how an acting workshop can improve your communication skills
• why physicians (and other healthcare providers) often are not prepared to have difficult conversations with you
• what you can do to improve communication with your healthcare provider

Follow the Alda Center on Social Media

Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

Does life imitate art or vice versa? Ava Roy and Courtney Walsh are members of We Players, a San Francisco based theater group. I talk with them about this, and more, in today's episode. The play, Mother Lear uses the words of Shakespeare in this 2 actor production about a professional woman with dementia and her daughter.

This one act play, both intimate and personal, transitions to an interactive Act two. The cast of 2 open it up to the audience and encourage them to share their feelings. If you are a fan of Shakespeare being introduced to a difficult topic, or seeking knowledge about a difficult topic and become a fan of Shakespeare, you won't be disappointed!

Listen to this episode and discover:

• What the one thing in life is that we all share.
• What King Lear and dementia have in common.
• Why the arts are so important for patients with dementia.

Find out more about We Players and Mother Lear on the website weplayers.org

And follow them on social media

Facebook, Intstagram, Twitter

When I saw that Cabot Creamery was sponsoring the Live Well Die Well Tour , I was curios. Roberta MacDonald, SVP of marketing for Cabot, joins me today to share their why.

If you go to the Cabot website, you will find lots of resources, such as the book JoJo's Answers About Deatha book geared for children aged 5-9.

Check out Last Rights: Rescuing End of Life from the Medical System, a book authored by Roberta's friend Stephen Kiernan.

You'll also find that Cabot is a B-Corporation. Find out what that means, and why you should do business with them and other B-Corps.

Listen to this episode to find out:

• What a Death Doula is, and where you can get certified to be one
• Why you need one
• Why farmers "get" death and dying
• What Roberta thinks happens when we die

Dr. Karen Wyatt is a hospice physician, best-selling author, podcaster, and speaker. Her work at the bedside of the dying has provided her with life lessons she shares with us today.

In this episode, find out:

• How preparing now can improve your life
• Why your physician may not talk with you about your end of life wishes and death
• Statements you can make to help have a conversation with your physician
• One great tip to help you start the conversation with your parent(s)

Learn more about Dr. Wyatt, her work and resources at:

eoluniversity.com

Get her book here:

What Really Matters: 7 Lessons for Living from the Stories of the Dying

Find her on social

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter