Last Day

Based on the podcast of the same name, Last Day heartbreakingly yet hopefully weaves Stephanie Wittels Wachs's personal story of her brother's deadly overdose alongside expert voices on opioid addiction in this clarion call for change in an ongoing and overwhelming opioid crisis. Based on the groundbreaking podcast of the same name, Last Day is borne of Stephanie Wittels Wachs's determination to shed light on the ongoing opioid epidemic in America. After the tragic and untimely death of her brother due to opioid addiction, Stephanie connected with Jessica Cordova Kramer, whose brother died under nearly identical circumstances. Together they launched Last Day, a podcast that facilitates conversations with people in recovery, public policy experts working to effect change in the opioid crisis, medical professionals, and many others, to backtrack from their loved ones' last days on earth and determine what might change lives moving forward so that overdose deaths can be diminished. Ten years ago, Stephanie lost her brother—her person—and over the last five years, her interviews and research have become a resource to help other people out there not lose their person. Both heartbreaking and hopeful, at its core, Last Day is a family story about love, grief, and learning after tragedy.

Stephanie Wittels Wachs is cofounder and chief creative officer of Lemonada Media, an award-winning podcast network with a mission to "make life suck less." In 2024, The Hollywood Reporter named her among "The Most Powerful People in Podcasting." Wittels Wachs cocreated and hosts Last Day, Lemonada's Third Coast, Webby, and Gracie Award-winning flagship show. Its first season focused on the opioid crisis, which took the life of her brother, writer-producer-comedian Harris Wittels (Parks & Recreation, Master of None). Thanks in part to her wit and forthrightness, Wittels Wachs has been featured in major publications (The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Time), appeared as a guest on a plethora of podcasts (from Comedy Bang Bang to Everything Happens) public radio programs (NPR's Morning Edition), and TV shows (Late Night with Seth Meyers). She's been a well-known voice actor for decades and, in 2016, confounded the reputable nonprofit arts organization, Rec Room Arts. She is the author of Last Day and Everything Is Horrible and Wonderful. Today, Wittels Wachs is the creative north star to over dozens of award-winning podcasts under the Lemonada network.