Category: EOLPodcast

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

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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:

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 thank you to Alisha Jameson for making a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 518 What My Brother Knew: Grief After Sibling Loss with Kristina Amelong

kwyattmd

Learn about a memoir that discusses sibling grief and the spiritual transformation that can occur after loss.

My guest Kristina Amelong is the author of the memoir What My Brother Knew about the death of her younger brother when she was in her teens and her journey from loss and abuse to healing and spiritual awakening. She is the founder of a holistic health business Optimal Health Network and a senior board member for the Center for World Philosophy and Religion. Learn more at her website:

kristinaamelong.com

Get the book here

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • The story of her brother’s premonition that he would die young
  • How sibling grief is often overlooked in our society
  • How guilt can haunt us for years after a death
  • Synchronicities that have occurred since Jay’s death
  • How grief has been a portal for spiritual transformation
  • Why it can take decades to process the pain of grief
  • The importance of facing grief head-on and not avoiding it

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 thank you to everyone who 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. 517 Lessons the Dying Teach Us About Living with Diane Button

kwyattmd

Learn about a heartwarming book of end-of-life teaching stories about the “little things” that make life meaningful.

My guest Diane Button is an end-of-life doula, a founding partner of the Bay Area End-of-Life Doula Alliance in Northern California, and an instructor for the University of Vermont’s End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate Program. She has been a NEDA board member and a hospice volunteer and is the author of the newly published book What Matters Most: Lessons the Dying Teach Us About Living. She discusses the book and the importance of storytelling and legacy projects. Learn more at her website:

dianebutton.com

Get the book here

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • What inspired Diane to write this book
  • Why storytelling is important as we help our society become more death aware
  • The Joy Counter and other stories from the book
  • The value of “the little things” of life to help us create meaning
  • Why legacy projects are helpful as we approach the end of life
  • How Diane helps people create their own legacy projects
  • What is the “Final Checklist”
  • Who can benefit from reading this book
  • How this work has impacted Diane’s life

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 thank you to everyone who 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. 516 Ethical Service for End-of-Life Workers with Kathy Ginn

kwyattmd

Learn why the qualities of ethical service are important for everyone who cares for others at the end of life.

My guest Kathy Ginn is a massage therapist and bodyworker who is also an End-of-Life Care Doula, Grief Companion, author, and educator. She is the founder of Ethical Dimensions continuing education platform and the author of the book: The Soul of Ethical Service – Seven Qualities to Embrace in Your Professional Healing Relationships. Today she reaches why transformative ethics are the heart of our caring services and how to cultivate the qualities that will help us better serve others at the end of life. Learn more at her websites:

ethicaldimensions.com

Get the book

4riverscenter.com

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • How Kathy became interested in ethics and end-of-life care
  • What is “ethical service”
  • Why ethical service can be transformative
  • The 7 qualities that define ethical service
  • How cultivating these qualities can help us as we provide care to people at the end of life
  • How to assess and improve our ability to serve others with integrity

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 to my latest supporters Marie-France Pryvik, Vincent Randy, Donna C. Stratford, and Claire Turner; and to Graceful Bridge for buying me coffees. Thank you also to Karen Michael who made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 515 Collective Grief Rituals: Honoring Ancestors and Carrying Light

kwyattmd

Learn about the importance of community-based rituals for grief to help us heal the divisions in our society.

In this solo episode I’m sharing some my observation that our society is currently in a massive collective grief spiral, largely due to unaddressed grief from the COVID pandemic as I wrote about in a recent Substack essay. Collective community rituals are needed to help us express and alchemize this grief together. I believe we in the death-positive movement carry a responsibility to help our families, neighbors, and community-members come together in simple ways to acknowledge grief and I invite you to participate in this endeavor.

Read the Substack post here

DOWNLOAD How to Create A Collective Grief Ritual

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • We are in a massive spiral of cultural grief
  • What happens when grief is not tended
  • Why community grief rituals are important
  • What other cultures teach us about collective mourning and remembrance
  • How to incorporate grief rituals into other types of deathwork
  • Who should take up this challenge to help our society address its unexpressed grief
  • Ideas for simple grief rituals and how and when to use them

“May we find ways, each in our own communities, to tend the tears of things, to honor our ancestors, and to carry light together through this dark season of grief.”

Karen Wyatt MD

Links mentioned in this episode:

EOLPodcast

Ep. 514 Life Advice for Entrepreneurs from the Terminally Ill with Travis Luther MA

kwyattmd

Learn how business leaders and entrepreneurs are being taught to find meaning in life from the stories of the terminally ill.

My guest Travis Luther MA is a sociologist and entrepreneur and a recognized expert in childhood trauma. He teaches business leaders through workshops, one-on-one coaching, and keynote speaking about finding deeper meaning in work and life. He is the author of the forthcoming book What We Learn When We Learn We Are Dying: Life Advice from the Terminally Ill. He discusses his current work and his advice for entrepreneurs based on what he has learned from numerous interviews with people dealing with terminal illness. Learn more at his website:

travisluther.com

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • What inspired Travis to interview people facing terminal illness
  • Why he teaches entrepreneurs the lessons he has learned
  • How this teaching is received
  • His teaching about the “lived” and the “unlived” life of entrepreneurs
  • Why Travis focused on younger people and entrepreneurs for the interviews he did
  • The most common advice was to stop deferring life to the future and live now
  • Unprocessed trauma and grief are common for people in the entrepreneurial community
  • The Time Traveler MethodTM developed by Travis
  • Why almost everything that happens can be viewed as a lesson to learn from

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 to my latest supporter Susan and to Connie WS for upping your pledge. Thank you also to Taya Levine who made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 513 Why (Death-Aware) Spirituality Matters Now More than Ever

kwyattmd

Check out this recent episode from my podcast What Really Matters that includes why we need death-aware spirituality.

This week I’m taking a little summer break from interviews and sharing with you a recent episode from my newly-relaunched podcast What Really Matters. I discuss the importance of spirituality right now at this particular time in our society and specifically what I think of as “death-aware” spirituality. I hope you find it interesting. You can check out the archives of the What Really Matters Podcast at the following link:

https://www.podpage.com/what-really-matters-everyday-spirituality

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • Why we all need to look inward at this time
  • Collectively we are facing crises of grief, meaning, and moral guidance
  • We need spirituality that is: Death-Aware, Ego-Wise, and Rooted in Love
  • 3 simple practices for each of those goals
  • Why I returned to this podcast
  • How it differs from EOLU Podcast
  • What to expect in future episodes

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 to my latest supporter Suzanne, and thank you to everyone who bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.