After Death Planning - with Garrick Colwell Artwork

Learning To Say Goodbye

What is it about the subject of death and grief that makes us so uncomfortable? We have been experts at avoiding the one thing we all face sooner or later. Death is something that happens to other people. But when it hits close, we are left scrambling.So, let’s talk about it. There is a lot to learn, not only about death, but about grief, communication and most importantly: life. Learning to Say Goodbye explores this tricky subject from all sides, covering views from different cultures, looking what religion and spirituality can teach us, hearing from people who have been through grief and close to death. We will learn how to help people going through loss, and how to talk about the one thing we all hate to talk about: death.

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Learning To Say Goodbye

After Death Planning - with Garrick Colwell

January 12, 2026 • Alexandra Dionisio • Season 2 • Episode 4

When was the last time you thought about your own death - not the medical decisions leading up to it, but the moment of death itself and what follows in the hours, days, and weeks afterward?

In this episode, we explore what happens after the last breath. We talk about after-death care, the options available to us, and why planning for this phase matters just as much as advance medical directives. Far from being morbid, these conversations can bring clarity, ease the burden on loved ones, and help us live with greater intention.

I’m joined once again by my friend Garrick Colwell, a certified grief educator, hospice volunteer, and co-founder of Kitchen Table Conversations, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering families to engage in meaningful end-of-life and advance-care planning discussions. Together, we unpack what after-death planning really means and how approaching it with care and openness can be a profound act of love.