What I'd Like You To Know: VSED

WELCOME to the new Interview Series: What I’d Like You To Know

Welcome to What I’d Like You to Know, an interview series born from a deep love for storytelling, connection, and the remarkable power of listening. Over the years in living my many different lives, I’ve had the privilege of meeting incredible individuals—each with unique perspectives, extraordinary knowledge, and lived experiences that deserve to be shared.

This space is about more than just conversations; it’s about cultivating community, curiosity, and empathy. Together, we’ll explore the truths, challenges, and wisdom that make us human. In a world that feels more divided than ever, there is strength in holding space for one another, listening to new perspectives, and allowing a collective dialogue to take shape.

Through these interviews, my hope is to foster understanding, ignite curiosity, and inspire you to lean into the stories that shape us all. Sometimes we need to a familiar story, and sometimes we can afford to learn a thing or two. THIS, is when connection can happen.

Pull up a seat to the table and let’s settle in.

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*This podcast includes mature themes and language that may not be suitable for all audiences.

“And yet we all know that the one thing is true is life.

You're going to take a first breath.

You're going to take a last breath.

You might be here for a minute.

You might be here for 105 years.

We don't know.

And so the first, you know, the biggest myth is about this topic is that like, why are we making it a mess?”

There are many things that Sarah Longacre has taught me in our 16+ years of friendship— countless lessons that have helped me see the world from new angles all the time. But when I witness my friend go through the process of death with her mother Cheryl Hauser, whom was someone I also adored, I witnessed a love and vantage point of life and death that was poignant, heartbreaking, honest and unique. ‘Death with dignity’, as she says, choosing to live her life on her own terms, until the very end.

In this conversation, in true Sarah Longacre form, nothing is held back—we go there. She so candidly and thoughtfully recounts her experience with VSED— the choice her Mom made shortly after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Having witnessed the painful of experience of her brother Will passing from Alzheimer’s and how much of his spirit and independence was not his own at the end, she knew that she wanted her story to transpire differently.

Sarah’s sister Wendy, a death doula, knew that the narrative could change and presented her with options. VSED resonated the most with Cheryl and long before things would take a sharp turn, while she was still in a space to make decisions for herself, she decided this would be her path. And as you will come to hear, the instance that truly solidified “it was time” to begin the slow, intentional, incredibly mindful process.

Having the hard talks, being vulnerable, and flipping the script opened new conversations, but no one could’ve imagined just how much it would create such a remarkable impact— not only in their family, but in the world.

From left to right: Wendy Longacre Brown (Sarah’s sister, a Death Doula) Cheryl Hauser (Sarah’s Mom) and Sarah Longacre (A birth doula)