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PODCAST

The Death Readiness Podcast: Not your dad’s estate planning podcast

Jill Mastroianni - Estate Planning & Probate Consultant for Women

You’re the one prepping for your child’s IEP meeting while trying to talk your aging dad out of getting a puppy. You’re booking medical appointments, managing the money, juggling work emails during school pickup and still expected to keep the fridge stocked and know who has practice, rehearsal, or a field trip tomorrow. Your parents are struggling, but they still insist they’re fine. You see the mobility issues, the memory slips, the unopened mail, but every offer to help feels like an argument

education how to

All Episodes

00:11:38

Why Banks Reject Powers of Attorney for Trust Accounts

The Death Readiness Podcast: Not your dad’s estate... ·

2025/08/19

In this Tuesday Triage episode, Jill unpacks a common source of frustration for families: why a power of attorney works for some accounts but fails when it comes to trust assets. Using listener Lindsey’s real-life question, Jill explains the crucial distinction between acting as an agent under a power of attorney and serving as trustee. You’ll learn how banks view these documents, why powers of attorney don’t apply to trust accounts, and what you can do to avoid roadblocks when helping aging

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00:10:30

Why Naming the Caregiver Adult Child (instead of your...

The Death Readiness Podcast: Not your dad’s estate... ·

2025/08/12

In this Tuesday Triage episode, Jill answers a listener question from Molly in Washington, whose father is considering naming her as the beneficiary of his IRA to help care for her mother, who has dementia. Jill explains the potential pitfalls of naming the “helpful child” as a beneficiary, shares a real-life cautionary case from the Michigan Court of Appeals about mishandling a power of attorney, and offers guidance on safer ways to ensure assets are available for care when they are needed

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01:07:10

How One Boy Survived Auschwitz and Found His Dog

The Death Readiness Podcast: Not your dad’s estate... ·

2025/08/08

Jill speaks with Kari Alterman about the extraordinary life of her father, Emery Grosinger, a Holocaust survivor who lost his parents and his home in the Holocaust. Born in a small village in Hungary, Emery survived Auschwitz, endured a death march, and was ultimately liberated from Mauthausen just before his 13th birthday, May 8, 1945, Victory in Europe Day. Kari shares the story of his survival, resilience, and legacy, and how it inspired her life and work through Good Name Advisors.What We

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00:18:01

What Happens When a Pregnant Woman Is Declared Brain...

The Death Readiness Podcast: Not your dad’s estate... ·

2025/08/05

When a woman is declared brain dead, but still pregnant, who decides what happens next? And what if she made her wishes clear, but the law says they don’t matter?Jill explores the tragic case of Adriana Smith, a young nurse from Georgia whose body was kept on life support for four months after brain death because she was nine weeks pregnant. This episode tackles uncomfortable questions about autonomy, abortion law, and what happens when healthcare decisions collide with unclear legal guidance.What

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00:17:03

What Every Parent Needs to Know When Their Child...

The Death Readiness Podcast: Not your dad’s estate... ·

2025/07/29

Your child becomes a legal adult at 18, but what if something happens, and they can’t speak for themselves? Would you be allowed in the room? Would you know what they’d want?In this episode, Jill shares the powerful real-life stories of Nancy Cruzan and Terri Schiavo, and explores the legal right to terminate life-sustaining treatment.Whether your teen is heading to college or still living at home, Jill walks you through the essential documents and conversations that can protect your child’s

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00:39:44

Why Prenups Aren't Just for the Rich (or the Divorcing)

The Death Readiness Podcast: Not your dad’s estate... ·

2025/07/25

What if a prenup could actually strengthen your relationship?In this episode, family dynamics coach Emily Bouchard joins Jill Mastroianni to challenge the stigma around prenuptial agreements. They explore how prenups, and the conversations that come with them, can deepen connection, build trust, and clarify expectations in relationships. Whether you’re engaged, remarried, or already decades into marriage, this conversation offers tools for more honest, compassionate dialogue around money.Jill also

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00:16:15

What You Need to Know About Medicaid and Protecting...

