EOLPodcast

Ep. 538 Helping “Stuck Souls” Cross Over with Father Nathan Castle

kwyattmd

Learn about the unusual work of a priest who experiences after-death communication with souls who have become “stuck” in their afterlife journey.

My guest Father Nathan Castle is a Dominican priest known for his work in campus ministry and his unusual calling of helping souls who have died suddenly to find peace. He discusses his unique work and how he was called to serve others in this way. He discusses the communications he receives in his dreams and how he began working with the souls who connect with him whose afterlives have been interrupted by unfinished business. He is the host of The Joyful Friar Podcast and the author of four books including his most recent: Afterlife: Interrupted Book 3 – Let Me Explain. Learn more at his website:

Nathan-castle.com

Get the books here

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • What he means by “stuck souls”
  • How he first experienced contact from a deceased soul in his dreams
  • Why certain people might get stuck in this way after death
  • What is an “interrupted death experience”
  • Stories of souls he has encountered during after death communication experiences
  • How he works with stuck souls and their guardians to help them cross over
  • How he uses prayer as a subset of love for helping souls
  • In his experience many people who died by suicide felt optionless and just wanted the pain to stop
  • How he manages to be “The Joyful Friar” in the midst of the work he does
  • Advice for the living: Stay in the present moment and don’t be defined by the worst thing that happened to you in order to avoid getting stuck in the afterlife

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 537 Grief and the Widowed Mom with Krista St-Germain

kwyattmd

Learn about grief support for widows who are also raising children as they navigate loss and bereavement.

My guest Krista St-Germain is a life coach, post-traumatic growth and grief expert, widowed mom, and host of The Widowed Mom Podcast. She coaches and teaches other widows to love life again and shares with us in this conversation what she has learned. She and her work have been featured in Psychology Today, Medium, Thrive Global, Bustle, Psych Central, and Parents Magazine. Learn more at her website:

coachingwithkrista.com

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • The challenges of grieving while raising children
  • How our limited knowledge of grief makes it more difficult to navigate
  • Coping with unexpected effects of grief
  • Myths about what is “normal” in grief
  • What Krista wishes she had known about grief
  • The dual-process model of grief
  • The importance of community in navigating grief
  • How just hearing someone else talk about their grief is helpful
  • Post-traumatic growth and grief
  • Understanding secondary losses and grief

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 536 Never Can Say Goodbye: The Life of a Death Doula with Darnell Lamont Walker

kwyattmd

Learn about a powerful memoir from the life of a death doula who was inspired by his grandmother to sit with the dying.

My guest Darnell Lamont Walker is a death doula, Emmy-nominated children’s television writer, producer and explorer. He creates spaces worldwide for healing through storytelling, end-of-life care, and workshops on grief, resilience, unlocking the writer within, and radical empathy. He is the author of the newly published memoir Never Can Say Goodbye: The Life of a Death Doula and The Art of a Peaceful End published by HarperCollins. Learn more at his website:

darnellwalker.com

Get the book here

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • How Darnell was first introduced to end-of-life care by his grandmother
  • The power of storytelling
  • Why caring for the dying seems foreign to some people but is actually an innate ability
  • Why we should be training children at a young age to be present with dying or we may pass on our own fear of death
  • Death within the Black community and the impact of systemic racism, generational trauma, and unequal access to healthcare on end-of-life decision-making
  • Why listening first is the best way to build trust and get people to talk about difficult subjects
  • Why we can make better choices for life when we become aware of our mortality

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to Jolynn Deloach for making a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 535 Planning Your Funeral and Legacy Online with Paul Fried

kwyattmd

Learn about a helpful online platform for end-of-life planning and the benefits of using technology for this work.

My guest Paul Fried is an entrepreneur who recognized a need to reshape how we think about end-of-life planning. He founded a digital-first platform that focuses on compassionate funeral planning, digital legacy preservation, and emotional wellness titled I Made the Arrangements. He discusses the value of recording our end-of-life wishes and messages digitally for the sake of our loved ones. Paul is also the author of the book Live Fully. Leave Wisely: End-of-Life Planning as the Ultimate Act of Love. Learn more at his website:

Imadethearrangements.com

Get the book

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • How Paul’s ancestry and personal history led him to create I Made the Arrangements
  • Why digital planning services are important right now
  • The disastrous consequences of not planning ahead or talking about our end-of-life wishes
  • Why employers are starting to offer online end-of-life planning as a benefit to their employees
  • How technology is rapidly advancing to help people reconnect with holographic images of their loved ones
  • How “wishkeepers” help secure their loved ones’ legacies
  • Resources available on the website

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 534 Sacred Dying: Honoring the Legacy of Megory Anderson with Jeremy Damec

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Learn about the beautiful contribution of Dr. Megory Anderson to the field of sacred death and dying and how her legacy lives on 7 years after her death.

My guest Jeremy Damec is a NEDA-certified death doula and a grief counselor who has also completed chaplaincy training and worked at a funeral home. He was a friend and mentee of Megory Anderson and knew her well during the years prior to her untimely and unexpected death in 2019. We discuss her pioneering contributions to end-of-life care and her book Sacred Dying along with our own stories of being inspired by Megory’s wisdom on the 7th anniversary since her death. Learn more about Jeremy’s work:

jeremydeathandgrief.com

deathandgriefworkercollective.com

Get Sacred Dying

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • Megory’s book Sacred Dying as a valuable resource for all death workers
  • How Jeremy got to know Megory Anderson
  • Jeremy’s experience sitting vigil with Megory before she died
  • How Jeremy still learns from Megory in his work
  • Honoring Megory as a pioneer in the sacred aspect of death and dying
  • What Jeremy has been inspired to create through the Death and Grief Worker Collective

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu, especially my latest patron Leslie Robinson! And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 533 The Legacy of Hospice in the U.S. and Around the World with Dr. Robert Buckingham

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Learn the history of the hospice movement in the US from one of the original founders.

My guest Dr. Robert Buckingham is a Professor Emeritus of Public Health at the University of Michigan and has been a pioneer of the U.S. hospice movement, having played a role in the founding of the very first hospice program in this country. In addition he has co-developed 81 hospice programs across the globe including the firs hospice for children with AIDS in Thailand. He is the author of 12 books – 7 dedicated solely to hospice and palliative care. His latest book is Understanding Loss and Grief for Women. Learn more at his website:

rwbuckingham.com

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • The birth of hospice in America
  • Current threats to the hospice movement
  • Dr. Buckingham’s involvement in developing hospice programs around the world
  • The historical philosophy of hospice care
  • The benefits of providing hands-on care to a loved one at the end of life
  • How the AIDS crisis helped fuel the growth of the hospice movement
  • Lessons learned from dying patients
  • Why he wrote about loss and grief for women and why we need to make sure we include men in grief work
  • Remembering that change takes time and taking the long view on our work

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 532 Writing Your Obituary as Part of End-of-Life Planning with Gail Shapiro

kwyattmd

Learn how and why to write your own obituary as a legacy project.

My guest Gail Shapiro is a seasoned writer and editor and also a professional organizer who has guided many people through the details of end-of-life planning. She also helps people write memorable obituaries for themselves and others and today discusses why this process is an important part of end-of-life planning. She shares tips and best practices for writing an obituary and how she can help when we aren’t sure what to include or how to say what we mean. Learn more at her website:

gailshapiro.com

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • How Gail became interested in obituary writing
  • Why an obituary can also be a legacy project
  • Why should we consider writing our own obituary rather than leaving it to someone else
  • What should an obituary include
  • What should NOT be in an obituary
  • Best practices for writing a beautiful obit
  • How AI can make serious mistakes in obituary writing and cannot replace the human touch
  • What services Gail provides for those who aren’t comfortable doing their own writing

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu, especially my latest supporter Adele Flaherty and to Jen Davidson for increasing your pledge. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 531 Sacred Wild: Soul Connections with Our Pets in Life and Death with Miki Jacobs

kwyattmd

Learn about the spiritual bond between humans and their pets and how it continues after physical death.

My guest Miki Jacobs is an internationally acclaimed medium, speaker, and author who shares wisdom and teachings from the spirit world with audiences worldwide. Her lifelong love of animals led her, along with her husband Clayton, to create a sanctuary for rescued animals on their ranch in Southern California. In her book Sacred Wild: The Spiritual World of Animals, Including Pets, and its Interconnectedness with Ours – she explores the spiritual nature of animals and the sacred bond they share with humans, which we discuss in this episode. Learn more at her website:

mikijacobs.com

Get the book here

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • How Miki developed her connection with animals and with the spiritual realm
  • We can all teach ourselves to communicate with “the other side” if we choose to and do the necessary spiritual work
  • How mediumship helps with the fear of death
  • Animals are capable of unconditional love because they don’t have an ego
  • For humans our true selves can be obscured by the energy of the ego
  • Animals can detect our wellbeing and recognize when someone is dying
  • The pets we have are meant to be with us if we are open to that – we have “soul contracts” with them
  • Why Miki believes that our animal companions have a spiritual existence after death and continue to accompany us
  • Signs that our departed animal companions might send to us in everyday life or dreams
  • Spiritual growth is hard but the benefits are beautiful – we grow through challenges
  • How connecting with a pet could be the pathway to spiritual growth, including teaching us about impermanence

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu, especially my latest supporter Marion Folkemer. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 530 Six Pillars of Care for Palliative Care Providers with Meina Dubetz RN

kwyattmd

Learn about a training course for professionals entering the palliative care field to prepare them for the emotional and spiritual demands of this work.

