Episode notes
What if one of the greatest gifts you could give your family was a conversation most of us are afraid to have?
In this episode of Inherited, hosts Jessica Sanchez and Dr. Valencia Henry sit down with Yvonne Caputo, author of Dying with Dad and founder of Steadfast Pen LLC, for an intimate conversation about death, dying, advance care planning, family communication, and the peace that can come from knowing—and honoring—a loved one’s wishes.
After spending 17 years working in a retirement community, Yvonne witnessed what could happen when families were forced to make difficult end-of-life decisions without knowing what their loved one truly wanted. Determined to create a different experience for her own family, she began a conversation with her father that would ultimately become one of the most meaningful experiences of their relationship.
Yvonne shares how discussing advance directives and later completing the Five Wishes helped her understand not only the medical care her father wanted, but also how he wanted to be comforted, treated, and remembered.
When the time came to honor those wishes, Yvonne didn’t have to guess.
She knew.
In this episode, we explore:
• Why families often avoid conversations about death and dying • What can happen when end-of-life wishes haven't been discussed • The importance of advance care planning • Yvonne’s experience with the Five Wishes approach • How to begin difficult conversations with parents and loved ones • The emotional burden families may face when they have to make decisions without guidance • How culture, faith, and family beliefs influence conversations about death • Grief, preparation, and finding peace after losing a parent • Why these conversations should happen before a medical crisis • What Yvonne learned through her journey with her father
Yvonne also shares the powerful experience that inspired her book, Dying with Dad, and why honoring her father’s wishes left her with what she describes as a profound sense of sacred joy.
This conversation reminds us that preparing for death isn't about giving up on life.
It's about loving people enough to make our wishes known.
About Our Guest
Yvonne Caputo is an author, speaker, and founder of Steadfast Pen LLC. Her experiences working with older adults and later navigating her own father’s end-of-life journey inspired her passion for helping families become more comfortable talking about death and dying.
Connect with Yvonne:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yvonne-caputo-1449137 Facebook: facebook.com/xcskiyvonne
📖 Look for her book: Dying with Dad
About Inherited
Inherited is hosted by Jessica Sanchez, Founder & CEO of Daughters of Both Suns, and Dr. Valencia Henry, Founder of VQS Access Health.
If this episode makes you think about someone you love, don't just share it with them.
Use it to start the conversation.
Because the stories we inherit matter—but so do the wishes, values, and conversations we intentionally leave behind.