The Death Readiness Podcast: Not your dad’s estate... ·

2025/07/22

Are you worried that the government might “take the house” if your parent ever needs nursing home care? A listener named Eileen is facing this exact question, and her son-in-law thinks a trust is the answer. But is it?In this episode, Jill unpacks how Medicaid works, what a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust actually does, and why good estate planning starts with the person at the center, not just the property. This episode is a must-listen if you’ve ever panicked about Medicaid’s five-year lookback or

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00:15:44

How to Know if you Need a Trust

The Death Readiness Podcast: Not your dad’s estate... ·

2025/07/15

Most of us don’t understand what a trust is or what it does. In this bite-sized Tuesday Triage episode, Jill breaks it down in plain language: what a revocable trust is, what it can and can’t do, and how to know whether it’s the right tool for your situation.What Jill Discusses:What a trust is and what a revocable trust meansWhy trusts are tools, not status symbolsTwo key reasons people use revocable trusts: (1) to simplify management of assets during life and after death, and (2) to avoid probate

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00:52:01

What to Do with a Dead Body, Who’s in Charge, and Who...

The Death Readiness Podcast: Not your dad’s estate... ·

2025/07/11

What do you actually do when someone dies? Call 911, the coroner, or Google “funeral homes near me”? In this episode, director of pre-planning at Feldman Mortuary in Denver, Colorado, Jamie Sarche, returns to The Death Readiness Podcast to demystify what really happens behind the scenes after a death. We discuss how a lack of planning can leave your family vulnerable to grief, manipulation, and financial strain, why skipping a funeral can backfire, and how pre-planning can be the ultimate act of

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00:10:41

How Powers of Attorney Work, When to Use Them, and...

The Death Readiness Podcast: Not your dad’s estate... ·

2025/07/08

Your parent’s health is declining. The bills keep piling up. Are you legally allowed to step in? In this first Tuesday Triage episode, Jill explains how powers of attorney really work, who can use them, and what you can do now to prepare for your parent’s cognitive decline before it’s too late.What We DiscussedWhat a power of attorney is and when to use itWho can grant a power of attorney and when mental capacity mattersImmediate vs. springing powers of attorneyWhy successor agents can’t act until

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00:48:20

How to Prevent your Estate Plan from Becoming a...

The Death Readiness Podcast: Not your dad’s estate... ·

2025/06/27

What happens when no one agrees on who should manage a loved one’s care—or their money? Jill talks with Sara Ecklein, a professional fiduciary in California, to talk about what goes wrong when we don’t plan ahead. From costly legal fights to irreparable family breakdowns, they unpack how a neutral third party can step in before conflict becomes a catastrophe.They also explore what it means to be a mindful fiduciary, how family dynamics get complicated when siblings are put in charge, and why

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00:18:33

How our favorite movies trained us to accept less

The Death Readiness Podcast: Not your dad’s estate... ·

2025/06/13

What if the movies we loved growing up were quietly teaching us to settle for less credit, less rest, and less power? In this episode, Jill Mastroianni unpacks the messages in movies like Groundhog Day, Three Men and a Baby, and Miss Congeniality, and how those messages still echo today in hospitals, law offices, and family conversations about caregiving and estate planning.Jill talks about agency, consent, emotional labor, and how the women who keep everything afloat often lack the tools and

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01:18:13

How to Succeed in the Caregiving Role No One Trained...

The Death Readiness Podcast: Not your dad’s estate... ·

2025/05/30

Caregiving isn’t side work - it’s a leadership position. Host Jill Mastroianni talks with Jennifer O’Brien, author of Care Boss and The Hospice Doctor’s Widow, about the emotional labor, strategic thinking, and societal blind spots surrounding caregiving. Drawing from her experience leading healthcare organizations as well as caring for her husband and parents, Jennifer challenges the notion of caregiving as “soft” work and offers real-world tools to do it well. We cover everything from palliative

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01:20:16

What You Need to Know About Embalming, Cremation, and...

