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Mind The Business: Small Business Success Stories
1 Understanding Taxes as a Newly Formed Small Business - Part 2 of the Small Business Starter Kit 28:24
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LikedIn our second installment of the Small Business Starter Kit series - we’re tackling a topic that’s sometimes tricky, sometimes confusing, but ever-present: taxes. Hosts Austin and Jannese have an insightful conversation with entrepreneur Isabella Rosal who started 7th Sky Ventures , an exporter and distributor of craft spirits, beer, and wine. Having lived and worked in two different countries and started a company in a heavily-regulated field, Isabella is no stranger to navigating the paperwork-laden and jargon-infused maze of properly understanding taxes for a newly formed small business. Join us as she shares her story and provides valuable insight into how to tackle your business’ taxes - so they don’t tackle you. Learn more about how QuickBooks can help you grow your business: QuickBooks.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…
Katina Jones on Embracing Grief, Spirituality, and End-of-Life Care
Manage episode 471706967 series 3428200
Content provided by Jill McClennen. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Jill McClennen or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.
Katina Jones, known as the Purple Priestess, is a reverend with a deep love for the color purple, which she sees as a symbol of spirituality and healing. Everything changed after her mother passed away from ovarian cancer in 1988. At just 22, she had no guidebook on how to navigate such a loss. This left her searching for meaning and understanding.
To reconnect with her mother, she wrote a letter expressing her fear of not knowing where she had gone. That night, she had a vivid visitation dream—everything bathed in white except for the daiquiris they shared, just like on her 21st birthday. Though silent, the dream carried deep emotion, reassuring her that her mother was at peace. This experience shaped her belief in spiritual connections.
Years later, while working as a journalist, she attended a psychic fair and met Reverend Patricia, a psychic medium. That encounter deepened her journey into metaphysical studies. Over time, she received more signs, including dreams urging her to be present for those at the end of life. Despite the challenge of balancing work and raising children, she eventually trained as a hospice volunteer, dedicating over 100 hours to supporting patients and their families.
Last year, she launched the Purple Priestess, combining years of spiritual studies and personal experiences to help others navigate death and healing. Her mission is to be an advocate, guiding people through the process so they don’t have to face it alone. She believes everyone can honor their loved ones in their own way—whether through a dedicated space in their home, a simple remembrance rock, or personal rituals. There are no rules when it comes to grief and remembrance.
https://www.thepurplepriestess.com/
https://www.foreverandaday.biz/
Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support
Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast.
I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast.
Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life.
You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms.
Website www.endoflifeclarity.com
Instagram
Facebook
Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle
LinkedIn
TikTok
106 episodes
ShareManage episode 471706967 series 3428200
Content provided by Jill McClennen. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Jill McClennen or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.
Katina Jones, known as the Purple Priestess, is a reverend with a deep love for the color purple, which she sees as a symbol of spirituality and healing. Everything changed after her mother passed away from ovarian cancer in 1988. At just 22, she had no guidebook on how to navigate such a loss. This left her searching for meaning and understanding.
To reconnect with her mother, she wrote a letter expressing her fear of not knowing where she had gone. That night, she had a vivid visitation dream—everything bathed in white except for the daiquiris they shared, just like on her 21st birthday. Though silent, the dream carried deep emotion, reassuring her that her mother was at peace. This experience shaped her belief in spiritual connections.
Years later, while working as a journalist, she attended a psychic fair and met Reverend Patricia, a psychic medium. That encounter deepened her journey into metaphysical studies. Over time, she received more signs, including dreams urging her to be present for those at the end of life. Despite the challenge of balancing work and raising children, she eventually trained as a hospice volunteer, dedicating over 100 hours to supporting patients and their families.
Last year, she launched the Purple Priestess, combining years of spiritual studies and personal experiences to help others navigate death and healing. Her mission is to be an advocate, guiding people through the process so they don’t have to face it alone. She believes everyone can honor their loved ones in their own way—whether through a dedicated space in their home, a simple remembrance rock, or personal rituals. There are no rules when it comes to grief and remembrance.
https://www.thepurplepriestess.com/
https://www.foreverandaday.biz/
Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support
Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast.
I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast.
Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life.
You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms.
Website www.endoflifeclarity.com
Instagram
Facebook
Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle
LinkedIn
TikTok
106 episodes
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Jessica Fein’s Story of Grief, Family, and Healing 35:44
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Jessica Fein shares her deeply personal journey of loss, grief, and resilience. Having lost two sisters, three parents, and most recently, her teenage daughter Dahlia—who passed away one week after her 17th birthday—Jessica's life has been profoundly shaped by death. Her memoir, which explores Dahlia’s life and the journey of moving forward together, has become a key part of her work in writing about grief. Society widely acknowledges the devastation of losing a child, but the grief of siblings, who lose their lifelong companions and history keepers, is sometimes unrecognized. She discusses how children not only mourn their sibling but also experience the additional pain of witnessing their parents' grief, often feeling invisible in the process. Jessica speaks about how the trauma of a long-term illness shaped their family. Dahlia lived with a degenerative disease from age five, creating an ongoing cycle of anticipatory and ambiguous grief. She explains ambiguous grief as mourning someone who is still alive but profoundly changed—whether due to illness, addiction, or other circumstances. This concept helped her make sense of the loss she experienced over time as Dahlia lost the ability to walk, talk, and even breathe without assistance. It also highlighted the loss of normalcy and community, isolating their family in ways few can understand. She also touches on the impact of grief on relationships, acknowledging that 87% of marriages dissolve when a child has special needs, let alone a terminal illness. She and her husband grieve differently—she finds healing in open conversations, while he prefers silence. Understanding these differences has helped them navigate their loss together rather than apart. TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClaQkyLnAaw Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.fein.92/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feinjessica/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-fein-b643b09 Personal Website: https://www.jessicafeinstories.com Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Katina Jones on Embracing Grief, Spirituality, and End-of-Life Care 40:03
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Katina Jones, known as the Purple Priestess, is a reverend with a deep love for the color purple, which she sees as a symbol of spirituality and healing. Everything changed after her mother passed away from ovarian cancer in 1988. At just 22, she had no guidebook on how to navigate such a loss. This left her searching for meaning and understanding. To reconnect with her mother, she wrote a letter expressing her fear of not knowing where she had gone. That night, she had a vivid visitation dream—everything bathed in white except for the daiquiris they shared, just like on her 21st birthday. Though silent, the dream carried deep emotion, reassuring her that her mother was at peace. This experience shaped her belief in spiritual connections. Years later, while working as a journalist, she attended a psychic fair and met Reverend Patricia, a psychic medium. That encounter deepened her journey into metaphysical studies. Over time, she received more signs, including dreams urging her to be present for those at the end of life. Despite the challenge of balancing work and raising children, she eventually trained as a hospice volunteer, dedicating over 100 hours to supporting patients and their families. Last year, she launched the Purple Priestess, combining years of spiritual studies and personal experiences to help others navigate death and healing. Her mission is to be an advocate, guiding people through the process so they don’t have to face it alone. She believes everyone can honor their loved ones in their own way—whether through a dedicated space in their home, a simple remembrance rock, or personal rituals. There are no rules when it comes to grief and remembrance. https://www.thepurplepriestess.com/ Lulu.com bookstore https://www.foreverandaday.biz/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 End-of-Life Nutrition & Hydration with Hospice Chaplain Hank Dunn 40:05
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this episode, I welcome back Hospice Chaplain Hank Dunn. We dive into a crucial yet often misunderstood topic—artificial hydration, nutrition, and voluntary stopping of eating and drinking (VSED) at the end of life. We explore how feeding tubes work, when they are beneficial, and when they may prolong suffering. Hank shares stories of patients who regained the ability to eat, those who lived independently with feeding tubes, and others in vegetative states where continued artificial nutrition raised ethical concerns. He also touches on the history of feeding tubes, advancements in medicine, and how pop culture—like Grey’s Anatomy —portrays these issues. Seeing Death Clearly Ep 60 “How to Make Hard Choices at the End of Life with Chaplain Hank Dunn https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/episodes/14879559 www.hankdunn.com “Hank’s Deep Thoughts” https://www.youtube.com/@hankdunn6304 https://www.instagram.com/hospicechaplainhank https://www.facebook.com/hank.dunn.9 hank@hankdunn.com Article on “Minimal Comfort Feeding” https://www.jpsmjournal.com/article/S0885-3924(24)01116-3/fulltext The “dementia” advance directive from End of Life Choices New York: https://endoflifechoicesny.org/directives/dementia-directive/ “VSED Resources Northwest” at this link: https://vsedresources.com/ Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking: A C Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
Send us a text Sandra Doyle, author of My Life at the Cemetery: It's Not as Dead as You Think , shares fascinating and unexpected stories from her years working in a cemetery. Her book features 88 captivating tales, ranging from heartwarming to shocking, each offering a glimpse into the lives and emotions of those left behind. Whether readers laugh, cry, or shake their heads in disbelief, every story provides a unique perspective on life, death, and everything in between. While revisiting old notes and obituary records, Sandra realized she had a wealth of stories that needed to be told. A firm believer that every life has a story, she carefully changed names to protect privacy while ensuring the events remained true to life. For Sandra, working at the cemetery was more than a job—it was a calling. She witnessed raw human emotions, from deep grief and enduring love to family conflicts so intense that law enforcement sometimes had to step in. Other stories were just as surprising in their own way. Through it all, she emphasizes that while bodies may rest in cemeteries, the spirits of the departed remain connected to their loved ones. Sandra firmly believes in the presence of the spirit world, sharing accounts of widows sensing their late spouses or receiving messages in dreams. Her own experiences after losing her husband only strengthened her conviction that love transcends death. In her interview, Sandra captures the beauty, chaos, and unexpected moments of life in a cemetery, reminding us that even in death, life’s stories continue to unfold. https://www.optimist.org/ https://www.facebook.com/sandy.doyle.393 https://www.amazon.com/My-Life-Cemetery-Spiritual-Journey Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Always a Sibling: The Forgotten Mourner with Annie Sklaver Orenstein 41:03
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this episode, Annie Sklaver Orenstein shares her personal journey of grief after losing her brother, Ben, in Afghanistan 15 years ago. After his death, Annie found little support for siblings, so she wrote Always a Sibling: The Forgotten Mourner's Guide to Grief , a book addressing the unique pain of losing a sibling. She discusses how there were no resources that resonated with her—most grief books focus on parents, spouses, or children, not siblings. As she researched and interviewed other bereaved siblings, she discovered patterns in their experiences that mirrored her own. Annie talks about how, in the immediate aftermath of Ben's death, her parents were devastated, and she was left trying to navigate her grief while supporting them. She recalls a deeply moving moment when soldiers arrived to inform her mother of Ben’s death. The soldiers sat quietly with her mother in the kitchen, offering her their presence, which Annie believes was an act of deep compassion. Through her research, Annie found that surviving siblings often feel invisible in the grieving process. Many try to protect their parents from additional pain by hiding their own sorrow. This dynamic creates a gap where siblings bottle up their grief, leading to long-term emotional strain. Annie’s work also reveals that society often questions the legitimacy of sibling grief, asking if the siblings were “close,” as though that should determine the validity of their loss. Ultimately, Annie’s book serves as a resource for those grieving the loss of a sibling, offering validation for their pain and helping them feel less isolated. Whether or not siblings were close, their grief is real, and it’s time we recognized it. https://www.instagram.com/anniesklaverorenstein https://www.annieorenstein.com/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Embracing Death and Transformation with Tash Ritz 43:47
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Tash Ritz joins the conversation from Sydney, where she reflects on her global journey, growing up in New Zealand after being born in South Africa. With over 14 years of experience working in social enterprises, she has helped founders build businesses focused on social impact and environmental sustainability. Most recently, she authored the book Souling , a deeply personal exploration of self-discovery and spiritual growth. She explains the concept of social enterprises in Australia, where for-profit businesses integrate meaningful impact beyond financial success. These companies work in areas such as waste reduction in fashion, food security, and supporting vulnerable populations, demonstrating that profit and purpose can coexist. Tash shares her earliest memory of death, recalling the loss of a beloved family friend at the age of three. This experience, combined with being raised by a midwife mother, fostered an open dialogue about life and death in her household. As a Jewish woman, she has experienced the unique traditions surrounding death in her culture, where the deceased are cared for and buried swiftly. She contrasts this with the Māori practice of tangi , where open caskets and communal mourning create a powerful expression of grief. Tash discusses how her understanding of grief has evolved. She reflects on the Western tendency to suppress emotions, which she believes can manifest in the body as illness. She emphasizes the importance of movement, sound, and somatic practices like yoga to process grief, highlighting that healing is not just mental but also physical and energetic. Tash explores the idea that death is not only about the end of life but also the shedding of old identities, beliefs, and experiences. She finds inspiration in Eastern traditions that embrace transformation and renewal. Acknowledging the value of both medical and holistic approaches to mental health, she advocates for a blended path to healing—one that includes therapy, medication when needed, and alternative practices to help emotions move through the body. https://souling.au/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Music, Mortality, and Meaning: The Story of 'Nightside Songs' 36:09
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this episode, we are joined by Daniel and Patrick Lazour, the creators of Nightside Songs , and Taibi Magar, the director of its Philadelphia production. Nightside Songs is more than a musical—it’s an immersive and communal experience that explores caregiving, illness, death, and the end-of-life journey. Audiences actively participate by singing, transforming each performance into a shared ritual rather than a traditional stage production. The idea for Nightside Songs began in 2019. Originally conceived as a book musical, the Lazours struggled to capture the depth of the subject. Their experiences with palliative care and end-of-life conversations led them to rethink their approach, shaping a production that blends music, storytelling, and communal participation. Unlike a traditional musical with a fixed structure, Nightside Songs is fluid and ever-changing. The Lazours wrote and refined numerous songs, adapting them through rehearsal and live performance. Each show responds to the audience’s energy, making every experience unique and deeply personal. This adaptability creates a space where audiences can connect with themes of grief and mortality in an intimate and meaningful way. At its heart, Nightside Songs is both a theatrical event and a collective act of remembrance. It brings people together to confront universal experiences—illness, loss, and caregiving—while fostering connection and healing. The cast, a mix of longtime collaborators and new voices, delivers powerful performances that resonate across all backgrounds. In a world where conversations about death are often avoided, this production offers a rare and cathartic space to engage with these realities. https://philadelphiatheatrecompany.org/night-side-songs/ https://philadelphiatheatrecompany.org/nsstour/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Exploring Memorial Forests with Gillian Nye 41:29
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this episode, we explore memorial forests with Gillian Nye. Gillian shares her six years of experience helping families create meaningful, conservation-focused memorials through Better Place Forests. Better Place Forests offers a natural alternative to traditional cemeteries, allowing families to choose a memorial tree where ashes are placed beneath the soil. The process is guided by ecological principles, mixing ashes with forest soil to support decomposition while preserving the health of the trees. Families can select their tree in person or virtually, with options for personalizing the memorial experience. Gillian describes how these forests, ranging from 40 to 180 acres, are minimally developed to maintain their natural beauty. Trails, welcoming spaces, and simple amenities make them accessible while honoring the environment. Each tree is tagged for identification, ensuring families can return to visit and connect with their loved one’s memorial. Memorial ceremonies vary widely, reflecting the unique wishes of each family. From singing songs and sharing poetry to incorporating personal items like Tibetan bells, these gatherings are deeply personal and often include meaningful rituals. Gillian highlights the beauty of adding dried flowers to the ashes and soil mixture, a touch that enhances the sensory experience of the ceremony. She recounts touching stories, such as families recognizing their chosen tree from online photos or honoring loved ones by placing ashes together beneath a single tree. These moments, she explains, are a testament to the emotional connection people form with their memorial trees. Better Place Forests also ensures long-term access to memorial trees by registering deeds with local counties. Families can authorize multiple ash placements under a single tree, accommodating future memorials. Gillian emphasizes the flexibility of the process, allowing families to hold back small amounts of ashes for other purposes or rituals. This episode offers a heartfelt look at how Better Place Forests creates spaces for reflection, healing, and connection to nature, transforming end-of-life planning into a meaningful and personalized experience. https://www.betterplaceforests.com/ https://www.facebook.com/betterplaceforests Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Reviving Philadelphia’s Forgotten Mount Vernon Cemetery with Brandon Zimmerman 43:44
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Brandon Zimmerman shares the fascinating history and challenges of Mount Vernon Cemetery, a hidden gem in North Philadelphia. Established in 1856, this 28-acre cemetery became a predominantly German burial ground, home to over 33,000 graves. Despite its historical significance, Mount Vernon has faced decades of neglect, transforming into an overgrown, derelict site. Today, the cemetery is an ecological marvel, with wildlife like deer, foxes, and native birds thriving amidst invasive overgrowth. Brandon highlights Mount Vernon’s potential as a green space for the surrounding Strawberry Mansion neighborhood, an area in need of accessible natural spaces. Brandon hopes to reconnect the cemetery with the local community, fostering inclusivity and turning it into a space that serves as both a historical landmark and a neighborhood asset. Listeners will gain insight into Mount Vernon’s rich past, its present challenges, and the efforts to restore its dignity while embracing its wild, natural beauty. The Mount Vernon Cemetery interment cards, a vital historic resource, were thought lost until a second, incomplete set was discovered in 2023. These 30,000+ cards, now being transcribed and digitized, are the only reliable means of locating burials at MVC and hold immense genealogical and historical value. The Friends of Mount Vernon Cemetery are seeking $5,000 to complete this critical initiative, which will preserve this information for descendants, property restoration, and community engagement. 100% of your donation goes directly to the cards being transcribed. I hope you will consider donating after you listen to this episode. https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-mount-vernon-cemeterys-interment-card-initiative https://www.instagram.com/mtvernoncemetery Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
