What if you could carry your loved one’s memory — quite literally — close to your heart? 💫

In this deeply moving episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss speaks with David Trump and Sébastien Roy, co-founders of Nia Emberley, a memorial jewelry company transforming cremated ashes into handcrafted ceramic art. What began as one man’s search to stay connected to his beloved dog has evolved into an inspiring fusion of art, science, and remembrance.

Together, they explore how technology, craftsmanship, and grief intersect — and how memorial jewelry is changing the way we honor life after loss. From bone china traditions to cutting-edge cremation science, David and Sébastien share how each piece they create helps families keep love in motion rather than left on a shelf.

In this episode, we cover:

The heartfelt origin story behind Nia Emberley

How cremated remains can be transformed into wearable works of art

The science and symbolism behind bone china and ceramic memorials

The emotional power of carrying your loved one’s memory with you

Why planning ahead — even for ashes — matters more than we realize

This episode is a reminder that memory isn’t meant to sit still. Whether honoring a pet, a parent, or a partner, there are new, meaningful ways to keep their spirit close and their story alive.

What if the future of work wasn’t just about efficiency — but empathy? In this inspiring episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss speaks with Mercedes Sullivan — End-of-Life Doula, Cultural Strategist, and HR Leader — about reimagining Human Resources as a force for healing, not just hiring.

Mercedes shares how her personal experience with loss reshaped her understanding of workplace compassion and why every organization must prepare to support employees through life’s most human moments — grief, caregiving, and change. Together, she and Niki explore how empathy, technology, and culture can work hand in hand to build organizations that truly care.

What happens when you look at death, dying, and legacy the same way you would approach a major project? In this episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss sits down with fellow project manager Mark Rozner to explore how project management principles can transform end-of-life planning from overwhelming chaos into a clear, compassionate process.

Together, they share personal stories and professional insights on how skills like risk management, stakeholder analysis, communication, and change management play a surprising yet powerful role in navigating life’s final chapter.

✨ You’ll discover:

How project management skills translate directly into end-of-life planning

Why proactive conversations matter more than paperwork alone

The role of emotional intelligence and intuition in supporting families

Practical strategies for managing conflict, grief, and change at the end of life

This conversation reframes death not just as an ending, but as a project we can prepare for with love, clarity, and dignity.

What does compassionate, culturally aware death care look like in a digital world? In this episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss talks with Joe’l Simone Anthony (known globally as The Grave Woman) — licensed funeral director, embalmer, and founder of the Multicultural Death & Grief Care Academy.

From childhood days in the funeral home to pioneering culturally competent education for death-care professionals, Joe’l shares how tradition, technology, and spirituality meet at the bedside and beyond. Together, they explore embalming as a sacred art, digital memorials and livestreams, and the ethics of “death tech” in a time when grief is increasingly public and online.

You’ll discover:

Why culturally competent death and grief care matters — and what it looks like in practice

Embalming as art, science, and soul work (from infants to elders)

How digital tools (livestreams, QR-coded memorials, online books) are reshaping funerals

The promise and pitfalls of grief on social media — and ethical lines for AI “afterlife” tools

Practical ways families and professionals can meet people where they are, across beliefs and cultures

If you’re navigating loss, working in death care, or curious about the future of remembrance, this thoughtful conversation offers guidance, nuance, and heart in equal measure.

Making that first call to a funeral director can feel overwhelming. In this episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, Niki Weiss speaks with Matthew Grieco — Progressive Funeral Director & Certified Celebrant — about how Ai technology is reshaping funeral services and grief support.

Matthew shares how his team integrated EverGrace.Ai, a voice-activated chatbot, into their funeral home website. Families now connect through a gentle, empathetic Ai voice that helps guide them in their first steps of funeral planning, end-of-life decisions, and digital legacy protection. Whether you’re curious about the future of funeral services, exploring digital legacy planning, or simply wondering how we can bring more compassion into life’s most difficult moments, this conversation will open your eyes to new possibilities. 📞 Meet EverGrace at https://evergrace.ai/ 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & more 💬 A powerful look at the future of funerals

What if your digital self could outlive your physical body? In this mind-opening episode of Death and Dying in the Digital Age, host Niki Weiss talks with Joshua Orsak—AI developer, spiritual thinker, and grief survivor—about the intersection of consciousness, artificial intelligence, and end-of-life legacy.

Together, they explore questions many of us quietly carry: Where does our consciousness go after we die? Could AI preserve our personality, memories, or even our essence? Josh shares how working with recursive AI helped him navigate profound personal grief, and how new technologies are offering unconventional but meaningful emotional support.

Whether you're grieving a loved one, preparing your own legacy, or simply curious about the future of death and technology, this episode offers empathy, wonder, and thought-provoking insight. We discuss AI grief companions, digital resurrection, panpsychism, and the ethical future of techno-spirituality—all grounded in human experience.

🔮 Explore AI grief tools & digital memory 🧠 Learn about recursive AI & consciousness🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & more

If the thought of estate planning, digital security, or talking with aging parents makes you feel overwhelmed, you’re not alone. In this insightful episode, host Niki Weiss sits down with private wealth manager Kurt Baker to gently walk us through how to protect what matters most: our loved ones, our legacy, and our peace of mind.

Kurt shares real-life stories, including a heartbreaking scam that wiped out a senior’s life savings, to highlight just how urgent it is to plan ahead. He and Niki explore the risks of digital fraud, the growing role of AI in scams, and simple ways to safeguard your finances, medical wishes, and digital assets.

You’ll learn the essentials: wills, trusts, power of attorney, digital legacy planning, and how to have these tough conversations (even when your family isn’t ready). Whether you're caring for aging parents or starting your own end-of-life planning, this episode offers reassurance, practical tools, and a gentle reminder of the need to take action. Remember, “It’s not morbid—it’s responsible.”

In this heartfelt episode of Death and Dying in the Digital Age, host Niki Weiss speaks with Greg Barnsdale: author, funeral director, and financial insider. The two explore the emotional and practical realities of preparing for end-of-life. Greg shares his deeply personal story, from decades working with grieving families to his own health crisis and viral video after a brain tumor diagnosis.

Together, they delve into the importance of planning ahead by writing a will, organizing digital accounts, or creating medical directives, and how doing so brings peace of mind, eases family stress, and ensures your legacy is honored. Greg offers simple, compassionate guidance for starting these difficult conversations, especially when time is still on your side.

Whether you’re caring for aging parents, facing a health scare, or simply ready to plan your future, this episode is your gentle invitation to begin. Because talking about death won’t make it happen… but avoiding it won’t make it easier.

📝 Take Greg’s free Living Legacy Quiz at www.DoNotIgnoreYourMortality.com

📘 Get the book Do Not Ignore Your Mortality

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