What happens when the burden of caregiving falls entirely on one person—and that person breaks?

In this episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist and Final Playbook coach, sits down with Dr. Ashley Blackington, Occupational Therapist and founder of Dovetail, to unpack the "default caregiver" trap and why the modern family structure is buckling under the pressure of aging loved ones.

You’ll discover:

Why the healthcare system naturally funnels responsibility to one person (usually the eldest daughter) and how to "open the funnel" back up

The difference between living longer and "dying longer"—and what that means for your family's future

Why caregivers often suffer physical injury or illness before the person they are caring for

Crucial advice for "solo agers" on getting on waitlists and updating emergency contacts before a crisis hits

How to use technology like Dovetail to create "layers of care" rather than relying on a chaotic 2-inch binder

Because you can’t care for someone else if the system is designed to break you first.

What happens to your family’s financial stability and emotional well-being when a sudden death leaves them with a $15,000 bill and no way to ask for help?

In this episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist and Final Playbook coach, sits down with Janet Turkula and Ryan Oliveira from Give Willow to unpack the broken system of funeral support. They discuss why sending casseroles and flowers often misses the mark, and how a revolutionary new "funeral registry" platform is allowing communities to offer meaningful financial and practical aid during life's most vulnerable moments.

You’ll discover:

The traumatic reality of navigating sudden loss at a young age without financial resources or a will

Why we have registries for weddings and babies, but the death care industry has lagged behind

The "sticker shock" of funeral planning (and why a celebration of life might cost $15,000)

How to overcome the stigma of asking for financial support without feeling "icky"

How pre-planning a registry can be a final gift to your family, giving them clarity on exactly what you want

Because supporting a grieving family shouldn't mean guessing what they need. It’s about providing the right help, at the right time, with dignity and ease.

What if the way we’ve been taught to “handle” death is actually keeping us disconnected from the very thing we need most: closure, participation, and meaning?

In this episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist and Final Playbook coach, sits down with Melissa, “The Modern Mortician”, a death-care educator about what modern end-of-life care can look like when families are empowered with real options.

You’ll learn:

Why embalming became standard in the U.S. and how capitalism shaped modern funeral practices

What a green burial really is (and what participation can look like at the graveside)

How death doulas can support families from hospice planning to bedside vigil and decision-making

Why direct cremation without a memorial can complicate grief—and what families can do instead

How to protect your wishes legally (including pre-planning, pre-funding, and using an appointed agent when needed)

The real cost ranges of traditional burial, green burial, and cremation—and what drives price differences

If you’ve ever felt unsure, overwhelmed, or pressured by the funeral industry, this conversation will remind you: you have choices and talking about death won’t kill you.