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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

00:22:31

How Business Interests Create Estate Planning Blind...

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

2026/01/13

A beautiful estate planning binder doesn’t mean your plan is complete, especially when business interests or stock grants are involved. In this Tuesday Triage episode, Jill Mastroianni unpacks a listener question about distributing a family business in a blended family and uses it to expose one of the most common estate-planning blind spots: assumptions about ownership.Through real-world examples and practical guidance, Jill walks listeners through how to identify who actually owns a business

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00:25:15

How Poor Estate Planning Cost a First Lady Her Home

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

2026/01/09

What really happened to the home of President James K. Polk? Jill revisits the fate of Polk Place in Nashville and walks through original deeds, wills, and trust language to explain how a presidential estate plan unraveled over decades. The result is a cautionary tale about life estates, unclear ownership, failed trusts, and how even “well-documented” plans can quietly erase a legacy.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeHaving documents isn’t the same as having an effective estate plan. James Polk had a

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00:16:35

Why You Should Question the Estate Planning Expert

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

2026/01/06

What happens when an estate plan is technically correct—but doesn’t quite work in real life?In this Tuesday Triage episode, Jill shares a moment from a client meeting where one simple, common-sense question changed an entire estate plan. Through a personal story and a real client scenario, she breaks down the differences between trusts and powers of attorney, and explains why questioning the expert can lead to a plan that actually works when it matters most.This episode is about trusting your

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00:22:11

Why Disinheritance Can Be the Riskiest Estate Plan

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

2025/12/30

Disinheritance is often viewed as a clean solution to a painful family problem—but in reality, it can create far more conflict, litigation, and long-term harm than people expect. In this Tuesday Triage episode, Jill Mastroianni unpacks what disinheritance actually means, when it tends to arise (often after emotionally charged family gatherings), and why cutting someone out entirely is frequently the riskiest estate-planning move. Through a realistic scenario involving addiction and sibling dynamics,

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01:10:12

How to Build a Legacy That’s Not About Money

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

2025/12/26

What You’ll Learn in This Episode·What raising a child with special needs looked like in the 1970s, when there was no internet, limited resources, and little institutional support·Why early intervention matters, and how one supportive professional can change the trajectory of an entire family·How advocacy shows up in everyday moments, from fighting for inclusion in neighborhood schools to pushing back when institutions say “there’s no place for your child.”·Why mainstreaming and community inclusion

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00:22:42

Why that holiday “thank you” might be taxable

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

2025/12/23

What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy gifts in the context of work relationships are generally taxable income to the recipient, even when labeled as “holiday gifts”The key difference between gifting to family (federal gift tax rules) and gifting in an employment or business context (income tax rules)Why holiday cash gifts do not qualify as de minimis fringe benefits, and why gift cards are treated as cash equivalentsWhat employee achievement awards are, why cash doesn’t qualify, and how strict the

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00:20:46

Why Housing Security Gets Overlooked in Blended Families

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

2025/12/16

What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy housing risk is common in blended families and cohabitation situationsWhat a life estate actually isHow life estates can be created (by deed, will, or trust)The difference between ownership and the right to live in a homeWhy many people are uncomfortable blending ownership, even in committed relationshipsHow a lease can provide housing security without lifetime guaranteesThe limits of estate planning documents when someone is still aliveWhat responsibilities a

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00:12:08

How a Poet Helped Me Face What I Feared

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

2025/12/12

What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhat Andrea Gibson’s “biggest tiniest dreams” teach us about presence, attention, and finding meaning in ordinary moments.How a poet can name experiences we didn't realize we were carrying, from nervous parental love to loving complicated rescue animals.Why agency rarely looks dramatic and how a simple phone call can be an act of courage.What it means to create a life with “stretch marks on your heart,” and how that frames the work of death readiness.Why noticing

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00:24:29

How to write your own Will (and why you shouldn’t)

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

2025/12/09

What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhat a Holographic Will IsA handwritten Will, entirely, or mostly, in the testator’s handwriting, signed and datedAllowed in some states, including MichiganOften valid on paper, messy in realityMichigan’s Requirements (for validity)A handwritten Will is valid in Michigan if it:Is datedIs signed by the testatorHas material portions in the testator’s handwritingThat’s the bare minimum, not a guarantee that the document will do what you think.What a Will Actually

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00:19:58

How to Keep Your Ex Out of Your Estate Plan

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

2025/12/02

Divorce doesn’t just end a relationship; it leaves a tangle of legal documents, beneficiary forms, and estate planning decisions that need follow-up. In this episode, Jill answers a listener question from Amy in Tennessee, who just finalized her divorce and wants to know whether she needs to update her Will. Jill explains how Tennessee treats estate planning documents after divorce, why beneficiary designations are often the biggest risk, how ERISA complicates things, and real court cases where

