The Prison Hospice Project: Training Inmates for End-of-Life Care | Fernando Murillo

What happens when the "worst thing you’ve ever done" is the only way society defines you, even as you face your final breath? In this moving episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Fernando Murillo, a lead trainer for the Humane Prison Hospice Project. Fernando shares his remarkable journey from being incarcerated at age 16 to serving as a peer caregiver in California’s prison hospice system for over five years. They explore the "carceral end-of-life crisis," where one in five incarcerated people in the You’ll discover: The reality of the only licensed hospice in the California prison system and how it operates in the face of restrictive carceral laws. Fernando’s philosophy on why kindness and trust are the most valuable assets in the end-of-life journey. How incarcerated caregivers act as scribes and witnesses to the legacies of those society has "swept under the carpet". Why the Humane Prison Hospice Project provides more extensive end-of-life training than many traditional medical schools. The staggering data showing how hospice work fundamentally rehabilitates those providing the care. The new infrastructure being built to provide a dignified "destination" for cancer patients released from prison to die in the community. Because if we can foster compassion and dignity in the most restrictive settings on earth, there is no excuse for not doing it in our own communities.

0:00
0:00
Advertising will end in
play_arrow
pause
replay_10
forward_10
volume_up
volume_down
volume_off
share
speed
Skip ad
close
close
close
close
close

Description:

What happens when the "worst thing you’ve ever done" is the only way society defines you, even as you face your final breath?

In this moving episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Fernando Murillo, a lead trainer for the Humane Prison Hospice Project. Fernando shares his remarkable journey from being incarcerated at age 16 to serving as a peer caregiver in California’s prison hospice system for over five years.

They explore the "carceral end-of-life crisis," where one in five incarcerated people in the 

You’ll discover:

  • The reality of the only licensed hospice in the California prison system and how it operates in the face of restrictive carceral laws.

  • Fernando’s philosophy on why kindness and trust are the most valuable assets in the end-of-life journey.

  • How incarcerated caregivers act as scribes and witnesses to the legacies of those society has "swept under the carpet".

  • Why the Humane Prison Hospice Project provides more extensive end-of-life training than many traditional medical schools.

  • The staggering data showing how hospice work fundamentally rehabilitates those providing the care.

  • The new infrastructure being built to provide a dignified "destination" for cancer patients released from prison to die in the community.

Because if we can foster compassion and dignity in the most restrictive settings on earth, there is no excuse for not doing it in our own communities.

Related Podcast

The Rise of Natural Burials and Eco-Friendly Farewells

Discover the growing movement that's revolutionizing how we think about our final farewell. In this episode of Death and Dying in the Digital Age, funeral celebrant and green burial advocate Carin Bonifacino reveals how modern burial practices are returning to their natural roots—where bodies can nurture the earth rather than be sealed away from it. Learn why the 'six feet under' rule is a myth, how traditional Jewish and Muslim communities have maintained natural burial practices, and why some cemeteries are transforming into nature preserves. Carin breaks down the surprisingly affordable options for those seeking a gentler environmental impact in death. She also exposes common industry misconceptions and 'greenwashing' practices to watch out for, while explaining why GPS coordinates might become the new headstones. Whether you're pre-planning or simply curious about sustainable alternatives to traditional burial, this conversation challenges everything you thought you knew about death care.

Listen Now
New Ways to Remember through Memorial Jewelry | David Trump & Sébastien Roy

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.

Listen Now
A 3rd Generation Funeral Director Explains Why We Plan Death Wrong | Michelle Carter

What happens when a third-generation funeral director realizes that the traditional industry is failing families during their most vulnerable moments? Most people avoid end-of-life planning because it feels morbid, but that avoidance is exactly what robs families of the "luxury of grieving." When a crisis hits and there is no plan, families aren't just mourning; they are fighting over bank accounts, guessing medical wishes, and making expensive decisions while "flying by the seat of their pants." In this episode of The Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Michelle Carter, founder of The Death Expert. Michelle shares her journey from a family mortuary business to becoming an "End of Life Coach." They discuss why the American funeral moved from the parlor to the funeral home, how to navigate family dinner table conversations without the "greed" stigma, and why your values should dictate your providers—not just your zip code. You’ll discover: How proactive planning shifts the focus from administrative chaos back to the sacred act of saying goodbye. Michelle’s digital solution that helps families find end-of-life providers based on shared values (e.g., LGBTQ+ friendly, veteran-owned, or trauma-informed) rather than just geography. Why we’ve been conditioned to say "just throw me in a coffee can" and how to discover more meaningful rituals, like a horse paddock ceremony. A raw story about why a passing 42-year-old’s casual conversation saved her husband from predatory organ donor teams. The practical benefit of pre-planning—locking in 2026 funeral prices for a death that may occur in 2086. Using celebrity estate "nightmares" to open the door for family discussions on valid wills and hidden documents. Because as Michelle notes, "We have homeowners insurance even though we aren’t planning on a fire—everyone knows they are going to die, we just don’t know when."

Listen Now
How to Use Psychedelics to Face Death with Clarity | Christine Caldwell

Facing death doesn’t just raise medical questions—it opens up deep emotional, spiritual, and existential ones, too. In this episode of the Digital Legacy Podcast, host Niki Weiss, Digital Thanatologist, sits down with Christine Caldwell, an end-of-life psychedelic care educator and the Founder of End of Life Psychedelic Care, to explore how psychedelic-assisted experiences can support people living with terminal or life-threatening illnesses. Together, they discuss how medicines like psilocybin, ketamine, and MDMA can ease fear, reduce existential distress, deepen connection, and help people make meaning—often when time feels short.

Listen Now
View All

Comments