6 Months or Less

Alexandra Salmon
  • 5.0 (25)
  • PERSONAL JOURNALS
  • SERIES

What would you ask someone who is nearing the end of their life? This podcast explores the thoughts and feelings of people who have been given a terminal diagnosis and who may have six months or less to live. I also attempt to uncover why these conversations around death and dying can be so hard to have.

  1. EPISODE 1

    Episode 1: Introduction

    In this introductory episode, my son gives voice to his natural curiosity about death, and I share my own motivation for starting this podcast. 6 Months or Less will explore the thoughts and feelings of people who are nearing the end of their life. It hopes to shed light on a natural process that is often couched in euphemisms and medical jargon, that is hidden from view in hospital corridors, or is simply not discussed. And yet death is the one thing that we will all go through. Music: “Silent Flock” by Blue Dot Sessions.

    3 min

  2. EPISODE 2

    Episode 2: Why This?

    Let’s do a thought experiment: Imagine you are in a room with someone who is dying. What would you want to ask? In this episode, I explore some of the questions I would want to ask, and I also interview my parents in an attempt to understand why I'm so curious about death and dying. Before they give me an answer, they turn the question around on me. Music: “Threshold” and “Pounded Piano” by Podington Bear

    12 min

  3. EPISODE 3

    Episode 3: Death Is the Great Equalizer

    How would you find people to interview with six months or less to live? Join me in this episode as I reflect on my process and explore the challenges of trying to find people to interview. I also have a conversation with my friend and old coworker, Lisa Stewart, about her work in hospice and her own personal experience of her mother dying. Thank you so much to Lisa for also sharing her personal experience of her mother dying. Music: "Silver Hatch" and "Naptime" by Blue Dot Sessions and "Indian Paintbrush" by Podington Bear

    33 min

  4. EPISODE 4

    Episode 4: We're Going To Be Gone Soon: John Low

    John Low was diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis at the age of 95, giving him six months or less to live. His granddaughter thought he would be a good person for this podcast because of his frank attitude about living and dying. Hear the interview in this episode. The conversation will surprise you. Thank you to Kendra for all her support and for opening up about her grandfather. Music: “A Little Sympathy” by Lee Rosevere and “Horses” by Pictures of The Floating World Note: This episode was recorded before the global outbreak of the Coronavirus. My heart goes out to all the people affected by this, and especially to the people who are having to die alone because of it.

    12 min

  5. EPISODE 5

    Episode 5: Why Is It So Hard To Talk about Death and Dying?

    In this episode, I ask a doctor, a medical ethicist, social workers, as well as family, friends, and old coworkers about why it is so hard for us to talk about death and dying. I also share conversations I have had with my young son about the coronavirus and death and dying, and I share some exciting news from my own life. Thanks to my friends and family for exploring difficult questions with me, and to my son for his uninhibited curiosity and sense of wonder. Music: “Betty Dear” by Blue Dot Sessions and “Stronger” and “Sun” by Alan Spiljak

    20 min

  6. EPISODE 6

    Episode 6: What Happens To Me?: Glenn Buckland

    When Glenn Buckland was 55 years old, his wife told him, “You’re either going to the hospital or you’re going to the morgue.” After a series of tests, he was diagnosed with plasma cell leukemia, a rare and terminal cancer. But Glenn is not fearful of his death. He instead believes that it is something that can be celebrated. In this episode, you will learn how Glenn got to this place of acceptance and what he thinks a good death looks like for him. Thank you so much to Glenn for sharing his story with us. Music: “Sage the Hunter” and “Low Coal Camper” by Blue Dot Sessions and “Canada” by Pictures of The Floating World

    33 min

  7. EPISODE 7

    Episode 7: What Matters Most to You? A Conversation with Dr. Sunita Puri about the Coronavirus and Death

    While many of us may normally keep our thoughts about death at a distance, the Coronavirus pandemic is forcing those thoughts closer. In this episode, I interview Dr. Sunita Puri, the medical director of palliative medicine at Keck Hospital and Norris Cancer Center at the University of Southern California. She is also the author of a critically acclaimed literary memoir called That Good Night: Life and Medicine in the Eleventh Hour. Dr. Puri will help us with the language to initiate conversations about end-of-life care with the people we love. You will also hear parts of a conversation I had with my mom about her end-of-life wishes if she were to get seriously sick from the Coronavirus. Music: “Meeting Emma” and “Sun” by Borrtex Thanks so much to my mom for teaching me to always ask the big questions in life and for letting me share our conversation. And thanks to Dr. Puri for her wisdom and compassion. Here is Dr. Puri’s New York Times article that I mention in the episode: It's Time to Talk About Death

    29 min

  8. EPISODE 8

    Episode 8: I’ve Been Dying My Whole Life: Manuel Santaella

    In 1926, a 16-year-old girl was told that she was going to give birth to a stillborn. That baby was Manuel Antonio Santaella, and to everyone’s amazement, he was born alive. This was just the beginning of Manuel’s many brushes with death throughout his life. Hear how these experiences have shaped Manuel’s gratitude for life, as well as his relationship with death. Music: “Peaceful Morning” by Lobo Loco, “Snow Day” by Pictures of The Floating World, and “Stars Above” by Alan Spiljak Thank you so much to Manuel for sharing your truth with us, and your joy. And thank you to Dr. Michael Fratkin of Resolution Care for connecting me with Manuel, and for all that you do for your patients. You can learn more about Resolution Care and all the amazing work Dr. Fratkin and his colleagues do here: https://www.resolutioncare.com/

    32 min
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5
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

What would you ask someone who is nearing the end of their life? This podcast explores the thoughts and feelings of people who have been given a terminal diagnosis and who may have six months or less to live. I also attempt to uncover why these conversations around death and dying can be so hard to have.

Information

  • Creator
    Alexandra Salmon
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2020, Alexandra Salmon.
  • Show Website
    6 Months or Less