Past Conferences

2025’s theme, Radical Bravery, was about showing up, even when it’s hard, and the everyday courage it takes to face grief, illness, caregiving, and dying with open eyes and open hearts and the brave, collective action it takes to build a more compassionate world.

At End Well 2025, we gathered to explore how age-old wisdom, emerging technologies, and new models of care and community can transform how we live, how we support one another, and how we approach the end of life.

On November 22, 2024, we gathered for a day of connection and reflection, exploring how we can improve communication around palliative care, bring cultural perspectives into end-of-life conversations, reflect on near death experiences, and support unique communities— including better end-of-life support for Veterans, death education for high school students, and helping families navigating child loss.

Speakers included: Stacy London, Ricki Lake, Tembi Locke, Roshi Joan Halifax, Sebastian Junger, Alua Arthur, Sah D’Simone, and many more.

On November 16, 2023, we came together to share personal stories and bold ideas about reshaping our relationship with aging, grief, and the end of life—including conversations on legacy, faith, and reimagining death care.

Speakers included: Yvette Nicole Brown, Amanda Kloots, Ai-jen Poo, Dr. Ira Byock, Katrina Spade, Hadley Vlahos, Louie Schwartzberg, and more.

In October 2021, we gathered virtually for a wide-ranging conversation about the potential for psychedelic-assisted therapy to reduce existential fear and suffering during serious illness and at end of life.

Speakers included: Melissa Etheridge, Van Jones, Rabbi Steve Leder, Dr. Stephen Ross, Rick Doblin, Dr. Chris Adrian, Anthony Bossis, Dr. Mellody Hayes and many more.

In December 2020, we convened virtually for a full-day focused on finding solace, building solidarity and sharing solutions when it comes to serious illness, caregiving, loss, grief and end of life.

Speakers Included: Dr. Atul Gawande, Maria Shriver, Roger Daltry, Blair Underwood, Andy Cohen, Paula Stone Williams, Justin Baldoni, Hank Willis Thomas, Soledad O’Brien and many more.

In December 2019, we gathered together in San Francisco for a jam-packed day focused on how we might break down the siloes in and out of healthcare and invite more people into the movement to make end of life, part of life.

Speakers Included: Meghan McCain, Tim McGraw, Esther Perel, Alua Arthur, Dr. B.J. Miller, Yoko Sen, Adam Hayden, August de los Reyes and many more.

In December 2018, we gathered together in San Francisco for a solutions-focused day about how we might address fundamental challenges to make ending well possible for all.

Speakers Included: Maya Shankar, Alicia Garza, Justin Baldoni, Michael Murphy, Dr. Bon Ku, Caitlin Doughty, Dr. James Doty, Jeremie Saunders, Kai-Fu Lee and many more.

In December 2017, we launched End Well with the first-ever conference bringing together healthcare, design, architecture, music, innovation, policy and more.

Speakers Included: Dr. B.J. Miller, Ali Shaheed Muhammed, Anthony Bossis, Dr. Jessica Zitter, Andrew MacPherson, Torrie Fields, Dr. Dawn Gross and many more.