EPISODE · Oct 1, 2025 · 37 MIN
Hospice Nurse Penny: What Dying Teaches Us About Living
from Candid Minds with Dr. T · host Mindful Care
In this powerful episode of Candid Minds with Dr. T & Friends, we welcome Penny Hawkins Smith—better known online as Hospice Nurse Penny. Over her many years in hospice and palliative care, Penny has witnessed over a thousand end-of-life journeys.But Penny didn’t stop at clinical care. Using TikTok, Instagram, humor, storytelling, and bold visuals, she’s built a platform that normalizes conversations about death and dying. Her viral videos shine a light on the parts of life we often avoid: visions, fluid decisions, grief, anticipatory fear, and what “a good death” might even mean.In this episode, we explore:How Penny turned taboo into content — going viral by reframing death in human termsThe real physiological, emotional, and relational dynamics of the dying processHow families can better navigate grief, expectations, and “the last days”Why storytelling, humor, and social media are surprisingly powerful tools for death literacyWhat “living well with death in view” can teach all of usWhether you’re caregiving, grieving, curious, or simply human, this conversation invites you to lean into life by acknowledging death.If you’re looking for mental health support, Mindful Care is here to help. Learn more or schedule an appointment here:Appointment Link
What this episode covers
In this powerful episode of Candid Minds with Dr. T & Friends, we welcome Penny Hawkins Smith—better known online as Hospice Nurse Penny. Over her many years in hospice and palliative care, Penny has witnessed over a thousand end-of-life journeys.But Penny didn’t stop at clinical care. Using TikTok, Instagram, humor, storytelling, and bold visuals, she’s built a platform that normalizes conversations about death and dying. Her viral videos shine a light on the parts of life we often avoid: visions, fluid decisions, grief, anticipatory fear, and what “a good death” might even mean.In this episode, we explore:How Penny turned taboo into content — going viral by reframing death in human termsThe real physiological, emotional, and relational dynamics of the dying processHow families can better navigate grief, expectations, and “the last days”Why storytelling, humor, and social media are surprisingly powerful tools for death literacyWhat “living well with death in view” can teach all of usWhether you’re caregiving, grieving, curious, or simply human, this conversation invites you to lean into life by acknowledging death.If you’re looking for mental health support, Mindful Care is here to help. Learn more or schedule an appointment here:Appointment Link
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Hospice Nurse Penny: What Dying Teaches Us About Living
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