The Death Readiness Podcast: Not your dad’s estate... ·

2025/05/16

What happens to your body after you die—and who decides? Jill sits down with Jamie Sarche, Director of Pre-arranged Funeral Planning, at Feldman Mortuary, to explore embalming, cremation (both fire and water), green burial, body composting, and the emotional and logistical weight of making funeral plans. Jill even begins her own funeral planning on-air, offering listeners a firsthand look at what these conversations involve.If you've ever wondered what’s inside an urn, whether you can be composted,

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00:45:26

Preparing for the Day I’ll Tell My Brother: "It’s...

The Death Readiness Podcast: Not your dad’s estate... ·

2025/05/02

As a daughter, a sister to a brother with special needs, and a mother herself, Jill Mastroianni knows firsthand what it feels like to carry the weight of future planning. This episode offers an intimate glimpse into her own family’s story—one filled with heartbreak, hesitation, and ultimately, the strength to move forward. Because sometimes death readiness doesn’t feel brave—it just feels necessary.We explore:The mental load women carry when they’re the ones holding it all togetherThe emotional

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00:34:10

Macaroni’s Story: A Granddaughter Records Her Unknown...

The Death Readiness Podcast: Not your dad’s estate... ·

2025/04/18

In this special episode, we step away from legal mechanics and into something deeply personal: the power of capturing family stories. Jill and her daughter April share an episode from their private family podcast, featuring Carmen Mastroianni—Jill’s father and April’s grandfather.Carmen reflects on his childhood in Schenectady, New York, his unexpected path to college, and his unforgettable experience serving in the Vietnam War. Nicknamed “Macaroni” during basic training, Carmen’s stories are full

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00:59:30

The Care We Can’t Do Alone: Real Talk on Aging and...

The Death Readiness Podcast: Not your dad’s estate... ·

2025/04/04

In this real and relatable episode, Jill explores the often-avoided topic of senior living and long-term care. She’s joined by senior care consultant Mikelle Rappaport, who breaks down the various types of senior living and care options and how to plan for them—both practically and financially. Jill also speaks with Bob Stanton, who shares the journey of moving his wife of 54 years into a skilled nursing facility. Together, they unpack the real challenges families face when navigating aging,

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01:00:09

Who’s on Your Team? The Key Players in Special Needs...

The Death Readiness Podcast: Not your dad’s estate... ·

2025/03/21

In this episode, host Jill Mastroianni continues her conversation with Kristen Lewis, a special needs estate planning attorney. They explore how to build the right team of professionals to support your child’s future. From trustees to life care planners, disability care managers, and legal guardians, they discuss who should be on your team and how to choose the right people for these critical roles.Kristen also shares key mistakes to avoid—such as disinheriting a child with special needs—and

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01:11:28

Breaking Down the Alphabet Soup of Special Needs...

The Death Readiness Podcast: Not your dad’s estate... ·

2025/03/07

In this episode, Jill welcomes Kristen Lewis, a nationally recognized special needs estate planning attorney, to unpack the critical legal and financial steps families should take to secure the future of a loved one with special needs. They explore common misconceptions, how traditional estate planning often fails these families, and why comprehensive special needs planning requires much more than just drafting a trust.This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation, diving deep into government benefits,

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01:09:01

Navigating Parenthood and Planning: A Father’s Story...

The Death Readiness Podcast: Not your dad’s estate... ·

2025/02/21

In this heartfelt episode of The Death Readiness Podcast, host Jill Mastroianni sits down with her father, Carmen Mastroianni, to discuss his journey raising her older brother, Dan, who was born with Down syndrome in 1977. Through personal stories and reflections, Carmen shares the challenges, triumphs, and advocacy efforts that shaped their family’s experience, from navigating early medical uncertainties to ensuring Dan’s inclusion in school, sports, and community life.Jill and her father discuss

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