Tag: legacy project

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

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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. 517 Lessons the Dying Teach Us About Living with Diane Button

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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

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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. 498 Memory Bears and Grief in Community with Michelle Sebern RN

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Learn how a project making memory bears for people who are grieving is opening the door to conversation about the end of life.

My guest Michelle Sebern is an RN who trained as an end-of-life doula to channel her skills and passion into more community-focused work. When she found her rural community wasn’t quite ready to receive end-of-life doula services she decided to find a more creative way to give back. She will share how she founded The Memory Bear Maker and now creates customized bears to help people in their grief and begin end-of-life conversations. Learn more at her website:

thememorybearmaker.com

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This episode includes:

  • Michelle’s journey from nurse to doula and memory bear maker
  • The challenges of introducing doula services into a community not quite ready for that step
  • How she discovered memory bears to be the perfect blend of her passions
  • How memory bears help with grief
  • Why the bears are an alternate doorway into end-of-life education and conversations
  • How grief unites people by dissolving barriers
  • The magic of storytelling that comes with memory bear making

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 newest patron Sue Simone, and to Caroline McClure for buying me 3 coffees! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 457 Creativity and Serious Illness with Christina Holbrook and Walker Vreeland

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Learn how two creators each facing serious illness came together to produce an award-winning masterpiece.

My guests Christina Holbrook and Walker Vreeland are joining me today to talk about their personal stories of serious illness and facing mortality in the midst of working on a creative project. Numerous synchronicities and little miracles came together to make possible the publication of Christina’s novel and audiobook All the Flowers of the Mountain after she was diagnosed with glioblastoma. Each of us has been inspired and transformed through the process of getting this book out into the world during a time of uncertainty. Learn more at these websites:

christinaholbrook.com

walkervreelandproductions.com

YouTube Channel

Get the book and audiobook

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • How Christina, Walker and I all came together to work on her novel and audiobook
  • How Christina and Walker are both facing their mortality every day
  • How creativity can help overcome the isolation of serious illness
  • Finding meaning for life by bringing a project to the world that will outlive us
  • Facing mortality forces us to think about what really matters in life
  • Why tragedy may be necessary in order to become death-aware
  • Making peace of mind more important than survival
  • Love finds a way, even against tremendous odds

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 newest donor Kris Kington-Barker. Also thank you to everyone who has donated through Paypal or bought me a coffee! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 443 Combatting Social Isolation: An Intergenerational Approach with Jeremy Holloway PhD

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Learn how an innovative curriculum is tackling loneliness and social isolation in older adults and bridging the generation gap.

My guest Dr. Jeremy Holloway is Assistant Professor and Director of Geriatric Education at the University of North Dakota. He discusses his research which focuses on the social determinants of health, specifically self-efficacy, connectedness, and resiliency of older adults. Dr. Holloway will share information about the intergenerational curriculum he created, called Tellegacy, that helps combat the social isolation and loneliness of older adults. Learn more at these websites:

jeremyholloway.com

tellegacy.org

YouTube Channel

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This episode includes:

  • What inspired Jeremy to focus on older adults in his work
  • The impact of loneliness and social isolation on public health
  • How the Tellegacy curriculum bridges the generation gap and enhances the lives of older adults
  • The value of Tellegacy for preparing healthcare students to care for older adults in the future
  • How the Tellegacy program has evolved since its inception
  • Tools and activities used in Tellegacy to contribute to the well-being of older adults
  • Stories from the students and older adults participating in Tellegacy
  • How Tellegacy can also be used for healthcare staffs and other individuals
  • How the program has been adopted by nursing homes, Meals on Wheels and health insurance companies
  • How to get involved with and support Tellegacy

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 newest donors Megan Baird, Alida Merrill, and Lynn Wittenberg. Also thank you to everyone who has bought me a coffee or joined the $10 for 10 Years Campaign! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 436 Highlights of 2023: The Best of the Best with Karen Wyatt MD

kwyattmd

Find out what you may have missed in 2023 if you haven’t listened to every episode!

In this solo episode I recap some of the episodes of this podcast that had the greatest impact on me personally and professionally! All of the interviews from 2023 were fantastic but if you missed any of these be sure to take a listen! Thanks for your support this year! Looking forward to another amazing year – be sure to subscribe and leave a rating and review if you enjoy this content.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND MANY BLESSINGS TO YOU AND YOUR BELOVEDS!

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Links mentioned in this episode:

EOLPodcast

Ep. 431 “No Story Lost”: Preserving Meaning and Memories with Andrew Hall

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Learn about a service to create a beautiful “coffee table book” to preserve the cherished stories of a loved one.

My guest Andrew Hall is the co-founder of “No Story Lost” – a service to help families capture their loved one’s stories and photos into a beautiful print memoir book. He’ll discuss the value of preserving memories, both before and after death, and how he and his cousin decided to create a business helping people do that. Learn more at the website:

https://nostorylost.com

Watch on YouTube

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This episode includes:

  • How No Story Lost gathers and preserves stories for their clients
  • Why our stories and memories matter when we want to leave a legacy for others
  • How memorial projects have benefitted families as they grieve the death of a loved one
  • The significance of “memento mori” and how it informs Andrew’s work
  • How legacy and memorial projects help people find meaning at the end of life
  • How transformation and healing might occur through the process of creating a memorial book

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 newest supporter Akhila Murphy and to those who’ve bought me a coffee! Also many thanks to all of you who joined the $10 for 10 Years Campaign including Stacy Ann Bussy! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 426 “Dear Brandon”: A Legacy Letter to Change the World with Krystina Christiansen and Brenna Brooks

kwyattmd

Hear a phenomenal and miraculous story about how a hospice patient’s “letter to the world” ended up actually traveling around the world and is now the subject of a documentary short film.

I have two guests this week joining me to talk about a documentary film that tells the story of a hospice patient named Brandon who wanted to leave a letter to share his love with the world. Brenna Brooks is the hospice social worker and trauma therapist from Sandy UT who helped Brandon write and share the letter that has now traveled around the world. Krystina Christiansen is a filmmaker from Los Angeles who found Brandon’s letter in Hawaii and was inspired to make a film about his story and the impact of his letter. You can learn more about the “Dear Brandon” film project and Krystina’s work at the websites below. Also follow posts about the letter and where it has traveled on Instagram:

www.seedandspark.com/fund/brandon

www.krystinachristiansen.com

Instagram – Forbrandonslove77

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This episode includes:

  • Brandon’s story and how he ended up writing the letter with Brenna’s help
  • How Brenna first shared the letter on a hiking trail in Utah
  • An excerpt from Brandon’s letter
  • How Krystina came to find Brandon’s letter in Hawaii
  • How Brandon’s letter spread around the world
  • What impact writing this letter had on Brandon’s end-of-life journey
  • What inspired Krystina to make a documentary about this story
  • Goals for the film and how to help support 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 to those who’ve bought me a coffee! Also many thanks to all of you who joined the $10 for 10 Years Campaign! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 409 The Death Doula’s Guide to Living Fully and Dying Prepared with Francesca Lynn Arnoldy

kwyattmd

Learn about a brilliant workbook that helps us expand death literacy while exploring life’s deeper meaning.

My guest Francesca Lynn Arnoldy is a doula and a researcher with the Vermont Conversation Lab. She was the original developer of the end-of-life doula training programs at the University of Vermont and is the author of three “death-lit” books. In this conversation we’ll discuss her latest workbook The Death Doula’s Guide to Living Fully and Dying Prepared. Learn more at her websites:

www.francescalynnarnoldy.com

www.contemplativedoula.com

Get the workbook here

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • Reminder about Francesca’s previous book Map of Memory Lane and how it helps children learn about grief
  • Francesca’s main inspiration for creating this workbook
  • The value of keeping a “Death Journal”
  • How to use The Death Doula’s Guide as a death journal
  • The importance of acquiring both intellectual knowledge and inner wisdom
  • A heart-centering practice for death workers is a valuable tool
  • What death wellness means and how one can achieve it
  • The difference between sympathy, empathy, and compassion
  • How to do a life review

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 to Robin Miniter for buying me 3 coffees! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

EOLPodcast

Ep. 382 Dear Death: Finding Meaning in Life and Peace in Death with Diane Button

kwyattmd

Learn how to create a meaningful life and prepare for death with tools to help death doulas, hospice staff, and loved ones navigate the end of life.

My guest Diane Button is a founding partner of the Bay Area End-of-Life Doula Alliance in Northern California and an instructor for the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate Program. She is also the author of Dear Death: Finding Meaning in Life, Peace in Death and Joy in an Ordinary Day and she shares insights she gathered from research she did for her masters degree and from working with hospice and doula clients over the past decade. Learn more at the website:

www.dianebutton.com

Get the book here

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

  • What led Diane to become a death doula
  • The inspiration behind Dear Death
  • The 4 pillars of a meaningful life and how Diane gathered this information
  • Why legacy projects are important and how to create one
  • What does it take to have a “good death”
  • Why Diane created The Doula’s Final Checklist
  • The “Mint Jelly” exercise for talking about death
  • Where to get Dear Death and the companion workbook

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 newest patrons Lyn Canale and Donelle Dreese and thank you Joy for increasing your pledge! Your contributions make all the difference.