Name a topic that might be of interest to adults 50 years and older, and Shawn Perry has probably discussed it on air. Caregiving, pain management, faith, dating and sexuality in later life, grief, end-of-life care planning, saving money on Internet bills — they’ve all been fodder for conversations on Shawn’s radio show and podcast, The Senior Zone.
Since its start as a DC-area radio show in 2012, The Senior Zone has grown into a widely distributed podcast with more than 700 episodes (and counting).
In 2014, Shawn joined the Compassion & Choices advocate network, going on to become a member of our African American Leadership Council (AALC) from its beginning in 2017. He has since served as host for the 2022 Compassion & Choices Signature Event and joined us for a PSA that same year.
Shawn has consistently advocated for end-of-life care and options through his show, including many episodes featuring Compassion & Choices staff or fellow leadership council members. In July 2026, Shawn was joined by fellow AALC member Shaleka Smith, a grief counselor and author who has served on the council since 2023, to discuss how faith, compassion, community, and honest conversations help people move through loss.
Compassion & Choices CEO Kevin Díaz sat down with Shawn in May 2026 to talk about the broad support for patient-directed end-of-life care.
“I would say that the greatest source of hope for me is that as I talk to people, whether they’re conservative, progressive, religious, non-religious, whatever, people agree with us,” Kevin shared during the interview. “People want to be able to make their own decisions at the end of life. And it’s something that is such a broadly held value that I think that with time and energy and focus, we’ll be able to make progress so that everyone can make those decisions for themselves.”
Shawn’s work speaks to the importance of Compassion & Choices leadership councils. Hubs for energy, passion, and creativity, each council brings together leaders in various fields to help address disparities at the end of life through resource development, community events, and policy. Council members share their insights and expertise with Compassion & Choices and their passion for patient-directed healthcare with their community.
Brandi Alexander, Chief Social Impact Officer at Compassion & Choices, notes that council members like Shawn are vital to our broader impact.
“Shawn is a catalyst for change in this movement, and we are privileged to leverage his valuable expertise,” Brandi says. “His ability to share stories that empower others, while also ensuring people feel heard and honored in end-of-life healthcare discussions, is profound. Listeners trust him to guide them, sparking real and lasting change.”
Coming up on The Senior Zone, Shawn plans to highlight more individual end-of-life stories and experiences — and continue his work empowering people to chart their own end-of-life journey.
Check out some of Shawn’s episodes with C&C staff and advocates below:
Learn more about the leaders and advisors shaping our outreach and direction.
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