My guest Meina Dubetz is a registered nurse specializing in Palliative and Oncology Care and also a Certified Grief Educator and Reiki Master. She is the author of the book When Death Comes Knocking for Your Patients: A Guide for Nurses and Palliative Caregivers, which became a #1 bestseller on Amazon in the US and Canada. Recently she has developed a course for professionals entering the palliative care field in an institutional setting titled 6 Pillars of Care that we discuss today. Learn more at her website:

meinadubetz.com

Get her book here

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • How Meina was first called to work with the elderly and dying at the age of 17
  • How her path was shaped as well by the deaths of her father and her son
  • The healthcare system is not prepared or trained to cope with grief and help people at the end of life
  • Healthcare providers are affected by every death they experience whether they realize or not
  • The importance of our history with death, dying and grief when we serve others at the end of life
  • Why we should practice having difficult conversations before we engage in them
  • Why we need to share our struggles with our peers

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to Kquasny who bought me a coffee and to everyone who has made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 529 The Dementia Deck: Preparing for Future Decisions with Lisa Pahl and Jamie Thrower

kwyattmd

Learn about a helpful conversation game that encourages discussions about advance care planning for dementia.

My guests for this episode, Lisa Pahl and Jamie Thrower, are the co-creators of The Dementia Deck, a new card game to help inspire conversations about demential. Lisa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Advanced Practice Hospice and Palliative Social Worker who previously created The Death Deck and The EOL Deck–conversation games that are changing the way we talk about death. Jamie is a queer death doula, end-of-life educator and community grief-tender serving the LGBTQ+ community in life and in death. She also runs Queer Grief Club (and I plan to have her back on the podcast to talk about her work!) They discuss how to use The Dementia Deck to overcome fears of dementia and help families prepare for future changes and decision-making. Learn more at their websites:

thedeathdeck.com

jamiethrower.com

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • What The Death Deck and The EOL Deck consist of
  • The story behind The Dementia Deck and its creation
  • How Jamie collaborated on the design of the deck
  • Why conversations and advance care planning are important for people with dementia
  • Many people fear dementia even more than death
  • Millions of Americans are impacted by dementia either as a patient or a caregiver
  • How to introduce The Dementia Deck to an individual
  • Tips for getting the most out of working with the deck
  • Why it’s important to “stack the deck” when you first begin talking about dementia

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 528 Sharing Our Stories to Preserve Our History with Stephanie Ford

kwyattmd

Learn how to discover and preserve our own and others’ stories to provide inspiration in challenging times.

My guest Stephanie Ford is the founder of Life Stories with Steph, a video storytelling service dedicated to preserving personal and family histories. With a background in caregiving, hospice and training as an end-of-life doula, she discusses the importance of sharing and recording stories to preserve legacies and histories of those who came before us. Learn more at her website:

lifestorieswithsteph.com

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • How Stephanie became interested in this work
  • Why storytelling is important to society and especially to those facing the end of life
  • How ordinary lives contain remarkable resilience and hope that can be shared through stories
  • How to discover stories of our ancestors
  • The value of genealogy work
  • Using photos to inspire storytelling
  • How to capture small meaningful moments of everyday life
  • What services she offers and how it works
  • Who benefits from recording and sharing life stories with Steph

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to “Someone” who bought me 5 coffees and those who made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 527 Transforming Veteran Care Through Stories, Art, and Theatre with Qwynn Galloway-Salazar PhD

kwyattmd

Learn about a powerful course and theatre initiative to redefine how we care for veterans at the end of life.

My return guest, Dr. Qwynn Galloway-Salazar is an Army Veteran, end-of-life doula educator, and an advocate for redefining how nations honor and support veterans and their loved ones through the end of life. She is the creator of the course Caring for Veterans Through the End of Life and a new initiative We Hold the Line, which uses applied theatre to teach about veteran care through a story monologue. Today’s conversation focuses on the history and scope of Qwynn’s work and the importance of honoring and caring for veterans through aging, loss, and the end of life. Learn more at these website:

intheirhonor.info

psycharmor.org/caring-for-veterans-through-end-of-life

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • The widespread embrace of the Caring for Veterans course
  • Qwynn’s experience as a George W. Bush Institute Veteran Leadership Scholar
  • How Qwynn was inspired to bring this material to the stage
  • Why theatre is a powerful medium for sharing a message
  • Why we need collaboration now to change the way we approach the end of life in our society
  • How Qwynn followed her intuition to create this work
  • The importance of “taking the next right step” and saying yes to opportunities even when we can’t see or imagine the outcome
  • The concerning incidence of suicide for veterans

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 526 End-of-Life Planning: Small Steps to Complete the Work with Jennifer Tadjedin and Karen Callahan

kwyattmd

Learn how “peace-of-mind” planning starts with a few small steps that are doable and make a big difference.

My guests this week, Jennifer Tadjedin and Karen Callahan, are the co-founders of The Heartwood Collective where they guide people through all facets of developing a death plan (other than financial and estate planning.) They discuss how their paths crossed as they began exploring new meaningful work around helping other people with planning and preparing for the end of life. Learn more at their website:

theheartwoodcollective.com

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • The power of collaboration and synergy to create new ideas
  • Why we need to begin with death education and helping people get more comfortable with death before we can make other changes
  • How their workshops normalize talking about death
  • Breaking big tasks into small steps helps people actually get the work done
  • How planning ahead helps lessen stress and grief for loved ones
  • The biggest barriers to end-of-life planning for most people
  • Some people find it easier to discuss death as they get older
  • The benefits of working in a group on end-of-life planning
  • How to choose the best person as a healthcare proxy

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 525 Writing as a Lifeline Through Loss and Grief with Christina Holbrook and Jane Flynn

kwyattmd

Learn about a beautiful memoir co-written by friends whose correspondence helped them both navigate a year of overwhelming loss and grief.

My guests today are Christina Holbrook and Jane Flynn, co-authors of a shared memoir from a year when they were both confronting loss and grief–the diagnosis a glioblastoma brain tumor and the death of a child by suicide. Through a series of emails the two long-term friends shared not only their grief but also the little moments of life’s wonder and joy. They discuss their newly released book Antiphon: A Call and Response in a Year of Grief and Renewal and how writing together helped them navigate overwhelming grief while offering support to one another. Learn more at the website:

jane-flynn.com

Get the book here

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • The long trajectory of friendship between Chris and Jane
  • Their personal grief that led to a year of email correspondence
  • Why they decided to share their writings in Antiphon
  • The waterfall metaphor for grief and how it applies to each of their stories
  • How writing helps us express complex and painful emotions
  • Why sharing our pain lightens the burden for both parties
  • How writing about the ordinary events of a day helps us stay in the present moment
  • The little joys that are present even within deep grief

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal, especially Austyn Wells! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 524 Meeting the Challenges of End-of-Life Care with Cathy Yuhas RN

kwyattmd

Learn about a new book that addresses challenges faced by patients, providers, and caregivers at the end of life.

My guest Cathy Yuhas is an RN and certified end-of-life doula who founded Dying Matters, LLC to advocate for conscious, compassionate end-of-life care. She is also the author of a new book: Walking Each Other Home: Guiding Caregivers and Community Through the Sacred Passage of Death. Learn more at her website:

dyingmatters.llc

Get the book here

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • Cathy’s journey from being an RN to becoming an EOL doula
  • What inspired Cathy to write Walking Each Other Home
  • The importance of honest patient-provider communication when serious illness is diagnosed
  • How our medical system currently fails patients and their families when the end of life is approaching
  • The “caregiver starter kit” Cathy created and why it is essential to care for those who care for others
  • Shifting healthcare from an outcome-driven approach to one guided by values instead
  • The aging population and the growing shortage of end-of-life care options for seniors

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 523 Humanizing Healthcare: The Good Listening Project with Jenny Hegland

kwyattmd

Learn how deep listening and poetry are helping transform healthcare and provide an antidote to burnout.

