In this episode of Relatable Wisdom, I’m joined by the remarkable Jenny Ahmed, a best-selling science fiction author who lives by the motto, “I can sleep when I’m dead.” Jenny—a registered nurse and nurse practitioner with backgrounds in medicine, genetics, and astrobiology—shares how this quote has fueled her drive to make every moment count. We explore how surviving personal and family hardships, including her father’s harrowing experience in Auschwitz, shaped her relentless approach to life and creativity. Jenny’s unique blend of scientific rigor and empathy infuses her work, from dystopian novels to practical guides on survival. She opens up about channeling her family’s resilience into her writing and why she refuses to take time—and aging—for granted. Jenny’s stories are compelling reminders of the value of time, the power of purposeful living, and the importance of leaving your imprint on the world. This conversation is brimming with inspiration for anyone feeling stuck or seeking more meaning in the everyday.

Connect with Jenny Ahmed

Website: https://jennyahmed.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennyahmedauthor/

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Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:31 Meet Jenny Ahmed
00:48 Jenny’s Favorite Quote
01:31 Living by “I Can Sleep When I’m Dead”
02:43 Embracing Aging and Gray Hair
03:55 Blessings and Life Perspective
05:02 Motivating the Next Generation
06:02 Making the Most of Your Time
07:09 The Value of Time with Age
09:21 The Gift of Growing Older
10:18 Remembering Lost Loved Ones
11:52 Stories That Shape Us
13:17 Family Survival During the Holocaust
16:12 Lessons from Jenny’s Father
17:16 Visiting Auschwitz
18:46 Family History and Resilience
18:56 How Real Life Inspires Dystopian Fiction
19:25 Surviving Natural Disasters
20:35 Writing and Researching Dystopian Novels
21:41 Scary Realities in Research
22:06 Real-Life Parallels to Fiction
23:32 How Bombs Can Get Through
24:13 The Indian Lakes Project Story
25:25 Drawing from Historic Events
25:50 Real-World Scientific Accuracy
26:06 Where to Find Jenny’s Books
26:46 Connect with Jenny Ahmed
27:13 Reflections and Closing