Dying to Tell You
Episodes
In Answer to Loneliness: A Reflection
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's reflection on his interview with Shutes—which, of course, you should go listen to—Cody discusses the recurring theme of loneliness ...
“I’m Turning to Stone”: Choosing to Live Fully with Scleroderma
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“I’m part gargoyle is what I tell people. Because I’m turning to stone. I literally am.” Shutes was living the dream—college basketball nati...
How We Navigate Life's Thresholds: A Reflection
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cody gives us one more update on Joe's progress and shares his thoughts on what it means to facing turning points in our lives, the nature of life's u...
Facing Life's Plot Twists: Joe's Reality Now [Call Back Episode]
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"My main point here is how important it is for you to continue to be your own health advocate." In this callback episode we check back in...
Gratitude and Grace: Reflections on Three Thanksgivings
27 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“The people we have on the podcast, they’re just so special.” Cody and Chris (that’s us!) sit down to toast three amazing years of Dying to Te...
The Other Shoe: Life Between the Scans
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joe was just 29 years old when a colonoscopy revealed stage four colorectal cancer—a diagnosis he'd put off for months despite troubling symptoms. W...
The Courage to Change Your Mind: A Reflection on Cancer, Treatment, and Letting Go
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"What am I holding onto so tightly that I would never change?" Our guest last week (and the week before!), Becca, once declared she'd never undergo ...
In the Driver's Seat: Becca on Stopping Treatment and Living Fully [Call Back Episode]
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"I wanted quality of life over quantity of life. If I have six months, then I will live the hell out of those six months. If I have 30 years, that wou...
The Beauty and Burden of Being: A Stage Four Cancer Patient's Search for Meaning
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“Please—all of you people out there—don’t wait until you’re dying to see the beauty in life.” Becca was diagnosed with stage two breast ca...
The Therapeutic Pause: A Reflection on Navigating Terminal Diagnoses
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
🚗💨 The Power of Pumping the Brakes... In this episode, Cody reflects on last week's conversation with Lonnie about the importance of finding mea...
Heal Your Mind: The Power of Therapy in a Cancer Journey
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"I didn't want to survive. I wanted to live. I knew that I wanted to live." In this episode of Dying to Tell You, Cody sits down with Lonnie, who is l...
When We Feel Helpless : A Reflection on Accepting It Together
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Don't Just Do Something...Sit There." In this reflection on his conversation with Sarah last week, Cody delves into the challenging emotion of hel...
An Absolutely Fabulous Glitter Ghost: ALS and Dreams of a Gen X Afterlife
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“I would love it if the afterlife looked like the eighties.” —Sarah In this episode of 'Dying to Tell You,' Cody chats with Sarah Parton, who sh...
And That's Ok: A Reflection on Living Life & Facing Death On Your Own Terms
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this reflection on his conversation last week with Caroline, Cody shares his personal journey through grief, resilience, and finding meaning after ...
20 Weeks Pregnant and a Diagnosis of Brain Cancer: Caroline's Story of Grace and Light
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on "Dying To Tell You," Cody sits down with Caroline, a mother whose world was turned upside down by a devastating diagnosis: brain cancer ...
Why Do Bad Things Happen? A Reflection on Loss, Resilience, and Leaving Space for Yourself
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's reflection, Cody revisits last week's conversation with Joe, who is facing a diagnosis of multiple myeloma. Cody explores the age-old q...
Living Fully with Multiple Myeloma: A Conversation with Joe on Hope, Risk, and Meaning
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“There’s something so precious about every day and every moment and living this beautiful gift.” What does it mean to truly live when tomorrow i...
Obstacles Are Not a Mistake: They're Part of the Path
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Inright outright upright downright" Join host Cody for another heartfelt reflection as he revisits last week's uplifting conversation with Aaron, a c...
Youngest Guy in the Chemo Ward: How Aaron Chose Confidence in the Face of Cancer
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Find out what happens when a college freshman is faced with a life-changing cancer diagnosis—and chooses hope over fear. Meet Aaron, our guest thi...
When Mortality Hits Home: An Invitation to Life
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"We only get to do this life once." In this deeply personal reflection, Cody share his own experience of learning that his mom was in the hospital fo...
Grit and Grace: Kelly’s Journey with ALS and Finding New Life
07 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Life Goes On" —Kelly In this episode of Dying to Tell You, Cody sits down with Kelly, who is living with an ALS diagnosis. Kelly shares her journe...
Consideration—The Courage and Love It Takes to Think of Others
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this heartfelt reflection of last week's episode with Jeopardy Champion and author Jeff Stewart, palliative care chaplain and host Cody shares powe...
Betting on Hope: Jeopardy Champion Jeff Stewart’s Journey with Stage Four Cancer
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A surprise stomach cancer diagnosis born of an attempt to donate a kidney gave Jeff the time and space to reflect on life, death, and what he could gi...
This Life Is An Opportunity To Experience Love—A Reflection
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cody reflects on his conversation with Sue in last week's episode, and how love is the purpose of our lives. We also include a voice message left on...
From Terminal to Transcendent: Sue’s Out-of-Body Experience and Awakening
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"I remember thinking...oh! That's what it was about!" Our first guest of Season 3 is Sue, who joined us all the way from Australia. And although she i...
"Let That Sh*t Go" — Linda, An Encore Episode
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Linda was a guest in Season One of Dying To Tell You, a fiery and hilarious woman facing a terminal diagnosis from kidney cancer. So much of Cody's co...
"I don't need to know about tomorrow" — Riyaz, An Encore Episode
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Riyaz was spiritual teacher and therapist who joined us in Season 2 of Dying To Tell You, and leading up to Season 3 we wanted to honor some of the g...
"Was today the last day...?" — Rachel, An Encore Episode
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel was our first guest on Dying To Tell You who had ALS, and leading up to Season 3 we wanted to honor some of the guests who have been on the sh...
Redefining How We "Beat" Cancer — Nancy, An Encore Episode
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nancy was our second guest on Dying To Tell You, and leading up to Season 3 we wanted to honor some of the guests who have been on the show and who ha...
Festival of the Soul — Aaron, An Encore Episode
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Aaron was the first guest on Dying To Tell You, and leading up to Season 3 we wanted to honor some of the guests who have been on the show and who hav...
By The Way - Connecting To Loved Ones No Longer With Us
03 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
—Call (720) 600-7056 and leave a message for your loved ones— Inspired by the beautiful idea behind Japanese wind phones, we want to welcome...
"We are a resilient being" • Learning to grow from end-of-life challenges
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lisa Pahl, LCSW shares how a patient she encountered early in her hospice career taught her how even the worst experiences can help us grow. Lisa is t...
Finding forgiveness in healthcare
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"In this line of work, you can't see death as failure. But in this case…very much felt like a failure. I hadn’t controlled his pain.” A brief no...
Deanna & The Joys of Hospice
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we check back in with former guest and irrepressible force Deanna! A few weeks back, we drove up to Casper, WY to meet Deanna in person for...
"He wanted people to know who he was, not who he is now."
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
One question opened up a world of understanding for Dr. Andy Robinson early in his career: "What do you feel we should know that we don't?" It was ask...
When Solving the Problem is the Wrong Solution
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes fixing the problem right in front of us creates harm down the road, especially in healthcare and with patients who are facing the end of lif...
"It opened my eyes to the kind of nurse I wanted to be." —Hospice Nurse Julie
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Healthcare educator, social media influencer, and good friend of the podcast Hospice Nurse Julie shares the formative story of a patient who changed h...
Giving Kids a Voice at the End of Life
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It can be a difficult idea to engage with, but children face terminal illnesses and life-limiting circumstances too. And it takes vastly empathetic he...
Are you ready for a good death?
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Wellness Nurse, Life and Death Educator, International Speaker, and Author of the new book "The Good Death," Suzanne B. O'Brien, RN, has helped train ...
When End-of-Life Care Meets Simple Human Caring
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Dying to Tell You: The Caring Perspective, (E07) Cody interviews his long-time friend Garrett Price about his journey from chaplain...
Honoring a Final Request To Die Outside
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dying To Tell You: The Caring Perspective E06: Clinical Chaplain Aaron Aaron Metcalf is a board-certified Clinical Chaplain at a Level 1 Trauma Center...
On Her Deathbed, Not Dying
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dying to Tell You: The Caring Perspective—E05 with Dr. John Mulder Dr. Mulder shares his incredible story of a patient who was at the end of her lif...
The Caring Perspective E04—Hospice Halley
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Cody sits down with @Hospicehalley, a Hospice Social Worker and co-host of the Death Happens, An Insider’s Guide to Dying podcast with @h...
The Caring Perspective E03—Dr. Matthew Tyler
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Matthew Tyler on the "hidden curriculum" of healthcare professionals—lessons they learn about some of the most difficult parts of their jobs, le...
The Caring Perspective E02—Dr. Jeff Manuel
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"She left this world feeling comfortable with who she was." Jeff Manuel is a palliative care physician in Denver, Colorado, and joins Cody to share hi...
Special Series—The Caring Perspective E01—Hospice Nurse Penny on how the body "does the work of dying"
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on our very first Dying To Tell You: The Caring Perspective, Hospice Nurse Penny shares her experience with a patient whose spirit had seemi...
A Brief Giving Tuesday Request (and what's next for the show!)
03 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A brief (3 minutes!) update after our Season Two finale! It's Giving Tuesday and if you love the show, we have a humble request. If you believe in ou...
A Very Dying To Tell You Thanksgiving (Video Finale!)
28 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For the finale of Season Two, we invited back a few previous guests for a very special Thanksgiving episode...with video! Riyaz, Rachel, and Javeeda...
I'm Still Me: A Reflection on Dementia, Aging, and Identity
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Between each episode, Cody offers a brief reflection on the themes he discussed with his guest the week before. Today, Cody reflects on his convers...
Jackie & Shannon: How Alzheimer's Is More Than Memory Loss
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our final guests of Season 2 are Jackie & Shannon, a mother and daughter navigating the changes and challenges of Alzheimer's. Jackie has moved ou...
How a Cancer Diagnosis Becomes a Label: A Reflection
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"I'm no different than you." Between each episode, Cody offers a brief reflection on the themes he discussed with his guest the week before. Today, C...
Javeeda: A One-In-A-Million Cancer Diagnosis
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Javeeda lives in Toronto and has Adrenocortical carcinoma—a rare and aggressive cancer that starts in the kidney area. Her diagnosis has gone from 3...
Faith in the Face of Challenge: A Reflection
24 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Between each episode, Cody offers a brief reflection on the themes he discussed with his guest the week before. In this reflection, Cody reflects on l...
Deanna: Answered Prayers & Time to Say Goodbye
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On the side of an ice-covered Wyoming highway, staring down an out-of-control semi, Deanna prayed and got a truly unexpected answer—she made it o...
Cancer, A Beautiful Gift in Ugly Wrapping: A Reflection
10 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Between each episode, Cody offers a brief reflection on the themes he discussed with his guest the week before. In this reflection, Cody reflects on l...
Lee: Co-Existing with Cancer
03 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Nearly fourteen years ago, Lee discovered she had an inoperable tumor at the top of her spinal cord, an astrocytoma that left her partially paralyzed....
The Loss and Awareness of ALS: A Reflection
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Between each episode, Cody offers a brief reflection on the themes he discussed with his guest the week before. In this reflection, Cody reflects on l...
Rachel: Changing Your Perspective as ALS Changes You
19 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel has ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Recently, she sat down to talk with Cody about her personal journey, what she's learned about ...
The Inspiring Call To Care For Others: A Reflection
12 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Between each episode, Cody offers a brief reflection on the themes he discussed with his guest the week before. In this reflection, Cody reflects on h...
Bob: Caring For Each Other Throughout Life...and Death
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bob is a retired pediatrician with prostate cancer who has seen diagnosis and treatment procedures change dramatically over the decades. His devotion ...
