The Final Say

19 Episodes
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By: Debra Jarvis

This is the podcast where you can get comfortable talking about death and learn some things about life from people who are facing death.

Speaking In Tongues
#1
04/26/2025

What does an excellent preacher do when he loses his ability to speak clearly? Find a translator who not only understands your words, but also understands your heart. For Rev. Randall Mullins, that person was his wife Sharon Pavelda. 


The Expert Says
#4
11/01/2024

Trudy James was a death and dying expert, a dynamic and articulate speaker and--a close friend of Debra's. She said some surprising things about facing her own death and some provocative things about facing life.   


Bullet Train
#3
07/13/2024

All of us are on a train ride to death. Some of us are on the milk run which makes the trip pretty long.  Some of us are on an express run which shortens things a bit. And then there are those of us, like Julie Davis, who found herself on a bullet train. Here's how she's handling the ride. 


Straight To Jail!
#2
05/23/2024

When he was kid, everyone thought Frank Marchand would go straight to jail as an adult. But things didn't turn out the way everyone expected--or the way Frank expected. 


Music In His Heart
#1
03/16/2024

Flamenco guitarist Ben Phipps explains how he finds meaning, purpose and joy in his life; the support of his family and friends and why he chose not to continue chemo for his brain cancer.


"And yet . . . " Mini-Episode/ Mark Goulston
#5
02/29/2024

Debra was rattled at the unexpected death of her last guest. In this episode, she talks about why. 


Can We Talk About It?
#4
12/31/2023

Even people who work in the field of dying and death have a hard time talking about their own deaths. But Dr. Mark Goulston has found talking about it and being emotionally vulnerable has set him free. 


Just Show Up!
#3
10/24/2023

What to say and how to keep meaning and purpose in your life? Here's what matters: Just show up.  Bill Gardner has some wise thoughts on those challenges. 


There's Love On the Other Side
#2
08/28/2023

Juliana Fodera has died twenty-one times. She tells us how she navigated those trips and we might experience. Her biggest piece of advice? "Stay curious!"


I Get to Choose
#1
04/07/2023

Cheryl Hauser watched her brother struggle with Alzheimer's. When she was diagnosed herself, she made the decision to voluntarily stop eating and drinking (VSED) when she no longer could enjoy life. 


I'm Lucky!
#8
12/20/2022

Even though he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at age 76, Don Mallet felt that he was lucky and grateful to have made it to old age. Glass half empty or half full? Feed the Good Wolf or the Evil Wolf? Don tells us how he does it. 


New Joy
#7
10/01/2022

Harlan was shocked to discover that his life-threatening illness brought him more joy than he could have imagined. Here's how he found it. 


Death With Dignity and Humor!
#6
08/19/2022

Diane struggled with MSA for four years until she used the Death with Dignity law. She was excited about her "Lift Off" and was well-prepared for soaring out of her body. 


Won't You Come Home?
#5
06/29/2022

Bill Bailey tells a story of misunderstood last words; being scared to death and being scared by death. Also, how we can almost guarantee that will people speak kindly about us after we die.  


Inhabit Your Life
#4
06/10/2022

Genko Blackman, a Zen Buddhist priest, talks about inhabiting your life and what we can offer people facing death. Also, the Buddhist perspective on dying and death. 


What If I Told You I Was Gay?
#3
05/22/2022

What we experience today might be a memory we recall over and over in days to come. Bob talks about one that is precious to him. 


Live Like You're Dying
#2
05/08/2022

Susan Tower decided to "live like she's dying" since she was. Here's how she did it. 


The Final Say on the Final Visit
#1
04/12/2022

Who gets to decide on a final visit? The dying person or the visitor? Hal Pelton made it very clear. 


TheFinalSayTrailer
#1
04/11/2022

An introduction to The Final Say: Conversations with People Facing Death. Different views from  different people.  Talking about facing death can help us understand how to face life!