David is a Deth Doula, "Die Well, Live better."
David Hahklotubbe is a certified Death Doula and experienced Gerontologist with over 25 years of expertise in aging, end-of-life care, and purposeful living. Known for his inspiring public speaking, charming storytelling and unconventional viewpoints, David empowers individuals to age well, live fully, and die with the least amount of regret possible. His philosophy? Die well, through living better.
1022
patients
35+
Years Public Speaking Experience
-100%
End of life Regrets
David helps others rewrite their stories to leave a meaningful impact. With decades of experience at the bedside, his mission is to guide people in living purposefully, free from regret.
David's experience at the bedsides of the dying has taught him that regret is almost always about wasted time, not money, status, nor possessions. He challenges audiences to reclaim their attention and reinvest it in what really matters.
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David's mission is simple: to help others rewrite their story while there's still time, ensuring they leave this world knowing they mattered. His decades of work with the dying have shown him that regret is almost never about money or status, but about wasted time.
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Few people on Earth have heard what David has. His decades of harvesting deathbed wisdom allows him to share stories and truths that the dying insist he passes on. David brings their voices forward, into clarity, filtering the distractive static, offering lessons on, work, love, , family, gratitude and what truly matters, purposeful use of our greatest asset, time.
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David, a Gerontologist and Death Doula of 25 years, turned a bucket list found at his uncle's deathbed into a life mission. Through decades of research, he inspires others to live fully now. A born storyteller and distiller of wisdom, David shares a treasure trove of urgent messages from just up the road.
David is featured in Carmel Living and Cypress Coast Living, two respected regional lifestyle magazines.
David's message is powerful and timely. He challenges his audience to re-evaluate their priorities. At the same time, he is a consummate storyteller often going off script to include the audience, this is where he shines, guaranteeing that no presentation will be the same. No one leaves the room the same person they entered as.
Ron Mead
Vice President of Operations
Brands Trust David to Elevate Their Events
What’s in a word? A LOT. Not one to follow in the herd, back in the late 90’s while working as an Industrial Organizational Psychologist for Network Equipment Technologies, a .com startup in Silicon Valley who’s largest client was the federal government, namely the military, as the Human Resource Trainer and Developer, David questioned; “why do we call these things “work”shops? Nobody likes the term “work”, it’s an immediate turnoff, no wonder people groan and grumble about attending. Plus, the way I design these sessions, it’s more fun than work. We should call these “fun”shops”. And the title stuck. Funshops are just that, a fun and creative way to broach, engage, immerse and learn about a variety of topics, many, challenging, sensitive, delicate or complex topics such as end of life considerations.
David is a nationally recognized gerontologist, certified death doula, and public speaker whose work bridges the gap between living fully and preparing for life's final transitions.
With over a decade of experience in elder care, grief support, and community education, David has supported thousands of individuals and families in navigating aging, dying, and caregiving with clarity and compassion. His personal and professional journey has led him to advocate for death literacy--but not in an orthodox fashion.
By sharing the stories, regrets, and emotional reflections of those at the end of their lives, David helps audiences in their 40s, 50s, and 60s confront what truly matters now — before it's too late. His talks are a wake-up call wrapped in compassion, designed to inspire people to live with more clarity, courage, and intention so they don’t carry the same regrets when their time comes.
With a passion for reshaping end-of-life care, I’ve had the privilege of speaking at major conferences, universities, and public forums across the country. My work explores the evolving role of death doulas in long-term care settings—a topic that's breaking new ground after more than three decades.
FEATUREDTue, March 4, 2025 - San Francisco, CA
CALA CONFERENCE, June 2-4 2025-debuting a talk on death doulas
The 8th Annual Death Faire (Pittsboro, NC)
Holistic Pathways of Care--Keynote speaker and facilitator for three breakout “funshops.”
Harvard University--guest speaker, Holistic Pathways of Care
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