Understanding the Importance of a 'When I Die' File

The primary focus of this podcast episode centers on the importance of preparing a “when I die” file, which serves as an essential resource for the loved ones left behind. I discuss the profound implications of unforeseen events, as I reflect on the recent passing of acquaintances and the necessity of ensuring that my family members are well-informed regarding my wishes and possessions. I emphasize the significance of organizing information about my belongings, financial accounts, and digital assets to alleviate the burden on my family during a difficult time. Additionally, I contemplate the future of my podcast and other ventures, considering how they should be managed in my absence. Ultimately, I urge listeners to take proactive measures in creating their own plans, thereby fostering clarity and support for those who may be tasked with navigating their affairs after their departure.
The podcast delves into the crucial topic of preparing for one's eventual passing and the importance of establishing a comprehensive 'when I die' file. The speaker reflects on recent personal experiences with loss, prompting a deep contemplation on mortality and the necessity of ensuring that loved ones are adequately informed and equipped to handle one's affairs following death. He emphasizes the need for clarity regarding personal possessions, financial accounts, and digital assets, advocating for a proactive approach to estate management. This approach not only alleviates the burden on surviving family members but also ensures that one's last wishes are respected and executed as intended.
Throughout the episode, the speaker shares practical advice on the creation of this file, suggesting the inclusion of detailed instructions about where important documents are stored, how to access various accounts, and what to do with personal belongings. He acknowledges the emotional weight of such discussions but insists on their necessity, particularly in a world where unexpected events can occur at any moment. The importance of communication with family members about these plans is underscored, as it fosters understanding and preparedness among those who may be left behind. By the conclusion, the speaker encourages listeners to take immediate action in organizing their affairs, emphasizing the peace of mind that comes from being prepared.
Takeaways:
- In this episode, we emphasize the importance of creating a comprehensive 'when I die' file to ensure that our loved ones are informed about our wishes and possessions after our passing.
- We discuss the necessity of preparing for the unforeseen, as demonstrated by the untimely death of a colleague, which highlights the need for proactive planning in our lives.
- Listeners are encouraged to examine their current systems for sharing necessary information with family and friends to prevent chaos during difficult times following a loss.
- The podcast highlights how vital it is to communicate with partners regarding financial responsibilities and access to accounts to ensure smooth transitions in case of emergencies.
- We delve into the significance of leaving explicit instructions about how we would like our belongings to be distributed after our deaths, thus easing the burden on our loved ones.
- Finally, we advocate for taking immediate action towards organizing our affairs, emphasizing that such preparations can alleviate stress during periods of grief for those we leave behind.
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- 11 Labs IO
- elevenlabs IO
- Gray Hair Productions
- Boomer Podcasters
Links referenced in this episode:
00:00 - Untitled
00:00 - Introduction to Grey Hair Dave
01:53 - Creating a 'When I Die' File
05:10 - Planning for the Future: Podcast Legacy and Arrangements
08:34 - Planning for the Future: Access and Control
11:59 - The Importance of Planning for the Future
13:53 - Starting Your Podcast Journey
Welcome to five Minutes with Grey Hair Dave.
Speaker AHe has grey hair.
Speaker AHe has a grey beard.
Speaker AHe wears glasses like the guy in the artwork.
Speaker AOh, and the guy in the artwork is better looking.
Speaker ANow here is Grey Hair Dave.
Speaker BWell, well, well, folks.
Speaker BWelcome back.
Speaker BWelcome back.
Speaker BWelcome back to yes, indeed.
Speaker BAs they just told you from 11 Labs IO, this is five minutes with gray Hair Dave.
Speaker BYes, I am gray Haired Dave.
Speaker BYes, I does have gray hair.
Speaker BI has a gray beard and I does wear the glasses.
Speaker BYeah, that guy is better looking than me.
Speaker BSo anyways, if you like what 11 Labs does, go check them out.
Speaker BThere'll be a link in the show notes to elevenlabs IO and you can try it yourself.
Speaker BAnd if you like it and you sign up for it, I have an affiliate, so I may get a little bit of.
