Podcast Feature: Elisabeth Kübler-Ross at 100 on Grüezi America

To mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (1926–2004), Professor Anna Magdalena Elsner joined the podcast Grüezi America for a conversation on the life, work, and legacy of one of the most influential figures in end-of-life care. The podcast is hosted by Professor Claudia Franziska Brühwiler at the University of St. Gallen and explores contemporary issues through conversations with scholars and experts.

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross is best known for introducing the five stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—in her landmark book On Death and Dying (1969). While these stages have become part of popular culture, the episode explores the broader significance of her work, from her pioneering conversations with dying patients to her lasting influence on medicine, palliative care, and the medical humanities.

In the podcast, Anna reflects on Kübler-Ross's enduring impact, the continued relevance of her ideas, and the debates that have shaped her legacy over the past five decades. The conversation also considers how her work continues to inform contemporary discussions on death, dying, grief, and care—central themes of the Assisted Lab's research.

You can listen to the episode on Grüezi America or via your preferred podcast platform.