Death and Dying in the Digital Age
They say we die twice: once when we take our last breath and again when our name is spoken for the final time. But in today's world, there's a third passing to consider - our digital death. Welcome to Death and Dying in the Digital Age, a podcast that explores the uncharted territory of our online afterlife. Join host Niki Weiss each week as she navigates the complexities of end-of-life planning, from safeguarding your individual legacy to ensuring your loved ones can access your important digital assets. Dive into the four pillars of comprehensive death planning - Legal, Financial, Physical...
Protecting Your Family from the Probate Nightmare | Franco Della Torre
Facing the loss of a loved one brings immense emotional strain. That burden is only magnified when surviving family members must navigate the costly and bitter process of probate court. Franco Della Torre shares how modern legal tools can shield your family from financial disputes and ensure your legacy transitions exactly as you intended.
Key Discussions:
In this episode, we discuss: How starting a difficult conversation about mortality early on can save families from future chaos.
In this episode, we discuss: The concept of the "evil cousin" and why state laws might...
The Lifelong Roadmap: Special Needs Trusts and Caregiver Planning | Julie Hoffman-Hogan
When Julie Hoffman-Hogan became a mother at 22 to a son with Down syndrome, her entire life plan shifted. Now a financial advisor, she uses her decades of lived experience to help other families build secure, long-term care strategies. Today on the Digital Legacy Podcast, we explore the reality of special needs planning, the hidden financial costs of care, and the heavy responsibilities placed on siblings and secondary guardians.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why parents lose access to their child's medical records at age 18 and how to prepare ahead of time.
<...Designing a Digital Tomb: Architect Built Cumulus to Save His Family’s Legacy | Alexander Josephson
When an architect’s father is given a terminal diagnosis, what does he build? For Alexander Josephson, the answer wasn't a physical mausoleum—it was a digital one. In this episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, Niki Weiss sits down with Alex, the founder of Cumulus, to discuss the deeply personal journey that led him from designing award-winning brick-and-mortar buildings to creating a 3D digital sanctuary for our memories.
Alex shares the story of his father's multiple close brushes with death and the heavy burden that falls on the "chosen one" in every family to manage end...
The AI Afterlife: Building Your Digital Persona | Katherine (Kate) Ivanova
What if you could leave behind an interactive, living biography instead of a static box of memories?
Most 27-year-olds are not thinking about end-of-life logistics, but as an immigrant navigating America's highly litigious, documentation-heavy estate system, Kate realized early on that waiting for a crisis is a recipe for overwhelming financial and emotional shock.
In this visionary episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Kate, a team member at Pantio. They unpack a groundbreaking death-tech solution that uses advanced AI, fine-tuned large language models, and voice cloning...
The Solo Ager’s Safety Net: Why You Need a Fiduciary, Not Just a Will | Stephanie Rosso, PhD
What happens when estate planning is procrastinated until the very last minute? The tragic reality is that waiting too long can result in incomplete documents, leaving families stuck in the messy, expensive probate process.
In this insightful episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, talks with Stephanie Rosso, a psychologist and co-founder of The Best Notary. Stephanie shares her unique perspective on the intersection of trauma, grief, and estate planning, and why just drafting a will or trust isn't enough—it must be properly executed, notarized, and funded. They also discuss the es...
What happens when the modern business of death paves over the natural cycle of life? | Hye Kyung (HK) Lee
In this episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss sits down with HK, the founder of Eon Woods. They explore the broken, profit-driven funeral industry and HK's mission to marry natural burial with land conservation by bringing "conservation cemeteries" to major metropolitan areas like New York City.
From uncovering the real reason cemeteries push you to buy a concrete vault to understanding how the Civil War birthed the modern funeral home, this conversation radically shifts how we think about final disposition and environmental stewardship.
You’ll discover:
The Concrete Vault My...
The Gamer’s Legacy: Finding Comfort in a Son's Digital Afterlife | Jonathan Cottor
In this deeply moving episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, Niki Weiss sits down with Jonathan Cottor to discuss the incredible life and digital legacy of his son, Ryan. Diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at eight months old and given only until his second birthday to live, Ryan defied the odds and lived until he was seventeen and a half. As an avid gamer, tech nerd, and YouTuber, Ryan built a vibrant digital world that has long outlasted his physical life.
Jonathan shares how he navigates grief by revisiting Ryan's YouTube channel to hear his voice...
Leaving More Than Passwords Behind: Building a Private Family Legacy | Omar Alvarez
What happens when the fear of a dementia diagnosis at age 10 turns into a lifelong obsession with legacy?
In this episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Omar Alvarez, founder of the new app Connect. Omar shares how his grandfather's struggle with dementia—and a friend's tragic passing at 31—fueled his mission to create a global, privacy-first platform that captures the "human" side of our digital footprint before it's too late.
Together, they explore why the American definition of legacy is fundamentally broken, how to break free from...
Why Your Social Media Profile Might Outlive You | Gina Cui, Ph.D.
What happens when you pass away, but your social media accounts keep liking, sharing, and commenting on posts?
In this thought-provoking episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Professor Gina Cui, a marketing and consumer behavior expert from Coastal Carolina University. Together, they explore the intersection of marketing, AI, and mortality, diving deep into the billion-dollar "death tech" industry that profits from humanity's most vulnerable state.
From the ethics of generating AI clones of the deceased to navigating the murky waters of data ownership, this episode challenges...
The Shocking Link Between Your Divorce and Your End of Life Plan | Elaine Silver
What happens when the death of a marriage collides with the reality of aging and mortality?
In this insightful episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Elaine Silver, a "peaceful" collaborative divorce lawyer and mediator. They discuss why baby boomers are the fastest-growing segment of the divorce population, the hidden "economic math" of widowhood vs. divorce, and why your digital housecleaning could either make or break your next chapter.
You’ll discover:
Why fewer than 5% of people actually let a judge decide their fate, and wh...
How the Loss of a Parent Sparked a Death Tech Revolution | Rachel Edwards
What happens when a high-performing JP Morgan finance executive and fashion entrepreneur faces the messy, unplanned death of her father?
In this insightful episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Rachel Edwards, founder of Gravely. Rachel shares her transition from the worlds of venture capital and investment banking to the "Death Tech" sector—a pivot sparked by the "administrative nightmare" of her father’s passing in 2025.
You’ll discover:
How Rachel used her sabbatical and JP Morgan experience to build a consumer-facing layer for end-of...
How a Virtual Autopsy Solves a Case in 20 Minutes | Virtual Autopsy PT 2 | Dr Hemanth Naik
What happens when the "sci-fi fiction" of yesterday becomes the medical reality of today?
In this Part 2 of our exploration into Virtual Autopsy, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with co-founder Dr. Hemanth Naik. A leading expert in forensic pathology, Dr. Naik takes us deeper into the science of "No Scalpel" post-mortems and how proprietary 3D rendering software is replacing the traditional surgical opening of the body.
You’ll discover:
How virtual autopsies address mortuary backlogs and allow families to proceed with burial on the same day as the examination.
The Tech That's Revolutionizing the Death Space | Virtual Autopsy PT 1 | Ash Govind
What happens when the ancient practice of the scalpel meets the future of digital imaging?
In this part 1 of exploring Virtual Autopsy in the The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Ash Govind from Virtual Autopsy UK. They discuss how they are "turbocharging" 30-year-old radiological technology to replace the knife with a CT scanner, providing a dignified, non-invasive alternative for families and faith groups worldwide.
You’ll discover:
How virtual autopsy uses CT data to "Xerox the deceased," allowing radiologists to analyze every 1mm slice of the re...
Cybersecurity Expert thoughts on Digital Legacy Planning | Joshua Marpet
What happens to your "Digital Afterlife" when you are the only one who knows the master password to your life's work, your bank accounts, and 50,000 family photos?
In this episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Josh Marpet, a cybersecurity expert, ex-cop, and former fireman. With a career spent in digital forensics and disaster response, Josh brings a raw, unfiltered perspective to the vulnerabilities of our digital existence.
You’ll discover:
Why there will be more dead people than living ones on Facebook by 2050, and ho...
Why Talking About Death Actually Makes Life "Shinier" | Peri Rigler
Can the principles of brand strategy and human connection solve the "death grip" of fear that prevents us from planning for the inevitable?
In this podcast episode, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Peri Rigler, a certified Death Doula and former Madison Avenue brand strategist. After a successful career in advertising, Peri pivoted to address a profound cultural gap: the lack of authentic, transparent conversation around the end-of-life journey.
You’ll Discover:
Why a high-level marketing background is the perfect foundation for "rebranding" death and making difficult topics accessible to...
Deconstructing Grief: How Neurodivergent Minds Process Death | Ryan Bell
What happens when different "brain wiring" meets the universal experience of death?
In this fascinating episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Ryan Bell, a Family Service Advisor at Dignity Memorial and an ex-NASA professional. Ryan shares his unique perspective as a neurodivergent individual (ADHD, Autism, and Tourette’s) who turned a "season of loss" into a superpower for navigating the death care space.
You’ll discover:
Why a grieving brain is like running two conflicting operating systems at once, and how pre-planning prevents the "cras...
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...
Lesson-Planning Your Final Wishes: Educational Design for the Digital Afterlife | Paula Soito
What happens when a 30-year veteran educator turns her lens toward the most difficult lesson of all: death and dying in the digital age?
In this episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Paula Soito, an education strategist with 31 years of experience. Paula shares how she helped transform the complex, emotional world of end-of-life planning into the bite-sized, "micro-learning" framework of My Final Playbook.
You’ll discover:
How to use "mini-wins" to break through the emotional roadblocks of death and dying and build momentum in yo...
A Palliative Doctor Explains What Hospice Actually Is | Dr. Andy Arwari
What happens when the "medicalized" view of death prevents us from accessing the very benefits we've earned?
In this enlightening episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Dr. Andy Arwari, a double-board certified physician in Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Based in Miami, Dr. Arwari is a fierce advocate for shifting the narrative of end-of-life care from a "death sentence" to what he calls a National Treasure.
You’ll discover:
Why the United States is the only country in the world with a fully funded end-of-life en...
What Happens to Your Story When Your Obituary Goes Digital? | Mary McGreevy
What happens when a childhood fascination with "peculiar" stories turns into a viral TikTok sensation?
In this episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Mary McGreevy, the woman who made reading obituaries go viral. Mary shares how she transitioned from a "natural gossip" clipping newspaper snippets to an online storyteller with millions of views, uncovering the extraordinary in ordinary lives.
You’ll discover:
How classified ads and obituaries once shared a newspaper profit center, and why "pay-per-word" pricing led to decades of boring, templated tributes.
...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"...
How the Medical System Bankrupts Families in the Last 3 Years of Life | William Donaldson
What happens when a NASA engineer and pilot applies the logic of a flight plan to the most inevitable journey of all?
In this profoundly liberating episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Willy Donaldson, a finance professor, engineer, and author of Estimated Time of Departure. Willy shares the "love story" of how he turned the terrifying taboo of death into a series of cathartic and even humorous conversations with his parents, ensuring their final departure was handled with the same rigor as a pilot filing a flight plan.<...
The Unspoken Trauma of Managing a Terminal Child's Care | Morgan Motsinger
What happens to your mind when you watch your child lose every skill they ever learned—from walking and talking to the simple act of eating—over a decade-long "absolute train" of a degenerative disease?
In this deeply moving episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Morgan Motsinger, host of the P.S. We Expire podcast. Morgan shares the raw reality of raising her daughter, Annie, who was diagnosed with a rare genetic illness at age three and passed away in 2022.
You’ll discover:
How knowin...
The "Natural Death" Guide: Understanding Palliative and Hospice Care in 2026 | Holly Vossel
What happens when the "6-month" clock starts ticking—and you realize you don't actually know what your loved one wants?
In this episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Holly Vossel, Senior Reporter at Hospice News. They strip away the myths surrounding end-of-life care, explain why "palliative" is not a dirty word, and discuss how technology is beginning to fill the gaps in our swelling, aging population.
You’ll discover:
Why millions of Americans underutilize the Medicare Hospice Benefit because they don't realize it’s a full...