Speaker BA little bit of risk.
Speaker BReciprocity.
Speaker BReciprocity.
Speaker BNo, that's not the right word.
Speaker BI may get some money out of it to help defray the costs of this.
Speaker BSo sorry for all the mouse noises.
Speaker BI'm playing with a mouse because I don't know why.
Speaker BSo how you been, folks?
Speaker BHow have you been?
Speaker BI tell you, it's been a fun couple weeks here.
Speaker BSorry I didn't.
Speaker BI didn't post last week, but it's been kind of crazy around here.
Speaker BI was, you know, therapy, and then there's been things.
Speaker BThat's all you need to know.
Speaker BNothing bad.
Speaker BThat's all that matters.
Speaker BNothing bad.
Speaker BWell, what's new then?
Speaker BSo let's, let's.
Speaker BLet's talk about things here.
Speaker BI have decided that due to recent events in the world with people who were related to me and, or people that I knew of or knew who have passed away in, in recent months that I needed to create when I die file.
Speaker BNow, I know that that's a little bit morbid to think about that, but if you think about this realistically, the guy who was a podcaster, Todd, he was seven years younger than me when he died.
Speaker BNow he had a heart attack or a blood clot that created a heart attack, one of those two things, and passed away suddenly, there's nothing says that that can't happen to me.
Speaker BNothing at all.
Speaker BAnd with me living in Florida and all my family living up north, except for one niece, they're not going to know what to do, where to go, where to find things.
Speaker BDo you have something like that set up?
Speaker BI mean, I don't.
Speaker BI don't have any.
Speaker BAny children.
Speaker BI don't have any great wealth to leave anybody.
Speaker BI may have a little debt that's the wrong way to look at it.
Speaker BBut hold on one second here.
Speaker BI need to take a drink.
Speaker BBut anyways, I'm not leaving anybody my debt.
Speaker BBut, you know, there's things.
Speaker BAnd it's just.
Speaker BLet me give you this for an example.
Speaker BThis podcast.
Speaker BYeah, it's not much.
Speaker BI mean, and there's quite a few people who listen to it, you know, all over the world.
Speaker BAnd for those of you all over the world who do listen to this, I appreciate you every day.
Speaker BI really, really do.
Speaker BAnd I thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening, putting up with me.
Speaker BBut, you know, like my best friend, she's the one who lives down here, and she's gonna probably be the one to be notified first if something bad does happen because she's here or she's gonna know where.
Speaker BShe knows where I live already, so.
Speaker BAnd she knows the basic layout of where I live.
Speaker BBut, you know, my brothers or my nieces or nephews, if they have to come down and do something with my belongings, they should know what I want done, who I want to go to, who I don't have a lot to leave, but I do have some things that I do want to go some places, some things I've already made arrangements for, some I have not.
Speaker BI also need to go through and take stock of what I have, which.
Speaker BWhat, what, what do I have and who do I want it to go to?
Speaker BThis podcast again, I was talking about that a bit ago.
Speaker BDo I want it to continue?
Speaker BDo I want somebody to take it over?
Speaker BI would like to have a file and it'll be there, there, you know, a pre recording saying, folks, I'm sorry, but I've obviously passed away.
Speaker BThis will probably be the last show.
Speaker BIt will definitely be the last show from me.
Speaker BIf somebody chooses to carry it on, that's fantastic.
Speaker BIf they do not, that's understandable, too.
Speaker BAnd there's also boomers, Podcasters.
Speaker BThe podcast that I have to teach.
Speaker BBaby Boomers, Gen X, Gen Z, Gen Y, Millennials, anybody who wants to know how to podcast, I teach them how to podcast.
Speaker BWhat happens to that one?
Speaker BAnd if I have people who are paying me to learn what happens there?
Speaker BI have also got Gray Hair Productions.
Speaker BNow, Gray Hair Productions is an llc.
Speaker BBut what happens to my customers, my clients, when I go?
Speaker BWhat if I've got work in the process?
Speaker BHow do you find it?
