End-of-Life Planning with Dr. Susan Abernethy

Death is a topic most of us avoid...until we can’t.

But what if talking about it early actually gave us more peace, not less? In this episode, Leah sits down with Dr. Susan Abernethy, founder of Mudança Healing, whose path from naturopathic medicine and nonprofit leadership (including Make-A-Wish) led her to become an end-of-life doula.

Susan shares how having honest conversations early, especially after a cancer or dementia diagnosis, can ease the pressure of rapid-fire medical decisions, bring clarity to what really matters, and offer real comfort to both patients and the families who love them. We get into the practical side too: the gaps hospice care often leaves behind, the toll caregiving takes on families, and why services like respite matter so much. Susan also walks us through the tools she uses in her workshops—from Death Decks to checklists—to help individuals and organizations get ready for what's ahead, not just legally, but practically and emotionally.

This conversation is a gentle reminder: planning for the end isn’t morbid. It is an act of care for the people you love.

Connect with Susan: www.mudancahealing.com
and on Instagram @mudanca_healing

Resources mentioned in this episode:

All There Is with Anderson Cooper https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-there-is-with-anderson-cooper/id1643163707

Death, End-of-Life, and Dementia Decks https://thedeathdeck.com/collections/shop-all-decks

A Good Death by Margaret Rice https://bookshop.org/a/103670/9781911632146

Learn more about end-of-life doulas at https://inelda.org/