Send us a text Marie Miller, a medical medium and theta healing instructor based near Columbus, Ohio, shares her fascinating journey into the spiritual and healing realms. Her experiences began after a near-death experience as a child, which opened her perception to the spirit world. Growing up in a small town of 250 people, she often sensed when someone had passed away before others knew, a skill she credits to her natural connection with the unseen. Her childhood was enriched by the presence of her grandmother’s spirit, a relationship she didn’t realize was extraordinary until later conversations with her mother. Marie began encountering a wider variety of spiritual phenomena as her abilities evolved. For Marie, every challenge presents a valuable lesson, and she believes that life’s difficulties often arise to teach us virtues or help us grow in unexpected ways. Marie’s path led her to energy healing after discovering her sensitivity to Western medicine. As a medical medium, she uses theta healing to connect with a person’s body on a deep level, identifying the root causes of physical and emotional ailments. Unlike traditional medicine, which often treats symptoms, Marie focuses on uncovering unresolved traumas and emotions that manifest as disease. Through guided meditation and a theta brainwave state, she helps clients release stuck energy and facilitates their natural healing processes. Marie emphasizes the transformative power of self-discovery in healing. Rather than simply providing answers, she guides clients to uncover their subconscious beliefs, fostering deeper, more lasting change. She believes understanding the subconscious is key to addressing life’s challenges and that anyone can learn these techniques with practice. Teaching theta healing is a significant part of her work, and she finds joy in empowering others to heal themselves, often working herself out of a job in the process. Her insights into theta healing draw on ancient practices, modern techniques, and her unique life experiences. She explains that achieving a theta brainwave state, once a lengthy process for our ancestors, can now be learned quickly with proper training. This state allows access to the subconscious, where healing and transformation occur. Marie’s mission is to demystify these practices and make them accessible to anyone seeking to understand themselves and heal on a profound level. houseofkellen.com Facebook.com/houseofkellen Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Influencing Death: Reframing Dying for Better Living with Penny Hawkins Smith 44:23
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Penny Smith, widely known as Hospice Nurse Penny on TikTok, brings over 20 years of experience as a nationally certified hospice nurse and a unique perspective shaped by her late start in nursing at age 40. Now 62, Penny embraces the wisdom of aging, especially in her work with end-of-life care. During the pandemic, she found her voice on TikTok, where her heartfelt stories about hospice care resonated with millions. In this episode, Penny opens up about her journey with death anxiety, which once left her sleepless in her 30s. She shares how confronting her fears through open discussions about death transformed her perspective and how these conversations can improve not only the end-of-life experience but also the quality of life. Penny educates her audience on the realities of hospice care, dispelling common myths and highlighting the choices available to those facing terminal illness. She shares poignant stories from her career, such as helping a hesitant patient reconsider his full-code status through compassionate dialogue. She also critiques the unrealistic portrayals of hospice in media, advocating for honest communication between patients, families, and healthcare providers. She aims to empower individuals to approach death with clarity, dignity, and peace through her work. The conversation also delves into the fascinating topic of deathbed visions, often dismissed as hallucinations but frequently experienced by lucid individuals weeks before death. Penny underscores the importance of designating a trusted decision-maker and discussing end-of-life wishes to alleviate family stress during critical moments. She reflects on societal resistance to discussing death, sharing stories of patients and families grappling with these realities. Listeners will hear about Penny's journey as a social media advocate, including the challenges of online criticism and the overwhelming support from her 2+ million followers. She candidly discusses her sobriety journey and how it underscores her commitment to authenticity and growth. Penny also previews her upcoming book, releasing January 14th, which she hopes will inspire readers to embrace mortality and live fuller lives. https://www.tiktok.com/@hospicenursepenny https://www.instagram.com/hospicenursepenny/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 End of 2024 Reflections and Our Personal Journey with my husband Stephen Wilson 40:19
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text This episode celebrates a significant milestone: two years of our podcast! Stephen and I reflect on the journey, exploring our growth, challenges, and the remarkable connections we’ve made along the way. A highlight of our conversation is our annual tradition of reviewing the past year, made even more special this time by recording in the same room, creating an intimate and dynamic exchange. I share my deep gratitude for the inspiring guests who’ve brought their expertise and personal stories to the show. We reminisce about our decades-long friendship. Our shared history—college, running a bakery, and raising children—has shaped our exploration of aging, letting go, and embracing new phases in life. We discuss the importance of community and stepping outside comfort zones. I reflect on how accepting mortality has helped me cherish life’s simple moments and live more authentically. Together, we explore the challenges of "cruise control" living and the courage it takes to grow beyond habits that no longer serve, emphasizing the rewards of meaningful connection and self-discovery. I open up about my experience as a death doula, sharing how my work extends beyond sitting with those at the end of life. I candidly discuss the logistical and emotional demands of my role, balancing professional responsibilities with family life, and finding creative outlets—like designing death-positive apparel—to sustain my mission. Throughout the episode, I reflect on how contemplating mortality has shaped my decision-making and deepened my appreciation for life. We delve into navigating life’s transitions and the importance of aligning care decisions with personal values. I share my journey as a podcaster and entrepreneur, recounting my growth over the past five years, from overcoming self-doubt to launching a successful podcast and death-positive apparel line. https://www.endoflifeclarity.com/store Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Living a Life That Matters: From Nazi Nightmare to American Dream 1:32:37
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this episode of Seeing Death Clearly, Holocaust survivor Ben Lesser shares his incredible journey of survival, resilience, and hope. At 96 years old, Ben recounts his story with remarkable detail, leaving no need for questions during this one-and-a-half-hour conversation. His experiences, detailed further in his memoir Living a Life That Matters: From Nazi Nightmare to American Dream , are both harrowing and inspiring. Born in Kraków, Poland, in 1928, Ben was one of seven family members whose lives were irrevocably changed by the Nazi invasion in 1939. From escaping the Kraków Ghetto to enduring the Bochnia Ghetto, his early years were marked by relentless suffering. Ben would later survive the unimaginable: four concentration camps, two death trains, and a death march, before being liberated in Dachau in 1945. Of his immediate family, only Ben and his older sister, Lola, survived. After the war, Ben immigrated to the United States in 1947, settling in Los Angeles. He built a successful career in real estate, founding Ben Lesser and Associates, and found happiness with his wife, Jean, whom he married in 1950. Yet, his greatest achievement lies in his dedication to Holocaust education. As the founder of the Zachor Holocaust Remembrance Foundation, Ben has worked tirelessly to ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust endure. His memoir used worldwide in educational settings, offers a profound first-person narrative of survival, resilience, and the pursuit of a meaningful life. Zachor Holocaust Remembrance Foundation- https://zachorlearn.org/ Ben's memoir Living a Life That Matters: From Nazi Nightmare to American Dream https://zachorlearn.org/product/living-a-life-that-matters-paperback/ YouTube version of this episode Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Liz Fiedler on Grief, Joy, and Entrepreneurship 45:35
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this episode, Liz Fiedler shares her remarkable journey of resilience, transformation, and finding joy after profound loss. Raised on a cattle farm in Southwest Minnesota, Liz cultivated a love for agriculture, leadership, and flowers. Life took a pivotal turn when she married Josh, a man deeply connected to farming, and together they purchased 40 acres of his family’s original farmstead. Tragedy struck in 2020 when Josh unexpectedly passed away from a heart attack, leaving Liz widowed with a young daughter and another child on the way. Amidst her grief, she found solace in her passion for flowers, which blossomed into a thriving cut flower farm, Sunny Mary Meadow. Starting as a small pandemic project, it grew to include wedding services, a new venue under construction, and a team of six employees managing thousands of blooms. Liz balanced the challenges of single parenthood, grief, and running a growing business with extraordinary perseverance. Liz reflects on the trials of navigating grief, including community rumors, misinformation, and waiting months for clarity on Josh’s passing. With humor and raw honesty, Liz discusses the complexity of running a business while healing, emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries, embracing joyful moments, and staying true to herself. Now remarried to Brent, Liz’s life is a testament to resilience and renewal. Her story is an inspiring example of turning pain into purpose and living a full, intentional life. This heartfelt episode offers a powerful exploration of love, loss, and the enduring human spirit. Liz’s candid reflections and actionable insights remind us that healing is about small, intentional steps and that joy can coexist with grief. Her journey is a moving reminder to embrace life’s challenges and celebrate its beauty, no matter the obstacles. https://www.lizfiedlermergen.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lizfiedlermergen https://www.instagram.com/sunnymarymeadow Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Digital Assets, Family Disputes, and Estate Planning Done Right with David Edey 42:52
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text David Edey, a certified executive advisor with over 35 years of experience, joins the podcast to share insights from his book Executor Help: How to Settle an Estate, Pick an Executor, and Avoid Family Fights . Inspired by his seven-year struggle to settle his parents' estate—despite them having a will—David provides practical guidance to help families avoid the legal battles, financial burdens, and emotional turmoil he endured. David explains three essential steps for end-of-life planning and stresses that silence and lack of preparation often lead to devastating disputes, as inheritance can sometimes bring out the worst in people. A key theme of the episode is the importance of addressing digital assets. With so much of life conducted online David emphasizes the need to organize and share login details with trusted individuals. He recounts a poignant example of a friend whose social media accounts remained active years after her death because her family couldn’t access them. The episode also explores the challenges faced by executors, who may spend up to 100 hours over 18-24 months resolving estates. David shares strategies for avoiding disputes, such as keeping beneficiaries informed, setting realistic expectations, and preparing executors with the support of legal and financial professionals. For families with minor children, David underscores the importance of naming a guardian and ensuring financial stability, sharing a touching story of siblings separated due to inadequate planning. David invites listeners to visit DavidEd.com for free resources, including an executor checklist, a legacy readiness quiz, and access to his book. He also introduces the Legacy Builders Blueprint, a five-week course that helps individuals create a comprehensive plan for their legacy, including a Future File to organize essential documents and digital assets. Estate planning may not be a popular topic, but it’s one of the most loving acts you can do for your family. Tune in to learn how to leave a legacy of peace and clarity, not chaos. https://www.davidedey.com/ https://www.davidedey.com/resources.html Episode of David’s podcast featuring Jill https://executorhelp.libsyn.com/how-to-live- Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Rebuilding Intimacy After Babyloss with Kate Carson 45:52
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this episode, Kate Carson, a love, sex, and relationship coach, shares her transformative journey from scientist to a supportive guide for couples navigating grief and intimacy. After losing her baby at eight months pregnant, she faced the impact of profound loss on her relationships and sexuality, and she soon recognized a gap in resources for others experiencing similar struggles. Kate joined a peer support group and quickly noticed the lack of guidance addressing how grief affects intimacy. Inspired, she trained in tantra, eventually shaping a coaching practice that addresses the nuanced intersection of grief, love, and intimacy for clients worldwide. Kate reflects on society's often "sterilized" approach to death and how it limits meaningful grief rituals, leaving people disconnected from their emotions. Likewise, she explains, sexual energy—vital to human experience—is often stigmatized, creating barriers to intimacy, especially after trauma. Kate observes that unresolved trauma can lead to prolonged gaps in physical connection between partners, but she emphasizes that rebuilding intimacy is a potent form of healing. Her work reveals how open communication and vulnerability can help couples separate their pain from one another, finding new closeness as they reconnect emotionally and physically. Kate also dives into how trauma, particularly after loss, can be stored in the body and sometimes surfaces during moments of physical intimacy. She describes this release, which can sometimes involve grief or tears during orgasm, as a cathartic response that allows people to process unspoken sorrow. Through her perspective, listeners gain insight into the profound link between physical and emotional well-being, challenging them to see sexuality as a life-affirming force even amid life's hardest moments. Further, Kate explores the concept of "sexual healing" as a means of restoration, particularly when intimacy triggers unexpected emotional responses. She explains that supportive affirmations, like “I love you,” can foster a safe space for vulnerability and healing. She advocates for honoring the body’s boundaries after trauma, childbirth, or illness and encourages couples to find alternative ways to connect without feeling pressured. https://www.nightbloomcoaching.com/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Estate Planning Reimagined with Adam Zuckerman 45:31
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Adam Zuckerman has a unique and varied background, holding both a law degree and an MBA. His path took a different turn that led him to his current work, which revolves around estate planning and end-of-life organization. Despite his accomplishments in law and business, Adam uses his expertise in a less conventional but deeply impactful way through his company, Buried in Work . The service focuses on helping people simplify and organize their estate information, ensuring a seamless transition for loved ones when the time comes. The company doesn’t draft wills or trusts but instead prepares individuals with a comprehensive structure to work efficiently with legal professionals and save money. The idea for Buried in Work originated from a personal experience. Adam’s father, a leukemia survivor, passed away after a swift decline. As the executor of his father’s will, Adam managed the estate and documented every step of the process to help his family. When a financial planner praised his detailed work, it sparked the idea to share his knowledge. The website Adam created gained rapid interest, attracting over 10,000 visitors in just a week, proving the significant need for accessible, user-friendly estate planning resources. Now, Buried in Work offers a variety of tools, including interactive guides, state-specific checklists, and even games like “One More Story” to prompt meaningful conversations. Adam emphasizes that effective estate planning isn’t just about having a will or trust; it’s about preparing so that loved ones can manage everything seamlessly. This preparation covers details as simple as paying bills and as vital as managing digital accounts or making health-related decisions. Adam’s mission is to reduce the burden and confusion that families face during emotionally challenging times, making estate planning proactive rather than reactive. His story highlights the importance of planning ahead, both to protect loved ones and to make the most of the time we have. www.BuriedInWork.com CLEAR Kits: https://shop.buriedinwork.com/collections/clear-kits Games: https://shop.buriedinwork.com/collections/games Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Turning Toward Grief with Grief Coach and Death Midwife Naila Francis 47:11
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this episode my guest is Naila Francis, a grief coach, poet, interfaith minister, and community grief tender dedicated to providing compassionate, holistic support for those navigating grief, loss, and dying. Born in Barbados and raised across several Caribbean islands, she moved to the Philadelphia area as a child. Her early career as a journalist and greeting card writer offered her unique insights into the human experience, but her path shifted as she felt called to work more directly with grief. In 2021, she founded Salt Trails, a collective designed to create safe spaces for community grief rituals, a vision inspired by the immense collective grief brought on by the pandemic. Naila’s primary focus now is helping people feel less overwhelmed and isolated in their grief. She creates nurturing environments where individuals can honor their losses without judgment and at their own pace, using tools and practices that support emotional well-being. Her workshops, like Writing the Broken Heart, use poetry and journaling as a way to connect participants with their emotions, offering solace and a sense of community. In our conversation, she recounts how participants have found healing by simply allowing themselves to cry and be present with their pain, a testament to her mission of giving grief the respect and space it deserves. Naila shares her belief that grief, when approached with intentionality, can open us to more authentic living. She addresses the common fear of being consumed by overwhelming emotions and shares how fully embracing grief has led her to feel more alive and aligned with her true self. By turning toward grief rather than resisting it, she explains, people can experience profound healing and even unlock unexpected creativity. Her work is grounded in the understanding that while grief is often seen as something to overcome, it can instead be a deep source of connection and self-discovery. For those interested in community-based grief rituals, follow Salt Trails on Instagram or visit her website, This Hallowed Wilderness, to learn more about her work and offerings. Website: This Hallowed Wilderness Instagram: @thishallowedwilderness Facebook: This Hallowed Wilderness Salt Trails Instagram: Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Whitney Chew’s Insights on Death, Burnout, and Healthcare's Gaps 36:30
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Whitney Chew, born and raised in California, recently moved to New York. As a physician, she completed her residency during the pandemic. However, less than a year after finishing, Whitney realized that being a physician wasn’t her long-term calling. During this time, she witnessed immense death and dying, not only in her role as a physician but also on a personal level with the loss of loved ones. This experience gave her unique insight into both sides of the healthcare system—both as a caregiver and a grieving family member. The pandemic shed light on the brokenness of the healthcare system and its lack of support for providers, leaving many, including Whitney, burned out and grieving without the chance to process their emotions. In reflecting on her time as a physician, Whitney speaks about the uncomfortable reality that death is often viewed as a failure in the medical field, even though it’s inevitable. She notes how many physicians, especially oncologists, avoid discussing dying with patients, opting instead to present treatment options, even when they may not be curative. This discomfort creates a communication gap, leaving patients without the full picture of their prognosis. Whitney also touches on the cultural differences between how death is handled in the U.S. versus other areas of the world, where conversations about end-of-life care are more normalized. She emphasizes the importance of preventive conversations about death, including advanced healthcare directives, and how much easier those difficult moments could be if people planned ahead. She also shares with us her personal experiences helping to get her Chinese Grandmother the end of life care she needed while honoring her cultural heritage. Throughout her career, both as a physician and now as a coach, Whitney’s experiences underscore the need for open, honest conversations about death and the systemic issues within healthcare that hinder them. https://www.youtube.com/channel/@WhitneyChew https://www.instagram.com/theimposterdr whitneychew91@gmail.com Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 How to Create Empowered Endings with Dr. Bob Uslander 46:23
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Dr. Bob Uslander, based in San Diego, runs a medical practice called Empowered Endings with his wife and partner, Elizabeth. Their work focuses on supporting people through difficult end-of-life journeys and providing personalized in-home care, including palliative care, dementia care, geriatric care, and more. With a holistic, high-touch approach, their team of compassionate professionals ensures patients and their families receive the support they need during these challenging times. A key aspect of their practice is integrating end-of-life doulas, which adds immense value to their model of care. Dr. Uslander and his team have also founded an institute and community to provide education, training, and support for healthcare professionals who are committed to improving end-of-life care. This community also includes individuals looking to ensure a gentle and peaceful transition for themselves or a loved one. They operate a foundation dedicated to these causes. Dr. Uslander shared his journey from working in emergency medicine, where he experienced moral injury, to transitioning into palliative care. He discovered the beauty in fully supporting patients through their end-of-life process, realizing how underserved families often are in the traditional healthcare system. This realization prompted him to establish his own practice in 2016. A major mission of Empowered Endings is educating the public about palliative care and hospice care. Palliative care focuses on managing symptoms and improving the quality of life for those with serious or complex illnesses, while hospice care is reserved for those who have a life expectancy of six months or less and are no longer pursuing aggressive treatments. Dr. Uslander is also an advocate for MAID (medical aid in dying) and VSED (voluntarily stopping eating and drinking), supporting patients in California who qualify under the state’s legal framework which we talk about both processes and how they work. His practice offers a compassionate, empowering approach, helping individuals make informed decisions about their final moments. https://empoweredendings.com/ https://empoweredendings.com/helpful-resources/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
Send us a text Kelly Butler, based in Ottawa, Ontario, has lived in various parts of Canada and the U.S. She’s a mother of five and has worked in the realm of death and dying for 30 years, starting with hospice work in Atlanta, Georgia. For Kelly, the cycle of birth and death reflects life itself—beginnings and endings intertwined in a continuous flow. Her work has spanned decades, and she recently completed her master’s in health sciences. Kelly is the founder of Community Deathcare Ottawa, a collective of practitioners and allies committed to family-led, community-based death care. The group’s mission is to shift death and dying from the medical system and funeral industry back into the hands of the community. This collective hosts events such as grief rituals, home funeral demonstrations, and educational talks on topics like natural burial. While the group doesn't provide direct care, they help connect individuals to the right resources within their community. Her organization aims to inform the public about death, something society often avoids discussing. Members include death doulas, herbalists, and massage therapists, all bringing different skills to support people at the end of life. Kelly acknowledges the challenges of defining the role of a death doula, especially with varying levels of training and experience within the profession. She reflects on whether death doula work should be formalized or remain as a community-driven practice. Kelly also teaches a mindfulness-informed end-of-life course, both as a practice of mindfulness and a contemplation of mortality. She emphasizes the importance of being present during death, noting that the body knows how to die, and it's essential to approach death with a sense of acceptance rather than fear. She likens this to facing climate change, noting that while we can't always change the outcome, we can choose how we navigate it—with presence, love, and acceptance. https://www.facebook.com/people/Reclaiming-Death/100066604446905/?_rdr https://communitydeathcareottawa.com/ https://learn.utoronto.ca/programs-courses/certificates/mindfulness-informed-end-life-care Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Jill Bodak on Caregiving and Medically Assisted Death 40:22
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Jill Bodak, an osteopath in Toronto, Ontario, shares the deeply personal story of her father’s stroke in 2020, which flipped her world upside down. His stroke happened unexpectedly while skiing on the other side of the country, and what followed was an intense two-year journey of caregiving. Initially told that he wouldn’t survive, her father defied the odds but was left in a severely compromised state, requiring Jill to become his primary caregiver. Over time, her father expressed that he no longer wanted to live, which led them to explore medically assisted death, a legal option in Canada. Jill’s writing throughout this period focused on family, grief, and caregiving. Her book, Loved Into Being: Reflections on Stroke and Being Indestructible , emerged as both a tribute and a conversation starter on end-of-life rights. She speaks about the emotional complexity of caregiving and the challenging role reversal, explaining that her father's vulnerability during his recovery was a beautiful yet heartbreaking contrast to the physically active person he once was. Despite the overwhelming daily demands, they found moments of humor and connection—laughing together even when words failed. Jill reflects on how this experience has deeply impacted her approach to wellness and the preciousness of life. She emphasizes the importance of understanding mortality and how it reshaped her perspective on treating the body and the mind. The journey through her father’s illness and eventual medically assisted death was both transformative and filled with moments of profound connection. Her story offers a touching and honest look at caregiving, family dynamics, and the complex emotional landscape of end-of-life decisions. Get her book here. https://www.amazon.com/Loved-Into-Being-Reflections-Indestructible/dp/B0BPGPKZJW On Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/jill.bodak/ Website. https://www.jillbodak.com/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 David Downie's Journey From HIV Nurse to End of Life Patient Part 2 31:52
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this episode, David Downie shares his profound journey, reflecting on his life and health as he nears the end of his time. Now in his 70s, he opens up about his long battle with heart issues, including multiple valve surgeries, and the challenges he's faced in managing his condition. David candidly discusses the reality of doctors losing interest when patients can no longer be "fixed." He explains his decision to stop pursuing further treatments, choosing instead to focus on comfort through palliative care, which has helped him manage pain and improve his quality of life. David reveals how meditation and mindfulness play a crucial role in his day-to-day existence, allowing him to navigate physical and emotional pain. He emphasizes the importance of being fully present in life, even as his health declines. Though he remains alert and grounded, David expresses the relief that comes from accepting his fate, despite the occasional fear that creeps in. His perspective on death is shaped by his Buddhist beliefs, as he contemplates the opportunity to work through his karma as the end draws near. David touches on the fears that come with dying alone, particularly the logistical challenges he may face as his condition worsens. He shares his concerns about the limitations of hospice care and how he's learned to take each day as it comes, without becoming overwhelmed by future uncertainties. The episode also highlights the power of community, with a small group of friends committed to being by his side as he approaches death, ensuring he won't be alone in his final moments. Through this conversation, David's story offers valuable insights into living and dying with dignity. His reflections on fear, suffering, and the inevitability of death encourage listeners to confront their own anxieties and to embrace life with openness and intention. To follow along with David on his end of life journey, check out his YouTube channel linked below. https://www.youtube.com/@daviddownie5594 Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 David Downie's Journey From HIV Nurse to End of Life Patient Part 1 30:53
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text This episode is the first part of a two part episode where I had a deeply personal conversation with my friend David Downie, a former nurse who worked during the early days of the HIV pandemic. As someone who grew up in the 80s, I was aware of the epidemic but didn’t understand the full scope of what it was like for those on the frontlines. A few weeks ago, while on a phone call with David, I learned more about his powerful story, and I knew I had to invite him to share his experiences on the show. David began by recounting his time as a nurse, starting in Colorado, when the HIV crisis began to unfold. In the early days, the disease seemed far away, affecting mostly communities in New York and Los Angeles. However, it soon reached Colorado, and David found himself caring for friends and patients affected by the epidemic. He worked in the ER and eventually at HIV clinics in Denver, witnessing the devastating toll the illness took on individuals and communities. David shared the emotional burden of those early years when there was no test for HIV and people lived in constant fear of contracting the virus. When testing became available, the fear of a positive result weighed heavily on those waiting for answers. Later, when he moved to Los Angeles—one of the epicenters of the crisis—he worked at an HIV clinic and saw the early effects of treatments like AZT, which, despite offering hope, came with harsh side effects. As our conversation progressed, David opened up about his current health struggles. Nearing the end of his life, he spoke candidly about his experience with heart failure and rheumatoid arthritis. He shared how his meditation practice, rooted in our shared connection at a meditation center in Philadelphia, has helped him cope with physical pain and navigate his final months with greater peace. David’s reflections on the inevitability of pain and death, and how meditation has shifted his perspective, offer a powerful message on finding acceptance and serenity in the face of life’s greatest challenges. You can follow David's personal journey on his YouTube page. https://www.youtube.com/@daviddownie5594 Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Dr. Viola Pierce's Vision for a New Healthcare Future 42:04
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Dr. Viola Pierce, or Dr. V, has had a truly remarkable journey in the nursing profession, from starting as an LPN to becoming a doctorally prepared nurse with extensive experience in the emergency department. Her passion for nursing and education is evident in her commitment to helping other nurses not only survive but thrive in their careers. Through her work as a nurse business coach, Dr. V empowers nurse coaches and consultants to build successful businesses that allow them to work from anywhere in the world and on their own terms. Dr. V's experiences in the ER, where she witnessed both the triumphs and tragedies of life, have deeply shaped her approach to nursing and life. Her belief in the importance of living fully in the "dash" between birth and death, along with her commitment to solving problems within the healthcare system, drives her mission to create better opportunities for nurses. By teaching nurses how to establish coaching and consulting businesses, she aims to revolutionize healthcare by enabling more personalized and efficient patient care, such as through the creation of infusion centers and home health agencies. Dr. V's personal experiences with loss, including the deaths of her family members, have also informed her compassionate approach to patient care, particularly in end-of-life situations. Her ability to connect with patients and their families, often going above and beyond her duties, highlights the deep empathy and dedication she brings to her work. Whether she's teaching nurses, supporting families, or sharing her faith, Dr. V is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of others, both within and outside the healthcare system. https://www.facebook.com/viola.pierce1010 https://www.facebook.com/vpnursing/ https://www.instagram.com/vpnursing/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-viola-pierce-58885ab9/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXyEL-PwF8Q599gf9YEL_PA https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/morning-infusion-with-dr-v-nursing-podcast/id1568626898 Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Rose Luardo’s Exploration of Life and Death Part 2 37:06
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Rose Luardo is a vibrant, multifaceted artist living in South Philadelphia, where she engages in various odd jobs, art projects, and gigs. She's a person who's always been intrigued—and admittedly a bit obsessed—with the concept of death. In this episode of Seeing Death Clearly , Rose reflects on the human condition and our relationship with mortality, presenting a perspective that challenges conventional views of human exceptionalism. She questions why humans consider themselves more special than other species, highlighting our tendency to see ourselves as the pinnacle of evolution, even though we're just another part of Earth's complex system. Rose resonates with the idea that the Earth will continue without us, and in the grand scheme, things will be fine, even if it means that cockroaches inherit the Earth. She emphasizes the importance of accepting what we can and cannot control, advocating for the idea that we should strive to be the best humans we can be, despite our imperfections and the guilt and shame we may carry. Rose notes the recent cultural shift towards discussing death more openly, recognizing the value in training people to assist with this transition. She shares a personal anecdote about attending the Beautiful Death Expo, where death was normalized and discussed in a way that felt as ordinary as visiting a mall. The conversation also touches on the deep emotional experiences of those who have lost loved ones, particularly children, and how these realities are part of the human experience. Rose discusses the importance of facing these harsh truths head-on rather than ignoring them, suggesting that acknowledging death and trauma can lead to a more meaningful life. Throughout, Rose reflects on how her understanding of death has influenced her life, making her feel lighter and less concerned with material pursuits. This perspective has allowed her to live more freely, shedding the pressures of capitalist values and embracing a simpler, more purposeful existence. The conversation explores the physical changes that come with aging and menopause, and how these changes prompt a deeper consideration of mortality. This acceptance of the natural progression of life aligns with the overall theme of letting go and finding peace in the inevitability of death. This episode offers listeners a profound and candid exploration of death, aging, and the human experience, challenging them Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Rose Luardo’s Exploration of Life and Death Part 1 33:14
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Rose Luardo is a vibrant, multifaceted artist living in South Philadelphia, where she engages in various odd jobs, art projects, and gigs. She's a person who's always been intrigued—and admittedly a bit obsessed—with the concept of death, a curiosity that began in her childhood, possibly sparked by watching The Exorcist too young. This fascination with the unknown led her to create a coffin for a 2017 exhibition at Practice Gallery, an object she couldn't part with and eventually placed in an empty lot near her home. Her father, a Filipino psychiatrist, greatly influenced her. He was open to discussing anything, from his life in the Philippines to cultural observations, which Rose recorded during a dialysis cruise. These recordings formed part of an art piece that combined her father's stories with a playful, yet poignant, commercial for a fictional "used coffin service." Rose's work explores the intersection of death and life, evident in her "rave coffin," made from plush materials that evoke a comforting, womb-like environment. This piece invited visitors to experience her father's stories from within the coffin, challenging the fear and discomfort often associated with death. Rose reflects on society's discomfort with death, contrasting it with the past when death was a more intimate, communal experience. She draws parallels between sex and death, noting that while both are often taboo, people are more willing to engage in conversations about sex, even though death is an inevitable part of life. In contemplating death, Rose has turned to plant medicines like ayahuasca, seeking to understand the death experience better. She suggests that these experiences, along with practices like meditation, could be ways to prepare for death, a notion supported by recent studies on the therapeutic use of psychedelics for end-of-life anxiety. Rose believes that confronting our fears—whether through art, conversation, or personal exploration—strengthens us and provides a deeper understanding of life's impermanence. As she notes, our culture often tries to avoid discomfort, yet life is inherently uncomfortable. By engaging with the things that scare us, we build resilience and come to terms with the transient nature of existence. In a world increasingly disconnected from the realities of death, Rose's work and reflections offer a valuable perspective on embracing the inevitable with curiosity, creativity, and a touch of humor. Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Life, Death, and Spiritual Growth with Indra Rinzler 41:12
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Indra Rinzler is an astrologer who has been on a spiritual journey for over 50 years, specializing in Vedic astrology and the Enneagram of Personality. His work focuses on helping people discover their true selves, beyond who they think they are. With a unique perspective shaped by his extensive time in India and a deep commitment to spiritual growth, Indra shares his insights on life, happiness, and the inevitable journey toward death. Moving to California, he started a commune with a focus on learning about life. This experience, combined with the early loss of both parents, allowed him to follow his path freely, exploring the deeper questions of happiness and fulfillment. One of Indra's core beliefs is that life isn't designed to make us happy. Instead, happiness is something we must actively pursue, often by letting go of control and surrendering to what is. He discusses the challenges we face—ego, arrogance, insecurity, and societal expectations—that block our path to happiness. Indra suggests that these obstacles are not just to be overcome but are also opportunities for growth, reflecting where we are holding on too tightly to certain beliefs or desires. Indra also delves into the concept of death, influenced by his study of Indian teachings that view life and death as a continuum. He emphasizes the importance of daily preparation for death, whether through meditation or other practices that encourage letting go of attachments. This preparation isn't about final exams but about daily practices that help us detach from the material world and find peace with what is. Indra's philosophy extends to the idea of karma and life lessons. He suggests that our lives are shaped by choices made before birth, where we might have agreed to face certain challenges to learn specific lessons. This perspective helps his clients understand their struggles as part of a greater purpose, leading to a sense of relief and acceptance. In his later years, Indra finds freedom in knowing less and needing less each day. He embraces the idea of surrender, letting go of control, and being content with what is. His journey is one of continual learning and letting go, finding happiness not in changing circumstances but in accepting them. IndraRinzler.com IndraRinzler@gmail.com Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Beyond the Veil and Living Fully with Stephanie Chevrier 44:01
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Stephanie Chevrier, an artist based in Vancouver, Canada, has found herself deeply immersed in the exploration of death, reality, and what it means to be human. As an artist, she primarily works as a tattoo artist and illustrator, with a strong affinity for black ink. However, her curiosity extends far beyond her artistic pursuits, as she delves into the mysteries of consciousness and the afterlife. Stephanie’s journey into the death space began with a fascination for near-death experiences (NDEs) and the scientific and personal accounts surrounding them. This exploration opened her mind to questions about what happens after death, the nature of reality, and the interconnectedness of all beings. Despite her skepticism, she found the research and stories compelling enough to challenge her lifelong beliefs. Through her research, Stephanie noticed significant improvements in her mental health and relationships. She observed that by integrating conversations about death into daily life, she became more present and appreciative of the moments she shared with loved ones. This newfound perspective has inspired her to live fully in the present, embracing life’s fleeting nature. Stephanie has also been deeply moved by the spiritual aspects of her work, which has led her to trust in the universe’s guidance and to let go of rigid plans. She believes that by listening to the subtle cues of the heart and following them, one can move toward their true purpose. As she continues to share her insights on death and the afterlife, Stephanie remains open to the possibility that there is more to life than we can understand through materialism alone. She acknowledges that while science has made strides in understanding these phenomena, there is still much that remains beyond our comprehension. Ultimately, Stephanie hopes that by discussing these topics, people will become more open to the mysteries of life and death, leading to a deeper connection with themselves and others. https://www.instagram.com/live.deathless/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Rev. Christine Davies on Chaplaincy and Spiritual Support in the Hospital 43:43
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Rev. Christine Davies, the director of pastoral care at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey, shares her journey into hospital chaplaincy. As an ACPE supervisor and seminary professor, she teaches the art of hospital chaplaincy and educates clergy. Christine’s path began with a deep connection to her local Presbyterian church, a passion for helping others, and an early career as an EMT. This combination of experiences led her to shift from a pre-med major to religion, ultimately embracing chaplaincy. Her love for spiritual questions and supporting people during vulnerable times fueled this transition. Christine's work involves addressing the spiritual and emotional needs of patients and families, especially during end-of-life situations. She emphasizes the importance of being present, listening, and holding space for individuals to explore their beliefs and emotions. Christine highlights the challenges chaplains face, such as dealing with the uncertainty of their impact and the complexities of supporting people through their spiritual distress. In her role, Christine also focuses on advanced care planning, helping patients appoint healthcare proxies and discuss their wishes for end-of-life care. She stresses the importance of having these conversations early to alleviate the burden on loved ones during critical moments. Christine’s approach to chaplaincy extends beyond traditional religious boundaries. She recognizes that spirituality can exist outside of formal religion, offering support to individuals regardless of their beliefs. She often encounters people grappling with anger towards God or struggling with long-held beliefs that no longer serve them in their current situations. Christine’s compassionate presence allows for open exploration of these feelings. Christine’s work is not limited to the hospital setting. She has also led bereavement groups and facilitated advanced care planning discussions in community settings. https://www.christinevdavies.com https://journeyingalongside.substack.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rev-christine-davies/ https://www.instagram.com/cvdavies/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 A Daughter's Intimate Journey with Her Father with Yvonne Caputo on the Power of Advanced Directives 49:42
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Yvonne Caputo, from Southeastern Pennsylvania, is deliciously semi-retired after a varied career. She began in education, moved to the area, and leveraged her second master's degree in clinical psychology to work in employee assistance. Eventually, she became the vice president of human resources for a retirement community, which was her last full-time job. Her experience in the retirement community provided deep insights into aging, observing both the grace and struggles of residents and the critical importance of advanced directives. This perspective was invaluable when caring for her parents. Her experience informed her own end-of-life planning, including completing an advanced directive and the "Five Wishes" document. She has had thorough discussions with her children and stepchildren about her wishes, emphasizing not wanting them to personally care for her but to find a good place for her when the time comes. A poignant story she shares involves her father, they went through the document question by question, leading to an intimate and precious moment between them. His wishes were witnessed and shared with his medical team, making his final days more comfortable and aligned with his desires. Yvonne's father passed away in January 2010. This clarity helped Yvonne and her family ensure his final wishes were respected. Yvonne highlights the importance of these conversations and documents, not only for ensuring one's wishes are respected but also for the peace and clarity they bring to loved ones. She emphasizes that while such discussions might seem daunting, they often lead to profound and intimate connections, as they did with her father. Through her work and personal experiences, Yvonne advocates for others to engage in end-of-life planning. She believes that these preparations allow individuals to live their lives fully, knowing that their final wishes will be honored. She continues to share her journey and insights, encouraging others to embrace this important aspect of life. https://ingeniumbooks.com/yvonne-caputo/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonne-caputo-1449137/ https://www.fivewishes.org/ yvonneauthor4@gmail.com Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Together For Sharon: George Ackerman’s Story of Love and Advocacy 37:29
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this episode, George Ackerman, also known as “Sharon's son George”, shares his deeply personal journey of caring for his mother, who battled Parkinson's disease. He lost his mother, Sharon Riff Ackerman, on 1/1/2020 due to Parkinson's Disease. To honor his mother and continue helping in the Parkinson's awareness cause, George started TogetherForSharon® as a family initiative to keep Sharon Riff Ackerman's memory alive and to spread the message of Parkinson's Awareness and hope for a cure. Today, https://www.togetherforsharon.com/ reaches thousands across the country for PD Awareness. George discussed the importance of early diagnosis, noting the Michael J. Fox Foundation's progress in identifying a biomarker for Parkinson's. He hopes this research will lead to a simple blood test for early detection, which could significantly impact treatment and quality of life. The conversation also touched on the emotional toll of caregiving and advocacy. George shared how his mother's hallucinations and delusions added to the difficulty of her care, ultimately leading to heartbreaking moments. Despite the challenges, he continues to fight in her memory, advocating for better support and awareness for those affected by Parkinson's. He highlighted the importance of self-care for caregivers, acknowledging his own struggles with balancing advocacy and personal well-being. George's story underscores the necessity of community support and the power of collective voices in the fight against Parkinson's. George remains dedicated to his mission, driven by his mother's memory and the desire to prevent others from feeling alone in their journey. His advocacy extends to supporting the National Plan to End Parkinson's Disease, urging listeners to reach out to their senators for support. George is on a mission, and nothing will stop him until there is a cure. Join him and share in the mission toward a cure at https://www.togetherforsharon.com Author of "A Son’s Journey from Parkinson’s Disease Caregiver to Advocate." To order your copy, click https://a.co/d/aWk7A3K . Available in Kindle/eBook and Hardcover at https://www.togetherforsharon.com/my-book/ . Social media links are available at Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Helping Spirits Move On: Understanding the Journey of Souls with Dr. Marie Gasper-Hulvat 35:28
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Dr. Marie Gasper Hulvat, hailing from Canton, Ohio, originally grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. She is a human design specialist, an intuitive EFT practitioner, and a trained Reiki master teacher in the Tibetan Usui tradition. Her journey began with Reiki, where during her Reiki One training, she encountered disembodied souls for the first time, an intense and sometimes painful experience. Throughout her practice, Dr. Hulvat has encountered various souls, from children afraid of going to hell to a school shooter worried about the children he harmed. Her approach involves acknowledging their existence, expressing universal love, and helping them realize their fundamental essence as love. This realization often facilitates their transition into the light. Dr. Hulvat's experiences have transformed her attitude toward death. Once terrified, she now sees death as a natural and peaceful transition, akin to life continuing in a different form. Her work has clarified her understanding of concepts like hell and purgatory, viewing them as states of being stuck rather than places of eternal torment. She recommends reading "Under the Whispering Door" by T.J. Klune, a story about a man who helps souls transition, which closely mirrors her own experiences. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53205888-under-the-whispering-door In conclusion, Dr. Hulvat's journey with Reiki and tapping has profoundly shaped her understanding of life, death, and the energetic connections between them. Her compassionate and intuitive approach continues to help many souls find peace and transition smoothly into the light. https://www.soulstarattunement.com Intuitive EFT Group Coaching: https://zzdflzz.xperiencify.io/intuitive-eft/order/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Halo Nest: Poetry and Grief with Sean Lynch 39:55
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Sean Lynch has been writing his whole life. His first poetry book was published over a decade ago in 2013; since then, he's released four more. His latest book, “Halo Nest: poems on grief” is a deeply personal collection about grief, began nearly seven years ago after his mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2016. Sean's mother battled the disease for about a year before passing away at 59. The new poetry book is intimately tied to places, Sean often visited his mother at Our Lady of Lourdes, the grief he felt during these times heightened his awareness of his surroundings, connecting him deeply to the spaces he frequented. His mother passed away quickly, despite initial expectations. Sean vividly remembers being at his parents' place in Wildwood when she was brought home for hospice care. The emotional experience of seeing his family gather and the strange coincidences of numbers around her death stuck with him, influencing his poetry. Writing this book was a cathartic process for Sean. Initially, he didn't intend to write about his mother's illness, but being a prolific writer at the time, he naturally recorded his experiences. One poignant poem, "The Day After," captures his raw emotions following his mother's death. Sean's journey through grief was supported by antidepressants for several years, though he found the grieving process different when he stopped taking them. He talks about the balance of maintaining one's life amidst grief and the desensitization to death in public spaces. Sean has had book readings throughout the Philadelphia region and has one coming up at the Pen and Pencil Club in Philadelphia on July 14th. His book, “Halo Nest: poems on grief” is available on Amazon and you can find it at the link below. https://www.amazon.com/Halo-Nest-poems-Sean-Lynch/dp/B0D1NXJT8L https://linktr.ee/seanlynchpoet Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
Send us a text Shelby Forsythia helps grieving people move through the pain and overwhelm of loss to experience peace, purpose, and joy again. She believes everyone deserves a good life, even if it’s not the one they thought they’d be living. Shelby Forsythia (she/her) is a grief coach, author, and podcast host. In 2020, she founded Life After Loss Academy, an online course and community that has helped dozens of grievers grow and find their way after death, divorce, diagnosis, and other major life transitions. After her mother’s death in 2013, Shelby became a “student of grief” and now devotes her days to reading, writing, and speaking about loss. She never planned to become a grief coach, author, or speaker on grief. Like many who enter this line of work, she was profoundly changed by loss. Growing up in North Carolina, her childhood was idyllic—soccer, piano lessons, theater. Her parents stayed together, and she faced no major losses until her father lost his stable job, marking the beginning of what she calls the "four years of hell." This period included her father's brain aneurysms and surgery, her coming out as queer, and ultimately, her mother's death. The cumulative losses were overwhelming, not just her mother's death but a loss of faith, home, and family structure. Her grief was multi-layered, a common experience shared by many she works with. Initially motivated and excited about life, she became uncertain if life could ever be good again. Almost ten years later, she finds herself in a space where life does feel good again, which sometimes feels like a miracle. Being queer has taught her resilience and creativity, valuable in grief. Coming out prepared her to seek alternative support systems and healing methods. The intersection of queerness and grief brings a unique perspective, allowing her to reimagine life in more colorful, softer, and fluid ways. This adaptability is a blessing, offering new possibilities in loss. Her podcast, Dear Grief Guide, is a gateway for listeners to connect with her work. It stands as a testament to her journey and the wisdom she’s gained, helping others navigate their grief with compassion and creativity. https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/ Acccess Shelby's Free Workshop: Grow Through Grief: 3 Ways to Stop Feeling Stuck and Start Moving Forward Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Life and Death in the ER with Dr. Jeffrey Sankoff 44:21
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Dr. Jeffrey Sankoff, originally from Montreal, Quebec, Canada moved to Denver over two decades ago, where he has been practicing as an emergency physician while raising their children. Outside of medicine, Dr. Sankoff is an avid triathlete and triathlon coach, hosting a podcast on the sport. He shares how early-career doctors often grapple with feelings of failure when a patient dies, a process complicated by the litigious nature of the medical environment. Laws allowing physicians to apologize without admitting liability have improved communication with families, making difficult conversations slightly more manageable. In discussing these conversations, Dr. Sankoff emphasizes the importance of being direct and compassionate. He strives to provide clarity and support to families during their most challenging moments, ensuring they leave without unanswered questions. The emotional toll of his work, especially when it involves children or unexpected violent deaths, is significant. He finds solace in physical activities like swimming, biking, and running, which help him recharge mentally. Dr. Sankoff contrasts the healthcare systems of Canada and the United States, highlighting the benefits of Canada's single-payer system despite its flaws. He criticizes the profit-driven nature of American healthcare, arguing that it leads to worse outcomes and greater financial burdens for patients. He advocates for a system focused on patient care rather than profit, pointing out the ethical conflicts inherent in the current U.S. model. Dr. Sankoff's philosophy on life and death extends to his approach to aging and health. He believes in staying active to maintain a high quality of life, seeing a direct correlation between how one lives and dies. He observes that those who live well tend to have better end-of-life experiences, advocating for a balanced, active lifestyle to maximize longevity and well-being. Ultimately, Dr. Sankoff contemplates the medicalization of death and the societal fear of dying, advocating for a more accepting and prepared approach. He envisions a future where more people can die at home, surrounded by loved ones, rather than in the sterile environment of a hospital. This holistic view of life and death underscores his commitment to his profession and personal life, aiming to live fully and prepare for the inevitable with grace and acceptance. www.tridoccoaching.com Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Insights from Lisa Pahl the Creator of The Death Deck 39:05
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Lisa Pahl is a licensed clinical social worker in LA, she has extensive experience in community mental health, domestic violence, and supporting survivors of torture. Early in her career, she worked at the Florida Center for Survivors of Torture, and after moving to LA, she worked in community mental health for several years. She then switched to working in hospice care, where she found her true calling. In 2018, she co-created The Death Deck with her business partner, Lori. The idea stemmed from Lori's experience with her husband Joe's terminal illness, where Lori felt unprepared for making critical decisions. The Death Deck was designed to help people have meaningful conversations about death and end-of-life preferences before a crisis occurs. The deck includes 112 cards, many of which are multiple-choice to make the conversation easier and even inject humor to lighten the mood. She shares her experiences hosting events like Death Over Drafts, where people gather in breweries to discuss death in a relaxed setting. These events foster a sense of community and help normalize conversations about death and dying. She highlights the importance of having these conversations to prepare for the inevitable and reduce the emotional burden on families. For those interested in learning more, The Death Deck is available on their website and she welcomes connections and questions from anyone looking to engage further in these vital conversations. https://thedeathdeck.com/ https://www.facebook.com/thedeathdeck/ https://www.instagram.com/thedeathdeck/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-pahl-lcsw-89669070/ https://www.deathoverdrafts.com/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
Send us a text In this episode of Seeing Death Clearly, I spoke with my friend Ashley Holmes, a Holistic Fertility Coach dedicated to supporting women struggling with infertility by bringing mind, body, and spirit into balance. Her journey began from personal experience, facing her own fertility challenges, which inspired her to help others. Ashley noticed the widespread, unspoken grief and suffering that comes with infertility and miscarriage. To provide a supportive community, she created a Facebook group for individuals worldwide to share their experiences and find hope. Ashley discussed the profound grief associated with infertility and miscarriage, highlighting the importance of acknowledging and honoring this grief rather than suppressing it. She emphasized that moving forward requires addressing these emotions instead of simply trying again without processing the pain. Ashley's background is rooted in a small town in Manitoba, Canada. At 18, she moved to New Zealand, married a Kiwi, and eventually returned to Canada with her three children. Her life was marked by significant losses, including the death of her brother at 11 and her stepbrother later in life. These experiences shaped her compassionate nature and her understanding of grief's impact on the nervous system. Yoga played a transformative role in Ashley's healing journey. Initially drawn to the physical practice, she discovered the deeper benefits of yoga, particularly the yin and restorative practices that help release stored emotions and stress. Ashley works one-on-one with clients, offering personalized and customized programs that include yoga, yoga nidra meditations, chakra balancing, reiki, and Ayurveda. She believes in a holistic approach to fertility, emphasizing the need to address emotional healing before moving forward. https://www.instagram.com/ashley_holmes3202/ https://www.facebook.com/ashley.holmes.3979 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/271957647919481/?ref=share_group_link Website (with Links to Books): https://holisticfertilitycoachinc.my.canva.site/ Free Gift Healing Hearts Meditation subscribepage.io/C2MZms Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 From Anger to Empathy: Rediscovering My Mother's Story with Stephanie Jones 41:00
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text My guest in this episode is Stephanie Jones. One significant childhood memory involves the first time she remembers discussing death. This incident led to a brief conversation about death, spurred by her grandmother's passing soon after. Growing up as a Jehovah's Witness, death was framed within the context of resurrection and an afterlife, which provided some comfort but also left her with many unanswered questions. Leaving the Jehovah's Witness faith at 22 was a pivotal moment. She found the religion's misogynistic views stifling and couldn't reconcile her own life choices with its teachings. Married at 18 and a mother by 19, she struggled within a community that didn't support her personal growth. Her breaking point came when religious elders blamed her for her husband's irresponsible behavior, prompting her to leave the church. This departure allowed her to explore her identity, eventually coming out as a lesbian, which led to her being disassociated from the church and estranged from her family and community. Her mother's death marked another turning point. Her mother died unexpectedly after a battle with cancer, which she had kept secret. The emotional distance and lack of communication left her with a mix of anger and grief, especially as she learned more about her mother's difficult life after her passing. Open and honest conversations with her kids transformed their relationship, fostering understanding and closeness that had previously been missing. Reflecting on her mother's life and their strained relationship, she now feels empathy rather than resentment. Learning about her mother's hardships helped her understand the woman behind the struggles, providing a sense of closure and forgiveness. This perspective has informed her current work, where she empowers busy moms to manage their time effectively, helping them focus on health and relationships. Through VIP sessions, she guides them in automating their homes, organizing their schedules, and finding balance, aiming to prevent stress and burnout and enhance their quality of life. https://astounding-founder-9607.ck.page/ac48824d00 https://www.instagram.com/steph_theboundariesbabe/ https://www.facebook.com/StephtheBoundariesBabe https: Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Boys, Emotions, and Cultural Expressions of Grief with Brendan Kwiatkowski 43:47
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this episode, my guest is Dr. Brendan Kwiatkowski, an educator, researcher, and speaker focused on the social-emotional development and well-being of boys and men. Brendan, who earned his Ph.D. in Education from the University of Edinburgh in 2023, conducted an in-depth study on the emotions, masculinities, and schooling experiences of teenage boys. His interdisciplinary research merges psychology, sociology, and education to humanize and empower participants by giving voice to their lived experiences. Brendan's work explores why some boys are highly emotionally expressive while others are not, and how these differences shape their beliefs about masculinity. He teaches at a local university, training future teachers, and works directly with boys and men to help them connect with their emotions in healthy ways. A key theme discussed is the concept of restrictive masculinity, which includes the harmful messages boys receive about suppressing emotions, needing to be self-reliant, and feeling the pressure to dominate. These beliefs can lead to emotional disconnection from a young age, often around age five and during early adolescence (13-15 years). This disconnection is reinforced through societal norms and personal experiences, such as funerals, where boys learn to suppress sadness because they see men around them doing the same. Brendan emphasizes that expressing emotions is crucial but warns that doing so in unsafe environments can be detrimental. He notes that suppressed emotions can resurface in harmful ways, such as anger or violence, often displaced onto others. This is evident in scenarios like domestic violence spikes following sports events. Brendan highlights the importance of creating safe spaces for emotional expression. Teenage boys often restrict their emotions due to fear of judgment, not wanting to burden others and the fear of being hurt by emotional closeness. He encourages honest conversations and support among boys and men to break these patterns of emotional suppression. In the broader context, Brendan points out that while both socialization and biology play roles in shaping behaviors, socialization significantly impacts emotional expression. He also touches on the importance of understanding grief as a complex emotional experience, often involving a mix of sadness, anger, and even humor, which can be overwhelming without proper support. https://remasculine.com/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Living Fully, Dying Gracefully: Insights from Ashley Oppon 45:23
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this episode, my guest is Ashley Oppon, host of "Dine with the Divine." Ashley, a registered nurse from New Jersey, describes her nursing job as her "muggle job," revealing her love for theology and religion. Growing up Catholic, Ashley's curiosity led her to explore various faiths, finding something meaningful in each. This exploration shaped her understanding of human belief systems and the cultural significance of faith worldwide. Ashley's professional journey in oncology for the past seven years brought her face-to-face with death regularly. Her multicultural background, with roots in West Africa, exposed her to vibrant funeral traditions, contrasting with the more reserved American approach to death. These experiences sparked her interest in understanding and supporting others through the grieving process. Working as a nurse, Ashley witnessed diverse reactions to death, from acceptance to fear. Her exposure to hospice care deepened her conviction that death should be approached with acceptance and understanding, rather than fear. This led her to explore the role of death doulas, eventually inspiring her to provide support for those facing end-of-life decisions. Ashley emphasizes the importance of living without regrets and embracing life fully. She encourages people to address unresolved issues and live authentically, drawing from her belief that acknowledging death's inevitability can lead to a more fulfilling life. In a society focused on prolonging life, Ashley advocates for acknowledging death as a natural part of existence. She believes that accepting death's reality can alleviate the fear surrounding it and facilitate healthier grieving processes. By embracing the transient nature of life, Ashley hopes to empower individuals to live with purpose and find peace in the face of mortality. https://www.instagram.com/dinewiththedivine https://www.sankofahealingsanctuary.com/ https://www.instagram.com/sankofahs/ https://good-grief.org/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Stories from End-of-Life Care with Helen Bauer Part 2 32:34
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this week's episode, I talk with Helen Bauer, host of the Heart of Hospice podcast. This is part 2 of a two-part interview. Over the years, she's observed a profound inward shift in patients as they approach death, noticing changes in their communication and socialization long before their bodies begin to shut down. In describing the dying process, she emphasizes the profound stillness she's witnessed at the moment of death, reflecting on the sacredness and emptiness of the physical body. While acknowledging the difficulty in articulating the sensation, she mentions a sense of missing energy. She reflects on various beliefs about the afterlife, remaining open-minded to diverse perspectives. Having learned from her experiences in hospice, she now values the importance of supporting individuals' beliefs without imposing her own. She emphasizes the significance of meeting people where they are, respecting their beliefs, and providing support tailored to their needs. She challenges the notion of a universal definition of a "good death," emphasizing the individuality of the dying process. For her, dying is deeply personal, and preferences for the dying process vary widely among individuals. She advocates for honoring each person's wishes and beliefs, rejecting the idea of a one-size-fits-all approach to death. My episode with Helen Bauer on the Heart of Hospice Podcast https://www.theheartofhospice.com/podcast/episode/23f1c2af/death-doulas-are-expert-guides-at-end-of-life To connect with Helen, reach out via email at helen@theheartofhospice.com or visit https://www.theheartofhospice.com/ . The Heart of Hospice Podcast Hospice Navigation Services The Heart of Hospice on IG The Heart of Hospice on FaceBook @TheHeartHospice on Twitter The Heart of Hospice on LinkedIn Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Stories from End-of-Life Care with Helen Bauer Part 1 35:59
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this week's episode, I talk with Helen Bower, host of the Heart of Hospice podcast. This is part 1 of a two-part interview. The following is a link to my guest episode of The Heart of Hospice Podcast. https://www.theheartofhospice.com/podcast/episode/23f1c2af/death-doulas-are-expert-guides-at-end-of-life As a nurse with 34 years of practice, Helen introduces her unique bond with Sonny, a 74-pound golden doodle, with whom she volunteers in hospice, offering solace to patients and families. Helen embarked on her hospice journey unexpectedly after transitioning from being a stay-at-home mom. Her transformative experience on her first day in hospice care solidified her commitment to this field. She vividly recounts a poignant moment when she witnessed an LVN providing exceptional care and support to a dying patient and their family, challenging nursing stereotypes and emphasizing the importance of every role in hospice care. Reflecting on her observations, Helen discusses the subtle changes she's witnessed in patients as they approach the end of life, emphasizing the shifts in communication and consciousness before the body begins its final shutdown. She shares touching anecdotes of patients experiencing visions and connecting with loved ones before passing. In a world where death has become medicalized and distant, Helen's insights offer a refreshing perspective, encouraging a deeper understanding of the dying process. To connect with Helen, reach out via email at helen@theheartofhospice.com or visit https://www.theheartofhospice.com/ . The Heart of Hospice Podcast Hospice Navigation Services The Heart of Hospice on IG The Heart of Hospice on FaceBook @TheHeartHospice on Twitter The Heart of Hospice on LinkedIn Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
Send us a text My guest today is Sue Burns, author of the book A Common Life, A Voice from the Progressive Era where she published her great-great grandmother Mary's diary from the late 19th century Iowa farm life. We talk about the demographics of Iowa in the late 19th century., Her great great grandmother, Mary, managed to raise six children without losing any, although there might have been unrecorded miscarriages or infant deaths. Sue highlights that Mary's diary, like many others from the time, did not extensively cover topics like pregnancy or childbirth, reflecting a cultural silence around such matters. Sue discusses Mary's diary entries regarding deaths in the community, which were frequent and treated as a natural part of life. Mary herself experienced grief after her husband's death, which followed a period of illness and medical procedures documented in the diary. Describing Mary's farm, Sue mentions its size (about 240 acres), the crops grown, and the various buildings on the property, including a windmill, barn, and corn crib. She details Mary's involvement in farm management, including decisions about planting, harvesting, and eventually renting out the land for income. Sue reflects on Mary's accounts of butchering chickens and a pig, speculating about her involvement in these tasks and the practicalities of farm life. She also discusses the layout of Mary's house, including a main living room with a coal-burning stove and a separate "summer kitchen" building. She recounts the process of preserving Mary's diary, which was written on fragile paper found in an attic. Sue and her mother collaborated to transcribe and digitize the diary, eventually donating a copy to the Iowa Women's Archive. Sue emphasizes the importance of preserving family histories like Mary's diary, which offers unique insights into past lives and experiences. She notes the limitations of relying solely on written records and highlights the value of oral history and personal connections in understanding the past. https://marybriggsacommonlife.blogspot.com/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Compassionate Communication in Medicine with Amy Flanagan 42:37
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Amy Flanagan has had a diverse career journey that led her to a unique role in medical education. Initially pursuing acting from a young age her passion shifted, leading her to the Uniformed Services University, the U.S. military's medical school. There, she played patients with different illnesses, aiding medical students in honing their diagnostic and communication skills. Her enthusiasm for teaching through experience propelled her to become the director of the facility, a role she cherished until 2015 when she retired due to a diagnosis of narcolepsy. She continues to contribute as a part-time consultant, specializing in helping doctors improve their communication skills, especially in delivering challenging news to patients. Amy highlights the need for enhanced communication training in medical education, noting that while it's present, it often gets overshadowed by other curriculum demands. She emphasizes the importance of doctors learning to convey compassion and empathy effectively, particularly in delivering distressing diagnoses or news. Amy talks about the human aspect of healthcare professionals and the significance of providing support and guidance to navigate difficult conversations with patients. She shares anecdotes illustrating the impact of effective communication and the challenges inherent in delivering bad news. In her current role, Amy offers individualized training and support to improve communication skills. Drawing from personal experiences, including the loss of her sister to a rare illness, Amy emphasizes the unpredictability of life's challenges and the importance of accepting and preparing for difficult circumstances. She emphasizes the need for empathy and understanding in healthcare, acknowledging the emotional toll on both patients and providers. Amy's commitment to improving communication in medicine reflects a broader societal need for compassionate and empathetic care. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2104812/14515794 My episode on her podcast The Savvy Communicator. @savvycommunicator on all social media Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 How to Make Hard Choices at the End of Life with Chaplain Hank Dunn 43:23
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text My guest in this episode is Chaplain Hank Dunn. Hank is an ordained healthcare chaplain, bestselling author, and speaker who, for more than 30 years, has been helping patients and their families as they struggle with end-of-life decisions. In this episode emphasizes the importance of understanding these treatments as they may not always align with what's best at the end of life. His experience as a nursing home chaplain led to his involvement in ethical committees, especially after Virginia passed a Natural Death Act, granting patients the right to refuse treatment and have advanced directives. He began educating families about treatment options, which led to the creation of a booklet. Despite initial reluctance from the ethics committee, research on CPR outcomes prompted the production of "Hard Choices for Loving People," addressing the complexities of end-of-life decisions. He emphasizes that end-of-life decisions are not solely medical but also emotional and spiritual, requiring individuals to let go and accept the inevitability of death. He stresses the importance of palliative care, which focuses on comfort and symptom alleviation at any stage of illness. Feeding tubes, hospitalization, and transitioning to hospice are major decisions discussed in his book. He addresses misconceptions about hospice, illustrating its role in prioritizing comfort over futile treatments. Orders such as "do not hospitalize" offer patients and families more control and thoughtful consideration in their care decisions. www.hankdunn.com https://www.amazon.com/Hard-Choices-Loving-People-Palliative https://www.amazon.com/Light-Shadows-Meditations-Life-Threatening-Illness Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Lessons Learned from a Personal Loss Part 2 44:43
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Following the decision, I prioritized my aunt's comfort as we prepared to remove her oxygen support. The nurse and I made her as comfortable as possible, opting for comfort care with a touch of morphine to ease her pain. Reflecting on the day, I found solace in the serenity of the room. With all distractions muted, I held her hand, conveying love and reassurance, even reading aloud from "A Wrinkle in Time.”Despite initial hesitation, the book's themes of fear and acceptance resonated, offering a parallel to our shared journey. Reading aloud connected us, grounding me in the moment. As her breath stilled, I comforted her, echoing the words of my grandmother. Watching her peaceful transition, I reflected on life's transient nature, finding solace in the beauty of her final moments. Reflecting on her life, I found comfort in knowing I was there for her. Despite the sadness, I was so happy to be with her for her final moments. Looking back, I realize now that I should have asked earlier for palliative care involvement, recognizing the value of open communication and advocacy in ensuring a peaceful transition. Having navigated my aunt's journey, I emphasize the significance of candid conversations about end-of-life wishes, underscoring the importance of support and preparation. In the days after, I confronted layered emotions, finding solace in shared memories and the opportunity to honor loved ones' legacies. Reflecting on our time together, I cherish the memories and the enduring impact of her smile, finding comfort in the shared moments that define our bond. Grief is a complex journey, yet amid the pain, I find solace in the shared memories and the enduring connections that transcend life's final moments. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/14343949 Episode with Barbara Karnes that I referenced in this episode. Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Lessons Learned from a Personal Loss Part 1 42:03
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In the latest episode, I share a personal experience of losing my aunt after her two-week stay in the ICU. Despite being familiar with medical procedures from my volunteer work, seeing a loved one in that setting was different. I remember walking into the ICU and hardly recognizing her. During her last days, the hospital ensured her comfort, although it was tough seeing her struggle. I had discussions with the palliative care team and understood the gravity of her condition. Reflecting on this experience, I realize how knowledge and preparation eased the process for both my aunt and me. Being informed empowered me to navigate difficult decisions, even though they weren't mine to make, I was able to advocate to have her wishes followed. As her condition deteriorated, we allowed nature to take its course. It's a reminder of the importance of palliative care and having these conversations at any stage of illness. Ultimately, we liberated her from the medical interventions that sustained her life. It's a term I learned from my mentor, Ali, which reframes the act of letting go as setting the person free. This experience has taught me the significance of being present during the end of life, embracing the discomfort, and finding solace in the knowledge that we did our best for our loved ones. Next week I will finish up the story about my experience. The episode of Seeing Death Clearly with my mentor Alison Kepple https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/13062233 Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Navigating Loss and Embracing Life Again with Marie Scott 41:42
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Marie Scott, the Creator and Founder of Happy and Healthy After Widowhood boasts an impressive resume as a best-selling author of three published books, with two more in the pipeline. She's also recognized internationally as a speaker and holds certifications as a Health and Grief Coach. Following the loss of Dave, her husband of three decades, and her mother in the same year, Marie pursued education, laying the groundwork for her life-changing program: the 7 Steps to Healing After Loss. This roadmap offers guidance to widows and widowers, aiming to help them lead fulfilling lives filled with wellness, laughter, and the possibility of love once again. Dave's battle with esophageal cancer was a poignant chapter, defined by his choice to prioritize quality of life over aggressive treatment. Through functional medicine, Marie addressed her own health issues, underscoring the transformative power of dietary choices. Amidst the dual loss of her husband and mother to Alzheimer's, Marie found solace in practices like journaling and meditation. These experiences birthed the seven steps to healing, advocating for nurturing relationships and discovering new avenues of purpose. Now embracing life with Jeff, Marie finds joy in shared interests like hunting, and savoring each moment together. Her journey stands as a testament to resilience, offering hope, gratitude, and encouragement to those navigating life's challenges after loss. Website https://www.mariescottwellness.com/ My Top 10 Grief-Busting Tips https://www.mariescottwellness.com/media Happy & Healthy after Widowhood / Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/happyandhealthywidow/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mariescottwellness / LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariescottwellness/ Contact https://www.mariescottwellness.com/contact The book is referenced in the podcast episode. Being Mortal by Atul Gawande htt Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Grief, Culture, and Mental Health with Meloney Hendricks 45:49
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Meloney, a first-generation BVI islander from Tortola in the Caribbean, shares her unique cultural background, heavily influenced by her Jamaican roots. She highlights the diverse religious and cultural landscape of Jamaica, including the presence of various ethnicities and religions. Despite being predominantly Christian, Jamaican culture is a fusion of different beliefs and practices. She delves into the intersection of Christianity and African spirituality in her upbringing, emphasizing the blend of Christian teachings with African rituals like Obia or Voodoo. Meloney recounts her experiences with death, particularly the tradition of "nine nights" celebrations before funerals, where families gather to honor the deceased with food, music, and storytelling, turning grief into a celebration of life. Reflecting on encounters with spirits, Meloney shares anecdotes from her life, including sightings of black bats symbolizing departed spirits and eerie experiences in church. She discusses the significance of facing mortality and the fear of unfinished business, drawing from personal struggles and losses in her journey toward mental health advocacy. Meloney candidly discusses her battle with bipolar disorder and the impact of witnessing classmates' suicides. These experiences prompted her to create a safe space through her blog, "The Between and the Rocks," where she promotes mental health awareness and offers support to others facing similar challenges. Additionally, Meloney is a serial entrepreneur and a devoted mother, cherishing her role as a parent despite past traumas like miscarriages and the loss of her child's father. In the face of grief and loss, Meloney finds solace in memories and acknowledges the bittersweetness of remembrance. She concludes by emphasizing the importance of embracing life's uncertainties and cherishing every moment, guided by the understanding that while death is inevitable, the way we choose to live is within our control. Blog: www.dopamineontherocks.com Facebook.com/dopamineontherocks Instagram.com/dopamineontherocks Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Embracing Life Through Grief with Dr. Kim Harms 43:25
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Dr. Kim Harms has encountered numerous challenges throughout her 67 years. She endured the tragic losses of her mother, son, and husband, all to different circumstances. These losses prompted her to delve into the topic of death, exploring how individuals manage it and the impact it has on their lives. In her reflections, Kim highlights the unexpected nature of grief, especially when it comes to losing a child. She emphasizes the importance of confronting grief head-on and not allowing it to consume one's life. Kim observes societal attitudes toward death, noting a prevalent sense of control and avoidance, particularly in Western culture. Through her experiences and observations, Kim advocates for embracing life with joy, even in the face of grief. She stresses the significance of cherishing moments with loved ones and fostering connections. Kim shares insights from her journey of healing and encourages others to navigate their grief with resilience. In her book, Kim explores the concept of legacy, emphasizing the impact of everyday interactions on shaping one's legacy. She delves into discussions about death and dying, challenging common fears and misconceptions. Drawing from diverse perspectives, she encourages open dialogue about the end of life and practical preparations for it. Kim shares personal anecdotes, including her husband's peaceful passing and her son's impactful funeral, which brought communities together in support. She discusses forgiveness and reconciliation as essential aspects of coping with loss and fostering healing. Ultimately, Kim's message is one of hope and empowerment, urging individuals to confront their mortality with courage and preparation. Her book serves as a guide for navigating the complexities of grief and preparing for the inevitable, offering practical advice and heartfelt reflections. https://www.drkimberlyharms.com/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CHG23HD5 drkim@pinelakelawfirm.com Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
Send us a text Isabel Knight, also known as The Death Designer, operates a unique business focused on end-of-life planning. She employs principles of human-centered design to assist individuals in navigating the complexities of death care. This approach involves co-creating systems and products with users to ensure they meet their needs effectively. Isabel emphasizes the importance of making death care more human-centered, aiming to alleviate the stress and confusion often associated with the process. She guides people in obtaining death certificates, understanding funeral options, and initiating difficult conversations about end-of-life preferences. Isabel acknowledges that her clientele extends beyond those planning for themselves to include caregivers and family members of terminally ill individuals. She observes a cultural reluctance to engage in discussions about death, which she attributes to societal attitudes toward self-worth and aging. Isabel challenges these perceptions, advocating for the celebration of individuals' lives and the recognition of caregiving as a reciprocal act. In addition to her consultations, Isabel advocates for more sustainable and inclusive practices within the death care industry. She discusses alternative methods of disposition, such as water cremation and natural organic reduction, which offer environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional burial and cremation. Isabel also addresses the need for greater inclusivity in death care, particularly for marginalized communities like the polyamorous and non-monogamous. Through workshops and collaborative initiatives, Isabel facilitates discussions among diverse groups to identify gaps and biases in existing death care systems. By centering the experiences of vulnerable populations, she aims to create resources that benefit everyone. Isabel emphasizes the collective wisdom of communities in shaping more equitable and compassionate approaches to death care. https://www.open-love.org/end-of-life-planning https://www.thedeathdesigner.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thedeathdesigner/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 From Addiction to Empowerment: Jen Henry's Journey of Lifestyle Recovery 50:18
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Jen Henry was born and raised in Riverside, California, where she still resides. Her mission, which she refers to as lifestyle recovery, stems from her upbringing as an only child, where everything was handed to her without understanding the value of need or want. Despite having both parents, she felt disconnected and misunderstood, with her emotional intensity often overwhelming those around her. Tragedy struck early in Jen's life with the loss of numerous family members and friends, leading her to question the purpose of life and indulge in reckless behaviors, including drug use. Despite her intelligence and early academic prowess, she found herself bored and disconnected in school, eventually succumbing to substance abuse by her teenage years. Jen's descent into addiction led to a cycle of arrests and incarcerations, which she initially saw as a form of salvation but ultimately realized worsened her situation. Despite attempts at rehabilitation through programs like Alcoholics Anonymous, she struggled with codependency and a lack of self-identity, leading to relapses and further turmoil. Over the past 13 years, Jen has navigated the challenges of choosing life over addiction, grappling with existential questions and shifting her perspective on death. She acknowledges the support of her ancestors and believes in their continued presence, guiding her through life's struggles. Despite skepticism from others, Jen's beliefs have propelled her to success, including financial stability, entrepreneurial ventures, and recognition as a bestselling author and motivational speaker. She urges others to focus on what they can control in life, rather than dwelling on external factors beyond their influence. https://www.unleashingresilience.com Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 From ER Physician to Life Coach with Dr. Iris Van Nespen 38:14
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Meet Iris Van Nespen, a Belgian emergency room physician turned life coach. She's on a mission to help women, and people in general, reclaim their joy and self-acceptance. Iris emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's own beauty, believing that it leads to a more fulfilling life and, ultimately, contributes to world peace. Iris delves into the challenge of judgment, both self-judgment and judging others. Drawing from her experience in the emergency room, she emphasizes the need for compassion, especially for patients. Her self-discovery and awareness journey have led her to a more compassionate approach, influencing those around her to do the same. Reflecting on the healthcare system, Iris sheds light on the paradox doctors face—being overworked, lacking psychological training, and losing a sense of self. She shares a personal story about ignoring health concerns due to her dedication to work, emphasizing the importance of self-care for healthcare professionals. Iris passionately advocates for a shift towards understanding the reasons behind people's behaviors rather than passing judgment. She touches on the disconnect from nature and the profound impact it has on mental health. Iris encourages reconnecting with the beauty of the planet and embracing our role as part of nature's cycle. In a poignant moment, Iris shares her experience harvesting apples in France, underscoring the abundance of beauty in the world that often goes unnoticed. Her message resonates with the essence of being present, appreciating life's moments, and acknowledging our interconnectedness with the planet. Iris van Nispen's journey, from emergency room physician to life coach, highlights the transformative power of self-awareness and compassion. Her insights provide a roadmap for listeners to reclaim joy, foster understanding, and contribute to a more harmonious world. https://linktr.ee/reclaimyoursparkle https://www.facebook.com/irisvannespen Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Soul Injury at the End of Life with Deborah Grassman 39:12
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text My guest this week is Deborah Grassman and for 30 years, she served as a hospice nurse practitioner within the Department of Veterans Affairs. While trained as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, her focus shifted towards hospice care, where she unearthed a unique revelation about trauma's transformation at life's end, an aspect not formally identified before. In her discussions, she shed light on the distinct challenges veterans faced during their end-of-life reflections, often linked to military service, moral injuries, and life reviews. Veterans exhibited unique needs, and her observations prompted the Hospice Veteran Partnership, later adopted by NHPCO. Her journey accelerated into webinars, films, books, and nationwide training, emphasizing veterans' distinctive end-of-life experiences. She founded a non-profit, Opus Peace, addressing unexplored aspects of trauma at life's end. Veterans expressed not only PTSD but also a deeper soul injury, feeling lost or disconnected. Recognizing a pattern, she termed it a "soul injury," a wound separating individuals from their authentic selves. Stoic facades often crumbled at life's end, revealing three impediments: unwarned loss and hurt, unforgiven guilt and shame, and fear of helplessness and loss of control. Recognizing these, her mission became helping people heal their relationship with themselves. Opus Peace, her non-profit, aimed to propagate the soul injury message, offering tools and concepts. Two books, "Peace at Last" (focused on veterans) and "The Hero Within," focused on healing one's internal hero, could be accessed on their website. Opus Peace conducted four-day virtual training sessions, providing resources for workshops on soul injury. Online courses, titled "MasterPEACE," covered various topics and holistic tools, making education accessible. Donations were encouraged to support their pioneering work. https://opuspeace.org/ https://courses.opuspeace.org/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Menopause Awareness and Coping with Loss with Brenda Pollack 41:24
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Meet Brenda, a Londoner who, at 59, has dedicated most of her career to the charity sector, specifically working with Friends of the Earth, an environmental lobbying organization. Around four or five years ago, Brenda faced a challenging period at work, compounded by issues with her eye health and the onset of menopause. This stress took a toll on her physical health, leading to a month-long absence from work, during which she struggled to eat and experienced an undiagnosed illness. Reflecting on this stressful time, Brenda and her husband now believe it was primarily stress-related. This experience served as a wake-up call, prompting Brenda to delve into self-development, counseling, and coaching sessions provided by her workplace. Finding coaching immensely helpful, she decided to retrain as a coach and well-being trainer, specializing in mental health awareness, menopause awareness, and stress management. Transitioning into her mid-fifties, Brenda embraced a new career path, focusing on one-on-one coaching sessions and workshops that empower individuals to plan for their future and approach menopause positively. She also emphasizes the diversity of experiences during menopause, acknowledging that each person is unique. Brenda discusses her experiences with grief, having faced the loss of her parents, highlighting the different dynamics of grieving for a mother versus a brother. She emphasizes the importance of dealing with grief in a thoughtful and resilient manner, drawing on the tools she has developed through her own stress management and mental health awareness work. Having navigated grief personally, Brenda values open conversations about the universal human experience of loss. She recognizes the privilege of having had a strong relationship with her parents and aims to instill gratitude in her own children for the positive experiences they share as a family. As Brenda approaches her 60th birthday, she reflects on the changing perspectives that come with age. Her newfound sense of purpose and the skills she has acquired allow her to view life with optimism and the belief that doors can open even in later stages. Brenda acknowledges the importance of discussing topics like grief openly and appreciates platforms like podcasts for providing valuable insights into the diverse ways people cope with life's challenges. https://stresslesscoach.co.uk/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 The Evolution of End-of-Life Care with Barbara Karnes 44:39
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In the 1970s, Elizabeth Kubler Ross and Dame Cicely Saunders revolutionized our approach to death. While Kubler Ross emphasized the neglect of the dying in America, Saunders proposed a novel philosophy with her Hospice program. The focus shifted from mere medical treatment to a holistic approach of embracing life during the dying process. Our guest, Barbara Karnes, a registered nurse, embarked on her hospice journey driven by Saunders' vision. Inspired by the idea of creating a space for living, Barbara started volunteering for hospice. The original essence of hospice, existing outside the medical model, has been gradually absorbed, and Barbara sees the emergence of end-of-life doulas as a refreshing return to that independent, compassionate approach. She envisions a future where end-of-life doulas integrate into the hospice model, providing the crucial gift of time that medical professionals often lack. Barbara emphasizes the importance of educating communities about the distinctive role of doulas, urging them to connect with churches, senior citizen communities, and nursing facilities. The conversation delves into the societal perception of death as a medical emergency and the reluctance to let go. Barbara advocates for a shift in mindset, facilitated through community education and open dialogue about death. She believes that normalizing death will lead to a more balanced approach to living. Reflecting on historical shifts in how death is handled, Barbara notes a cyclical pattern. From deaths at home to hospital settings and now a return to a preference for dying at home, education plays a crucial role in shaping societal attitudes. She encourages parents to discuss death openly with their children, contributing to a more informed and accepting future. Barbara's philosophy underscores life as a continual learning process, emphasizing the importance of expressing love regularly. Drawing parallels between life's tightrope walk and our attempts to balance experiences, she stresses the significance of never leaving words unspoken. In the realm of end-of-life care, expressing love becomes a profound and essential practice, echoing the fundamental truth that life is, indeed, a school of learning. https://bkbooks.com/ for all of Barbara's books and resources https://www.instagram.com/barbarakarnesrn/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 End-of-Life Conversations with Elder Care Coordinators Kathleen MaGee and Chelsea Duckers 47:05
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text My guests today are Kathleen McGee, Elder Care Coordinator and Director of Care Coordination at Rothkoff Law Group and Chelsea Duckers, one of the care coordinators at Rothkoff Law Group. In an ideal world, we'd all proactively plan for future challenges, especially as our needs change with age. Reality often sees us facing issues reactively. Rothkoff clients range from those in good health to those in crisis, spanning the entire spectrum. From recognizing fall risks and home modifications for the healthy and independent, to navigating hospital stays and acute healthcare changes for those in crisis, our care coordination steps in at every stage. Since the pandemic, they have noticed a positive shift. More people are coming in earlier, expressing a desire to plan ahead rather than waiting for a crisis. The uncertainty and fear during the pandemic have normalized conversations around death, prompting earlier considerations for end-of-life planning. The pandemic served as a stark reminder that unexpected health challenges can happen at any age. While discussing death remains a societal taboo, the pandemic forced us to confront the idea, challenging us to be a part of our own conversations and make our wishes known. It emphasized the importance of early planning to avoid emotional decision-making during crises. There is a cultural discomfort with openly discussing death, a discomfort that Rothkoff Law Group aims to alleviate through education around death. Kathleen and Chelsea encourage families to select agents confidently and have conversations with loved ones to avoid the shock of discovering unspoken wishes during times of crisis. While we understand the societal aversion to discussing death, embracing these conversations can lead to a healthier relationship with the idea of mortality. Creating a dialogue around death can have a profound impact on living more present and fulfilling lives. It's an ongoing journey towards breaking the stigma and embracing the inevitability of death with grace and preparedness. Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
Send us a text In this episode, my guest is Narinder Bazen, founder of the Nine Keys Death Midwifery Apprenticeship. In her twenties as a Kundalini yoga and meditation teacher, Narinder found herself officiating weddings, blessing babies, and attending deaths within her community. Embracing her mystic roots, she began offering death care, grief care, and trauma care. Our discussion evolves into the challenges of death work in a society that often views it as women's work, carried out freely without adequate support or compensation. We talk about the current state of holistic death care and Narinder raises concerns about their sustainability, noting a lack of real support and financial viability. There is a need for a fundamental shift in the narrative around death work. Narinder advocates for acknowledging the financial realities, addressing systemic pressures, and ensuring that death workers can find sustainability in their vital roles emphasizing the urgency to reevaluate and rework the systems for a more effective and sustainable future. https://www.narinderbazen.com/ https://www.instagram.com/narinder.bazen.death.life Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 End-of-2023 Reflections and Our Personal Journey with Stephen Wilson 55:30
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this end-of-2023 episode, my husband Stephen Wilson takes on the role of interviewer, leading a conversation where we explore our intertwined paths and how they've led us to appreciate life's impermanence. Drawing parallels with our careers in food service, we find beauty in life's temporary nature. The conversation turns personal as we discuss our polyamorous lifestyle and the complexities of navigating aging and end-of-life discussions with multiple partners, prompting introspection on relationships and priorities. I ask Stephen questions about life, death, and the impact of our discussions on his perspective. The dialogue delves into the intricacies of relationships and the uncharted territory of discussing end-of-life matters with partners. I am taking a break for the rest of December 2023, I'll return with a new episode on January 7th, 2024. Don't miss the upcoming announcements for 2024 offerings by signing up for my newsletter. The link is in the show notes, where you can also grab a copy of my free workbook Living a Better Life . If you are looking for a small business to support this holiday season, you can subscribe to the paid subscription feature or make a one-time donation to me using Venmo. I hope everyone has a safe holiday season and I will be back in 2024! Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Hospice Realities and End of Life Reflections with Patricia Ayers 45:50
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Patricia Ayers is the Director of Clinical Services at Coras Wellness & Behavioral Health and she spent several years working for hospice and home care agencies. Eventually, she found herself teaching hospice at Stockton University for nine years, a role that she thoroughly enjoyed. In this episode we talk about how people misunderstand hospice, thinking it's a place to go rather than a program that comes to you wherever you are. Learning about hospice sparked her interest because it seemed like a program everyone should know about. She taught it as a general studies course, attracting students from nursing, physical therapy, mental health, psychology, and social work backgrounds. Over the years, the class gained popularity, and many students found it beneficial, particularly nursing students who faced a significant hospice component in their certifications. A recurring frustration in her work was witnessing clients sent home on hospice without a clear understanding of what they were signing up for. This lack of communication often led to tense situations when the hospice team explained the program, and families were caught off guard. Sometimes, clients were discharged too late, almost actively dying, causing confusion and distress for families. One crucial point often overlooked is the relationship between pain and survival. Pain can keep individuals alive due to anxiety, and providing pain control allows them to relax, offering a chance for a peaceful passing. Unfortunately, families often misunderstood this, thinking the team had hastened the process. The lack of clear communication about hospice and the reluctance to address death in our society bothered her. Patients and families were denied the opportunity to have important conversations and prepare for the inevitable. She designed an exercise for her students to simulate doctor-patient conversations about terminal diagnoses, highlighting the difficulty on both sides. Patients often had questions about their treatment, side effects, and how it would affect their quality of life. However, discussions about timeframes and how to talk to their families remained challenging for both doctors and patients. Our society tends to avoid discussions about death, preferring to place individuals in nursing homes or hospitals rather than allowing the natural process to unfold at home. This episode emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and accepting the natural progression of life. Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Resilience and Relationships: Navigating Life's Challenges with Nancy Alterman 40:55
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In today's episode my guest is Nancy Alterman, a therapist with a focus on helping adults navigate relationship challenges. Nancy believes that nothing matters more in life than our relationships. She brings a wealth of experience, with over 35 years dedicated to families facing medical crisis. Nancy emphasizes the immediate impact of clear objectives in the improvement process. Her expertise lies in strengthening communication and coping skills, guiding clients to address unresolved relationship struggles amid life's overwhelming difficulties. One key aspect of Nancy's journey stems from a profound loss at the age of 12 when her mother passed away. This experience set her on a path to explore grief-related careers. Despite the challenges of early isolation, she found purpose in supporting others through geriatric care management and addressing various life changes beyond death. A recurring theme in Nancy's work revolves around helping individuals live life to the fullest without regrets. Drawing from her own experiences, she encourages families to establish a support system to avoid isolation and remorse. Her unique perspective, shaped by personal loss and resilience, provides invaluable insights into aging, caregiving, and end-of-life issues, particularly in the context of Alzheimer's and dementia care. Incorporating a spiritual practice into her life has been transformative for Nancy. She believes in the energy of creation, finding comfort and guidance in accepting outcomes beyond her control. This perspective allows her to be present for those who are suffering, a significant contribution rooted in her memories of isolation during grief. As a therapist, Nancy's skills in suspending personal agendas, cultivating curiosity, and asking insightful questions shine through. She highlights the importance of not being overly eager or invested in a specific agenda during the therapeutic process, allowing individuals to discover their own wisdom. Join us as Nancy shares her wisdom on topics such as aging, emotional health, well-being, and self-care. Learn how her unique journey has shaped a compassionate approach to helping others navigate the challenges of aging, death, and caregiving, ensuring they can face these realities with greater understanding and without regrets. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/nancy-m-alterman-lcsw-cherry-hill-nj/220502 Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 From Loss to Big Life Magic with Debra Lynne Driscoll 43:31
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this podcast episode, we talk with Deb Driscoll, an author, spiritual teacher, and speaker, whose life has been a testament to the transformative power hidden within profound loss. Deb's story is about the heart-breaking tragedy of losing her 10-year-old son, Sage, a pivotal moment that shattered her world and set her on an unexpected path of healing and growth. As Deb shares her personal evolution through grief, the importance of embracing loss not merely as a source of pain but as a profound opportunity for personal growth. She found solace in the idea that the healing journey is not a fixed destination but a continuous process. Deb's work, rooted in Heart Repair and the transformation from big life loss to what she terms as "BIG LIFE MAGIC," highlights the intricate connection between significant loss and profound personal growth. She believes that our big life losses, whether through death, divorce, diagnosis, or unrealized dreams, offer a pathway to discovering the magic within ourselves. The podcast also delves into the importance of preparing for grief and loss in advance, acknowledging the difficulty of conversations about life, death, grief, love, and joy. Deb shares a story about her sister's end-of-life journey, emphasizing the crucial role of open dialogues in building resilience when facing significant life losses. Debra Driscoll's journey serves as a beacon for those navigating the complexities of grief, illustrating how turning loss into Big Life Magic is not only possible but a profound opportunity for self-discovery and transformation. Through intuitive guidance, spiritual practice, and storytelling, Deb invites others to tap into their own magic, believing that in doing so, they can become not only the best healers for themselves but also for others. Ultimately, her message resonates with the idea that every loss or challenge offers a lesson, an opportunity to strengthen our energetic hearts, and invite more love and magic into our lives. Website - https://biglifemagic.com/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/BigLifeMagic IG @biglifemagic Book: A Series of Surrenders - https://bit.ly/ASeriesofSurrenderstheBook A FREE resource for listeners. Heart TRepair Meditation & Journal Prompts - https://bit.ly/HeartRepairHelp Big Life Magic Member Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 The Spiritual Journey: From Faith to Fluidity with Eryn Johnson 43:10
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this episode, I have a conversation with Eryn Johnson, a Philadelphia-based writer and facilitator, about her journey from a religious upbringing to her current spiritual beliefs. Eryn, whose work has graced publications like Well + Good, Insider, and Tilted House Magazine, brings a unique perspective to her exploration of queerness, mental health, spirituality, and healing. Eryn's background is rooted in a Southern Baptist Christian environment, where faith played a central role in her life. She shares how growing up with a strong belief in God and a family whose core values were deeply entwined with Christianity profoundly shaped her worldview. We explore how religious beliefs can be a source of both comfort and anxiety. Eryn shares her journey of transitioning away from her faith, which began during high school she discovered new spiritual practices, such as yoga and tarot, embarking on a path of spiritual exploration. One key message that emerges from our conversation is the importance of fluidity and openness in Eryn's evolving spirituality. Her current beliefs encompass the idea that individuals return to the universe or energy after death, with potential connections to the energy of ancestors. She believes in souls embarking on a journey, processing, and reflecting on life. Our discussion sheds light on the complexity of religious upbringing, the transformative power of personal exploration, and the significance of finding one's unique spiritual path. It encourages listeners to reflect on their own beliefs and the meaning they choose to create in their lives. Eryn also offers facilitation services, specializing in supporting individuals, especially those from religious backgrounds they've shed, in embracing their emotions, connecting with their bodies, and fully embodying themselves. Eryn's training in trauma-informed care, breathwork, yoga, meditation, and energy work equips them to provide valuable support. For those interested in Eryn's work, they have developed a "religious trauma workbook" available on their website, designed to help individuals reclaim their autonomy from dogmatic religious experiences. Eryn is also available for facilitating breathwork in retreats and groups. If you'd like to contact Eryn or learn more about their services, you can contact them at erynjohnsonfreelance@gmail.com. https://joynotes.substack.com/ https://erynjohnson.com/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Transforming End of Life Through Yoga and Service with Jeanette Sealy 41:24
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Jeanette Sealy, a dedicated Yoga Therapist, loving mother of four, and a veteran of the United States Air Force, is on a mission to bring healing and transformation to people's lives. Her profound personal journey through complex trauma has given her a deep understanding of the healing potential of Yoga and Ayurveda. Since 1993, she has been unwaveringly committed to exploring the science of Yoga. As an Internationally Certified Yoga Therapist, Licensed Massage Therapist, and Transformational Retreat Leader, she is the founder of Metta Bhav, a School Of Yoga Therapy, Ayurveda, and Thai Massage. Jeanette is also a death doula and Ayurvedic postpartum doula, using her wisdom and compassion to guide others on their path to healing and an extraordinary quality of life. After becoming a hospice volunteer, Jeanette quickly fell in love with the sense of purpose, the people she met, and the profound impact she could have on their lives. It wasn't just a job for her; it was a profound calling. For 26 years, she dedicated herself to working in various healthcare settings, including nursing homes, hospice, and long-term care. Already a dedicated yoga practitioner, she introduced the healing power of yoga to the populations she served. In 2003, she embarked on a transformative journey to become a certified yoga therapist, aiming to learn techniques for bringing yoga to individuals, even those on their deathbeds. In Jeanette's perspective, yoga is not limited to modern postural practices but is a holistic system of teachings and practices designed to help individuals find inner peace and self-discovery. This journey led her to transition away from the corporate healthcare world and focus on working one-on-one with individuals in grief support. Today, she wears multiple hats as a yoga therapist, Ayurvedic doula, and massage therapist. Yet, her overarching mission remains constant across her many roles: helping people tap into their inner resources and discover their true selves, thereby empowering them to make more informed choices in life. https://www.jeanettesealy.com https://www.instagram.com/jeanettesealy https://www.facebook.com/jeanettesealyyoga Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Embracing Grief and Finding Healing with Samantha Ruth 40:01
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Our guest, Sam Ruth, originally from Michigan but now in Colorado, shares her journey as a psychologist, author, and speaker. She met her husband in Michigan at 24, and they reconnected later but tragically, he passed away in Colorado at 46, just four years later. Sam turned to nature and the beauty of Colorado to heal. Sam's deep connection to spirituality emerged following her loss. In her work as a psychologist, Sam encounters many individuals dealing with practical and financial aspects following a loss. She encourages people of all ages to consider these matters, even if it's not a pleasant topic to dwell on. Her husband's logical approach to these matters and planning ahead brought her some comfort when she needed it most. Sam, a naturally restless thinker, initially struggled with meditation and yoga. Unable to even read, she turned to audiobooks while walking her dog, hoping to find some relief. She ventured into meditation, vision boards, and other unconventional methods. Over time, she transformed as a person, incorporating meditation as a non-negotiable routine in her life. Recognizing the need for support after her loss, Sam created a community called " Griefhab ." Drawing on her background as a psychologist, she designed this community to provide the support she couldn't find elsewhere. It offers a safe space for healing, where individuals are encouraged to heal in their unique ways. Sam also shares resources and support through her website, SamanthaRuth.com, where you can find her books, tools, and tips. samantharuth.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/griefhab7/ https://samantharuth.com/team-ruthless https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-be-ruthless-show/id1554585454 https://mailchi.mp/744821c8f40c/healing-together-through-the-holidays?fbclid=IwAR3KTxKiLb0Qo30FLqviSze22eZtXO-CtjinnSkHqP7nX1SXO_7LrPJc9Eo Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
Send us a text This week, we're deviating from our usual guest interviews due to a hectic week. Sometimes, life throws unexpected challenges our way. One such challenge happened to me recently when my minivan was struck by a drunk driver. It could have been much worse, but we're grateful that no one was hurt. This incident reaffirmed my deep appreciation for life and the importance of living in the moment. I've always emphasized the significance of mindfulness and death awareness, and this experience underscored their value. By practicing mindfulness and contemplating death, we can better grasp what truly matters in life. The accident and not getting an episode done made me realize that getting stressed over minor inconveniences doesn't serve us. In the past, I might have been anxious about not meeting expectations, but I've learned that it's okay to let go of that stress and focus on what's genuinely important. I will also be taking a break in December, as both my children have birthdays and we celebrate Christmas. It's a time for reflection and spending time with loved ones. But don't worry; we'll be back in January with season 2 and some exciting guests. Thank you for your support and understanding, and remember to cherish every moment. You can subscribe to our podcast and support us financially to keep it ad-free. Your contribution, whether big or small, is greatly appreciated. You'll find the subscription link in the show notes, and you can make a one-time contribution via Venmo. Thank you for being part of our "Seeing Death Clearly" community, and we can't wait to reconnect with you in the upcoming episodes. Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Grief, Self-Discovery, and Healing with Tony Lynch 42:46
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this podcast episode, I'm joined by Tony Lynch, the founder of The Global Grief Network, a worldwide community of grief workers, mental health practitioners, and coaches. This community is all about raising awareness, sharing knowledge, and providing support to each other. During our conversation, Tony shares his personal journey of spiritual growth, self-acceptance, and self-discovery, all while facing the challenges of grief. We delve into the importance of self-reflection, understanding the origins of our habits, and the crucial process of addressing trauma and mental health issues. Tony embraces diverse backgrounds and beliefs, promoting acceptance. He emphasizes the value of learning from others, regardless of their beliefs, and suggests that incorporating positive aspects from various belief systems can make us more enlightened individuals. Tony advocates for everyone to embark on a journey of self-discovery. Over time, we accumulate habits from our surroundings that may no longer serve us as we grow older. Digging deep within ourselves helps us understand why certain habits no longer work and allows for personal growth. Addressing trauma, PTSD, and mental health issues is essential, and it's never too late to heal and grow. This process has provided Tony with a better understanding of his past, present, and future. Tony's work with men, helping them break free from mental struggles and witnessing their healing process, brings him immense joy. This work fills his heart with gratitude, making him both personally and altruistically fulfilled. https://www.facebook.com/griefsupportformen Fb- The Global Grief Network https://www.facebook.com/groups/695890305913338 Ig- https://www.instagram.com/mensgriefsupport/ Linkedin- https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-lynch-8035b6173/ LinkedIn group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14250521/ Podcast host - Grief Let’s Talk About It podcast -YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@griefletstalkaboutit/videos #1 international Amazon best-selling Author - Relentless -Stories of Overcoming Adversity Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 From Grief to Spiritual Awakening with Casey Stevens 45:15
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text My guest this week is Casey Stevens. We had a heartwarming conversation about her incredible journey. High school was a turning point in her life, marked by a profound loss and her parents played a pivotal role in helping her navigate this grief by openly discussing death and grieving. This experience, along with her volunteer work with people at the end of life, set her on a path to a career in spiritual psychology. Casey helps others break free from unproductive patterns and undergo radical transformations through conscious awakening. Casey cherishes the memories of her great-grandmothers, who provided a strong presence during her childhood. When a close friend tragically took her own life in high school, Casey's parents supported her through the grief. They created space for her to process her emotions and involved teachers and friends in commemorating the friend's life. Her mom's deep bond with her grandmother and her subsequent grief taught Casey the importance of openly sharing emotions. Her mother's willingness to talk about her sadness helped Casey process her own feelings. During her school years, Casey engaged in community service and had a significant encounter with a hospice for people with HIV/AIDS. This experience had a profound impact, influencing her decision to pursue a career in psychology later in life. She also shared a unique connection with an individual at Bailey-Boushay House in Seattle during her high school years. Despite his preference for solitude, they formed an extraordinary bond and had meaningful conversations. This experience helped Casey appreciate the value of human connection and the positive impact of giving one's time to help others. You can find Casey by following the links below. https://www.instagram.com/shrinkbigger/ https://linktr.ee/shrinkbigger Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 A Unique Perspective on Death with Nadia Krauss 47:51
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Nadia grew up in a family of spiritual seekers who openly discussed death. They believed that death wasn't an end but a transition to another dimension. Her mother's peaceful passing in October 2020 was a result of their many conversations about death, making it less frightening. Her goal today is to stress the importance of open conversations about death to make it less scary and traumatic. Often, society disconnects from discussions about death, grieving, and building meaningful relationships while we're alive. Her mother and she reconciled in her last ten years, despite past struggles. Her mother's sudden decline was a shock. In just six weeks, she went from a robust state to passing due to leukemia. It was peaceful; they opted out of chemo as per her wishes. They rushed to her side, and she knew she had to be there for her. Witnessing her departure was profound. Her mother's passing seemed like her soul's choice, and it happened swiftly. She waited for them, and as they entered her room, her eyes opened. Everyone experiences death differently; there's no right or wrong. The message of the podcast is vital – discussing death and preparing for it through conversations can prevent trauma. Her mother's transition was an enlightening experience, contrary to societal norms. She left with peace, love, and a sense of rapture. Her father's death contrasted sharply. His life took a solitary path due to his self-fulfilling prophecy. He died alone, isolated from loved ones. Forgiveness work allowed them to heal, but his transition was a relief. This journey of acceptance and understanding brings her peace. Death is a unique experience for everyone, and openness can help us navigate it with grace. Nadia's podcast episode with Jill #11 Death’s Sacred Medicine with Jill McClennen | Soul Health Mentor Contact Nadia through her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/nadiaskrauss Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
Send us a text In this episode, I spoke with Bryan Adler, an elder care attorney from the Rothkoff Law Group. My curiosity about elder care law grew when I began working as a death doula, and I was eager to learn more from Bryan. Bryan shared that their firm, the Rothkoff Law Group, is committed to educating the public about issues related to the elderly and the professionals who assist them. When someone reaches out to them, whether it's a family member or the individual themselves, they often have concerns about a loved one's health or aging-related conditions. They may receive a diagnosis and be unsure of how to proceed. In such cases, the firm's team conducts a phone consultation to understand the situation and determine how they can be of assistance. During these consultations, Bryan and his team delve into the clinical aspects of the situation, including diagnoses and the family's worries. They work on creating a comprehensive plan focused on ensuring the best possible care while also addressing financial concerns. Bryan emphasized that their team consists of non-lawyer professionals, including social workers who develop care plans, occupational therapists who handle home safety modifications, physical therapists who assess balance and mobility, death doulas to help with end of life planning, and a public benefits team that explores funding options through Medicare, Medicaid, and other government programs. Their approach is team-based, and clients often stay with them for years, building strong relationships that extend beyond crisis management. We also discussed the Elder Care Symposium, an educational event hosted by the Rothkoff Law Group. This year's theme is "Death is Part of Life," reflecting the crucial role of addressing end-of-life issues. The symposium, taking place on October 19th, offers both in-person and live streaming options for attendees. You can find more information in the show notes at https://rothkoffsymposium.com/ . The symposium, which began in 2018, aims to bring national discussions on elder care to the forefront and promote innovation in the field. Past topics have included Alzheimer's drugs and unique approaches to dementia care. This year, the focus is on death and dying, emphasizing that acknowledging and embracing this aspect of life is vital for elder care advocates. The hybrid format of the event allows for networking and flexibility in attending sessions, making it a valuable resource for professional Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Gracefully Navigating End-of-Life Journeys with Ariell Kirylo 41:48
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this episode, we're joined by Ariell Kirylo, a dear friend of mine for over two decades. She recently reached out to me after a year of supporting her friend Stephen, who tragically passed away at the age of 51 due to a sudden brain tumor. Ariell wanted to share her experiences and insights from this journey. Many of us find it challenging to navigate end-of-life situations because it's often kept distant, hidden away in sterile hospital environments. Ariell's story is an inspiring example of how to show up and provide meaningful support to someone in their final moments. Ariell noticed that various people around Stephen played different roles in his journey. Some were the "doers," meticulously organizing everything and tying up loose ends. Others were the "fighters," never giving up hope for a miraculous recovery. However, Ariell chose a different path. She created a safe space for Stephen to explore his thoughts and feelings, allowing him to travel in his mind and spirit to the other side while still on Earth. This approach involved surrendering to the inevitability of death, something our modern society struggles with. Ariell's story reveals her own journey towards surrendering, which began with a near-death experience when a tree fell on her car in September 2021. Her perspective shifted as she contemplated death from both sides, realizing that death could be seen as a transition, a birth into another form of consciousness or an afterlife. This reframing of death can help us change our conversation and perception of it. I asked Ariell how this experience transformed her. She shared that it deepened her understanding of intimacy and the acceptance of her own eventual passing. Watching Stephen's graceful departure, despite his moments of frustration and fear, showed her the beauty in facing death with grace and mastery. Ariell encouraged us all to be present and unafraid when witnessing death, as there are valuable lessons to be learned. By embracing these lessons, we can wear them like pearls and prepare ourselves for our own inevitable journey. Ariell invites us to view death as a beautiful and spiritual transition, guided by our faith and inner beliefs. This shift in perspective can help us confront the concept of death with a sense of wonder and acceptance. You can see some of Stephen’s teachings from the end of his life in his Instagram https://instagram.com/fuzzymuzzy33?igshid=Mz Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Journey Through Near-Death Experiences and Spiritual Realization with John White 39:31
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this episode, my guest is John White. John had two near-death experiences that completely changed his life and his ideas about the spirit world, he shares some of his insights with us in this episode. During his first NDE, he had a car accident and the only thing he can recall is the moment of impact, it felt like he was propelled through space inside a balloon, stretching and then snapping back in an instant. When he finally came to his senses, his wife at the time was yelling at him to get out of the car. He had no idea what had just occurred. He managed to exit the vehicle, and she was on the sidewalk with bleeding knees, being attended to by bystanders. It was a surreal experience, and he felt like he was this tiny being on the outside of the world. He had never heard of near-death experiences until later after he moved to Florida and was recovering. When he shared his story with someone, they suggested it sounded like a near-death experience. He looked it up, and it indeed mirrored his own encounter. In past life regressions, he discovered a profound truth. We are eternal beings with countless past lives, interconnected and all part of a greater whole. None of what we perceive as reality is actually real. You, in fact, are the creator of your own existence. Everyone who enters your life serves a purpose, helping you heal and uncover your own truth, even through what may seem like negative experiences. The lesson learned is that we are all divine. The divine essence, whether you call it God or Goddess, resides within each of us. It is not external but an intrinsic part of our being. We encompass everything that ever was and will be, having experienced it all. Remembering this truth empowers you to manifest your desires and dreams. However, breaking free from the control system designed by a select few who ran this planet is challenging but essential. Once you escape the confines of the matrix and see reality for what it is, your life transforms in unimaginable ways, making it inconceivable to return to the old way of living. You can reach John by emailing him at johnwhite815@icloud.com. Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Conversations on Life, Death, and Medical Choices with Amy Hensley 39:25
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this episode, my guest is Amy Hensley. Amy, co-creator of Sips and Wishes, introduces an approach to accessible medical education through relaxed and interactive gatherings held in homes. Amy's connection with her best friend, Erin, who specialized in teaching nursing students about death and dying, prompted her to recognize the importance of including this topic in medical education. Unlike her own nursing school experience, Erin's curriculum focused on fostering comfort around death, a crucial aspect of nursing. Sips and Wishes events embody a relaxed environment where attendees engage in conversations about medical topics. The concept involves enjoying beverages and snacks while delving into interactive presentations. Amy highlights that individual perspectives on life and death vary, and Sips and Wishes aim is to provide information to help attendees make informed decisions based on their unique views. The focus is on informed choices, which stem from understanding medical options. By encouraging conversations and understanding, Sips and Wishes empowers individuals to make decisions aligned with their values and aspirations. Through this innovative platform, Amy strives to bridge the gap between medical knowledge and public awareness, ultimately fostering a more informed society. You can find out more on their website or Facebook page. https://www.sipsandwishesparty.com/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085625110676 Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Connection and Support In Times of Loss with Francesca Zampaglione 27:35
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this episode, I'm joined by Francesca Zampaglione, who has a unique perspective on death due to her background as a first-generation American with Italian immigrant parents. She is the host of the "Office Flip Flops" podcast, where she and her guests share advice and insights. Despite the name, it's not about shoes; it's a source of quick inspiration with guests like TEDx speakers and authors, keeping episodes under 20 minutes for an easy, uplifting experience. In this episode, Francesca shares with us what it was like witnessing the community show up at the time of her parent’s deaths. The support her family received during their losses was remarkable, especially in today's American culture. Her father's wish to pass away at home was fulfilled in 2002. On his last night, surrounded by close relatives and his favorite traditional Italian music, it seemed as if he responded to the familiar tunes even in his coma. When her mother was in transition in 2015, it was the most beautiful time of her life, it was a very beautiful experience since the family came even from Italy and were all there for her. These experiences emphasize the value of connections and community during times of loss, leaving a lasting impact. You can listen to Francesca’s podcast on all major platforms. Connect with her on Instagram or LinkedIn. https://open.spotify.com/show/3MmCf1aTageu6WVmujCODv?si=398185d9ab3c4388 https://www.youtube.com/@francescazampaglione https://www.instagram.com/_francesca_zampaglione/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tofrancesca/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Grief as a Spiritual Practice with Rev. Ogun Holder 48:03
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this episode, my guest is Rev. Ogun Holder. Rev. Ogun Holder is the co-founder of project_SANCTUS - a safe, brave, online space to discover and be our Holiest self, and in so doing, together, create a world of love, justice, and liberation for all. He is an ordained Unity minister (2011), and an award-winning author, and he holds certifications in spiritual coaching, grief & bereavement counseling, and the Enneagram. Rev. Ogun is open to working with new clients for spiritual coaching as well as grief counseling. He is one of the hosts of Pub Theology Live, a weekly podcast on life, culture, faith, meaning, and identity. He is also the co-host of With Love And Justice For All, a podcast about embodied antiracism, dismantling oppression, fostering liberation, and the special challenges that arise as spiritual seekers. Reverend Ogun has experienced the challenges of grieving multiple losses over the last eight years, starting with the passing of his wife due to cancer. I came across Reverend Ogun's article titled "Grief as a Spiritual Practice," which deeply resonated with me. His wisdom and perspective on the subject compelled me to reach out and invite him to be a guest on the podcast. Reverend Ogun's belief in embracing grief as a natural process, allowing ourselves to feel and express every emotion as it arises, is a profound and healing approach. He sees these emotions as leading us to the areas within us that need the most care and healing. Our conversation also touches on the differences in grieving depending on your race, your ethnicity, your class, and your ability. You can find Rev. Ogun Holder projectsanctus.com and revogunholder.com There are also links to all of the books he talked about in the timestamps. Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Embracing Shadows and Rebirth: A Grief Journey with Kristy Sue Bishop 37:19
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this episode, I have a guest, Kristy Sue Bishop. Kristy Sue has devoted herself to exploring the depths of life’s shadows with identity death and embracing her new identity as the grieving slut and the rebirth witch. Kristy’'s journey began with the death of her ex-husband, which brought about complicated grief and a sense of isolation as she didn't fit into the mold of a traditional widow. This difficult experience set her on a path of healing by addressing her grief. During that time, she had to grieve on different levels. She mourned the times when he was her partner and best friend. She also grieved the good and bad moments in their marriage. Many people believe in finding closure by talking to others. They think that by doing so, they'll get the closure they need. Kristy Sue has come to realize that you don't necessarily need external conversations for closure. Often, it's an internal process of understanding and acceptance that brings the closure we seek. This realization was powerful for her. It allowed her to see where I lacked personal boundaries and where I gave too much to the relationship. Healing on her own made her realize that she couldn't blame him anymore; he was no longer part of the picture. This process brought up deeper aspects of herself, and she went on a journey through her grief, reflecting on why she hadn't addressed these emotions earlier. No one ever tells us it's okay to grieve things in life that we lose. We experience many small losses in life, even if they're positive changes. Kristy also talks about how she was unexpectedly thrown into a situation where she had to tell her kids about their dad's impending death. This experience, though incredibly difficult, gave her the courage to talk to them about anything. If she could share the hardest news with them, then discussing topics like sex became easier. Now, she is open to discussing anything with her kids. This unfortunate event made her realize that there's no need to shy away from conversations. Discussing topics like sex, which might seem uncomfortable, became a lot more manageable. You can find Kristy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/death_priestess/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Putting Things Into Perspective with Patrick Gigliotti 47:22
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this episode, I'm joined by Patrick Gigliotti, a hospice care consultant with Compassus Hospice and Palliative Care in New Jersey. We discuss his work and the insights he has gained while working with hospice patients. We also share personal stories, focusing on the importance of being comfortable and open about ourselves without fear of judgment. One significant topic we explore is the necessity of having conversations with our parents about their end-of-life wishes. Instead of leaving these conversations to strangers or doctors who may not know the whole picture, we should strive to have these important discussions ourselves. We touch upon the fragmentation of the healthcare system, where specialists often focus solely on specific issues without considering the whole person. This approach can be improved to provide more comprehensive care. We also talk about living life authentically, embracing our true selves without being dictated by others' expectations. Living inauthentically can be emotionally draining and detrimental to our well-being. While being true to ourselves may lead to some criticism, it's crucial to prioritize our happiness and not live in fear of others' opinions. Patrick shares a valuable lesson he's learned from his work: life is unpredictable, and we must embrace its fluidity and be adaptable. Focusing on trivial matters and letting them affect us negatively can be wasteful when life is short and uncertain. Instead, we should cherish each day, make the most of opportunities, and appreciate what we have. This podcast episode with Patrick Gigliotti sheds light on the importance of having end-of-life conversations with loved ones, seeking more comprehensive healthcare, and living authentically without fear of judgment. It teaches us to appreciate life's unpredictability and embrace opportunities, knowing that each day is a precious gift. Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
Send us a text In this episode, my guest is Emily Cross. Emily Cross is a multi-talented individual residing in Dorset, England, who has dedicated her career to serving the dying. In 2017, Emily established her own practice, to provide support to both the dying and their families. Recently she expanded her doula work to include both in-person and online services at the Steady Waves Center for Contemplation in Abbotsbury, Dorset, a community hub that offers end-of-life resources, education, meditation sessions, and open conversations. Our conversation in this episode covers Emily’s career path and about the Steady Waves Living Funeral Ceremonies, a transformative and immersive experience designed to provoke deep reflection on mortality and life's priorities. During this 2 to 3-hour-long ceremony, individuals confront their own mortality through various activities. This includes engaging in a writing exercise, experiencing their own memorial, and participating in a death visualization. The Living Funeral offers a cathartic journey, helping participants develop a profound sense of mindfulness, acceptance, and appreciation for the fleeting beauty of life. By delving into death meditation, the ceremonies emphasize the significance of living fully in the present moment. You can reach Emily Cross on Instagram @steady_waves_center Or through her website www.steadywavescenter.com Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Living an Intentional Life with Hospice Chaplian Jeff Hopper 46:41
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text My guest is Jeff Hopper, and we get right into the conversation with this one. Jeff is a hospice chaplain and he talks with me about his life journey to becoming a chaplain. He also tells us about his work with patients, along with the valuable lessons he's gained along the way. While incarcerated, Jeff encountered a Christian Hells Angel biker while, and despite his impending life sentence, he prayed for their meal. This encounter sparked a 30-year journey of self-discovery that led to him becoming a hospice chaplain, or spiritual counselor. Jeff was a volunteer chaplain where he delivered death notices to inmates, informing them of the passing of their loved ones and their inability to attend the funerals due to their incarceration. In my current role as a death doula, my focus is on supporting clients or patients, regardless of my personal beliefs in a similar way to Jeff as a hospice chaplain. Jeff talks about the importance of living with intentionality. By consciously considering our words and actions, we can avoid unnecessary mistakes and ensure our actions align with our true intentions. Emotions can be misleading, even when they come from a place of love. Love should not be solely based on what someone does for us or their appearance, but rather an intentional choice. As Jeff speaks with couples facing loss, he has learned that intentional love is key. They acknowledge each other's flaws and imperfections, yet they continue to love one another. This intentional love should extend to everyone, as it is what we truly need. Jeff’s journey has taught him the importance of serving others, being intentional in love, and finding meaning in the work he does as a chaplain. You can reach out to Jeff on Facebook Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
Send us a text Joining me today is Narayani Gaia, a spiritual guide who helps individuals harness their energy, transform their sensitivity into strengths, and heal the past. She offers private sessions and group training both locally and remotely. In our conversation, Narayani will share her personal experience of losing her partner and the valuable insights she gained while navigating the grieving process. Along her journey, she discovered answers to many questions through various cultures and teachings. One approach is adopting Buddhist practices. You can engage in personal meditation or simply sit quietly, breathe, and relax to gain a deeper understanding of the world. During her grieving process, she allowed herself to experience sadness while incorporating prayer. Letting go of stories, people, past experiences, or even aspects of our lives requires discipline and self-care. It is essential to process and move through emotions for emotional and physical well-being. Failing to address and release emotions can hinder healing. It may seem paradoxical, but connecting with your higher and lower self is crucial. This integration work forms the foundation of her practice, where she shares the teachings she has received, experienced, and continues practicing daily through meditation and spiritual work. You don't need elaborate rituals or experiences like those found in certain initiations or on reservations. A simple ceremony with an authentic prayer, a candle, a journal, tissues, and a cup of tea can take you on a profound journey. We all have the ability to connect with the sacred, and when we tap into our authenticity, the universe will guide us. To contact Narayani, you can visit her website. And here is a l ink to her offerings. Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Exploring Taboo Topics with Dr. Casey Sanders 44:34
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this podcast episode is Dr. Casey Sanders and we delve into two taboo topics in our culture: sex and death. It's important to note that our conversation will not go into sexually explicit content. Instead, we aim to promote healthy dialogues among loved ones. Dr. Casey Sanders, is a 35-year-old chiropractor and podcast host from Fort Worth, Texas. He is co-host, alongside his wife Kari, of the podcast "Cum With KC". Through their podcast, Dr. Casey and Kari aim to bridge the gap between monogamous and polyamorous couples, offering insights into the world of sexual exploration and liberation. Their goal is to create a safe and easy space where conversations can take place, finding common ground and understanding. In this episode, we talk about initiating age-appropriate conversations early on about sex and death, and how that can establish a foundation of trust and open communication within our families. Both sex and death are often shrouded in silence and discomfort, primarily because we lack the necessary knowledge and guidance to broach these subjects. By exploring these seemingly taboo topics, individuals can equip themselves with valuable insights and understanding. The more we explore these areas, the better prepared we become in dealing with them. Click the links below to listen to find Dr. Casey Sanders and listen to Cum With KC. https://linktr.ee/cwkc https://www.instagram.com/cumwithkc Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Creating Sacred Spaces with Palliative Care Social Worker Alison Kepple 47:18
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this podcast episode, Alison Kepple is the guest speaker who shares insights into the differences between palliative care and hospice care. Alison is a Palliative Care Social Worker, End-of-Life Doula, and Psychopomp based in central New Jersey. She fulfills her sacred duties by providing support to hospitalized individuals and their families through serious illness and injury, normalizing the dying process, and offering end-of-life education to interdisciplinary staff. In addition to her professional roles, Alison is a wife, mother, and cat owner. She highlights the role of death doulas as volunteers working with the palliative care team in a hospital setting. She discusses how palliative care encompasses physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs, and involves a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, including physicians, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers. Listeners interested in incorporating the support of death doulas within a hospital setting will find this episode valuable, she shares tips on establishing a death doula volunteer program. Alison also discusses her personal experience with loss with the death of her father at a young age and how it impacted her and her family. Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Journey of Personal Growth and Transformation with Teri Brown 49:57
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this episode, I had the pleasure of talking with my friend Teri Brown, a talented singer/songwriter, about her journey of personal growth and transformation. Teri opened up about the evolution of her spiritual beliefs and how they have reshaped her perspective on death and dying. She also shared her experiences with psychedelics and the profound impact they have had on managing anxiety and depression. Teri emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance and body positivity as integral parts of her transformation. Society often imposes unrealistic standards, and it's easy to fall into a cycle of self-judgment and negativity. Teri realized that true transformation starts with self-love and acceptance. Embracing her body and celebrating its uniqueness has been a transformative experience that has allowed her to find happiness and fulfillment. Her story serves as a powerful reminder that true growth begins with self-love and embracing our individuality. You can find Teri on Instagram @teribrownmusic and her website https://teribrownmusic.com/ To hear her band, check them out on Instagram @ 3rowbackmusic Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Death Makes Your Life Richer with Kat Zammuto 45:00
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Kat Zammuto, a woman of mixed French and Brazilian heritage, has spent the majority of her life residing in the United States. Growing up in California, she was exposed to the world of entertainment and modeling from a very young age, thanks to her father's occupation as a TV and video producer. Kat's artistic inclinations extend across various creative domains. Equipped with experience in modeling, acting, and digital media, as well as a degree in Business and Communications, she has managed to diversify her pursuits and achieve success in a wide range of projects. Kat went through the profound loss of both her mother and her husband within a short period of time. She shares her experiences of grief, navigating the dating scene in her 40s, and embarking on a journey of self-discovery through the creation of her own podcast "Kat on the Loose - Sex, Dating & Relationships." A lot of what Kat shares is how the death of her loved ones helped her to appreciate life so much more, letting go of stress and anxiety in exchange for gratitude and living life fully. You can find out more about Kat and listen to her podcast in the links below. https://bio.site/katzammuto https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kat-on-the-loose-sex-dating-relationships/id1526070318 Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 You Make Your Path by Walking with Suzanne Anderson 47:52
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this episode, my guest is Suzanne Anderson, she has worked as a psychologist, author, coach, leadership consultant, and transformational teacher for over 30 years. We talk about her new book “You Make Your Path By Walking” which she wrote after her beloved husband took his life, and how she used trauma and loss in a way that was profoundly transformational. Part memoir, part guidebook, “You Make Your Path By Walking” accompanies readers on their own journeys through the barren landscape of trauma and grief, offering comfort, guidance, and inspiration to make meaning out of loss. Whether you are going through a personal dark night or struggling with these uncertain and disruptive global times, this book offers a proven pathway to allow the breaking down to be the breaking open into a whole new way of living, loving, and leading. Her book will be released on June 13, 2023, it is currently available for pre-sale on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Make-Your-Path-Walking-Transformational/dp/1647424429/ Suzanne believes that the current time is an initiatory period, where individuals can grow and find wholeness through experiences of loss and uncovering their true selves. Simply seeking the light is not enough; true self-discovery happens in the darkness. Suzanne describes how during transitional periods in a culture, shadow elements that were previously ignored or excluded tend to surface. It is important to understand and integrate both the feminine and masculine aspects of ourselves, we need a deep connection between the feminine and masculine energies. She blew my mind a little with the concept of "Kill the Queen," which suggests that two powerful women cannot coexist peacefully and often resort to making each other wrong or feeling inadequate. Her first book “ The Way of the Mysterial Woman Upgrading How You Live, Love, and Lead.” talks about how we can move beyond jealousy and embrace our own sense of enoughness and wholeness. Website: https://mysterialwoman.com Facebook: @MysterialWoman Twitter: @MysterialWoman LinkedIn: Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Authentic Conversations About Death with Stephen Jenkinson 35:23
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text My guest on the show today is Stephen Jenkinson, and he challenged me to think a little differently about what I believed to be true about death, dying, grief, and living life. I hope this interview does the same for you. Stephen is the author of 6 books, a storyteller, musician, culture activist, a ceremonialist, and a grief literacy advocate with many years of experience. In this episode , he shares some of his wisdom with us. In our society, death is often shrouded in silence and denial. But what if we could change the narrative and create a language that allows us to speak openly about dying? Acknowledging the importance of open and honest conversations surrounding this inevitable part of life is crucial. Stephen shares with the listeners how he has helped people to have honest conversations about death and dying. Stephen is an advocate for embracing the realities of death and engaging in honest conversations with those nearing the end of their lives. Through his unique approach, Stephen challenges the prevailing death-phobic culture and seeks to foster a deeper understanding and acceptance of mortality. He also shares with the listeners a bit about the work he does on stage with "A Night of Grief and Mystery” which is a unique experience that defies genres and captivates the soul. He has discovered that what they offer is not theater but a profound ceremony. This is not a morbid endeavor, but a two-hour show filled with storytelling, advocacy, and thought-provoking messages. They delve into the urgent dilemmas of our time, reminding each listener that the future lies within our grasp. To find out more about Stephen Jenkinson, his work and any of his events see the links below. https://orphanwisdom.com/events-list/ https://www.instagram.com/griefandmystery/ https://www.facebook.com/orphanwisdom/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
Send us a text My guest this week is Zil Eiler. Life & Business Coach Zil Eiler is originally from São Paulo Brazil and she comes from a family of entrepreneurs where she learned foundational business concepts at a very young age. Today she lives in So Cal with her 3 kids and hubby, and has focused her efforts on Coaching coaches and entrepreneurs to gain the confidence, mindset shifts, and skills necessary to build a successful business their way. Zil shares with us a bit about her experience of watching her mother, caring for her grandmother at the end of life, some of what her faith tells her the afterlife will be like, how she got through her husband almost dying, and how she uses death awareness in her coaching business. Zil shares the tools she used to help calm her anxiety when her husband was hospitalized and how she had different age-appropriate conversations with each of her children. You can find Zil at the links below. Social handles: IG @zileilercoaching Website: www.zileiler.com Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 The Moment Everything Changed with Jay Deutsch Part 2 28:03
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text This week is part two of my conversation with Jay Deutsch about the healing journey he went on after the death of his wife by suicide. We will pick back up at the story of Jay being in the cemetery, the moment he forgave Larissa, and what life was like afterward. After finding forgiveness, Jay gets thrown back into a dark night of the soul, triggered by a relationship with his twin flame. During a two week rapid awakening, Jay woke up a different person. Everything he believed for 49 years made no sense anymore and everything that he didn’t believe in made sense. The podcast has a new paid monthly subscription feature where you can financially support the show, any amount, large or small will help. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Here is a link to my Venmo if you want to make a one-time contribution. Venmo @Jill-McClennen Jill McClennenvenmo.com You can also email me for more information at jill@endoflifeclarity.com If you cannot support the show financially, you can share it with someone that may enjoy it. