Intro

Most people spend their lives trying to outrun death instead of learning from it. This episode shows you why facing mortality directly can unlock resilience, forgiveness, gratitude, and peace while upgrading longevity, human performance, and even brain optimization. 

Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience: 

https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR 

Host Dave Asprey sits down with Suzanne O’Brien, RN—an end-of-life expert, hospice nurse, and founder of Doulagivers who has guided over 1,000 people through their final moments. She shares what the dying can teach the living about biohacking fear, letting go of unresolved trauma, and finding clarity before it’s too late. 

Together they explore how hacking your mindset around death transforms not only emotional well-being but also physical health, neuroplasticity, and metabolism. You’ll hear stories of people who discovered forgiveness and gratitude at the end of life, and how those practices directly influence mitochondria, sleep optimization, and longevity. They dive into the link between fear, stress chemistry, and chronic illness—and why tools like fasting, ketosis, cold therapy, supplements, nootropics, and functional medicine create the inner and outer resilience needed to face life fully. 

You’ll Learn: 

• Why fear of death silently undermines health, performance, and human potential 

• How forgiveness and gratitude rewire neuroplasticity and boost brain optimization 

• What hospice nurses know about consciousness and near-death experiences that science is only starting to confirm 

• How unresolved trauma shows up as physical pain and disease at the end of life 

Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade is the top podcast for people who want to take control of their biology, extend their longevity, and optimize every system in the body and mind. Each episode features cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, hacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living. 

Episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday (audio-only) where Dave asks the questions no one else dares, and brings you real tools to become more resilient, aware, and high performing. 

Keywords: fear of death, hospice nurse, doulagivers, end of life planning, good death, forgiveness practice, gratitude science, near death experience, hospice care stories, emotional trauma release, spiritual awakening, conscious dying, home funeral, palliative care, death doula training, legacy planning, end of life rituals, soul agreements, dying process stages, compassionate care 

Thank you to our sponsors!  

• ECHO Water | Go to http://echowater.com/dave and use code DAVE10 for 10% off your ECHO Flask. 
• Quantum Upgrade | Go to https://quantumupgrade.io/Dave for a free trial.  
• BodyHealth | Go to https://bodyhealth.com/ and use code DAVE20 to save 20% off your first order of PerfectAmino. 

Resources:  

• Suzanne’s Website: https://suzannebobrien.com/ 

• Get Suzanne's Book 'The Good Death': https://thegooddeathbook.com

• Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/DAVE15 

• Dave Asprey’s BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com 

• Dave Asprey’s New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated 

• Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com 

• Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com 

• 40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com 

Timestamps: 

00:00 — Trailer 

01:05 — Introduction 

03:13 — End-of-Life Choices 

09:50 — Forgiveness & Suffering 

15:46 — Advice to Younger Self 

20:00 — What Makes a Good Death 

23:00 — Hospice Stories & Mystical Experiences 

33:05 — The Good Death Defined 

41:01 — Meaning & Purpose 

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