#297 - Preparing for the End

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Only the first 1 hour and 4 minutes of this episode are available on the paywalled podcast version (the BLACK podcast logo). If you&rsquo;d like to hear the full 2 hours and 13 minutes of this episode and gain access to all full-length episodes of the podcast, you&rsquo;ll need to SUBSCRIBE <a href="https://www.samharris.org/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. If you&rsquo;re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sam Harris speaks with BJ Miller and Shoshana Berger about preparing for death. They discuss the difference between palliative care and hospice, the tension between getting the most out of life and not clinging to experience, planning for death while still healthy, the importance of an advance directive, navigating the healthcare system, pain control at the end of life, assisted suicide, psychedelic therapy for end-of-life anxiety, and other topics.</span></p> <p><strong>BJ Miller</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">, MD, is a longtime hospice and palliative medicine physician and educator. He currently sees patients and families via telehealth through Mettle Health, a company he co-founded with the aim to provide personalized, holistic consultations for any patient or caregiver who needs help navigating the practical, emotional and existential issues that come with serious illness and disability. BJ has worked in all settings of care: hospital, clinic, residential facility, and home. Led by his own experiences as a patient, BJ advocates for the roles of our senses, community and presence in designing a better ending. His TED Talk has been viewed over 15 Million times and he speaks internationally on themes of illness, death and loss.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Website: </span><a href="http://www.mettlehealth.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-weight: 400;">www.mettlehealth.com</span></a></p> <p><span style="font-weight: