I’ve worked with older adults for a long time, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: the hardest conversations are often the most necessary. We plan for weddings, retirements, even vacations—but not for how we want to be cared for when we can’t speak for ourselves.

That’s why I invited Kate DeBartolo, Senior Director at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, to join me for a powerful, practical conversation about how to talk with your loved ones about your wishes for care through the end of life. Spoiler alert: it's not really about dying—it's about how you want to live.

🕰 Timestamps

0:00 – Why we avoid the conversation (and why we shouldn’t)

2:00 – What is The Conversation Project?

4:45 – Why it’s so hard to talk about this stuff

8:20 – Making it personal: creative ways to start the conversation

11:00 – Choosing your decision-maker (and making sure they know)

14:00 – “Just pull the plug” and other myths

18:00 – What really matters: values over medical procedures

22:00 – Free tools to help, including My Health Checklist

26:00 – How this work has changed Kate’s own family conversations

🔜 What’s Next

Want to be sure your voice is heard—no matter what happens? Head to theconversationproject.org and download their free guides. They’ll help you prepare, talk, and plan for the care you want, on your terms.

📬 Stay Connected

If this episode sparked something for you, send it to someone you love. The best time to talk is now. Subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts, visit seniorityauthority.org, or reach out anytime at info@seniorityauthority.org.

When you think about sunlight, you probably picture warm summer days — not a cutting-edge medical treatment. But as recent research reveals, specific wavelengths of UV light can help calm runaway inflammation, a key driver behind autoimmune diseases.

In this conversation, John MacMahon, co-founder of Cytokind and veteran medical device entrepreneur, shares how a dermatology treatment for psoriasis led to groundbreaking results for MS, COVID, and other inflammatory conditions. We dive into the science behind phototherapy, how it’s used in clinical trials, and why your immune system might be craving more sun than you realize.

You’ll hear:

• Why a narrow band of UV light can “teach” your immune system to make better decisions
• How clinical trials in COVID and MS have shown dramatic reductions in mortality and relapses
• Why inflammation — not just symptoms — should be the focus of autoimmune care
• What you can do today to naturally boost your regulatory T cells (hint: it’s free)

If you or someone you love is living with an autoimmune condition, this episode could open the door to a whole new way of thinking about treatment and prevention.

• Learn more on Cytokind’s website: cytokind.net
• Can Sunlight Cure Disease? – Scientific American (May 20, 2025) — Explores UV light therapy for autoimmune conditions like MS, including patient Kathy Reagan Young’s “UV-fueled rebirth” and underlying photoimmunology research.

NB-UVB lights are FDA-cleared for dermatology from pediatrics to geriatrics.
Their use beyond dermatology is experimental in the US.

0:00 - Intro
2:15 - Why sunlight matters for healthspan and immunity
4:10 - John’s journey into medical devices and phototherapy
6:55 - How UVB light “teaches” your immune system to regulate inflammation
9:22 - COVID-19 clinical trial results and survival rate impact
13:48 - The MS connection and Dr. Prue Hart’s groundbreaking study
18:36 - How the device works and what patients can expect
21:50 - Potential benefits for stress, sleep, and aging well
26:05 - Insurance coverage, FDA path, and future trials
31:42 - Simple steps you can take today to support immune health
34:40 - Closing thoughts and where to learn more

Do you or someone you love live with an autoimmune condition? Are you curious about simple, safe ways to reduce inflammation and improve your healthspan?

If you have questions about this episode or ideas for future topics, reach out to us at info@seniorityauthority.org

We’d love to hear from you.

I didn’t know what to expect when I showed up to my first Death Over Drinks event. The name alone was enough to stop me in my tracks—equal parts playful and provocative. But what I found that night was something I didn’t even realize I was looking for: real, meaningful connection. We laughed. We cried. We reflected. And we built something that’s in short supply these days—community.

In this episode, I sit down with Laura Cleminson, the visionary behind the Pre Dead Social Club, to talk about why she created this movement, how it’s grown, and why conversations about death are actually conversations about life.

• 0:00 - How the Pre Dead Social Club began
• 5:41 - Death cafés, mailing lists, and casting a wide net
• 8:49 - What talking about death really means
• 12:05 – How events are structured—and why that matters
• 15:00 - Attracting all ages and backgrounds
• 22:00 - Meeting people where they are
• 28:30 - How to get involved, wherever you are

If you're curious about your own relationship with mortality—or just want to meet new people in a surprisingly joyful setting—head to predeadsocialclub.com to sign up for the newsletter and get involved.

If this episode moved you, share it with someone you care about. Let’s keep these conversations going, because the more we talk about death, the more alive we all feel. Subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts, visit seniorityauthority.org, or get in touch at info@seniorityauthority.org.