The Simple Things We Turn To In Loss: A Reflection
29 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Between each episode, Cody offers a brief reflection on the themes he discussed with his guest the week before. In this reflection, Cody reflects on h...
Denise: Courage, Cancer, and Simply Being
22 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Denise says she doesn't see herself as brave. In her eyes, she's simply facing her cancer diagnosis directly and doing what she has to do. It's a spec...
Do We Need to be Remembered? : A Reflection
15 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cody reflects on last week's conversation with Sandra and an idea from Thich Nhat Hanh called Interbeing. This week we're also starting our Remembranc...
Sandra: Silver Linings in the Face of Terminal Illness
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Silver linings. Looking for the good. These don’t have to be ways of ignoring the challenging parts of our lives. They can be a way of accepting all...
Life Happens For Me, Not To Me: A Reflection
01 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cody reflects on his conversation with last week's guest, Riyaz, and the meaning of the words "life happens for me, not to me."
Riyaz: Cancer Has Been My Greatest Teacher
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As a therapist, spiritual teacher, and member of a deeply supportive community of friends, Riyaz might seem well-equipped to handle a terminal diagnos...
The Dance Of Ever-Changing Plans: A Reflection
18 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cody reflects on his conversation with Aimee and on the dance of ever-changing plans.
Aimee: Facing the Realities and Absurdities of End of Life
11 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For Season Two, we begin with an ending. Cody sits down with Aimee, the daughter of Linda from Season One, and her family to hear the story of Linda's...
Hospice Nurse Julie
30 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We are between seasons here at Dying To Tell You (Season 2 is coming this summer so subscribe to get notified!), but that isn't stopping us from talki...
Season One Finale
29 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cody and Chris listen back to memorable moments from Season One and reflect on what they've learned from six guests, multiple episodes, and so many gr...
Reflections on Cia
22 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cody reflects on last week's conversation with Cia and the difference between pain and suffering.
Cia F
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When Cia beat breast cancer 12 years ago, she had no idea it could come back, this time in the form of angiosarcoma. Cia is equally fierce in her love...
Reflections on Jessica
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cody reflects on last week's conversation with Jessica Guthrie, and on how a terminal diagnosis can be something more than an ending.
Jessica
01 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease, Jessica became her full-time caregiver and advocate. For the past nine years, Jessica has care...
Reflections on Linda
25 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this reflection on his conversation with Linda, Cody shares how Linda's motto of "Let That Sh*t Go" helped him through his own deeply personal loss...
Linda
18 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cody talks with Linda about her recent diagnosis with cancer, living a life of service, and letting sh*t go.
Year One Done
31 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Cody sits down at the end of the year with his producer and co-creator Chris for a light-hearted holiday talk looking back, forward, and even a little...
Holiday Follow-Up with Nancy K!
21 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's the end of the year, when our hearts long for peace, joy, and gathering. In that spirit, Cody sat down to catch up with Nancy K, whom he last spo...
Reflections on Nancy B
14 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In Episode 3.5, Cody reflects on his conversation with Nancy and what it means to choose one's own way.
Nancy B
07 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nancy B has been living with a brain tumor for nearly half of her life. Cody and Nancy actually knew each other in the teen years and now, in their 40...
Reflections on Nancy K
30 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In Episode 2.5, Cody reflects on his conversation with Nancy and what it actually means to be a fighter against cancer. (All music licensed through Ar...
Thoughts for Thanksgiving
23 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Cody shares thoughts on gratitude, loss, and love for this season of thanks. (All music licensed through Artlist.)
Nancy K
16 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nancy was only recently diagnosed with cancer when we sat down at her kitchen table and talked about her deep faith as well as the enduring embrace of...
Reflections on Aaron
09 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In Episode 1.5, Cody reflects on his conversation with Aaron, and how we all can make the most of our stories as life unfolds.
Dying to Tell You—The Trailer
02 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Aaron
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Aaron shared not only the story of his diagnosis and treatment journey, but also his intentional, inspirational approach to the act of dying. (All ...