Learn how a Buddhist approach to death and dying can help us come to terms with our mortality.

My guest Sallie Tisdale is a nurse and the author of ten books, including Advice for Future Corpses (and Those Who Love Them.) She has worked as a registered nurse and taught at Reed College, Northwestern University, and New York University. A largely self-taught writer on health and medical issues, Tisdale has contributed to the Antioch Review, Tricycle, Harper’s Magazine, and the New Yorker. She shares what inspired her to write about death and dying and what she hopes people will take away from her book. Learn more at her website:
This episode includes:
- How Sallie has balanced dual careers as a nurse and writer
- Sallie’s current work as a nurse and a trainer for caregivers
- How the Buddhist approach to death and dying has been a lens for Sallie in her work
- The importance of bringing joy into death and dying
- How grief can help us feel connected to everyone on the planet
- How death is “brand new” every time we encounter it and the importance of beginner’s mind
- Advice for people going to visit a dying person
- Why our efforts to increase advance care planning may be failing
- How to help people make choices about pain management and level of sedation
- What people need to understand about hospice care at home
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Film recommendation: Dick Johnson is Dead
- Get EOLU Podcast Merch here
- Conversations on Death with ChatGPT – Audiobook here; Print Book here
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