Gail Rubin, CT, known internationally as The Doyenne of Death®, is a pioneering death educator, award-winning author, and two-time TEDx speaker. Rubin has built a career around breaking one of society’s last taboos: conversations about death. With a rare blend of expertise, humor, and accessibility, she helps people approach end-of-life planning with clarity, confidence, and even laughter.
Rubin is the author of several acclaimed books, including A Good Goodbye, Kicking the Bucket List, Hail and Farewell and The Before I Die Festival in a Box, offering practical guidance on everything from funeral planning to downsizing and legacy preparation. Her work extends beyond the page: she is the coordinator of the award-winning Before I Die New Mexico Festival, a leader in the U.S. Death Café movement, and the host of the Mortality Movies TV series and Mortality Movie Night events.
A Certified Thanatologist (CT), Rubin brings professional expertise in death, dying, and grief education, combined with an engaging speaking style that uses film and storytelling to spark meaningful dialogue. Her signature message is simple but powerful: “Talking about sex won’t make you pregnant, talking about funerals won’t make you dead.” Her humor helps prepare families to navigate end-of-life issues with less fear and more intention.
Recognized for her impact, Rubin received the 2024 Community Educator Award from the Association for Death Education and Counseling, and was named one of Albuquerque Business First’s Women of Influence.
This one-on-one interview shares Gail’s background and experience writing 98.6 Mortality Movies to See Before You Die: Remarkable Films and TV Shows to Discuss Death and Plan Ahead.
Tell us about 98.6 Mortality Movies to See Before You Die.
Let’s face it…nobody gets out of this movie alive. This book will help you plan for the end before your final credits roll.
In 98.6 Mortality Movies to See Before You Die, I take readers and viewers on a powerful and engaging journey through 142 films and TV shows that open the door to meaningful conversations about death, funerals, grief, legacy, and what it truly means to live well. The “.6” in the title refers to films that aren’t Mortality Movies, but they have powerful illustrative scenes.
As a death educator, I’ve discovered something surprising: people remember a movie scene long after they forget expert advice. That’s why each “Mortality Movie” breaks down key moments, life lessons, and thought-provoking questions that turn cinematic moments into teachable moments.
In the book, you’ll discover:
• Films that illuminate medical treatment, end-of-life decisions and funeral planning issues• Stories that explore grief, healing, and personal growth• Powerful depictions of the afterlife and what might come next• Practical discussion guides for educators, clergy, funeral directors, hospice professionals, and anyone brave enough to host a Movie Night about death
The films include comedies, dramas, animated films, and documentaries, as well as television series and episodes. There are also two cover options: The Grim Reaper eating popcorn, or a movie theater marquee. A funeral home owner who was considering holding a Mortality Movie Night told me, “We don’t associate our brand with the Grim Reaper.”
This book turns entertainment into insight, and insight into action. When we learn to talk about death, we learn how to live more fully, right up until the final credits roll.
What inspired you to write 98.6 Mortality Movies to See Before You Die?
People don’t remember lectures, they remember stories. A single scene from a film can stay with someone for years, shaping how they think and feel in ways that expert advice often can’t.
As a death educator, I wanted to harness that emotional connection. By using films and TV shows as a gateway, I’ve found it becomes much easier to start conversations about mortality; something we all face, but rarely discuss.
This book is my way of making those conversations more approachable, more understandable, and ultimately more actionable; helping people move from avoidance into meaningful action when it matters most, well before the Grim Reaper shows up at your door.
How did your background and experience influence your writing?
I’ve always loved movies, and studied them in college at the University of Maryland, College Park. A film class project, a satire of Ingmar Bergman’s classic film, The Seventh Seal, predicted my future as a death educator, using humor and movies to help people plan for end-of-life.
In my own immediate family, I’ve experienced eight deaths in 24 months. Planning ahead made those deaths so much easier to handle.
What is one message you would like readers to remember?
If readers walk away with one message, it’s this: talking about death won’t kill you, but it might make your life richer, wiser, and better prepared. Your loved ones will thank you for that.By exploring how film and television portray mortality, readers will learn that end-of-life planning isn’t about gloom and doom. It’s about empowerment, clarity, and connection.
The goal is to help people replace fear with curiosity, silence with conversation, and avoidance with action, so they can live (and eventually leave) with intention.
Purchasing the Book
98.6 Mortality Movies to See Before You Die: Remarkable Films and TV Shows to Discuss Death and Plan Ahead has received positive reviews from well-known literary organizations, authors, and reviewers around the world. Book Excellence writes, “A refreshingly original and engaging book that uses the power of film and TV to turn one of life’s most difficult topics into something approachable, meaningful, and even enlightening.”
The book is available for sale on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook, Google Play, and other online bookstores. Readers are encouraged to purchase their copy today: https://agoodgoodbye.com/product/pre-sale-98-6-mortality-movies-to-see-before-you-die/
To connect with Gail and learn more about her work, visit: https://agoodgoodbye.com/. You can also find her on LinkedIn, YouTube and Facebook.
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