Before I Go

About Before I Go

ABOUT BEFORE I GO…Embracing the Journey of MAiD: “Death is not an ending but a change of worlds.” Indigenous nations have a long history with ceremony and tradition around death. A member of the Gitxaala Nation in BC, Marion Brown has Pulmonary Hypertension (PH). PH is a chronic progressive condition that will, as with other members of her family, eventually take her life. And so, Marion has made the decision to use the MAiD program when she feels the time is appropriate. An experienced documentary producer and interviewer in her own right, Marion will turn the microphone around on herself. Along with family and many professional experts, she and her daughter Danielle will share this extraordinary journey with you. By openly discussing the experience of choosing medical assisted dying through an Indigenous lens, along with wisdom and stories – about family & ancestors, history & trauma, healing & love – Marion and Dani hope that their journey will provide unique and thoughtful perspectives, encourage your own conversations with those close to you, and perhaps provide some comfort. After all, living & dying are the human experiences we all share. Join us bi-weekly for some of the most profound and thought-provoking conversations of a lifetime. *****CONTENT WARNING***** Each episode of this podcast touches on subjects related to trauma, misogyny, racism, medical racism, sexual misconduct, Residential Schools, as well as many aspects of death and dying. Self-care is our priority, and we ask that you please take care as you listen, step away for a break when you need to, and use the resources below for support. *****RESOURCES***** Mental Health Support Resources: https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/ , 24/7 telephone: 1-855-242-3310, Online chat NIHB Mental Health Services regional office First Nations Health Authority (BC), Toll-free: 1-866-913-0033, info@fnha.ca MAiD Resources: https://www.fnha.ca/what-we-do/healthy-living/end-of-life-journey/medical-assistance-in-dying Centre for Education and Research on Aging https://nctr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/When-the-Time-Comes-Final-Edit-and-Format3510-march-24.pdf https://www.dyingwithdignity.ca/blog/reclaiming-cultural-teachings-about-mortality-grief-loss-death-and-dying/ https://endoflifedoulaassociation.org/doula-list-maid/ https://camapcanada.ca/ https://abo-peoples.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/CAP-2024-FinalReport-PEOLC-MAID_WEB_EN-.pdf Grief & Loss Support Resources: https://www.beendigen.com/programs/talk4healing/ https://www.hospicenorthwest.ca/services/outreach-program/ https://lumarasociety.org/indigenouswellness/ , 1-866-9LUMARA, info@lumarasociety.org https://livingmyculture.ca/ Indigenous Books on Grief and Loss:https://www.strongnations.com/store/item_list.php?it=1&cat=3027 Residential School Support Resources: https://www.irsss.ca/ , 1-800-721-0066 for Survivors and Their Families https://nctr.ca/contact/survivors/ , The National Residential School Crisis Line 1-866-925-4419

Publisher

Vision Quest Communications, Inc.

Category

health & fitness · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

11 Jun 2025

Latest episode

24 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

21 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   24 Oct 2026

   When Survival Turns To Living

   In this episode of Before I Go, Marion and Dani share the unexpected news that Marion’s pulmonary hypertension has improved, with signs that her heart and lungs are healing. After a period of preparing for the possibility of Marion’s death, they reflect on the emotional aftermath of crisis, the weight of caregiving, and what it means to begin imagining life beyond survival. They’re joined by Dr. Adam Sandell, a physician and MAID assessor and provider, to discuss how Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) is introduced and accessed in Indigenous communities. The conversation explores trust, historical and ongoing harms in healthcare, unequal access to information, and the tension between ensuring people know their options and avoiding pressure or retraumatization. Marion shares a vision for an Indigenous-centered MAID pathway—one developed with Indigenous people and communities, rather than retrofitted onto existing systems. The episode closes with reflections on hope, dignity, and moving beyond performative allyship toward meaningful change in everyday care. Dani encourages listeners to have difficult end-of-life conversations early, when there is time and space to talk. Content note: This episode discusses trauma, misogyny, racism and medical racism, sexual misconduct, residential schools, serious illness, death and dying, caregiving, and MAID. The conversation is personal and educational, not medical advice. Health Resources Suicide Crisis Line: 988 — 988.ca (https://988.ca/) Hope for Wellness Help Line: 1-855-242-3310 — hopeforwellness.ca (https://hopeforwellness.ca/) Wisepractices.ca (https://wisepractices.ca/) Chapters 00:00 Content Warning and Welcome 00:56 Marion’s Health Update and Caregiver Check-In 06:33 The Emotional Aftermath of Crisis 08:58 Dr. Adam Sandell Joins the Conversation 14:45 When and How to Discuss MAID 21:53 Access, Information, and Indigenous Patients 24:25 Misconceptions About MAID 28:47 What Has Changed for Dr. Sandell 32:43 Learning to Meet Patients Where They Are 40:43 Making Care More Equitable 46:04 From Performative Allyship to Everyday Change 49:30 Imagining an Indigenous-Centered MAID Pathway 52:07 Reframing the Conversation 54:26 Hope, Gratitude, and Looking Ahead 57:34 Closing Reflections and Thanks

2. 

   10 Oct 2026

   Holding Death, Holding Life

   In this episode of Before I Go, Marion and Dani share hopeful news: Marion’s pulmonary hypertension assessment has been reduced to ‘mild'. After years of living with this progressive illness, they reflect on the unexpected emotions that come with such a reprieve—and what it means to begin imagining a future again. They’re joined by Dr. Don Wilson, a Heiltsuk obstetrician-gynecologist, for a conversation about grief, death, and the ways culture can support people through loss. They discuss Indigenous traditions around funerals and mourning, the role of humour in grief, and how loss can return at different and unexpected moments in life. Dr. Wilson also reflects on end-of-life care, Indigenous cultural safety in healthcare, and the urgent need for more Indigenous people in the health care field. The episode closes with a message of resilience, the importance of representation, and encouragement for Indigenous people pursuing meaningful careers. Content note: This episode includes discussion of serious illness, death and dying, grief, medical racism, and the effects of colonization. The conversation is personal and educational, not medical advice. Health Resources: Suicide Crisis Line: 988 — 988.ca (https://988.ca/) Hope for Wellness Hotline: 1-855-242-3310 — hopeforwellness.ca (https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/) Wisepractices.ca (https://wisepractices.ca/) Chapters 00:00 Content Warning and Welcome 00:56 Marion’s Health Update and Finding Hope 06:56 Dr. Don Wilson Joins the Conversation 09:28 Loss, Family, and Cultural Comfort 14:34 Grief, Bereavement, and Remembering 25:45 Teachings About Death and Spirituality 32:44 Health Care Approaches to Death and Dying 38:24 Indigenous Practices at the End of Life 40:34 Indigenous Patients and Cultural Safety 43:04 Indigenous People in Medicine 45:33 Resilience, Representation, and Uplifting Others 49:08 Closing Reflections and Thanks

3. 

   27 Sept 2026

   Grief in One Hand, Joy in the Other

   In this episode of Before I Go, Marion and Dani share unexpected hopeful news after Marion’s recent right heart catheterization: she has mild residual pulmonary hypertension and is beginning to imagine a future she once thought she might not have. They’re joined by Dr. Don Wilson, a Heiltsuk physician and obstetrician-gynecologist, for a conversation about Indigenous representation in medicine, systemic anti-Indigenous racism in healthcare, and the difficult questions surrounding Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). Together, they discuss how Indigenous communities hold diverse beliefs about death and dying—and why people deserve access to information, compassionate care, dignity, and autonomy. The conversation also explores caregiving, anticipatory grief, and the challenge of making room for joy while carrying loss. As Dr. Wilson puts it, Indigenous people often have to carry “grief in one hand and joy and celebration in the other.” Content note: This episode includes discussion of serious illness, death and dying, MAiD, medical racism, and grief. The conversation is personal and educational, not medical advice. Health Resources: Suicide Crisis Line: 988 988.ca (http://988.ca/) Hope for Wellness Hotline: 1-855-242-3310 https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/ (https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/) Wisepractices.ca Chapters: 00:00 Marion’s health update and unexpected hope 08:00 Caregiving, anticipatory grief, and family milestones 12:59 Meet Dr. Don Wilson 23:33 How Marion’s MAiD conversation began 27:30 Anti-Indigenous racism in healthcare 36:55 Indigenous diversity and beliefs about death and dying 47:27 Why it matters to understand the MAiD process 54:12 Checking in: adjusting to a new reality 59:03 Part two: returning to the conversation 1:06:07 Holding grief alongside joy 1:14:18 Dr. Wilson reflects on Heiltsuk experiences of death and grief

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 8 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

16

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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