Dying To Know

https://leavinglegacies.co.nz/

Nearly half of New Zealanders don’t have a will.

It’s not the nicest conversation to have with loved ones, but lawyer Richard Williams wants people to think about it differently. In this episode of Dying to Know I talk to lawyer Richard Williams about wills, trusts, what the heck probate means, and all the other legalities involved with dying.

As Richard wisely put it: “Don't think about a will as something relating to your death, think about it in terms of you making the lives of the people you leave behind much easier.”

In this episode Richard will discuss what you need to create a will, if and how it can be contested, and what happens when you don’t have one. He dives into what a trust is and how they are managed after someone dies. You’ll hear about estates taking almost a decade to settle after someone has passed, how ideally you should have a will set up when you turn 18 and how when Richard dies he hopes to be remembered for kindness, empathy and integrity.

The material contained in this podcast is not intended to be a comprehensive statement on the law, nor is it intended to be legal advice.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

https://leavinglegacies.co.nz/

What would you do if you suddenly lost a loved one and your life changed forever?

Part of Melissa Gordon’s role at Victim Support is guiding people through just that.

In this episode Melissa, general manager of service delivery at Victim Support, talks about what the service provider offers and how they help people through trauma.

Melissa talks about why she is so passionate about normalising people’s experience, why she’s let go of the pressure of trying to fix everything, and getting comfortable with uncomfortable situations.

You’ll also hear about how Melissa protects her own mental health in this line of work.

“I could walk out my door and get hit by a truck tomorrow but I’m still going to walk out my door.”

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

https://leavinglegacies.co.nz/

Death is going to happen to all of us and affect all us, however it’s not always on our terms.

In this episode we explore assisted dying and choosing to take control over your death when a terminal illness has left you no choice.

Euthanasia Researcher Dr Jessica Young talks us through how she became one of New Zealand’s leading voices on assisted dying and euthanasia and what the biggest misconceptions about the topic are.

You’ll hear about why people choose assisted dying, what the process involves, and the safety measures in place to make sure people are making the decision for themselves and not being coerced.

Jessica talks through the 2020 euthanasia referendum in New Zealand which saw 65.1% of the nation vote yes for it to be legal.

The mum-of-two also talks about how she stays positive and keeps her cup full when her life is surrounded by death.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

https://leavinglegacies.co.nz/

Lynnie Phillips was never meant to get motor neurone disease.

Despite her dad and aunty both being diagnosed and losing their lives to it, she was never going to get it.

At least that’s what she told herself up until earlier this year when she was diagnosed.

She was told motor neurone disease wasn’t genetic. But that didn’t stop her from getting it.

In this episode you’ll hear about Lynnie’s journey to enjoy the time she has left, rather than mourning what she won’t get to do.

She also talks about her plans to have a living funeral and celebrate her life while she is still alive.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

https://leavinglegacies.co.nz/

If losing her eldest daughter in 2014 wasn’t enough, Sophia Perera was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2020.

In this episode you’ll hear Sophia talk about how she’s not the same person she was before losing daughter Valentina. Loss changes everything about you, she says. “Losing a child is the single most devastating trauma a person can ever go through in their life.”

She bravely shares her story and how, somehow through it all, she remains positive “My biggest thing is never give up hope and never resign yourself to a diagnosis or outcome because we all have the power within us to change our outlook.”

I was so grateful that Sophia took time to share her story with me, it is one woven with incredible moments of insight and joy.

There is something that everyone can take away from it.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.