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00:17:34

Why Your Teen’s Brain Can’t Outrun the Algorithm

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

2025/11/28

Jill explores one of the most urgent parenting challenges of our time: the dangers hidden inside our kids’ devices. From algorithm-driven eating disorders to sextortion scams run like global businesses, today’s threats don’t hide outside the house; they live inside apps, platforms, and anonymous accounts. Inspired by the podcast Left to Their Own Devices, Jill shares four essential insights every parent needs to understand, plus why talking about these uncomfortable realities is now part of true

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00:22:16

How to Stop the Family Camp from Splitting Siblings

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

2025/11/25

Jill breaks down why family camps, cottages, and vacation homes become the most emotionally charged and conflict-prone assets families try to pass down, and how to prevent them from tearing siblings apart. Using stories from her own Adirondack upbringing and recent travels, Jill explores the tension between nostalgia, financial reality, sibling dynamics, and unspoken expectations. She outlines clear steps families can take to avoid disaster: understanding real costs, clarifying fairness, addressing

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00:22:21

How to Give Money Without Triggering Gift Tax

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

2025/11/18

This Tuesday Triage episode breaks down how gift tax actually works, when a gift must be reported to the IRS, and why most people won’t owe gift tax but may need to file a gift tax return anyway. Using a real listener scenario, Jill explains what counts as a gift, what doesn’t, four major exceptions, and common year-end mistakes that can accidentally trigger IRS reporting rules. And, as always, she reminds us that not all gifts come wrapped. Sometimes the most meaningful gift is showing up.What

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00:18:28

Can you Inherit from Someone You Killed (or Tried to...

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

2025/11/14

In this episode, Jill explores one of the most fascinating intersections of true crime and estate law: the slayer statute. She dives into a real 2025 Michigan Court of Appeals case involving a trust, an unexpected beneficiary, an alleged murder-for-hire plot, and two deaths by natural causes. The big question: Can you inherit from someone you planned—but failed—to kill? The answer reveals just how narrow the slayer statute really is and why understanding your estate plan matters more than you

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00:26:48

Avoiding the Hidden Tax Trap in Lifetime Gifts

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

2025/11/11

Jill unpacks one of the most misunderstood estate-planning tools: the irrevocable trust. Using a real-world scenario, she explains how transferring assets too soon can backfire, especially when it comes to capital-gains taxes. If you’ve ever wondered whether your trust is helping or hurting your long-term plan, this episode will help you make sense of what you really need (and what you don’t).What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Revocable vs. Irrevocable Trusts. How control, flexibility, and tax

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00:14:35

How Hosting This Podcast Taught Me to Face Grief

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

2025/11/04

This week’s Tuesday Triage isn’t about someone else’s question—it’s about Jill’s.After losing her Uncle Charlie, Jill reflects on how a previous guest, Jamie Sarche, taught her that grief isn’t something we can “opt out” of. In Episode 18, Jamie explained why ceremony matters, not for the person who died, but for the people left behind. In this episode, Jill shares how she had to live that lesson, honoring her uncle by showing up, feeling the loss, and remembering the man who quietly held his family

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00:46:18

How to Talk to Your Parents About Getting Help at Home

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

2025/10/31

Talking with your aging parents about getting help at home, or possibly moving, can feel impossible. How do you bring it up without overstepping, causing conflict, or stripping them of their independence?In this episode, I sit down with Laura Lynn Morrissey, founder of Silver Savvy, to discuss how families can successfully navigate aging, home safety, assisted living, and long-term care decisions.We explore how to start the conversation before crisis hits, identify the family “influencer,” and make

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00:20:48

Why Losing Your Original Will Could Cost Your Family...

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

2025/10/28

This week’s Tuesday Triage question comes from Jazmine in New Jersey. She believed she had “filed” her Will with her attorney until she discovered he’d been disbarred and her original Will was missing. In this episode, Jill unpacks what it really means to “file” your Will, how to protect it, and what happens if your original goes missing. She also shares a true Tennessee case that shows how critical proper Will storage can be and the surprising twists that followed.What You’ll Learn in This

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00:13:29

Can You Leave Money to Your Dog?

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

2025/10/21

Your dog might run your home, your heart, and your schedule, but legally, he’s still property.In this episode, Jill explores how to make sure your beloved pets are cared for after you’re gone. From Diane Keaton’s rumored estate plan for her dog, Reggie, to Jill’s own story of Oliver—the “best dog in the universe”—this episode walks through what pet trusts are, how they work, and how to decide if you need one.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhat a Pet Trust Is. A legal arrangement that sets aside

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00:17:35

Why Jane Goodall’s Lessons Matter More Than Ever

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

2025/10/17

In this episode, Jill reflects on the life and legacy of Dr. Jane Goodall, exploring what it means to “do your little bit” in a world where not everyone starts from the same place. From Jane’s courage in defying gender norms to the continuing conversation around affirmative action, equity, and opportunity, this episode weaves together stories of perseverance, purpose, and the quiet power of small, determined acts. Jill connects Jane’s story to her own lessons from running cross-country, a mother’s

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59 results

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