#46 - My Partner Has a Terminal Illness
In this anonymous call, a 19-year-old anthropology student shares what it’s like to love someone with a terminal illness. They’ve spent time studying death, grief, and ritual, but this conversation comes from somewhere much closer. Their partner’s diagnosis has been part of their relationship for a long time, shaping how they think about time, meaning, and what it means to keep showing up.
A central thread in this episode is the way time changes when you know what’s coming. Regret gets louder. Ordinary conflict can feel heavier. Even a normal day can carry an extra layer of awareness in the background.
Even so, this call doesn’t feel dramatic or performative. It stays grounded in the day-to-day reality of caregiving and young love under pressure, with moments of humor and tenderness alongside the fear.
Book recommendations: Hogfather and Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett.
If you’d like to watch this conversation instead of just listening, you can find the video version on YouTube.
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