Dr. BJ Miller on Hospice, Palliative Care, and What the Dying Have to Teach the Living

I had such a great discussion with Dr. BJ Miller for this episode. BJ is a hospice and palliative care physician and he has worked with many patients who are seriously ill, or dying. He has such a unique and important perspective to share with us about death and about life, as well as practical information about palliative care, hospice, and navigating serious illness. I found him to be such a thoughtful guest. After you listen to our discussion, be sure to check out his TED talk—it’s a must-watch.

Some topics BJ and I discuss include:

• What he feels death has to teach us about life;

• How his own injury and near-death experience changed his career trajectory and led him into medicine;

• What is palliative care, and how does it relate to hospice;

• Examples of how palliative care can be helpful;

• Why his book, A Beginner’s Guide to the End, has a chapter called “Love, Sex, and Relationships;”

• What to expect if you engage hospice;

• What is the ‘respite care’ benefit of hospice; and

• Services BJ is providing through Mettle Health to make palliative care more accessible to all.

I hope you enjoy my discussion with Dr. BJ Miller.

Links & resources for this episode

• Mettle Health

• TED Talk: What really matters at the end of life

• BJ Miller on Oprah’s SuperSoul Sunday

• New York Times: One Man’s Quest to Change the Way We Die

• Netflix documentary: End Game

• BJ Miller on Feisworld Livestream

• A Beginner’s Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death, by BJ Miller, MD, and Shoshana Berger

• How to give a eulogy that truly celebrates the person you’re honoring

More links for listeners

• Download: Kids & Grief: What You Need to Know

• Article: I’m a Widowed Mom: Here Are My 3 Tips for COVID-19 Widows

• Book: Widowed Parents Unite: 52 Tips to Get Through the First Year, from One Widowed Parent to Another

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