My podcast conversation with NPR/WAMU radio podcast host Diane Rehm (“On My Mind”)
by Barbara Coombs Lee
Mar 8, 2019 Barbara Coombs Lee Author Finish Strong Media
In February, I had the pleasure of an in-depth conversation with Diane Rehm, veteran radio producer and host of the NPR/WAMU radio podcast “On My Mind.” Among other things, we talked about publication of my new book Finish Strong: Putting Your Priorities First at Life’s End.
Our conversation covered several interesting topics, such as:
- how our society is replacing humanity with technology;
- why advance directives are usually ignored in the case of sudden catastrophe;
- how to live your last precious months with joy;
- the importance of an ongoing dialogue with your family and doctors;
- a new tool called the Dementia Decoder to help people plan a peaceful and timely escape from the nightmare scenarios that could be in store for them;
- the many ways religions and our bioethical system obscure what’s really happening at end of life, making it hard for people to be clear-eyed about charting their own end-of-life path;
- how the discussion about the option of medical aid in dying if end-of-life suffering becomes unbearable can improve overall quality of life for all dying individuals;
- and what I would want to happen if I should suffer a sudden, massive stroke.
In other words, not the usual superficial chit chat you hear on talk radio! Since my mission remains empowering my fellow Americans to craft the end-of-life experience to match the life you’ve enjoyed, I hope this conversation can further that goal.
You can listen online to my entire 37-minute conversation with Diane Rehm at How To Have Your Best Death — And Why So Many Of Us Don’t or read the edited transcript below.