Speaker BHow do you know?
Speaker BHow do you get into my email accounts?
Speaker BThese are types of things that you need to let those around, you know, well, it's all going to be for me.
Speaker BI'm making a video of everything.
Speaker BHere's where this is.
Speaker BThis is where that is in my.
Speaker BOn my computer.
Speaker BHere's the password to get into my computer.
Speaker BBecause I will make a separate section for that person so that they can get in and get into my things that I would allow them to get into.
Speaker BDoesn't mean they're entitled to everything, but they can get in and get everything that they need.
Speaker BI'm also signed up for a password manager, so if.
Speaker BIf they need to inform on Facebook, they can get into my Facebook account, my Instagram account, my TikTok account, you know, my ex account, all those things, and cancel them or sunset them or say, hey, this guy died.
Speaker BGet rid of it now.
Speaker BAll those things.
Speaker BAnd.
Speaker BAnd what happens to the company?
Speaker BWell, you know, right now, I'm the only one involved with this company.
Speaker BSo somebody has to be able to get into it and inform the state of Florida that I am no longer in business because of a death, those types of things.
Speaker BAnd it's.
Speaker BIt's very, very important to me that this be done.
Speaker BAnd it'd be done in a way that I can take to you if you were my best friend in Florida.
Speaker BSo here's a flash drive in case of my death.
Speaker BHere's where everything is with explicit instructions.
Speaker BHere's a video on how to get into my computer.
Speaker BHere's a video on how to find where everything is in my room, in my bedroom.
Speaker BHere's.
Speaker BHere's a video on how to get into my hosting site for my website, for my podcast, for my website.
Speaker BI've got three websites out there.
Speaker BYou know, how to shut down all my email addresses, how to do these things.
Speaker BAnd then what about my clothing and all my knickknacks and all the things that I currently love and enjoy where I live that, you know, they need to go to somebody or they need to be thrown away, whatever you want to do with them.
Speaker BAnd also.
Speaker BAnd finally, what happens to me, that's the big one.
Speaker BI have specific desires for when I go.
Speaker BAnd I would like my wishes to be acknowledged, if possible.
Speaker BI don't see why it wouldn't be.
Speaker BBut anyways, and I don't want to be a burden to people.
Speaker BSo there'll also be a.
Speaker BNot a dnr, but whatever they call those things where you.
Speaker BYou got to.
Speaker BYou leave notice with your doctors about your thoughts.
Speaker BAnyways, those are the types of things that are going to be in this now, me taking seven or eight minutes to talk about all this is just to say this, if I'm doing it, are you.
Speaker BIf you're married, does your wife or your.
Speaker BYour husband or your partner know where all these things are?
Speaker BCan they get into the checking account?
Speaker BThat's something, too.
Speaker BI have three checking accounts.
Speaker BHow are they going to get into them to pay for things that need to be paid for without having to have them as an additional signer?
Speaker BThese are the types of things that are.
Speaker BIt's going to take a little time for me to get together, especially to bank things.
Speaker BSo I hope you're making a list of what I've been saying or flag this one for future reference.
Speaker BBecause if you think about it, can your significant other find these things or have access to these things?
Speaker BWhat if you're the one who pays the bills every month and they all come into you electronically?
Speaker BNo paper anymore?
Speaker BDoes that person have access to your email?
Speaker BDo they know how to pay the bills?
Speaker BDo they know which bills are automatically paid?
Speaker BWhich bills you pay per.
Speaker BYou prefer to pay yourself at a specific time?
Speaker BThese things need to be known, especially if you're.
Speaker BIf you're aging or if you're not, even if you're not.
Speaker BFolks, we live in a world today where you never know and God only knows tomorrow is not a given.
Speaker BIt's a blessing if you get it.
Speaker BSo pay attention to what I've been saying.
Speaker BPlease do the same for yourselves.
Speaker BIt doesn't need to be.
Speaker BIt doesn't need to be in a video form, but maybe it does.
Speaker BAnd it can also be a way for you to tell people what you think of them, how much you love them, how much you care for them, how much you.
