Dying to Tell You
Palliative Care Chaplain Cody Hufstedler knows how difficult it can be for us all to acknowledge—much less talk about—the fact that we’re all born with an expiration date. That we are, in fact, one day going to die. Through his career in healthcare, he has helped countless terminally ill patients and their loved ones work through this most challenging of life’s realities.
What he’s discovered over the years is the understanding, comfort, even joy that can come through intentionally facing our finish line. Not just for those who are fast approaching it, but for everyone young or old, sick or healthy.
Cody began this podcast as a way to share these endearing and lovely stories of life, death, and dying. Far from morbid, these episodes are deeply alive explorations of life’s greatest mysteries and windows into the wonderful, human richness of living.
All music licensed through Artlist.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 39 minutes
- Episodes
- 70
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
Living Fully with Multiple Myeloma: A Conversation with Joe on Hope, Risk, and Meaning
“There’s something so precious about every day and every moment and living this beautiful gift.”
What does it mean to truly live when tomorrow is not guaranteed? In this moving episode, Joe shares hi…
Obstacles Are Not a Mistake: They're Part of the Path
"Inright outright upright downright"
Join host Cody for another heartfelt reflection as he revisits last week's uplifting conversation with Aaron, a courageous young cancer patient who is facing his …
Youngest Guy in the Chemo Ward: How Aaron Chose Confidence in the Face of Cancer
Find out what happens when a college freshman is faced with a life-changing cancer diagnosis—and chooses hope over fear.
Meet Aaron, our guest this week on Dying To Tell You whose youth and optimism…
When Mortality Hits Home: An Invitation to Life
"We only get to do this life once."
In this deeply personal reflection, Cody share his own experience of learning that his mom was in the hospital for chest pain. She underwent bypass surgery and Co…
Grit and Grace: Kelly’s Journey with ALS and Finding New Life
"Life Goes On" —Kelly
In this episode of Dying to Tell You, Cody sits down with Kelly, who is living with an ALS diagnosis. Kelly shares her journey from the onset of her symptoms to her diagnosis a…
Consideration—The Courage and Love It Takes to Think of Others
In this heartfelt reflection of last week's episode with Jeopardy Champion and author Jeff Stewart, palliative care chaplain and host Cody shares powerful insights on the importance of consideration …
Betting on Hope: Jeopardy Champion Jeff Stewart’s Journey with Stage Four Cancer
A surprise stomach cancer diagnosis born of an attempt to donate a kidney gave Jeff the time and space to reflect on life, death, and what he could give his family both before and after he’s gone.
In…
This Life Is An Opportunity To Experience Love—A Reflection
Cody reflects on his conversation with Sue in last week's episode, and how love is the purpose of our lives.
We also include a voice message left on By The Way—our version of the Japanese windphones…
From Terminal to Transcendent: Sue’s Out-of-Body Experience and Awakening
Our first guest of Season 3 is Sue, who joined us all the way from Australia. And although she isn’t our first international guest, nor is she ev…
"Let That Sh*t Go" — Linda, An Encore Episode
Linda was a guest in Season One of Dying To Tell You, a fiery and hilarious woman facing a terminal diagnosis from kidney cancer. So much of Cody's conversation with Linda orbits around the very diff…
"I don't need to know about tomorrow" — Riyaz, An Encore Episode
Riyaz was spiritual teacher and therapist who joined us in Season 2 of Dying To Tell You, and leading up to Season 3 we wanted to honor some of the guests who have been on the show and who have since…
"Was today the last day...?" — Rachel, An Encore Episode
Rachel was our first guest on Dying To Tell You who had ALS, and leading up to Season 3 we wanted to honor some of the guests who have been on the show and who have since passed on.
Please enjoy this…
Redefining How We "Beat" Cancer — Nancy, An Encore Episode
Nancy was our second guest on Dying To Tell You, and leading up to Season 3 we wanted to honor some of the guests who have been on the show and who have since passed on.
Please enjoy this encore pres…
Festival of the Soul — Aaron, An Encore Episode
Aaron was the first guest on Dying To Tell You, and leading up to Season 3 we wanted to honor some of the guests who have been on the show and who have since passed on.
Please enjoy this encore prese…
By The Way - Connecting To Loved Ones No Longer With Us
—Call (720) 600-7056 and leave a message for your loved ones—
Inspired by the beautiful idea behind Japanese wind phones, we want to welcome you to a new effort here at Dying To Tell You, a way for…
"We are a resilient being" • Learning to grow from end-of-life challenges
Lisa Pahl, LCSW shares how a patient she encountered early in her hospice career taught her how even the worst experiences can help us grow.
Lisa is the co-creator of The Death Deck and The E•O•L Dec…
Finding forgiveness in healthcare
"In this line of work, you can't see death as failure. But in this case…very much felt like a failure. I hadn’t controlled his pain.”
A brief note of caution: as the title suggests, this episode cont…
Deanna & The Joys of Hospice
This week, we check back in with former guest and irrepressible force Deanna! A few weeks back, we drove up to Casper, WY to meet Deanna in person for the first time. And during our lovely visit, we …
"He wanted people to know who he was, not who he is now."
One question opened up a world of understanding for Dr. Andy Robinson early in his career: "What do you feel we should know that we don't?"
It was asked by social worker to a reticent patient, who th…
When Solving the Problem is the Wrong Solution
Sometimes fixing the problem right in front of us creates harm down the road, especially in healthcare and with patients who are facing the end of life.
Physician's Assistant Ryan English joins Cody …