We Really Need To Talk Fri, 06 Mar 2026 09:24:47 -0500 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2032694 en-us © 2026 Copyright 2022 - We Really Need To Talk yes 91e7f87a-b0f1-5c06-9d81-e4b54ee14d7b Ithaca College Gerontology Institute episodic false We Really Need To Talk is a podcast about the conversations we should be having with our loves ones about the end of life. Gerontology professor Elizabeth Bergman and former Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center Program Coordinator Lisa Richards and their guests will talk about how to approach these conversations as well as how to sort through last wishes, advance care planning and choices about life-sustaining treatment. And they do it all with a healthy dose of love and humor. 

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Ithaca College Gerontology Institute https://storage.buzzsprout.com/1eaw49yr2h61dm2rgdyj6zt1snef?.jpg We Really Need To Talk Talking About Dying Frees Us To Live Talking About Dying Frees Us To Live In this episode, storyteller and end-of-life care advocate Kimberly Paul explores the power and possibilities unleased by facing end of life issues head on. She argues that talking about dying helps us to live more fully and be a more powerful presence in the lives of those we love.  

Resources 

Kimberly Paul's website  https://www.deathbydesign.com/
Kimberly's tour https://www.deathbydesign.com/live-well-die-well-tour-stops/
The Death Deck https://thedeathdeck.com/
Karl Pillemer, PhD, 30 Lessons for Living
https://www.karlpillemer.com/books/30-lessons-for-living/ 

We Really Need to Talk is funded by the Finger Lakes Geriatrics Education Center at the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute. Editing and production support provided by Dr. Becky Lane and Jay Williamson at the Center for Creative Technology at Ithaca College.

Web: www.ithaca.edu/gerontology-institute
Email us icgi@ithaca.edu

]]> In this episode, storyteller and end-of-life care advocate Kimberly Paul explores the power and possibilities unleased by facing end of life issues head on. She argues that talking about dying helps us to live more fully and be a more powerful presence in the lives of those we love.  

Resources 

Kimberly Paul's website  https://www.deathbydesign.com/
Kimberly's tour https://www.deathbydesign.com/live-well-die-well-tour-stops/
The Death Deck https://thedeathdeck.com/
Karl Pillemer, PhD, 30 Lessons for Living
https://www.karlpillemer.com/books/30-lessons-for-living/ 

We Really Need to Talk is funded by the Finger Lakes Geriatrics Education Center at the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute. Editing and production support provided by Dr. Becky Lane and Jay Williamson at the Center for Creative Technology at Ithaca College.

Web: www.ithaca.edu/gerontology-institute
Email us icgi@ithaca.edu

]]> Buzzsprout-11737724 Wed, 23 Nov 2022 08:00:00 -0500 2252 1 5 full false How To Choose A Healthcare Proxy How To Choose A Healthcare Proxy This episode is about an important health care document – the healthcare proxy. Anna Rosenblatt, a Practice Facilitator at Cayuga Health Partners in Ithaca, New York will talk with us about what a healthcare proxy is and and why it’s important. We’ll also talk about who is a good choice, how to talk to your doctor about it and what happens if you don’t have one. 

 Resources  

NYS Healthcare Proxy document and info: https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/1430.pdf 

NYS Guide to choosing a healthcare agent
https://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/patients/health_care_proxy/ 

National Institute on Aging
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/advance-care-planning-health-care-directives
https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/1503.pdf
https://order.nia.nih.gov/publication/tips-for-advance-care-planning 

Law – Family Health Care Decisions Act (2010) http://wnylc.com/health/entry/142/ 

We Really Need to Talk is funded by the Finger Lakes Geriatrics Education Center at the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute. Editing and production support provided by Dr. Becky Lane and Jay Williamson at the Center for Creative Technology at Ithaca College.

Web: www.ithaca.edu/gerontology-institute
Email us icgi@ithaca.edu

]]> This episode is about an important health care document – the healthcare proxy. Anna Rosenblatt, a Practice Facilitator at Cayuga Health Partners in Ithaca, New York will talk with us about what a healthcare proxy is and and why it’s important. We’ll also talk about who is a good choice, how to talk to your doctor about it and what happens if you don’t have one. 

 Resources  

NYS Healthcare Proxy document and info: https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/1430.pdf 

NYS Guide to choosing a healthcare agent
https://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/patients/health_care_proxy/ 

National Institute on Aging
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/advance-care-planning-health-care-directives
https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/1503.pdf
https://order.nia.nih.gov/publication/tips-for-advance-care-planning 

Law – Family Health Care Decisions Act (2010) http://wnylc.com/health/entry/142/ 

We Really Need to Talk is funded by the Finger Lakes Geriatrics Education Center at the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute. Editing and production support provided by Dr. Becky Lane and Jay Williamson at the Center for Creative Technology at Ithaca College.

Web: www.ithaca.edu/gerontology-institute
Email us icgi@ithaca.edu

]]> Buzzsprout-11670163 Fri, 11 Nov 2022 08:00:00 -0500 2666 1 4 full false A Geriatrician Talks Health Care Decisions A Geriatrician Talks Health Care Decisions Dr. Thomas Caprio, who specializes in geriatric medicine, hospice, and palliative care at the University of Rochester Medical Center, discusses life-sustaining treatments in the case of a serious illness and at the end of life.  He talks about the importance of the healthcare proxy and how that person can work with the healthcare team to respect the patient's wishes around care. He’ll also touch on medical jargon and how it’s okay to ask your doctor to explain the situation in terms you can understand. 

