For a long time, conversations about death and dying largely happened behind closed doors — in healthcare settings, around kitchen tables, and within communities of faith.
But that’s beginning to change.
Stories about serious illness, caregiving, grief, hospice, and end-of-life decision-making are increasingly finding their way into television shows, documentaries, podcasts, and more. At the same time, social media creators and public figures are opening up about their own experiences, helping to normalize conversations that many people have long found difficult to start.
Over the past year, end-of-life care has become part of mainstream storytelling, appearing in some of the most talked-about television series, documentaries, and podcasts.
TV shows like The Pitt have introduced audiences to complex questions surrounding serious illness, comfort-focused care, and the difficult decisions families often face. The television adaptation of Dying for Sex, based on the podcast of the same name, explores what it means to live fully while facing a terminal diagnosis.
On PBS, documentaries like Going Your Way invite viewers to consider topics ranging from advance care planning to disability, autonomy, and the experience of dying. And Anderson Cooper’s acclaimed podcast All There Is explores grief through thoughtful conversations with guests who have experienced profound loss.
These stories don’t necessarily arrive at the same conclusions, but they share an important purpose: to make conversations about serious illness and end-of-life care more visible and encourage viewers to consider questions they may not have thought about before.
Research shows that talking openly about death can reduce anxiety and provide a sense of relief for people and families navigating the end of life. More and more, public figures and creators are helping to make those conversations feel more approachable.
Social media creators like Hospice Nurse Julie, Hospice Nurse Penny, Alua Arthur, Joél Simone Maldonado — Compassion & Choices board member — and Ashley Johnson — member of the Compassion & Choices African American Leadership Council — have built engaged communities by sharing compassionate, practical information about dying, caregiving, grief, and planning ahead. Their content answers questions many people are afraid to ask, from what hospice is and what families can expect near the end of life to why having conversations early can make an enormous difference later.
Celebrities are also contributing to this cultural shift. Jennifer Grey has spoken candidly about her mother’s choice to die “by her own choosing”: “She chose grace over fear, understanding that leaving this world with dignity is an honor, not a tragedy.”
In her memoir The Unexpected Journey, Emma Heming Willis shares her experience caring for actor Bruce Willis’ dementia. Publisher’s Weekly calls the book “admirably vulnerable and openhearted…a balm for readers grappling with a loved one’s recent diagnosis.”
By bringing these conversations into the public eye, creators and celebrities are helping break down stigma and showing that talking about dying can be an integral part of living well.
Compassion & Choices has been at the forefront of conversations about end-of-life care and planning in this country. Now, thanks to the hard work of our advocates and movement leaders, we’re seeing what was once a fringe movement grow into a broader cultural shift happening nationwide.
The public figures and mainstream media discussing death and dying more openly and with more care don’t just speak to the influence of our work; they can also inspire more conversations in the very places where it all began: kitchen tables, exam rooms, and faith communities. And in turn, every conversation contributes to the wider one happening on social media, on TV, and in civic spaces across the country.
To add your voice to the conversation:
The stories we see on screen, hear on podcasts, and scroll past on social media won’t answer every question about the end of life. But what they can do is inspire us to take an important next step: planning for the care we want and deserve.
Mail contributions directly to:
Compassion & Choices Gift Processing Center
PO Box 485
Etna, NH 03750
Compassion & Choices is a 501 C3 organization. Federal tax number: 84-1328829
