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.

What if the grief of losing someone didn’t have to be compounded by chaos, unanswered questions, and a digital life that won’t shut off?

In this deeply human episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss sits down with somatic therapist Mirta Peña to talk about what happens when someone you love struggles in silence… and leaves no plan behind.

Mirta reveals that the aftermath became its own form of ongoing trauma: no will, no passwords, scattered accounts, social media still active, and even strangers attempting to exploit his death through fraudulent fundraising.

Together, Niki and Mirta explore the intersection of somatic healing, cultural taboo, mental health, and digital legacy, showing how unspoken pain and undocumented lives can leave families reliving loss again and again.

You’ll learn:

How nervous system dysregulation can fuel anxiety, numbing, and emotional shutdown

Why depression can be an “emergency brake” the body pulls after prolonged stress

What happens when someone dies without a will, instructions, or digital access
How unplanned digital footprints can lead to impersonation, scams, and prolonged grief

Why closure is harder when accounts, notifications, and unresolved logistics keep the loss “alive”

How connection, co-regulation, and safe conversation can be life-saving and legacy-saving

This episode is a compassionate wake-up call: to talk sooner, to plan while you can, and to stop leaving the people you love to clean up both the emotional and administrative aftermath alone.

Do you know what happens to your crypto, life insurance, and long-term care plan if no one you love can access the right documents when you die?

In this episode, Digital Thanatologist Niki Weiss sits down with Marimer Cruz to break down how easily assets become “lost” when there’s no clear plan, especially in Web3, DeFi, and crypto, where one missing seed phrase can mean everything disappears forever.

Together, Niki and Marie unpack the real-world consequences of not updating beneficiaries, not setting up proper documentation, and not preparing for the massive financial impact of long-term care.

You’ll discover:

-Why crypto can become “unreachable” overnight if no one has your seed phrases or instructions

-The difference between Web2 vs Web3, and what “data sovereignty” means for your legacy

-How one missed beneficiary update can send life insurance to the wrong person

-Why long-term care can force families to spend down assets without proper protection

-The simple steps to document what you have, who should get it, and how to access it

-How tools like My Final Playbook help you organize everything so your loved ones aren’t left scrambling

Don’t let your life’s work turn into confusion, court costs, or chaos. This is a must-listen for anyone serious about digital assets, estate planning, crypto preparedness, and protecting the people they leave behind.

Facing death doesn’t just raise medical questions—it opens up deep emotional, spiritual, and existential ones, too.

In this episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Christine Caldwell, an end-of-life psychedelic care educator and the Founder of End of Life Psychedelic Care, to explore how psychedelic-assisted experiences can support people living with terminal or life-threatening illnesses. Together, they discuss how medicines like psilocybin, ketamine, and MDMA can ease fear, reduce existential distress, deepen connection, and help people make meaning—often when time feels short.

You’ll discover:

What psychedelic-assisted care looks like in an end-of-life context (and what it isn’t)

How psilocybin, ketamine, and MDMA may help reduce anxiety, depression, and fear of dying

Powerful real-life stories of patients facing cancer, ALS, chronic pain, and major diagnoses

Why psychedelics can support forgiveness, emotional resolution, and a deeper sense of peace

Practical first steps if you’re curious about this work—for yourself, a loved one, or your clients

If you’re interested in digital legacy, end-of-life planning, grief support, or new ways to bring more meaning and calm into the dying process, this conversation offers a grounded, compassionate look at a rapidly emerging area of care.

When loss reshapes your life, what do you choose to build from it?
In this episode, host Niki Weiss, creator of The Digital Legacy Podcast and My Final Playbook, sits down with Estrella Quiroz, life enthusiast and co-founder of Last Farewells, an emotional end-of-life planning platform designed for the messages we don’t want to leave unsaid.

Together they explore how an unexpected tragedy transformed Estrella’s life, the story behind her father’s last voicemail, and how that moment sparked a global mission to help people capture meaningful goodbyes before it’s too late. This episode opens up the heart of death tech: empowering people to live fully, love intentionally, and prepare their digital legacy with purpose.

In this episode, we cover:

Why intentional last messages offer emotional closure that social media can’t

How the Last Farewells platform helps users schedule letters, videos, and messages for future milestones

The cultural fears and superstitions that prevent people from planning ahead

The growing movement of founders transforming grief, storytelling, and digital legacy

Whether you’re navigating loss, exploring end-of-life planning, or curious about the future of digital legacy, this conversation offers clarity, hope, and a deeply human perspective on the messages that outlive us.

What happens when your “final gift” to your family is actually a legal and emotional mess? This episode explores the hidden weight of being an executor and how you can make that role kinder, clearer, and less chaotic for the people you leave behind.

Host Niki Weiss, digital legacy planner and creator of My Final Playbook, is joined by David Edey, Certified Executor Advisor and author of Executor Help, who brings 40+ years in finance—and a deeply personal family story of a 7-year estate battle—to this essential conversation. Together, they break down what executors really face and how better planning can prevent family conflict, confusion, and regret.

In this episode, we cover:

What an executor actually does (and why it’s such a heavy job)

How to choose the right executor, not just the oldest or “favorite” child

When and why to update your will as life, family, and assets change

Options for solo-agers who don’t have a traditional family support system

Simple ways to start difficult family conversations about death, money, and expectations

Tune in for a grounded, compassionate look at executorship and estate planning, perfect for anyone thinking about digital legacy, end-of-life planning, or how to leave less chaos and more clarity for the people they love.