Resources: 

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/23094529-thomas-v-caprio 

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-are-palliative-care-and-hospice-care 

We Really Need to Talk is funded by the Finger Lakes Geriatrics Education Center at the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute. Editing and production support provided by Dr. Becky Lane and Jay Williamson at the Center for Creative Technology at Ithaca College.

Web: www.ithaca.edu/gerontology-institute
Email us icgi@ithaca.edu

]]> Dr. Thomas Caprio, who specializes in geriatric medicine, hospice, and palliative care at the University of Rochester Medical Center, discusses life-sustaining treatments in the case of a serious illness and at the end of life.  He talks about the importance of the healthcare proxy and how that person can work with the healthcare team to respect the patient's wishes around care. He’ll also touch on medical jargon and how it’s okay to ask your doctor to explain the situation in terms you can understand. 

Resources: 

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/23094529-thomas-v-caprio 

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-are-palliative-care-and-hospice-care 

We Really Need to Talk is funded by the Finger Lakes Geriatrics Education Center at the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute. Editing and production support provided by Dr. Becky Lane and Jay Williamson at the Center for Creative Technology at Ithaca College.

Web: www.ithaca.edu/gerontology-institute
Email us icgi@ithaca.edu

]]> Ithaca College Gerontology Institute Buzzsprout-11573402 Fri, 28 Oct 2022 12:00:00 -0400 2611 1 3 full false The Conversations The Conversations Angela Mennitto, a death midwife and community educator, and Deb Traunstein, a medical social worker, in Ithaca, New York talk to us about why having end-of-life conversations is so important.  They'll discuss why it's so hard, what may happen if you don't have the conversations  and what role culture plays in how we talk about death.

Resources

Dr. Ira Byock is a leading palliative care physician, author, and public advocate for improving care through the end of life

Angela Mennitto's website  The Art of Dying Well

The Conversation Project  


We Really Need to Talk is funded by the Finger Lakes Geriatrics Education Center at the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute. Editing and production support provided by Dr. Becky Lane and Jay Williamson at the Center for Creative Technology at Ithaca College.

Web: www.ithaca.edu/gerontology-institute
Email us icgi@ithaca.edu

]]> Angela Mennitto, a death midwife and community educator, and Deb Traunstein, a medical social worker, in Ithaca, New York talk to us about why having end-of-life conversations is so important.  They'll discuss why it's so hard, what may happen if you don't have the conversations  and what role culture plays in how we talk about death.

Resources

Dr. Ira Byock is a leading palliative care physician, author, and public advocate for improving care through the end of life

Angela Mennitto's website  The Art of Dying Well

The Conversation Project  


We Really Need to Talk is funded by the Finger Lakes Geriatrics Education Center at the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute. Editing and production support provided by Dr. Becky Lane and Jay Williamson at the Center for Creative Technology at Ithaca College.

Web: www.ithaca.edu/gerontology-institute
Email us icgi@ithaca.edu

]]> Ithaca College Gerontology Institute Buzzsprout-11485295 Thu, 13 Oct 2022 07:00:00 -0400 2710 deathdoula,theconversationproject,irabyock,healthcareproxy,hospice,palliativecare 1 2 full false Why We Need to Talk About the End of Life Why We Need to Talk About the End of Life In the introductory episode, Elizabeth and Lisa will tell you why they wanted to make a podcast about end-of-life conversations. They will share their experiences of how a simple letter or set of instructions from a loved one helped ease the pain of those left grieving. They will discuss the importance of having ongoing conversations about this difficult subject.

Resources

An eight minute PBS Religion and Ethics Newsweekly video about doctors and end-of-life discussions
https://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2016/06/10/january-15-2016-doctors-and-end-of-life-discussions/28640/ 

Extremis film on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/80106307
 

We Really Need to Talk is funded by the Finger Lakes Geriatrics Education Center at the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute. Editing and production support provided by Dr. Becky Lane and Jay Williamson at the Center for Creative Technology at Ithaca College.

Web: www.ithaca.edu/gerontology-institute
Email us icgi@ithaca.edu

]]> In the introductory episode, Elizabeth and Lisa will tell you why they wanted to make a podcast about end-of-life conversations. They will share their experiences of how a simple letter or set of instructions from a loved one helped ease the pain of those left grieving. They will discuss the importance of having ongoing conversations about this difficult subject.

Resources

An eight minute PBS Religion and Ethics Newsweekly video about doctors and end-of-life discussions
https://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2016/06/10/january-15-2016-doctors-and-end-of-life-discussions/28640/ 

Extremis film on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/80106307
 

We Really Need to Talk is funded by the Finger Lakes Geriatrics Education Center at the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute. Editing and production support provided by Dr. Becky Lane and Jay Williamson at the Center for Creative Technology at Ithaca College.

Web: www.ithaca.edu/gerontology-institute
Email us icgi@ithaca.edu

]]> Elizabeth Bergman and Lisa Richards Buzzsprout-11123921 Mon, 03 Oct 2022 17:00:00 -0400 1079 end-of-life,lastwishes,livingwell,hospice,palliativecare,IthacaCollege,GerontologyInstitute 1 1 full false