Episode 94: Marilyn Webb

Host Ed Sutkowski talks with Marilyn Webb distinguished professor of journalism and author of 'The Good Death: The New American Search to Reshape the End of Life'. Marilyn is co-founder of the journalism program at Knox College. She previously taught at the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University and as editor-in-chief of Psychology Today. She was a senior editor at Woman's Day and McCall's magazines and the author of the Pulitzer Prize-nominated book, The Good Death: The New American Search too Reshape the End of Life." In addressing the treatment of distress, rather than disease, in light of one's impending death, Marilyn spent 6 years, interviewed 300 health care professionals and detailed the terminal experiences of 15 patients and their families. She suggested that the composition experience and the interviews with the patients "allowed me to reshape the private puzzle of my life, it was an immense gift, and for that, I will always remain grateful." She discussed her passion for journalism, teaching, her role as an intellectual procreator, Tuesdays with Morrie (1997) and Mortality (2012) by Christopher Hitchens.