Episode 82: Guest host Patrice Vecchione explores the profound mental health impacts of receiving a terminal diagnosis. Inspired by her friend Kevin’s journey, this episode delves into the emotional realities, challenges, and unexpected strengths that arise when confronting mortality.
Listeners hear deeply personal stories from Megan Myers, who courageously shared her experience living with rapidly progressing brain cancer before her passing; insights from Dr. John Hausdorff, a palliative and hospice care physician who supports patients and families through this vulnerable stage; and reflections from Kevin Christine Kennedy, a writer who is currently facing the final phase of her illness with acceptance and grace.
Together, their voices illuminate the complex interplay of grief, hope, connection, and meaning when facing death. This compassionate conversation offers support and. Resources referenced in the episode are available on the show’s website.
Broadcasts: 9/7/25 & 9/8/25
Producer & Host: Debra Sloss, LMFT
Guest Host: Patrice Vecchione
Guests: Megan Myers, John Hausdorff, MD, Kevin Christine Kennedy
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Transcription. Read the full English transcript of this episode here:
English Transcription – Episode 82: Living with Terminal Illness
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State of Mind is an all-volunteer produced mental health and wellness podcast and radio show hosted by psychotherapist Debra Sloss. Through intimate, story-rich conversations with guests and experts, we explore the complexity of being human and how to live well. Learn more at stateofmindmedia.org. Produced with support from KSQD Community Radio.
🙏 SPECIAL THANKS
Audio Production: VJ Lukka & Youssef Hassanein
Volunteer Coordination: Youssef Hassanein
Story Coaching: Patrice Vecchione
Research: Melony Dominguez & Ramya Pondicherry
Transcriptions: Tanmayi Kademani
Marketing: Nimalan Elanchelvan
Graphic Design: Priscilla Yee & Grishma Jain
Data Management: Loan Tran
Theme Music: Adrian Legg & Favored Nations Entertainment
RESOURCE LIST
*Indicates a Monterey Bay Area resource
Hospice and Palliative Care
Monterey Area
* Hospice of the Central Coast – Part of Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, provides compassionate end-of-life care. They focus on enhancing quality of life for individuals with a life-limiting illness and their families, emphasizing comfort, dignity, and emotional and spiritual support. Services provided in any setting the patient calls home.
Phone: Main: 800-364-7001, Office: 831-649-7750
* Heartland Hospice of the Central Coast – Focuses on providing compassionate, comprehensive care to individuals with life-limiting illnesses and their families. They aim to improve quality of life by managing pain and symptoms, offering emotional and spiritual support, and providing bereavement services. Heartland Hospice serves patients wherever they call home, whether it’s their residence, a skilled nursing facility, or an assisted living center. Phone: 833-980-0356
*Central Coast Visiting Nurse Association – Delivers compassionate, trusted, team-driven Home Health, Palliative, and Hospice Care and Community Services with an emphasis on individual patient needs and care goals. Home Health Care: 831-372-6668 Hospice: 831-751-5500
Santa Cruz Area
* Hospice of Santa Cruz County – Provides comfort and peace of mind as you face serious illness or end of life. Offering a range of services including: Pediatric Care for medically fragile children and their families; Transitional and Palliative Care to help you manage the challenges that accompany serious illness; Hospice Care to support patients and families for many months at the end of life and Grief Support through ongoing support groups, one-day workshops, and one-on-one support. End of Life Option Act Information. Phone: 831-430-3000
*Continuum Hospice and Palliative Care – Provides comprehensive support for individuals with life-limiting illnesses and their families. They offer both hospice and palliative care, focusing on enhancing quality of life, managing symptoms, and providing emotional and spiritual support. Their services include expert nursing care, physician services, counseling, medication management, and assistance with daily living activities. With offices serving the North and East and San Francisco Bay area communities. Central Coast Phone: (831) 249-9454
Books and Reading:
The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief by Francis Weller (2015) – This book reframes grief as a vital, sacred part of life—not something to overcome, but to honor. It introduces the “Five Gates of Grief” as a way to understand how loss shapes us and offers rituals and practices to help navigate its many forms.
A Neuroscientist Prepares for Death: Lessons My Terminal Cancer Has Taught Me About the Mind
by David J. Linden | The Atlantic, December 30, 2021 – A deeply personal short essay where the author reflects on his terminal cancer diagnosis and what it has revealed to him about the human brain and mind. He shares insights about holding contradictory emotions, the subjective nature of experience, and our brain’s inability to fully grasp the finality of death—offering both scientific perspective and wisdom.
In the Absence of the Ordinary: Soul Work for Times of Uncertainty–Essays on grief, change, and sacred transitions by Francis Weller (2025) – A collection of 17 essays exploring how we can face the upheavals of modern life with presence, compassion, and resilience. Weller invites readers to reimagine connection, grief, and belonging as guides for navigating uncertainty and transformation.
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande (2017) – Explores how modern medicine addresses aging and the end of life, highlighting the tension between safety and autonomy, and urging a focus on living well all the way to the end.
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (2016) – A moving memoir by a young neurosurgeon diagnosed with terminal cancer, reflecting on mortality, meaning, and what makes life worth living as he shifts from doctor to patient and new father.
After by Bruce Greyson (2022) – A physician and researcher shares four decades of scientific study on near-death experiences, exploring what they reveal about consciousness, dying, and how shifting our view of death can ease fear and bring meaning.
Knocking on Heaven’s Door by Katy Butler (2014) – Combines memoir and investigative reporting to examine how modern medicine often prolongs dying rather than easing it, while exploring the movement toward “slow medicine” and more humane end-of-life care.
Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds by Kelly Turner (2015) – Draws on research and survivor stories to explore common lifestyle, emotional, and spiritual factors that may contribute to unexpected remissions from cancer, highlighting the potential role of holistic approaches alongside conventional medicine.
Radical Hope by Kelly Turner, PhD (2021) – Presents real-life stories of cancer and other disease survivors who have applied the 9 key factors from Radical Remission, along with a newly identified tenth factor. The book includes survivor experiences, updated research, and practical applications of these principles.
Film
Only The Mountain Remains – A short art film created by Tory Capron & Henna Taylor about Tory’s thoughts on death and exploring the question: How can embracing death teach us how to truly live?
Andrea Gibson, Poet on Living while Dying – Short video of spoken word.
“Been trying to live in a silo since I was 19 years old”
The Room Next Door directed by Pedro Almodóvar (2024) – A feature length film based on Sigrid Nunez’s novel What Are You Going Through, this English-language drama follows the reconnection of two longtime friends as one faces the end of life with terminal cancer. The film explores themes of friendship, memory, family estrangement, and the difficult choices around dying with dignity.
Audio
Complete Interview Audio with Dr. John Hausdorff – Palliative and hospice physician (48 minutes).
Spoken/Unspoken – A series of audio stories collaboratively created by Hospice of Santa Cruz County and Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History. Composer Lanier Sammons wove together intimate reflections from patients nearing the end of life, sharing what mattered most and the words they wished they could have spoken to loved ones.
Senior Support
*Senior Network Services – Publishes an invaluable guide of senior resources in Santa Cruz County. They can also consult and advise regarding services and resources for seniors in Santa Cruz County.
*Senior Outreach – A Family Service Agency of the Central Coast Program
This program supports older adults in maintaining independence and improving quality of life through free, confidential peer counseling—offered at home or in community-based support groups. Services address depression, anxiety, grief, illness, and family concerns, and are available in both English and Spanish.
Cancer Support
Commonweal Cancer Help Program – A week-long residential retreat for people with cancer and their loved ones, focused on living as fully as possible and, when needed, approaching the end of life in a way that aligns with personal values. Scholarship assistance available.
*WomenCARE – An organization offering support, advocacy, resources, and education for women with any type of cancer, as well as their families, friends, and healthcare providers. Services include practical and emotional assistance at all stages—from diagnosis through healing, survivorship, or end of life.
Whole Person Cancer Care / CancerChoices – A website offering integrative cancer care combining conventional treatments with lifestyle and complementary approaches, addressing physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs.
Caregiver Resources
Family Caregivers Alliance – Provides services to family caregivers of adults with physical and cognitive impairments, such as Parkinson’s, stroke, Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Services include assessment, care planning, direct care skills, wellness programs, respite services, and legal/financial consultation vouchers. Offers support groups, classes, resources and events for caregivers and the people who receive their care. Ongoing support is available; also now on a digital service platform. FCA is a longtime advocate for caregivers in the areas of policy, health and social system development, research, and public awareness, on the state, national and international levels.
AARP Resources to Help Caregivers – A rich source of educational articles and information to help support caregivers.
The National Alliance for Caregiving – Dedicated to improving quality of life for friend and family caregivers and those in their care, by advancing research, advocacy, and innovation. Provides research, advocacy and information on resources on caregiving.
*Del Mar Caregiver Support – A program of Health Projects Center, dedicates their attention and service to caregivers, advocating for public recognition of their worth and value to society while providing low-cost or no-cost consultations, education, support groups, and respite to caregivers in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito counties.
General Support
Healing Circles Global – Free virtual, peer-led support circles started by Commonweal for grief, illness, caregiving, and other life challenges, fostering connection and personal growth.
Counseling Support
*Family Service Agency (FSA) of the Central Coast – A long-time State of Mind underwriter, FSA offers low-cost and Medi-Cal/Medicare therapy for all ages and backgrounds, including sliding-scale options. Offices in Santa Cruz and Soquel.. 📞 Santa Cruz: 831-423-9444 x200 | Soquel: 831-346-6767 x200
*Shine a Light Counseling Center – Offers affordable, quality individual, couples, family, and group therapy—including men’s groups—in Santa Cruz, Watsonville, and Monterey. 📞 831-996-1222
Guests Recommendations
From Kevin: Anita Morjani – cancer survivor and inspirational leader and speaker.
*Indicates a Monterey Bay Area resource
I have just listened to the final third of Patrice Vecchione’s stirring FACING DEATH podcast.
It is impossible for me to summarize the range of emotions and projections that swept over me as I listened.
I’m deeply grateful to Patrice for the sensitivity, courage, and insight she applied to produce this impactful masterpiece.
Thanks again, Patrice. It was so stirring that I plan to listen again.
Next time, I’ll give myself time to listen from start to finish.
Dick G