Hasan Minhaj Doesn't Know Introducing: Alive with Steve Burns
Dec 26, 2025
Julie McFadden, a seasoned hospice and palliative care nurse, shares her profound insights on death and dying. She unpacks the difference between hospice and palliative care and discusses the barriers preventing timely end-of-life support. Julie highlights the importance of open conversations about death, revealing how they can ease anxiety and improve outcomes. They also touch on emotional connections and the unique awareness pets may have at the end of life. Her compassionate perspective encourages listeners to confront their fear of death and embrace life more fully.
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Hospice Is About Living
- Hospice focuses on living well during the final phase, not just the moment of death.
- Palliative care manages symptoms early and should accompany serious diagnoses from the start.
Get Palliative Care Early
- Advocate for early palliative care when diagnosed with a life-limiting illness.
- Ask your doctor for a palliative team instead of waiting until you're debilitated.
The Body Helps Us Die
- The body often 'lets go' once it recognizes the end, reducing hunger and producing endorphins.
- Natural dying processes can make the body feel more comfortable than aggressive interventions.