A Good Goodbye Radio is launching Wednesday May 1, starting the conversation on end-of-life issues with Martha Hayward of The Conversation Project. This Internet radio program covers a wide range of critical information most people don't consider until there's a death in the family.

Why it's important to have an end-of-life conversation:

60% of people say that making sure their family is not burdened by tough decisions is "extremely important"

56% have not communicated their end-of-life wishes

One conversation can make all the difference.

The Conversation Project is dedicated to helping people talk about their wishes for end-of-life care. Too many people are dying in a way they wouldn't choose, and too many of their loved ones are left feeling bereaved, guilty, and uncertain.

"It's time to transform our culture so we shift from not talking about dying to talking about it. It's time to share the way we want to live at the end of our lives. And it's time to communicate about the kind of care we want and don't want for ourselves," says Hayward.

"We believe that the place for this to begin is at the kitchen table—not in the intensive care unit—with the people we love, before it's too late."

Martha Hayward joined the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in March 2011 as the Lead for Public and Patient Engagement. A cancer survivor, she is a founding board member of the non-profit Women's Health Exchange and served on the Patient and Family Advisory Council of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

Most recently, as Executive Director at The Partnership for Healthcare Excellence, Hayward brought a particular focus on, and considerable experience in, the area of patient advocacy.

Find out more about The Conversation Project and download your free conversation starter kit from their website: www.TheConversationProject.org.

A Good Goodbye Radio is presented live on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. CT / 4:00 p.m. MT / 3:00 p.m. PT on the Rock Star Radio Network. Each program is available in podcast form within 30 minutes of the live program.

Listeners can call in toll-free during the live program to 866-404-6519.

Other guests scheduled for the month of May are: Erika Dillman, author of The Party of Your Life (5/8); Brian Flowers, president of the Green Burial Council (5/15); Valere Beck with MedCure.org on whole body donation (5/22); and Coleen Ellis, co-chair of the Pet Loss Professionals Alliance (5/29).

A Good Goodbye Radio is hosted and produced by Gail Rubin, The Doyenne of Death®. She is the author of the award-winning book A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don't Plan to Die, a Certified Funeral Celebrant, and an engaging speaker who uses funny films to help bring people to consider a topic most would rather avoid.

She brings a light touch to a serious subject and presents expert interviews on "everything you need to know before you go." More information is available at www.AGoodGoodbye.com.