Gentle Transitions – Planning Ahead Calms The Storm

By: Care Messer | Birth, Death, Podcast | May 7, 2026

Today marks our 100th episode (and yes—technology tried to take us out), Ashley couldn’t record with me, so I am reading her written intro for the episode.

This show’s topic is one that we need to begin speaking about and normalizing in our everyday vernacular. While you may want to shy away from this episode, I invite you to lean in and if it’s uncomfortable, be curious as to why and see if you are ready to do something about it.

In a few weeks my SKOOL classroom will open and “Work on it Wednesdays” begin. More to come in a few weeks but this will lead into our conversation. We are all feeling unprepared and need to be held accountable for getting our shit together – well it starts soon!

I share today how my work has expanded from birth into death doula work and aging preparation. Birth and death are the same in so many ways: sacred, vulnerable, and deeply human—and we deserve to talk about them openly. I’m inviting you into the conversations most of us don’t want to have: grief, loss, incapacity, and aging. 

Grief and avoiding the topic doesn’t spare us—it just leaves us unprepared. I explain why planning ahead (even just a few key conversations and documents) can make everything 10x easier for the people we love. I also walk you through what I’ve partially put in place for my own family — POD accounts, trusts, HIPAA/POA/medical directives, passwords—and I share my own end-of-life wishes and the kind of joyful send-off I want. My hope is that we normalize preparation, stop procrastinating, and honor these transitions with more peace, clarity, and love. 

Let’s connect: Have questions or comments for this episode?   BirthEducationPodcast@gmail.com

Work with Care or Ashley: 858-251-4204

About the author:
Care is the founder of the Birth Education Center, San Diego HypnoBirthing and Cuddle Sanctuary San Diego. She is a Birth Educator, Hypnotherapist, Birth and Postpartum Doula, INNATE Care Provider, Erotic Blueprint Coach and also professional Cuddler. She specializes in connection work between people and increasing self boundaries for a more balanced life together.

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