Caregiving is a Project: Balancing a High-Stakes Career with Terminal Caregiving | Anna Myers
What happens when the "Black Diamond" skier you love suffers a stroke and a terminal brain cancer diagnosis—just two weeks after your engagement?
In this episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with a very special guest: her daughter, Anna Myers. Anna shares the harrowing journey of caregiving for her husband, James, who has been battling a rare brain cancer for 12 years, and the sudden "180-degree shift" that occurred when radiation treatment led to a debilitating stroke in 2025.
You’ll discover:
How a routine scan ende...
The Rise of AI Deadbots Navigating Death in the Digital Age | Jason Batt
What happens when the "soul" in the machine begins to speak with the voice of someone you’ve lost?
In this mind-bending episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Dr. Jason D. Batt, a technological philosopher, mythologist, and futurist. They dive deep into the ethics of "Dead Bots"—AI avatars trained on the recordings and data of the deceased—and ask whether we are creating a new form of digital haunting.
You’ll discover:
How AI is being used to recreate the personas of loved ones and...
What Actually Happens in Pediatric Palliative Care | Dr. Justine Baker
What happens when the "best day possible" is also a family's darkest moment?
In this moving and high-stakes episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Dr. Justin Baker, Director of Pediatric Palliative Care at Stanford University. They peel back the curtain on a reality many refuse to acknowledge: that children, too, face serious illness, and that palliative care isn't about giving up—it’s about the fierce pursuit of quality of life.
You’ll discover:
Why pediatric palliative care is redefined as "Quality of Life for Al...
What Actually Happens in Pediatric Palliative Care | Dr. Justin Baker
What happens when the "best day possible" is also a family's darkest moment?
In this moving and high-stakes episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Dr. Justin Baker, Director of Pediatric Palliative Care at Stanford University. They peel back the curtain on a reality many refuse to acknowledge: that children, too, face serious illness, and that palliative care isn't about giving up—it’s about the fierce pursuit of quality of life.
You’ll discover:
Why pediatric palliative care is redefined as "Quality of Life for Al...
The Prison Hospice Project: Training Inmates for End-of-Life Care | Fernando Murillo
What happens when the "worst thing you’ve ever done" is the only way society defines you, even as you face your final breath?
In this moving episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Fernando Murillo, a lead trainer for the Humane Prison Hospice Project. Fernando shares his remarkable journey from being incarcerated at age 16 to serving as a peer caregiver in California’s prison hospice system for over five years.
They explore the "carceral end-of-life crisis," where one in five incarcerated people in the
You’l...
One QR Code, 500+ Photos The New Tech You Need for Legacy | Cameron Labrecque
What happens when a lifetime of digital memories—thousands of photos, videos, and stories—is scattered across social media and hidden in locked phones?
In this episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Cameron Labrecque, the 24-year-old CEO of Rememery. They discuss how a single Christmas gift (a cardinal snow globe) sparked a mission to fix the "problem of preservation" and how technology can turn a static obituary into a living, interactive narrative of a life well-lived.
You’ll discover:
Why cardinals are the univer...
Why Americans Are Going Abroad for Better Care | Maryam Greenidge
What happens when you can no longer afford to age in place in the United States? For many Americans, a single illness can become a "financial death sentence," with health insurance quotes reaching $4,000 a month for healthy individuals.
In this episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss sits down with attorney Maryam Greenidge, author of Chaos to Clarity, to discuss a radical but increasingly popular estate planning strategy: Relocating abroad for healthcare. Maryam shares her personal journey of navigating her mother's debilitating illness and why she now helps Americans reestablish residency in countries...
The 3 Digital Rights You Didn't Know You Had | Malvika Jethmalani
Does your employment contract allow your boss to create an AI clone of you that keeps working after you quit—or even after you die?
In this episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss sits down with HR executive and AI governance expert Malvika Jethmalani to uncover the ethical minefield of "Digital Twins" in the workplace. They discuss the terrifying legal gaps regarding who owns your likeness, the rise of "Grief Bots," and why HR departments are woefully unprepared for the age of synthetic employees.
You’ll discover:
Why 70% of futu...
Will AI Decide When You Die? The Ethics of "Algorithmic Healthcare" | Brian M. Green
What happens when your doctor relies on an AI to listen to you—or worse, when an algorithm decides if you are "economically viable" enough for life support?
In this episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Brian M. Green, an expert in AI governance and responsibility, to unpack the "empathy trap" of artificial intelligence and why the healthcare industry is deploying technology faster than it can create the ethics to control it.
You’ll discover:
Why patients are increasingly feeling gaslighted by doctors and turn...
How To Build A Care Team When You Have No Family Help | Dr Ashley Blackington
What happens when the burden of caregiving falls entirely on one person—and that person breaks?
In this episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist and Final Playbook coach, sits down with Dr. Ashley Blackington, Occupational Therapist and founder of Dovetail, to unpack the "default caregiver" trap and why the modern family structure is buckling under the pressure of aging loved ones.
You’ll discover:
Why the healthcare system naturally funnels responsibility to one person (usually the eldest daughter) and how to "open the funnel" back up
T...
How Tech is Changing the Way We Grieve | Janet Turkula & Ryan Oliveira
What happens to your family’s financial stability and emotional well-being when a sudden death leaves them with a $15,000 bill and no way to ask for help?
In this episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist and Final Playbook coach, sits down with Janet Turkula and Ryan Oliveira from Give Willow to unpack the broken system of funeral support. They discuss why sending casseroles and flowers often misses the mark, and how a revolutionary new "funeral registry" platform is allowing communities to offer meaningful financial and practical aid during life's most vulnerable mo...
Reinventing Community Care: Inside the First Funeral Registry | Janet Turkula & Ryan Oliveira
What happens to your family’s financial stability and emotional well-being when a sudden death leaves them with a $15,000 bill and no way to ask for help?
In this episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist and Final Playbook coach, sits down with Janet Turkula and Ryan Oliveira from Give Willow to unpack the broken system of funeral support. They discuss why sending casseroles and flowers often misses the mark, and how a revolutionary new "funeral registry" platform is allowing communities to offer meaningful financial and practical aid during life's most vulnerable mo...
What Modern Death Preparation Really Looks Like | Melissa Meadow
What if the way we’ve been taught to “handle” death is actually keeping us disconnected from the very thing we need most: closure, participation, and meaning?
In this episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist and Final Playbook coach, sits down with Melissa, “The Modern Mortician”, a death-care educator about what modern end-of-life care can look like when families are empowered with real options.
You’ll learn:
Why embalming became standard in the U.S. and how capitalism shaped modern funeral practices
What a green burial reall...
What Happens When You Choose Truth Over Silence | Mirtha Pena
What if the grief of losing someone didn’t have to be compounded by chaos, unanswered questions, and a digital life that won’t shut off?
In this deeply human episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss sits down with somatic therapist Mirta Peña to talk about what happens when someone you love struggles in silence… and leaves no plan behind.
Mirta reveals that the aftermath became its own form of ongoing trauma: no will, no passwords, scattered accounts, social media still active, and even strangers attempting to exploit his death through...
What Happens to Your Crypto if You Die | Marimer Cruz
Do you know what happens to your crypto, life insurance, and long-term care plan if no one you love can access the right documents when you die?
In this episode, Digital Thanatologist Niki Weiss sits down with Marimer Cruz to break down how easily assets become “lost” when there’s no clear plan, especially in Web3, DeFi, and crypto, where one missing seed phrase can mean everything disappears forever.
Together, Niki and Marie unpack the real-world consequences of not updating beneficiaries, not setting up proper documentation, and not preparing for the massive financial impact...
How to Use Psychedelics to Face Death with Clarity | Christine Caldwell
Facing death doesn’t just raise medical questions—it opens up deep emotional, spiritual, and existential ones, too.
In this episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Christine Caldwell, an end-of-life psychedelic care educator and the Founder of End of Life Psychedelic Care, to explore how psychedelic-assisted experiences can support people living with terminal or life-threatening illnesses. Together, they discuss how medicines like psilocybin, ketamine, and MDMA can ease fear, reduce existential distress, deepen connection, and help people make meaning—often when time feels short.
You’ll discover...
