News and Notes: A Good Goodbye Radio Returns

Sep 2, 2014 | 0 comments

AGG Funeral Radio logoExciting news! A Good Goodbye, my Internet radio show, is back in production. The program is now carried on FuneralRadio.com, “The Voice of Funeral Professionals.” My program is designed to appeal to both the general public and funeral professionals. The first program podcast will be posted online for download this week.

The first guest on the new network is Gale O’Brien, author of Transformation: Creating an Exceptional Life in the Face of Cancer. During the 20-minute interview, we discussed how facing cancer changed her outlook on life and how she eliminated her fear of death and dying.

Let me know who you’d like to hear interviewed on the new A Good Goodbye radio show and what topics you’d like tackled!

There have been recent news stories about the possibility of doctors getting reimbursed for having conversations with their elderly patients about how they would like to be treated medically in an end-of-life situation. The source is The New York Times’ article “Coverage for End-of-Life Talks Gaining Ground.”  Yes, five years after Sarah Palin labeled the idea “death panels,” the issue of paying doctors to talk to patients about end-of-life care is making a comeback, and may be covered by Medicare as early as next year. Read the full story online.

Time Flies Card CoverIf you like the hourglass with wings in the radio logo (Tempus Fugit – Time Flies), this image now graces a lovely blank greeting card offered in the “Stuff to Die For” section of AGoodGoodbye.com. The cards, which make great thank you notes, birthday greetings and condolence cards, come with envelopes in sets of 12. More information.

Video of recent talks and upcoming events on the schedule follow. Please call me at 505.265.7215 if I can be of assistance!

Recent Videos

In August, I spoke at the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association annual convention and expo in Dallas. It’s always fun to see what’s on display at these conventions. You can see videos of two high-style hearses, innovative covers for removal carts, church trucks and tables, and mints made especially for funeral homes – BereaveMints – at The Family Plot Blog.

Also during August, I spoke at the New Mexico Conference on Aging, presenting “Doctor, How Long Do I Have?” This session focused on how to foster good doctor-patient and family communications regarding serious, life-and-death diagnoses, using film clips to illustrate both good and bad interactions. This talk has served as a Continuing Education unit for social workers and gerontologists. Here’s the speaking portion of the talk, minus the film clips:

"Doctor How Long Do I Have?" Presentation

Just for fun, you might like to see the YouTube “Breaking Bad” tour of Albuquerque I took my parents on a few weeks ago. We went to see a number of the award-winning series’ filming sites around town. The full video runs about 15 minutes.

Breaking Bad Tour of Albuquerque

Upcoming Events and a Funny Quote

Saturday, September 27, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.: Albuquerque Death Cafe NEW LOCATION at Swiss Alps Bakery and Cafe, 3000 San Pedro NE, Suite F, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Phone: 505-881-3063. More information about the Death Cafe movement. Join the Meetup group!

Tuesday, September 30, 10:30 a.m.: Gail Rubin speaks to Dr. Kris Roush’s Death and Dying Class at Central New Mexico Community College. She will use funny film clips to illustrate various aspects of mortality that most folks don’t think about before there’s a death in the family. Only students in this class may attend.

Wednesday, October 1, 9:30 a.m.: Gail Rubin presents “A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die” at Jardineros de Placitas. This is a members-only event.

Sunday, October 12 to Wednesday, October 15: Gail Rubin reports on the National Funeral Directors Association’s annual convention and expo in Nashville, TN.

Wednesday, October 22, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.: At the Uniting New Mexicans Against Adult Abuse conference, Gail Rubin presents the CEU talk, “Doctor, How Long Do I Have?”

Thursday, October 23, 4:30 p.m.: As the president of the Jewish-Christian Dialogue of New Mexico, Gail Rubin facilitates a talk by Dr. Aroop Mangalik on “Discussing Religious Aspects to End-of-Life Decision-Making.” Dr. Mangalik is an oncologist who is one of the plaintiffs in the New Mexico physician aid-in-dying lawsuit.

Monday, October 27, 10:00 a.m.: Gail Rubin presents “Doctor, How Long Do I Have?” at the McLeod YMCA, on Comanche near Tramway Blvd., Albuquerque. This one-hour film clip-illustrated talk focuses on how to have good doctor-patient-family conversations in the face of a serious diagnosis. Contact Holly Brown at 934-6768 for more information about attending this free talk.

“My uncle was a clown for the Ringling Brothers Circus, and when he died, all of his friends went to the funeral in one car.” — Steven Wright

A Good Goodbye