23 episodes
6 Months or Less Alexandra Salmon
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- Society & Culture
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5.0 • 23 Ratings
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What would you ask someone who is nearing the end of their life? This podcast explores the thoughts and feelings of people who have been given a terminal diagnosis and who may have six months or less to live. I also attempt to uncover why these conversations around death and dying can be so hard to have.
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Episode 1: Introduction
This is 6 Months or Less, a podcast that explores life and death through the eyes of people who have been given six months or less to live.
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Episode 2: Why This?
Let’s do a thought experiment: Imagine you are in a room with someone who is dying. What would you want to ask? In this episode, I explore some of the questions I would want to ask, and I also interview my parents in an attempt to understand why I'm so curious about death and dying. Before they give me an answer, they turn the question around on me.
Music: “Threshold” and “Pounded Piano” by Podington Bear -
Episode 3: Death Is the Great Equalizer
How would you find people to interview with six months or less to live? Join me in this episode as I reflect on my process and explore the challenges of trying to find people to interview. I also have a conversation with my friend and old coworker, Lisa Stewart, about her work in hospice and her own personal experience of her mother dying.
Thank you so much to Lisa for also sharing her personal experience of her mother dying.
Music: "Silver Hatch" and "Naptime" by Blue Dot Sessions and "Indian Paintbrush" by Podington Bear -
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Episode 5: Why Is It So Hard To Talk about Death and Dying?
In this episode, I ask a doctor, a medical ethicist, social workers, as well as family, friends, and old coworkers about why it is so hard for us to talk about death and dying. I also share conversations I have had with my young son about the coronavirus and death and dying, and I share some exciting news from my own life.
Thanks to my friends and family for exploring difficult questions with me, and to my son for his uninhibited curiosity and sense of wonder.
Music: “Betty Dear” by Blue Dot Sessions and “Stronger” and “Sun” by Alan Spiljak -
Episode 6: What Happens To Me?: Glenn Buckland
When Glenn Buckland was 55 years old, his wife told him, “You’re either going to the hospital or you’re going to the morgue.” After a series of tests, he was diagnosed with plasma cell leukemia, a rare and terminal cancer. But Glenn is not fearful of his death. He instead believes that it is something that can be celebrated. In this episode, you will learn how Glenn got to this place of acceptance and what he thinks a good death looks like for him.
Thank you so much to Glenn for sharing his story with us.
Music: “Sage the Hunter” and “Low Coal Camper” by Blue Dot Sessions and “Canada” by Pictures of The Floating World
Customer Reviews
No longer afraid
Death is a hard subject to discuss. This has been true for me, my thoughts and what I believe. I’m still uncertain about the end, but Allowing myself periods to discuss it could make it a better experience not just for me but my family. Thank you Alexander and Leon for sharing these conversations with me to help me not be so afraid.
Jan
Compelling important stories
Amazing show discussing something we too often shy away from in society - death and our inevitable confrontation with it.
Makes discussing death accessible
While death is a topic that we may think of as a downer and try to avoid, this podcast shows us that we can gain much from its exploration and have a positive experience doing so.