My guest Jenny Hegland is the Executive Director of The Good Listening Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to humanizing healthcare through the healing power of poetry and compassionate presence. We discuss the work of TGLP and the power of sharing our stories and having them reflected back to us in the form of poetry. Learn more at the website:

goodlistening.org

Read the poem The House Medicine Built here

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • The origin story of The Good Listening Project
  • The power of poetry to reflect our deep stories
  • Why being heard by someone else is deep medicine
  • The synergy between the storyteller and the listener poet
  • How TGLP works
  • Why grief is the number one concern of healthcare providers served by TGLP
  • You don’t have to be skilled at poetry to become a “listener poet”
  • The crafts of listening to and writing poems for others can both be taught
  • The quality of listening can actually affect the quality of sharing that happens
  • How both community and mystery support us when we hold space for others
  • What it involves to become a “listener poet”
  • How “Caregiver Haven” supports caregivers

We give the gift of staying with; there is nothing to fix. -The Good Listening Project

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 522 BONUS: Introduction to Wild and Holy

kwyattmd

In this special episode I’m sharing with you the Introduction to my new book Wild and Holy! I hope you enjoy listening to this brief excerpt and that you’ll consider backing the Kickstarter campaign where you can receive many wonderful bonuses for your support. Wild and Holy has been named a “Project We Love” by Kickstarter, which is an amazing honor I’m happy to receive. Check it out and reserve your copy – available now only through Kickstarter!

Go to this link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2136452733/wild-and-holy

Thanks in advance if you choose to support the campaign!

Listen here:

EOLPodcast

Ep. 521 Caring House: A Residence for Hospice Care with David Zartman and Joanna Franco

kwyattmd

My two guests this week are administrators of Caring House, a non-profit residence for hospice patients in Torrance, California. David Zartman is the Executive Director of Caring House having previously been a successful entrepreneur. Joanna Franco is the Director of Operations with many years of experience as both a caregiver and a residential care coordinator and manager. They discuss the history of Caring House and how residences like this are essential for communities that want to fully support end-of-life care for their people. Learn more at the Caring House website:

yourcaringhouse.org

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • The history of Caring House
  • The long journey of establishing an Omega Home as a residence for hospice patients
  • What services are provided by Caring House and similar homes
  • Who qualifies to reside there
  • The benefits of “death in community” where several patients and families are experiencing the end of life in the same facility at the same time
  • How staff processes grief after the death of a patient
  • Rituals and traditions followed after a patient death
  • How care is paid for at Caring House

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu, especially Deborah Ward and thank you to Kathleen Lynch, Christina Holbrook and Alan Dulit, Chantal Kersten, and Ann Kenworthy for making donations on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 520 Scattering CJ: A Mother’s Grief Shared by Many with Hallie Twomey

kwyattmd

Learn about an uplifting documentary film about a mother’s grief project that became a world-wide movement.

Content Warning:
This episode includes a conversation about the suicide death of a loved one. Please listen with care and take steps to protect your emotional wellbeing. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. In the U.S., you can call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free and confidential support, 24/7.

My guest Hallie Twomey is a grieving mother on a mission. Following the suicide death of her elder son CJ, Hallie set out to make something positive evolve from horrific tragedy. Her request for people to scatter CJ’s ashes across the world has now become a documentary film, Scattering CJ that is sparking conversations about mental health and removing the stigma associated with suicide. She discusses her own journey of complicated grief after such a tragic loss. Learn more about the film at the website:

scatteringcjfilm.com

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • The traumatic, complicated grief that follows a suicide death
  • How the movement and the film Scattering CJ came about
  • The miraculous response from people around the world to Hallie’s request
  • Feedback Hallie continues to receive from people who participated in scattering CJ’s ashes
  • Learning to live with questions that can never be answered

Links mentioned in this episode:

If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu, especially my latest supporter 4Brigid. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 519 Dying to Live: How Death Gives Meaning to Life with Andy Chaleff

kwyattmd

Learn about a beautiful memoir that teaches readers how to contemplate death in order to find meaning in life.

My guest Andy Chaleff is an award-winning author, speaker, and mentor whose work explores the intersection of grief, love, and transformation. He facilitates deeply personal conversations and workshops that help people navigate life’s most challenging transitions. He is the author of 4 books including his recent memoir titled Dying to Live: Finding Life’s Meaning Through Death. He shares his insights about making peace with death and how it has shaped his life. Learn more at his website:

andychaleff.com

Get the book here

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • What inspired Andy to write the book
  • How our view of death changes over the arc of life
  • Why we need to have a lot of pain resolved within ourselves in order to show up for another person
  • The “little deaths” of life as a training ground for grief
  • Our need to make peace with death
  • The dual meanings of “dying to live” and why he chose it as a title for the book
  • The value of presence at the end of life
  • Why navigating mistakes makes them even more beautiful
  • The value of writing Last Letters to people we love
  • the power of forgiveness

Links mentioned in this episode:

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