Speaker BYou're glad that they were a part of your life for as long as they were or as long as you were.
Speaker BThink about these things.
Speaker BThese are important things and things to be doing right now.
Speaker BOkay, I'm sorry.
Speaker BI didn't mean to take that long for it.
Speaker BI mean, God, that was.
Speaker BThat was almost 11 minutes worth of talking about that.
Speaker BSo I've gone a little over on that, and I apologize.
Speaker BI really do.
Speaker BBut I think this is a very important topic and it needs to be addressed.
Speaker BHaving a will is one thing, but it doesn't do everything.
Speaker BI can't tell you how many people I know who.
Speaker BThe husband takes care of all the bills and he passes away and the wife's over there going, I don't know what to do.
Speaker BI don't know how to pay the bills.
Speaker BMy husband did that.
Speaker BOr my wife or my partner.
Speaker BYou need to know.
Speaker BYou need to know.
Speaker BThere's got to be a way I'm doing this.
Speaker BAnd then my best friend is going to get a flash drive with all this information on it.
Speaker BMy roommate is going to get one for her specifically designed for her.
Speaker BMy brothers are going to get one.
Speaker BSo if something happens after, if I pass, after they've passed, it gets transferred over to my nieces or nephew, somebody who can be in charge of these things.
Speaker BSo think about this folks.
Speaker BIf you need help with it, feel free to let me know @gray hair productions.com you can go to the Contact Me page and I'll help you.
Speaker BI haven't got the template all the way figured out yet, but I'm almost there.
Speaker BIt's going to be almost be in a video PDF form, which is going to be great.
Speaker BOr as the President of the United States.
Speaker BIt'll be a beautiful thing.
Speaker BIt'd be as lovely.
Speaker BYes.
Speaker BSo anyways, I'm sorry I had to throw that in there.
Speaker BYeah.
Speaker BOr you can also leave me a message on five minutes with gray hair dave dot com.
Speaker BThat's the number five minutes with gray hair dave.com.
Speaker Byou can go to the contact me page or you can just leave me a voicemail and let me know and I'll help you with this.
Speaker BOr I will send you a template of what I've done or what I'm doing.
Speaker BOkay?
Speaker BIf you know somebody, folks who is interested in podcasting but doesn't know how to get started or what to do or what genre they should be on or those types of things, do me a favor, tell them about about Boomer podcasters.
Speaker BSorry for the flub there, but tell them about Boomer podcasters.
Speaker BBoomer podcasters is all about that.
Speaker BI have started recording for that recording videos and audio.
Speaker BOf course, audio goes with video, but I've started recording some videos on how to.
Speaker BNow there's lots of people out there who can tell you how to, but can they tell you in a way like I do?
Speaker BI don't know.
Speaker BWe'll find out, won't we?
Speaker BThere'll be some YouTubes coming out in a couple of weeks.
Speaker BI want to fine tune them a little bit.
Speaker BI don't want to make them extremely perfect because I'm not a perfect person.
Speaker BBut that's coming very, very soon.
Speaker BVery, very soon.
Speaker BAnd also folks, if you know somebody who doesn't know what a podcast is, doesn't know where to find one, doesn't know how to play one, subscribe or follow one, do me a favor and show them for me, would you please use me as the example?
Speaker BHere's how you find five minutes of Gray Hair Dave.
Speaker BI listen to this guy.
Speaker BHe's a little goofy, but once in a while he has some great ideas.
Speaker BShow them.
Speaker BOkay?
Speaker BI'd really appreciate it.
Speaker BSo would every other podcaster out there.
Speaker BAlso, folks, when you're out and about today, you see somebody you don't know or somebody you do know, smile at them, wave, say hi, you're going to make their day.
Speaker BWhich will make you feel better, too.
Speaker BSo on behalf of me here, still alive, still kicking, Gray Hair Dave over in Gray Hair Central, I wish you all a great week.
Speaker BOne more thing.
Speaker BGo Chiefs.
Speaker BTalk to you soon.
Speaker BBye.
Speaker BBye.