216. Death Anxiety & What Really Happens When We Die — with Hospice Nurse Julie, Author of Nothing to Fear

In this episode of the Anxiety Chicks podcast, hosts Alison Seponara and Taylor interview Julie McFadden, a hospice nurse and author, who shares her insights on death, dying, and the importance of discussing these topics openly. Julie discusses her transition from ICU nursing to hospice care, the emotional responses people have to death, and the significance of understanding mortality to live more fully. The conversation emphasizes the need for education around end-of-life choices and the healthcare system's role in supporting patients and families during this difficult time. Hospice Nurse Julie: Julie McFadden, RN, is a hospice and palliative care nurse, educator, and viral content creator widely known as @HospiceNurseJulie. With over 15 years of experience in critical care and end-of-life nursing, Julie has made it her mission to demystify death and bring comfort, clarity, and compassion to a topic many fear. After years in the ICU, Julie transitioned to hospice care—where she found her true calling: helping patients and families embrace the final chapter of life with dignity and peace. Her approachable, honest, and deeply human perspective on death has made her a trusted voice across social media and beyond. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, Nothing to Fear: Demystifying Death to Live More Fully—a powerful guide that blends personal stories, medical insight, and emotional wisdom to help readers release fear and live more fully. Julie has been featured in The Washington Post, People Magazine, Good Morning America, and more. Through her work, she is transforming the way we talk about death—and showing the world that there is, in fact, nothing to fear. https://a.co/d/fA2EqyO or if you haven't read Nothing To Fear you can buy it now here : https://a.co/d/3eyESQb Follow her on social media: @hospicenursejulie or website hospicenursejulie.com Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Hospice Nurse Julie 03:38 Transition from ICU to Hospice Nursing 06:29 Understanding Death and Dying 09:21 The Role of Hospice in End-of-Life Care 12:02 The Book: Nothing to Fear 14:53 Normalizing Conversations About Death 17:39 The Importance of Language in Discussing Death 20:43 Facing Death: Emotions and Experiences 23:40 Finding Peace in Acceptance 26:12 The Therapeutic Value of Discussing Death 28:13 Understanding Death and Health Anxiety 30:22 Patterns in the Dying Process 33:19 Quality of Life vs. Prolonging Life 37:35 Navigating Healthcare Decisions 38:47 Legal Preparations for End-of-Life Wishes 40:57 Finding Trustworthy Healthcare Professionals 43:29 The Business of Healthcare and Dying 44:30 Encouraging Conversations About Death 🌐 Connect With Us: 🧠 Instagram:⁠@theanxietychicks⁠ | ⁠@theanxietyhealer⁠ | ⁠@health_anxiety⁠ ✨ Taylor’s #1 Anxiety Healing Supplement, Free Resources & More:⁠peakofpanic.com/collections/all⁠ 🧰 Alison's Free Resources, Coaching & Healing Toolkit:⁠www.theanxietyhealer.com⁠ 🎥 Watch Full Episodes on YouTube Subscribe for more anxiety healing content, interviews, and behind-the-scenes insight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices