MMD BLOG


CATEGORY:

Dr. Whitney

ESCAPING YOUR NEAR-LIFE EXPERIENCE WITH KAREN SALMANSOHN

 Modern Mommy Doc


PUBLICATION DATE:

July 22, 2025

ESCAPING YOUR NEAR-LIFE EXPERIENCE WITH KAREN SALMANSOHN

 Modern Mommy Doc

CATEGORY: Dr. Whitney

About the Episode:


Are you living your actual life or just scrolling, swiping, and going through the motions? In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Whitney Casares sits down with bestselling author and behavior change expert Karen Salmansohn to talk about how embracing the reality of death can lead to a more vibrant, meaningful life.


Karen’s latest book, Your to-die-For Life: How to Maximize Joy and Minimize Regret Before Your Time Runs Out, invites readers to stop drifting through their days and start aligning their actions with their deepest values—before it’s too late. Together, Whitney and Karen explore what it looks like to escape the “near-life” trap and start showing up with intention, especially in motherhood.


From writing your own eulogy (yep!) to creating a monthly marble jar ritual, this conversation will give you practical tools to live more fully, connect more deeply, and redefine what it means to “do it all.”


About Our Guest:


Karen Salmansohn is a bestselling author, speaker, and expert in behavioral change. Known for her accessible and visually rich self-help books, Karen has sold over 2 million copies of her books globally and is the founder of the NotSalmon.com platform. Her newest book, Your to-die-for Life: How to Maximize Joy and Minimize Regret Before Your Time Runs Out, merges ancient wisdom with modern psychology to help readers wake up to their one precious life—and live it well.


A former creative director in advertising, Karen brings wit, warmth, and wisdom to everything she does. She's also a mom, a lifelong learner (hello, Aristotle tattoos!), and a firm believer that you don’t need to hit rock bottom to start living with intention.


📚 Explore her work at: yourtodieforlife.com and notsalmon.com

📲 Follow her @notsalmon on Instagram, Facebook, and Substack


Key Takeaways:


The concept of a “near-life experience”

Karen coined the term to describe the feeling of being adjacent to your life—physically present but mentally and emotionally elsewhere. She explains how this shows up in modern parenting, relationships, and daily routines—and why it’s so easy to miss out on what matters most.


Why contemplating your death can be a gift

It’s not morbid—it’s motivating. Karen shares how her father’s passing inspired her to live more intentionally and how death awareness can actually help us make decisions that reduce regret and increase joy.


How writing your eulogy now can transform your life

This isn’t about morbidity—it’s about clarity. Karen walks us through how imagining what you want people to say about you at the end of your life can help reverse-engineer the habits and mindset you need to adopt today.


The difference between a to-do list and a to-die list

Spoiler alert: your to-die list won’t include “clean out the junk drawer.” Instead, it’s about designing habits that align with your aspirational eulogy self—the version of you that lives fully, loves deeply, and leads with purpose.


The power of identity-based habits

Karen explains how shifting how we see ourselves (e.g., “I am a connected mom,” “I am a loving friend”) can naturally shift our behavior. This approach helps moms move from reactive to responsive parenting—even during chaotic days.


A simple but powerful marble jar ritual

One of Karen’s most talked-about tools, this visual practice helps you track time month by month to stay focused on what really matters—and avoid letting your days slip by on autopilot.


How to raise kids with core values that matter

Karen shares seven values she developed to help people avoid the top regrets of the dying—and how we can model and instill them in our children through everyday conversations and small intentional acts.


📩
Subscribe to The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast for more episodes on parenting with confidence and clarity. Leave a review using the hashtag #ModernMommyDoc.

Raising Body-Confident Kids Starts at the Doctor's Office!

START NOW
By Dr. Whitney December 17, 2025
About the Episode: In this episode, Dr. Whitney sits down with Dr. Jay Gargus and Dave Justus from NeuroQure to discuss the power of early clarity when it comes to autism detection and why earlier intervention can fundamentally change outcomes for childre n and families. Dr. Gargus explains the science behind early behavioral therapies and why their impact goes far beyond short-term skill-building. Research shows that early, evidence-based interventions can lead to measurable, lifelong improvements in IQ, so cial skills, independence, and educational placement, often determining whether a child can thrive in mainstream education or requires ongoing specialized support. The conversation also tackles a critical and often overlooked issue: access. Dave Justus shares the personal motivation behind NeuroQure’s work and explains why the test is being launched at cost, with installment plans and employer subsidies, while the team works toward insurance coverage. The goal is to prevent families from losing precious years waiting for answers. Together, they emphasize a hopeful message for parents: families don’t need to wait for a future “silver bullet.” We already have therapies that work and getting kids connected to them earlier can change the course of a lifetime. In this episode, we discuss: Why early autism detection leads to lifelong changes—not just short-term gains What a 17-point IQ difference actually means for education, independence, and quality of life How early intervention can shift developmental trajectories as early as 6 months The science and validation behind current autism therapies Why NeuroQure is pricing testing at cost while pursuing insurance coverage How early clarity can reduce long-term strain on families, schools, and healthcare systems This episode is a powerful reminder that timing matters and that early access to answers can make an extraordinary difference for children and the families who love them. About Our Guest: Dr. Jay Gargus, MD, PhD is a physician-scientist and nationally recognized expert in neurodevelopmental disorders, with decades of experience researching the biological underpinnings of autism. His work has focused on translating well-established science into meaningful, real-world interventions that can improve lifelong outcomes for children. Dr. Gargus emphasizes that early, evidence-based therapies are already available—and that connecting families to them sooner can fundamentally change developmental trajectories. Dave Justus is a parent and the founder of NeuroQure, whose work is driven by personal experience navigating delayed autism diagnosis and intervention. Motivated by the belief that early clarity can spare families years of uncertainty, Dave is focused on expanding access to early testing through cost-based pricing and ongoing efforts to secure insurance coverage. His mission is simple but powerful: ensure families don’t have to wait for answers that could change everything. Want to Start Raising Body-Confident Kids Today? 📘 Order the Book Order your copy of My One-of-a-Kind Body 👉 www.raisingbodyconfidentkids.com/books 🎁 Claim Your Free Bonus When you order on our site, you’ll also get access to a FREE video mini-course with five bite-sized lessons for parents. In just 25 minutes, you’ll walk away with: Simple, script-style ways to respond when your kid says, “I hate my thighs” How to talk about health without weight talk What to do when your own inner critic shows up How to interrupt diet culture at home The first step to raising a body-confident kid, even if you didn’t grow up as one 📩 Subscribe to The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast for more episodes on parenting with confidence and clarity. Leave a review using the hashtag #ModernMommyDoc.
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ON THE PODCAST


By Dr. Whitney December 17, 2025
About the Episode: In this episode, Dr. Whitney sits down with Dr. Jay Gargus and Dave Justus from NeuroQure to discuss the power of early clarity when it comes to autism detection and why earlier intervention can fundamentally change outcomes for childre n and families. Dr. Gargus explains the science behind early behavioral therapies and why their impact goes far beyond short-term skill-building. Research shows that early, evidence-based interventions can lead to measurable, lifelong improvements in IQ, so cial skills, independence, and educational placement, often determining whether a child can thrive in mainstream education or requires ongoing specialized support. The conversation also tackles a critical and often overlooked issue: access. Dave Justus shares the personal motivation behind NeuroQure’s work and explains why the test is being launched at cost, with installment plans and employer subsidies, while the team works toward insurance coverage. The goal is to prevent families from losing precious years waiting for answers. Together, they emphasize a hopeful message for parents: families don’t need to wait for a future “silver bullet.” We already have therapies that work and getting kids connected to them earlier can change the course of a lifetime. In this episode, we discuss: Why early autism detection leads to lifelong changes—not just short-term gains What a 17-point IQ difference actually means for education, independence, and quality of life How early intervention can shift developmental trajectories as early as 6 months The science and validation behind current autism therapies Why NeuroQure is pricing testing at cost while pursuing insurance coverage How early clarity can reduce long-term strain on families, schools, and healthcare systems This episode is a powerful reminder that timing matters and that early access to answers can make an extraordinary difference for children and the families who love them. About Our Guest: Dr. Jay Gargus, MD, PhD is a physician-scientist and nationally recognized expert in neurodevelopmental disorders, with decades of experience researching the biological underpinnings of autism. His work has focused on translating well-established science into meaningful, real-world interventions that can improve lifelong outcomes for children. Dr. Gargus emphasizes that early, evidence-based therapies are already available—and that connecting families to them sooner can fundamentally change developmental trajectories. Dave Justus is a parent and the founder of NeuroQure, whose work is driven by personal experience navigating delayed autism diagnosis and intervention. Motivated by the belief that early clarity can spare families years of uncertainty, Dave is focused on expanding access to early testing through cost-based pricing and ongoing efforts to secure insurance coverage. His mission is simple but powerful: ensure families don’t have to wait for answers that could change everything. Want to Start Raising Body-Confident Kids Today? 📘 Order the Book Order your copy of My One-of-a-Kind Body 👉 www.raisingbodyconfidentkids.com/books 🎁 Claim Your Free Bonus When you order on our site, you’ll also get access to a FREE video mini-course with five bite-sized lessons for parents. In just 25 minutes, you’ll walk away with: Simple, script-style ways to respond when your kid says, “I hate my thighs” How to talk about health without weight talk What to do when your own inner critic shows up How to interrupt diet culture at home The first step to raising a body-confident kid, even if you didn’t grow up as one 📩 Subscribe to The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast for more episodes on parenting with confidence and clarity. Leave a review using the hashtag #ModernMommyDoc.
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