The Myth of Self

What if the self isn’t as fixed as we believe? In this episode of Exit Strategy, Stephanie Garry speaks with Rabbi Jonathan Blake about how rethinking identity—through a Jewish and philosophical lens—can transform the way we approach mortality. Together, they explore how loosening our grip on the idea of a singular, bounded self may open […].... READ STORY

What Remains: Rachel Seidman on Preserving Lives Through Story

In this episode of Exit Strategy, Stephanie Garry sits down with Rachel Seidman to explore the profound role of storytelling in how we remember, honor, and make meaning of a life. Together, they discuss how personal narratives shape legacy, the emotional and ethical dimensions of capturing someone’s story, and what it means to preserve memory […].... READ STORY

Choosing Life—Even in Death, A Sacred Conversation: Organ Donation and Jewish Values

After we’re gone, what remains—and what can we still give? In this compelling episode of Exit Strategy, host Stephanie Garry speaks with Rabbi Joshua Rabin and Mara Bragg about organ donation as a final, radical act of compassion. It’s a conversation about legacy, courage, and the choices that define us—right to the very end. https://www.organdonationalliance.org/profile/rabbi-joshua-rabin/ […].... READ STORY

Endings, Accountability, and the Stories That Outlive Us

In this deeply personal and thought-provoking conversation, Exit Strategy host Stephanie Garry sits down with filmmaker Justin Schein to explore legacy, family history, and the complicated moral inheritance we carry. Through the lens of his documentary work, (Death and Taxes and Left on Purpose) Justin reflects on uncovering long-buried truths within his own family story […].... READ STORY

At the Gate: Talking about Life’s Estimated Time of Departure

In this heartfelt and thought-provoking conversation, Exit Strategy host Stephanie Garry sits down with author and academic Dr. Willy Donaldson to explore his memoir Estimated Time of Departure. Donaldson shares his personal journey navigating conversations with his aging parents about their wishes, fears, and life stories — conversations many of us avoid until it’s too […].... READ STORY

Bearing Witness: Mary Lou Falcone on Love, Loss, and Legacy

In this episode of Exit Strategy, host Stephanie Garry speaks with Mary Lou Falcone about her powerful book and companion documentary exploring love, caregiving, and loss at the end of life. In I Didn’t See It Coming, Mary Lou shares the personal journey that led her to document an intimate end-of-life experience, and how storytelling […].... READ STORY

The Intersection of Grief and AI

As Exit Strategy closes out 2025, we dedicate these episodes to the memory of our producer, Glenn Rosenkrantz, with gratitude for his creativity, care, and partnership. In this episode, we confront a question that once belonged to science fiction: What if the dead could still speak to us? Albert Han of the Thomson Reuters Foundation […].... READ STORY

Reaching for Legacy

How far would you go to create a long lasting legacy keeping your presence alive in impact and spirit? The reach for remembrance takes many forms, and is the focus of a compelling new film — Forever Endeavor — capturing how legacy is embraced across the spectrum of human experience … from the unimaginable to […].... READ STORY

Exit Strategy Live! The Joy of Funerals

Funerals are singular moments to collectively honor and mourn our dead — but with room to practice our relationship to life and mortality … and with ourselves and others … in any which way. At Exit Strategy’s first-ever taping before a live audience at Plaza Jewish Community Chapel, host Stephanie Garry interviews Alix Strauss, author […].... READ STORY

From Deep Grief, a Mission: Supporting Families Facing Infant Loss

Kimberly Novod’s world changed suddenly, unexpectedly and dramatically. Her son Saul arrived prematurely and died after 20 days in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Louisiana. From her deep grief grew a driving purpose … to cement a legacy for her son by founding Saul’s Light, an organization making immense impact by elevating awareness of […].... READ STORY