From Griever to Grief Expert | Michelle Desmond

In this powerful episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss welcomes Michelle Desmond, a former corporate executive turned thanatologist, to explore death, grief, and the digital age. Michelle shares her deeply personal journey—losing her father, husband, close friend, and mother—leading to her career shift into grief and death studies. Discover how she transitioned from business to earning a Master’s in Thanatology and how she now educates others on navigating end-of-life care, hospice, and grief literacy. Together, Niki and Michelle discuss the role of end-of-life doulas, the history and resurgence of death awareness, and the impact of digital legacies on modern mourning. They unpack cultural stigmas around death, the importance of documenting final wishes, and how family dynamics shape end-of-life decisions. Whether you're curious about the psychology of grief, the role of death tech, or how to talk about mortality, this episode offers heartfelt insight, practical tools, and empowering knowledge. Don’t miss this essential conversation on embracing death to better live life. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on digital death care, grief support, and legacy planning. 📘 Get Michelle's book Death and Other Stories on Kindle.