Death Bed Estate Planning | Greg Barnsdale

In this heartfelt episode of Death and Dying in the Digital Age, host Niki Weiss speaks with Greg Barnsdale: author, funeral director, and financial insider. The two explore the emotional and practical realities of preparing for end-of-life. Greg shares his deeply personal story, from decades working with grieving families to his own health crisis and viral video after a brain tumor diagnosis.

0:00
0:00
Advertising will end in
play_arrow
pause
replay_10
forward_10
volume_up
volume_down
volume_off
share
speed
Skip ad
close
close
close
close
close

Description:

In this heartfelt episode of Death and Dying in the Digital Age, host Niki Weiss speaks with Greg Barnsdale: author, funeral director, and financial insider. The two explore the emotional and practical realities of preparing for end-of-life. Greg shares his deeply personal story, from decades working with grieving families to his own health crisis and viral video after a brain tumor diagnosis.


Together, they delve into the importance of planning ahead by writing a will, organizing digital accounts, or creating medical directives, and how doing so brings peace of mind, eases family stress, and ensures your legacy is honored. Greg offers simple, compassionate guidance for starting these difficult conversations, especially when time is still on your side.


Whether you’re caring for aging parents, facing a health scare, or simply ready to plan your future, this episode is your gentle invitation to begin. Because talking about death won’t make it happen… but avoiding it won’t make it easier.


📝 Take Greg’s free Living Legacy Quiz at www.DoNotIgnoreYourMortality.com

📘 Get the book Do Not Ignore Your Mortality

🎧 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & more



Related Podcast

Dying to Learn about Medicare | Sylvia Gordon

In this insightful episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss sits down with Sylvia Gordon, an expert in Medicare, Social Security, and estate planning. With over 30 years of experience, Sylvia shares her journey from being an estate planning attorney to training insurance agents on navigating complex government programs. The conversation dives deep into the challenges of planning for aging, the misconceptions surrounding Medicare and Medicaid, and the stark reality of long-term care costs. Sylvia breaks down the vital aspects of creating a "final playbook"—from wills and trusts to understanding Medicaid’s estate recovery program and long-term care options. She also emphasizes the importance of addressing generational taboos about death and planning while highlighting practical solutions like life insurance with living benefits. Listeners will gain invaluable advice, including how to start conversations with loved ones about end-of-life planning, the importance of dental care in retirement, and navigating the confusing landscape of Medicare. Sylvia’s passion for empowering others to take control of their futures shines through in every word. Whether you're planning your own future, caring for aging parents, or simply looking to understand how to better prepare for life's inevitable stages, this episode is packed with practical advice, actionable insights, and compassionate guidance. Don’t miss this essential conversation about creating peace of mind for yourself and those you love. Learn more from Sylvia at TheMedicareFamily.com Find additional resources for End-of-Life planning at DigitalLegacyPodcast.com

Listen Now
The Shocking Truth About Inheriting Unpaid Taxes | Emily Kyle

What happens when you realize that "death and taxes" isn't just a catchy phrase—it's a literal administrative nightmare for the people you leave behind? In this episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Emily Kyle, founder of Good Grief. Emily shares her raw, hilarious, and deeply moving journey of navigating her father Russell’s estate—a process that has haunted her for four years and counting. From the "green bean bag" TSA stop to the 570-hour administrative burden of closing an estate, Emily reveals why "figuring it out later" is a myth that leaves families drowning in resentment and debt.

Listen Now
Death and Business Continuity

When tragedy strikes at work, are you prepared for the aftermath? In this episode, Bill Prehl shares his experience of losing a crucial team member and the chaos that ensued. Discover how the unexpected death of a colleague exposed critical vulnerabilities in their company's infrastructure, leaving them scrambling for two years to recover. Bill's story reminds us of the importance of succession planning and risk management in the digital age. Learn why documenting processes and sharing access is not just good practice, but essential for business continuity. This episode will make you rethink your own workplace preparedness and personal legacy planning.

Listen Now
A 3rd Generation Funeral Director Explains Why We Plan Death Wrong | Michelle Carter

What happens when a third-generation funeral director realizes that the traditional industry is failing families during their most vulnerable moments? Most people avoid end-of-life planning because it feels morbid, but that avoidance is exactly what robs families of the "luxury of grieving." When a crisis hits and there is no plan, families aren't just mourning; they are fighting over bank accounts, guessing medical wishes, and making expensive decisions while "flying by the seat of their pants." In this episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Michelle Carter, founder of The Death Expert. Michelle shares her journey from a family mortuary business to becoming an "End of Life Coach." They discuss why the American funeral moved from the parlor to the funeral home, how to navigate family dinner table conversations without the "greed" stigma, and why your values should dictate your providers—not just your zip code. You’ll discover: How proactive planning shifts the focus from administrative chaos back to the sacred act of saying goodbye. Michelle’s digital solution that helps families find end-of-life providers based on shared values (e.g., LGBTQ+ friendly, veteran-owned, or trauma-informed) rather than just geography. Why we’ve been conditioned to say "just throw me in a coffee can" and how to discover more meaningful rituals, like a horse paddock ceremony. A raw story about why a passing 42-year-old’s casual conversation saved her husband from predatory organ donor teams. The practical benefit of pre-planning—locking in 2026 funeral prices for a death that may occur in 2086. Using celebrity estate "nightmares" to open the door for family discussions on valid wills and hidden documents. Because as Michelle notes, "We have homeowners insurance even though we aren’t planning on a fire—everyone knows they are going to die, we just don’t know when."

Listen Now
View All

Comments