The Important Conversations We Avoid: Lisa Pahl on Death, Dying, and Family (Episode 158)

Stephanie Muskat speaks with Lisa Pahl, CEO and owner of The Death Deck, about how to normalize end-of-life conversations before a diagnosis or emergency forces us to. Lisa shares how her background in a farming community, her father’s leukemia, and years as a hospice social worker shaped her approach to death education, caregiver support, and advance care planning. They also discuss common end-of-life misconceptions, especially around morphine, caregiver burnout, and how tools like The Death Deck, the End of Life Deck, and the Dementia Deck can help families reduce conflict and make decisions with more clarity. About Lisa: Lisa Pahl, LCSW, is the CEO and Owner of The Death Deck LLC, a company that creates engaging tools to spark meaningful conversations about life, death, and everything in between. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 18 years of experience in hospice care and 8 years in emergency medicine, Lisa brings compassionate expertise to helping individuals and families navigate illness, dying, and grief. Through her work, she is dedicated to reducing fear around death and empowering people to talk openly about what truly matters. Find Lisa: http://www.thedeathdeck.com Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/thedeathdeck Links mentioned: Barbara Karnes booklet: https://bkbooks.com/products/pain-at-end-of-life-what-you-need-to-know-about-end-of-life-comfort-and-pain-management Youtube video talking through the topic of pain medication at end of life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxCj9VWjmgA Thank you to today’s sponsor, The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration. To learn more about AFTD please visit https://www.theaftd.org/ *The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.* Visit us on our website to see all that we offer for caregiver support: www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram! http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving