Making Sense with Sam Harris

#297 — Preparing for the End

Sep 23, 2022

BJ Miller, a palliative care physician, and Shoshana Berger, editorial director at IDEO, dive into the realities of facing death. They explore the distinctions between palliative and hospice care, and the importance of making an advance directive. The duo emphasizes balancing the pursuit of life with acceptance of mortality. They also touch on the benefits of psychedelic therapy for anxiety at the end of life and the need for open conversations about death, advocating for proactive planning to enrich the living experience.

01:04:35

Creator website

Episode guests

BJ Miller

Shoshana Berger

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Meditation - The Importance of Keeping Death Close

02:46

The Death of My Father

02:04

The Purpose of Waking Up

02:03

Intro

2min

A Journey Through Philosophy, Neuroscience, and the Challenges of Faith

2min

Exploring Consciousness and the Path to Fulfillment

2min

Confronting Mortality: Reflections on Death and Grief

17min

Understanding Palliative and Hospice Care

10min

Embracing Mortality Through Meditation

2min

Embracing Mortality: Living Fully in the Present

25min

The Clarifying Nature of Dying

2min

Sam Harris speaks with BJ Miller and Shoshana Berger about preparing for death. They discuss the difference between palliative care and hospice, the tension between getting the most out of life and not clinging to experience, planning for death while still healthy, the importance of an advance directive, navigating the healthcare system, pain control at the end of life, assisted suicide, psychedelic therapy for end-of-life anxiety, and other topics.

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Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.

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