Sarah Cavanaugh believes having conversations about death helps us clear the air and find peace, whether those discussions are in person or in our hearts and minds. Sarah is the founder of Peaceful Exit, a company that explores all aspects of grief and loss. She co-designed a curriculum to open the conversation around the physical, psychological, a…

As a caregiver her entire adult life, Elizabeth Miller has learned how to find the joy in the caregiving life. As a Certified Caregiving Consultant, she helps other caregivers make the best of their own experience. Elizabeth joined forces with her siblings to provide support for their parents, and for her developmentally delayed brother. Each sibli…

Gail Rubin, The Doyenne of Death, has been talking about death and dying for years - and she’s still alive. As an award-winning death speaker, Gail uses humor and film clips to educate the public about advance care planning, funeral pre-planning, and estate planning. She’s a Certified Thanatologist and a featured speaker at TEDxABQ, where she spoke…

Jennifer O’Brien is sharing details of her caregiving journey, telling the story of her husband’s life-limiting illness and how she’s learned to make the most of Precious Time. After working 35+ years as a practice management consultant to physicians, Jennifer supported her husband Bob up to and through the end of his life. As a hospice and palliat…

The story of the terminal illness and death of Kimberly Acquaviva’s wife Kathy is powerful, intense, real… and human. As a hospice social worker and LGBTQ+ community advocate, Kim knows what good end of life care looks like. During their experience with Kathy’s end stage cervical cancer, the women discovered that none of the hospice agencies where …

Senator Meg Cappel turned her experience as a caregiver for her terminally ill mother into advocacy and now works to promote hospice care in her home state. Meg believes a true legacy - one that lasts - is a legacy of kindness. Years of working as a special education teacher taught her the importance of seeing people and meeting them where they are…

Supporting people who are grieving is fulfilling, joyful work. Just ask Help Texts founder Emma Payne. After having a personal loss, Emma realized how much we could improve how we support grievers. She’d spent years working in the tech space. That knowledge helped launch Help Texts. Their service provides grief support for events like pregnancy los…

Joelle Johns believes telling people they’re dying gives them an opportunity to say the goodbyes, do the final things they want to do, apologize, and forgive. Joelle is a death midwife and grief counselor, as well as a pastoral thanatologist and clinical chaplain, having just completed her designation as a Board Certified Clinical Chaplain (BCC). S…

Death Doula Jo-Anne Haun has found growth and meaning in working with the dying. As co-founder of Death Doula Network International, Jo-Anne works to support and educate about the work of death doulas. Jo-Anne uses her personal gift of gentle humor in her volunteer work as a therapy clown (Code Name: Buttons). Jo-Anne’s habit of incorporating a lit…

Death literacy advocate and Community Doula Francesca Arnoldy is sharing the role of a death doula and how to support someone through a time of intensity. She’s the author of The Death Doula's Guide to Living Fully and Dying Prepared, a workbook that offers the opportunity ​​to explore mortality and end-of-life care planning. In her work as an end …

Award-winning End of Life Educator Barbara Karnes takes a deep dive into the unique challenges of caring for someone with dementia at end of life. Caregivers often find their responsibilities accumulating over time as the disease trajectory continues. They’re forced to live in the present, to see their loved one as who they are today. The goal is t…

*Trigger warning - this episode contains a description of an intense death event and the death of a child. Please make space for your self care if you find the topic overwhelming. Juli Henderson has turned the loss of her son into meaningful advocacy, sharing her wisdom with other caregivers. Juli and her husband Chris were the parents of a son, Ro…

Hospice physician Dr. Karen Wyatt wants people to get comfortable thinking about death, and have time to plan for the end of their lives. Karen is the host of the End of Life University podcast and author of 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying. She’s considered a thought leader in end of life care. We talked about lots of topics related to hospice …

*Trigger warning - this episode contains a description of an intense death event. Please make space for your self care if you find the topic overwhelming. Death doula Karen Hendrickson’s brother died suddenly when she was sixteen years old. That event became a lifelong lesson in death and dying, grief, and how to support teens during a loss. As co-…

Hospice nurse and end of life doula Gabby Jimenez of the Hospice Heart shared her thoughts in our great conversation about supporting MAID caregivers, and her new book Dignity Day. Hospice and end of life workers should know what Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) is, regardless of their personal opinion about MAID. If patients and caregivers ask question…

Caregiver, physician, wife, and griever - Dr. Lucy Kalanithi shares her remarkable journey with her husband Dr. Paul Kalanithi, author of When Breath Becomes Air. Lucy’s experience with her terminally-ill husband and his death has shaped how she approaches patient care and thinks about human suffering. Dr. Kalanithi is a Fellow of the American Coll…

Chaplain J.S. Park has a powerful voice - raw, transparent, and real. He’s using it to influence how people care for people at the end of life. J.S. will tell you he’s heard all the regrets in his work with the dying. As a hospital chaplain in a Trauma 1 center, J.S. provides grief counseling, attends every death, helps with end-of-life decision-ma…

Diane Hullet, host of the Best Life Best Death podcast, believes in authentic conversations, holding space for those who are dying, and supporting others as they define their own “best death”. With the experience in her own family of eight deaths supported at home by hospice and having worked as a teacher for many years, Diane felt drawn to combine…

Dr. Kaishauna Guidry is keeping it real when it comes to difficult conversations about hospice, dying, and death. As the host of the Dr. G at the Heart of Healthcare podcast, she’s teaching her listeners about challenging healthcare issues. She’s a fierce advocate for quality care, and empowers others to get the best from their care. She’s comforta…

Hospice physician Lauren Templeton knows the power of pausing, taking a moment to reflect on end of life wishes even when things are tense and chaotic. Dr. Templeton is a fierce advocate and a strong voice for advance care planning, palliative care, and upstream discussions about end of life. As a hospice medical director, Lauren walks alongside se…

Hospice nurse Juli Boit works to care for the dying in Kenya, providing desperately needed care and services. She is an author, community builder, and nonprofit leader working at the intersection of faith, global health, and human dignity. For eighteen years, Juli has lived and worked in Africa, founding and serving as International Director of Liv…

Sending a message to someone we love on the wind using a Wind Phone is a beautiful way to express grief. Amy Dawson knows the power of being able to express grief emotions. She’s a Master Grief Coach and manages the My Wind Phone website. Amy didn’t originate the Wind Phone but she promotes the phones on her website. The first Wind Phone was create…

Chaplain Wes Moldogo is an advocate for integrating spiritual care into the care of patients, service members, and their families. As a chaplain for the military as well as hospital and hospice patients, Wes educates about the value chaplains bring to the care of people with life-limiting illness. 1 in 4 Medicare hospice patients is a US military v…

Death Doula Jill McClennen helps clients transform their fear of death and dying while they work to live life fully, eventually dying with a feeling of closure. Whether it’s advance care plan conversations or supporting family members when a loved one is actively dying, death doulas provide expert guidance. Jill McClennen is a certified death doula…

Dignity Pajama designer Fran Goldberg used ingenuity to create pajamas for bedbound patients, and created meaning following the death of her parents. As a clothing designer, Fran knows design and fabrics. As a caregiver for both her parents at the end of their lives, she learned the importance of comfort, dignity, and convenience in pajamas. The de…

Bev Foster with Music Care by Room 217 is using beautiful music to create meaning at the end of life. Using her skills as a musician, Bev founded Room 217 to teach clinicians and caregivers about integrating music into the care experience. Here’s what Bev says about her own personal experience: As a musician, the effects of what I do have always in…

Tara Jenkins, founder of Harmony in Dementia, is connecting patients and caregivers with meaningful music one song at a time. As a Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC), Tara knows the power of music for reaching those patients dealing with Alzheimer’s and dementia. She knows it takes a team of people to care for someone with dementia, working in…

An End of Life Doula is a great source of support for someone as they die, and for families after the death has occurred. Anna Adams, End of Life Doula and founder of International Doula Life Movement believes everyone should have a doula. Through vigils, education, rituals, and compassionate presence, doulas help dispel the fear that can come duri…

End of Life Doulas are experts in managing advance care planning conversations. EOL Doula Pam Carter of International Doula Life Movement knows how to get those discussions going. As an EOL Doula, Pam works with people with serious illness and their families to determine their end of life wishes. Choices are often made by weighing benefit vs burden…

Anna Adams, death doula and founder of International Doula Life Movement, is educating her community about how doulas support patients and families dealing with serious illness. She’s been a volunteer, a CNA, and now she’s working with hospice agencies as a death doula. Doulas bring a special set of skills to the care of hospice patients. They supp…

The Sisterhood of Care is using their superpowers to create a caregiving team. Their podcast, Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver, is a safe space for anyone who has a role as a caregiver for someone they love. The three sisters - JJ, Natalie, and Emilie - have created a caregiver village to support their mom, who lives with Parkinson’s disease. T…

Amy Goyer knows a few things about caregiving. Her journey as a family caregiver began early in her 20’s, caring for great-grandparents, and then each generation after. She holds a bachelor's degree in music therapy, and has held multiple positions of advocacy for older adults, children, and families. Amy is also a Certified Aging-in-Place Speciali…

Dr. Sammy Winemaker is starting a social healthcare revolution with The Waiting Room Revolution podcast. On The Waiting Room Revolution podcast, Sammy is having insightful conversations about palliative care, advance care planning, and change-making for end-of-life care with co-host Dr. Hsien Seow. Sammy is an Associate Clinical Professor, Departme…

Joanne Eason, President of Five Wishes, knows it’s important to document our end of life wishes so our voices are heard when we can’t speak for ourselves. Five Wishes was established over 25 years ago through a series of listening tours, asking people what was important to them. From those results, the Five Wishes document was formed with guidance …

Home funeral director Glenda Villegas helps families to create meaning with home funerals. After learning valuable lessons about what it’s like to plan a funeral for the unexpected loss of a loved one, Glenda started a career working in the funeral industry. She first worked in pre-need cemetery sales, then moved on to family services where she lea…

Sociavi founder Paula Muller realized the need to keep her mother connected with all the activities of her family living internationally. That need planted the seed for the Sociavi device. #senioradult #cognitivedecline #dementiacaregiver https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/sociavi-is-a-revolutionary-device-keeping-older-adults-connected The name …

Today’s guest is Sarah Turner, CEO and founder of My Modern Tribute. They’re writing life tributes that provide opportunities to celebrate and honor a life while we’re still alive. Over the years, Sarah learned that we all have stories to share. We’re all interconnected by a shared human story. Sarah believes that everyone deserves a space to expre…

Melanie McMillion has found meaning in her decades working as a hospice counselor and community educator. Melanie is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and has worn a lot of hats as a hospice worker. She worked as the Director of Psychosocial Services, leading a 45-person interdisciplinary team of social workers, counselors, and spiritual care cou…

The Legacy Letters Journal is a passion project that created meaning for Kera Sanchez after losing her mom. Here’s how Kera describes the mission of the Journal. “​​This guided journal is designed to help individuals create a personal legacy for their loved ones to cherish after their time is up. The journal prompts users to reflect on their life e…

Hospice nurse and EOL doula Gabrielle “Gabby” Jimenez of The Hospice Heart talks about navigating a complicated death, managing grief, and finding your way through the most difficult losses. As an end of life doula, nurse, educator, and author, Gabby has guided many families. She says "Meet them where they are, not where we want them to be". End of…

Chris Magliocca of National HME knows providing medical equipment for hospice patients is all about service, empathy and quality of life. Part of the service provided by hospice care is what’s called DME, Durable Medical Equipment. DME includes items like wheelchairs, walkers, canes, oxygen, hospital beds, Hoyer lifts, bath equipment, and other pie…

GrandPad founders Scott and Isaac Lien recognize how important it is to make older senior adults feel confident and stay connected. Scott’s 80-year old mom was easily frustrated by technology, sharing with him that she felt stupid trying to use online video chat and social media sites. The father and son team founded a company and created a device …

The death of Leilani Maxera’s grandmother changed her, propelling her into a career path she hadn’t predicted. Now she’s a social worker, a home funeral advocate, and a grief worker supporting families who have experienced Medical Aid in Dying. Hospice was never offered to her grandmother, and this made Leilani an outspoken advocate for advance car…

Hospice physician and podcaster Jordan Grumet is sharing how his work with hospice patients creates deep conversations about end of life planning, money, and life. Dr. Grumet is currently an associate medical director at Journeycare Hospice. After years of blogging about financial independence and wellness, Jordan launched the Earn & Invest podcast…

Hospice physician and podcaster Jordan Grumet is sharing how his work with hospice patients creates deep conversations about end of life planning, money, and life. Dr. Grumet is currently an associate medical director at Journeycare Hospice. After years of blogging about financial independence and wellness, Jordan launched the Earn & Invest podcast…

Sue Ryan has been walking a caregiver’s journey for 40 years. Now she’s teaching others how to thrive while caring for a loved one. Sue is the founder/owner of Sue Ryan Solutions, a company that offers guidance for non-professional caregivers, helping them to be confident. Caring for various loved ones through the years and now caring for her husba…

Mi Alma is helping grievers by bringing together friends, family, and coworkers to provide the help they need most. Co-founders Jordan and Scott Arogeti realized we’re not very good at supporting grievers. They’ve created a place that provides opportunities to record legacies through photos, videos, and memory sharing. It was important to Jordan an…

Physician Dr. Ira Byock is a voice for change in the hospice industry, and an advocate for quality end of life care. His many years of experience in hospice medicine, coupled with the compassion he has for people dealing with serious illness, have made him an industry leader in the U.S. According to his website (irabyock.org), he is “Founder of the…

1 in 4 Medicare hospice patients is a military veteran. Frederick Health Hospice is going the extra mile to meet the unique needs of veterans at the end of life. While Frederick focuses on care, comfort, and hope, they also focus on the needs of U.S. veterans in their community. Executive director Carlos Graveran, an Army veteran himself, created a…

Soaring Spirits International is built by widowed people to support widowed people. Michele Neff Hernandez built the non-profit organization she needed when her husband died unexpectedly, leaving her with a blended family of six kids to care for as she managed her own grief. Michele realized she needed to connect with others who reflected the same …