Advertise on podcast: It's Okay, We're All Gonna Die with Nurse Julie

What if your loved one with dementia doesn’t understand what you’re saying… but still understands how you make them feel? This week Julie sits down with dementia educator and speech-language pathologist, Adria Thompson, to talk about what happens when communication starts to disappear. What do you do when someone asks the same question over and over, insists they want to “go home,” or suddenly refuses things they used to do without a second thought? Adria explains why these behaviors may actually be communication, and why the answer isn’t always to explain, correct, or convince. Sometimes “You’re safe” can do more than another five-minute explanation. And sometimes the goal isn’t getting someone to understand your reality, but helping them feel safe in theirs.  Julie and Adria also talk about the changes that come with progressing dementia, including sensory changes, difficult personal care, and losing the desire to eat. They tackle some of the hardest decisions families face and why, sometimes, the right care can actually give someone a better quality of life. Dementia may change how someone communicates, but it doesn’t mean they’ve stopped feeling, loving, or connecting. Resources: Alzheimer’s Association: https://www.alz.org/ A national resource for dementia education, caregiver support, local services, research, and its 24/7 Helpline.The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD): https://www.theaftd.org/ Provides information, support, and resources specifically for individuals and families affected by frontotemporal degeneration (FTD).Hilarity for Charity (HFC): https://wearehfc.org/ Provides education, support, and resources for families impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementias, including caregiver respite grants.National Council of Dementia Minds: https://dementiaminds.org/ A nonprofit led by and for people living with dementiaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What would you think if you actually died… and then came back?  Vinney Tolman was a healthy 25-year-old when he stumbled through a Dairy Queen door, made it to the bathroom, and died. He was officially dead for 47 minutes. Once a huge skeptic of the metaphysical, Vinney sits down with Julie to share what he says he experienced on the other side, and how it changed everything he thought he knew about death. Julie and Vinney get into the moments that still blow his mind: floating above his own body, suddenly becoming free from years of pain, meeting his guide Drake, and experiencing a life review that changed how he sees the smallest moments.  But then came the part Vinney never expected: waking up. Julie gets into what happened during those three days, one of the biggest reasons he wanted to return, and how he became known as “The Miracle Boy.” And now that Vinney helps people cross over, Julie asks the question most of us would want answered: Does he ever envy the people who get to stay on the other side? Whether you believe in an afterlife or not, this conversation with Julie and Vinney may make you look at your own life very differently. Links to Vinney’s book and Non-Profit: Book: Light After Death: My Journey To Heaven and Back: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BD3YV9M5 Non-Profit: Living God’s Light: https://www.LivingGodsLight.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You’ve watched Nurse Julie talk about death, dying, and everything in between. But how well do you REALLY know the woman behind the scrubs? In the second part of this 2-part Ask Me Anything, we hear the answers to the questions that are truly about Julie. What does she do when the cameras are off? What show did she recently watch and love? How fundamental is sobriety to her? And the question everyone wants answered: Is Julie really as nice as she seems? Then things get deeper. Julie reveals what helps her handle the emotional weight of hospice, shares the story of a patient she still thinks about almost every day, and tells us what her coworkers would really say about her. And when it comes to hospice, Julie gets honest. What can she absolutely not stand about the job? What does she wish she could change? And why, despite all of it, would she never trade hospice for another profession? Plus, Julie breaks down hospice vs. palliative care and what families need to know. You asked. Julie answered. And she held nothing back. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Think you know Nurse Julie? Think again. You’ve heard Julie answer questions about death and dying. But what happens when she’s the one in the hot seat? In Part One of this two-part “Ask Me Anything,” Gaby and Brett put Julie on the spot with questions from friends, followers, and each other. Has hospice changed what she believes about what comes after death? What does she think the meaning of life is? And what does she tell people struggling with death anxiety? Julie also tackles terminal delirium, family drama at the end of life, caregiver burnout, and knowing when it’s time to ask for help. Then things get personal: Does Julie have a dream job? What’s the deal with her 1,000+ member book club? Has she binge-watched any shows lately? AND what do her coworkers REALLY think of her? You asked. Julie answered. And some of these answers might surprise you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Description: What if your dog or cat knows something about death that you don’t? Susan Allen has experienced what she believes is the spirit world since she was two, when she saw a “beautiful lady” no one else in her family could see. Today, she’s a medium, animal intuitive, and healer who believes there’s no real separation between this life and the next, and that animals may be able to tap into it, too. This week, Nurse Julie goes deep with Susan on what she believes happens after we die: What happens during the first 49 days? Do our loved ones stay connected to us? Can we reincarnate? What happens to people who’ve done terrible things? And most importantly… what do our pets know that we don’t? Susan also shares how she believes her deceased mother saved her life, a wild reading involving a former Army soldier and Susan’s father, and the strangest spirit encounter she’s ever had. They also explore whether certain places like old hotels attract spiritual activity, whether you can actually turn the spirit “channel” off, and what a lot of the dead really want us to forget. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Think your death is all about you? Not so fast. Hospice social worker and creator of The Death Deck, Lisa Pahl, has spent years helping families navigate some of the hardest moments imaginable, and she’s learned that one of the biggest gifts you can give the people you love is to stop making them guess what you would have wanted. This week, Nurse Julie and Lisa get into the stuff most of us would rather put off: Who should make your medical decisions? What kind of funeral do you actually want? And why might your kids NOT be the people you want carrying them out? Julie and Lisa pull questions from The Death Deck, imagining everything from their dream funerals to what they’d do if they got a terminal diagnosis tomorrow. They also get into the emotional toll of dementia caregiving, Lisa’s bizarre story of a dying man visited by a woman who wasn’t his wife, why some celebrations of life feel completely impersonal, and the biggest hospice misconception of all: your hospice nurse is not moving into your house. Remember, planning your death isn’t just about how you want to die. It’s about giving the people you love a fighting chance to get it right. A list of helpful resources Lisa mentioned in episode:  End of Life Registry: https://givewillow.com/ States that have Paid Family Leave Benefits: https://bipartisanpolicy.org/explainer/state-paid-family-leave-laws-across-the-u-s/Dementia Values and Priorities Tool: https://compassionandchoices.org/dementia-values-tool/VA Caregiver Support Program: https://www.caregiver.va.gov/California IHSS Program: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/in-home-supportive-servicesThe Death Deck Tools: https://thedeathdeck.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What do you do when the person you’re caring for has beliefs you completely disagree with, and might even hate you for who you are? Hospital chaplain JS Park has cared for patients whose politics and beliefs couldn’t be further from his own, including patients who have said racist things directly to him. This week, Julie sits down with JS for a conversation that gets right into one of the hardest questions at the end of life: Can you truly care for someone you fundamentally disagree with? Julie and JS unpack what compassion looks like when agreement isn’t possible, how healthcare workers keep personal bias from affecting the care they provide, and how mortality can suddenly make the things dividing us feel a whole lot smaller. They also talk about what happens when faith speaks more about sin than suffering, the strange compulsions and obsessions that manifest after facing death, and why some of us are more prone to “inverse grief” than others. Be sure to pre-order a copy of JS’s upcoming book, We Are Made of Us, out in October! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What would you ask a hospice nurse if you could ask absolutely anything? In this special QA episode Nurse Julie lets her listeners call in and ask the questions they’ve been carrying around about hospice, caregiving, pain, grief, and what happens when someone you love is dying. Julie shares practical advice on everything from the documents you need before death to helping overwhelmed caregivers, supporting a friend through hospice, and the three questions that matter most: Are they clean? Are they safe? Are they comfortable? And then come the deeply personal stories: A woman with 4–6 weeks to live tells Julie why she’s no longer afraid of dying. One shares the guilt she still carries because she wasn’t there when her mother died. And another describes her mother’s profound near-death experience, and what her family members told her from the other side.  This episode is a great reminder that sometimes the question you’re afraid to ask is exactly the one you need answered. Be sure to follow Julie's Instagram as you could be on the next QA episode with the listeners! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the worst thing that ever happened to you is actually the thing that saves you? JB Copeland had football dreams, a growing faith, and a job as a youth pastor. But behind the scenes, he was battling addiction, and getting very good at hiding it. Until he finally hit the point where he couldn’t run from it anymore. This week, Nurse Julie sits down with JB for a brutally honest conversation about addiction, sobriety, loss, faith, and that awful empty feeling we’re all so desperate to fill with something. JB and Julie open up about their own struggles with sobriety, what happens when faith isn’t the right prescription, and the danger of having an entire community help you stay in denial. They also get into JB’s idea of living in the “sappy medium,” his rise as a social media star, and what happens when the person the internet knows starts feeling very different from who you actually are. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What would you do if someone told you that you had 15 months to live? In March, Doug Cartwright went from a healthy guy to a Stage 4 brain cancer patient with a terminal diagnosis. But instead of letting the diagnosis close him down, Doug is asking a much harder question: How do you keep living when life suddenly becomes brutally, undeniably unpleasant? This week, Nurse Julie sits down with the man inspiring the internet right now to explore exactly that, and what it takes to keep your heart open when life gets really, really hard. Doug shares the strange symptoms and silent seizures that preceded his diagnosis, the psychedelic experience that suddenly feels eerily relevant, a message he believes came from his dad on the other side, and why he chooses to stay open no matter what life throws at him. He also breaks down the “Three A’s,” his clinical trial with Cart-T cell therapy, his thoughts on hospice, and why he’s surprisingly excited about the idea of dying. Please donate to Doug’s Fight Against Brain Cancer on Go Fund Me today: https://gofund.me/0ef9a2dae See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If we're all going to die, why are we so determined NOT to talk about it? And what might we actually be missing by keeping death at arm's length? This week, Nurse Julie sits down with world-famous bestselling author, speaker, and Oprah’s very own spiritual advisor, Marianne Williamson, for a conversation that goes straight into the one topic most of us would rather avoid: death. They talk about why having honest conversations about dying can actually change the way we experience it, and why preparing for death might have less to do with learning how to die and a whole lot more to do with learning how to love. Julie and Marianne also dive into the big questions about life, fear, and dying: Why are we so afraid of death? Is physical death really the end? And what about those mysterious things people often experience as they get closer to the end, like seeing a boat?    This is a great episode that reminds us all that maybe the conversation we're most afraid is actually the conversation that could teach us how to live a whole lot better. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the hardest moments of your life are actually preparing you for the strength you'll need later? This week, Nurse Julie sits down with fourth-degree black belt, motivational speaker, podcast host, and bestselling author of The Art of Badassery, Jenn Cassetta, for a powerful conversation about resilience, grief, and learning how to "embrace the suck." Julie opens up about the personal loss that changed her forever and the grief that shaped the way she sees life, death, and healing. Jenn shares the moments that shaped her own journey, from surviving 9/11 and the phone call she thought might be her last with her mom, to losing her father and discovering unexpected signs that made her feel he was still with her. Through the chat, the two share how loss can create strength, why we often discover our biggest capabilities during our hardest seasons, and how resilience isn't about avoiding the takedowns, but about learning how to get back up. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the reason you feel stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed isn't because you're broken... but because your body has forgotten what safety feels like? This week, Nurse Julie sits down with psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and Apollo Neuroscience co-founder, Dr. Dave Rabin, for a fascinating conversation about why so many of us are stuck in survival mode, and how to get out. Dr. Rabin explains how modern life has normalized chronic stress, what information overload is doing to our brains and bodies, and why so many people no longer feel truly safe. Julie and Dr. Rabin also unpack ambient terror, the hidden cost of convenience and comfort, the BS in and around the biohacking craze, and why psychedelic therapy may help some people re-learn safety. This is a great conversation that brings up the question: What if the key to living better isn't doing more, but learning how to finally feel safe being ourselves? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when the life you planned disappears in an instant? Just 13 days after her wedding, Lindi Marcusen survived a catastrophic car accident that left her fighting for her life. Five and a half weeks later, she woke up to discover she'd lost her leg, suffered a traumatic brain injury, and would have to rebuild a life she no longer recognized. This week, Lindi joins Nurse Julie to share the haunting moments before the crash, the extraordinary near-death experience that changed her forever, what it means to grieve the "old you," and her continuous journey of putting together the missing pieces from that tragic day. Julie and Lindi also unpack "the rally," the phenomenon of phantom pain, and how Lindi went from ICU patient to record-holding Paralympian. This episode is a great reminder that sometimes the end of the life you imagined becomes the beginning of the life you were meant to live. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What can a death doula teach us about living? Turns out... quite a lot. Nurse Julie sits down with bestselling author and founder of Going with Grace, Alua Arthur, for a conversation about fear, purpose, regret, and the moments that remind us what really matters. After years of helping people through life’s final chapter, Alua has become one of the world’s leading death doulas, and what she’s learned might change the way you live. Alua explains what a death doula actually does, the most common (and surprising) regrets people have at the end of life, and how our fear of death often “lives within someone else.” Julie and Alua also unpack the biggest misconceptions about death, how grief can point us toward the life we're meant to live, and whether dying well is something everyone can achieve. This episode is a great reminder that the people closest to death often have the clearest perspective on what makes life worth living. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.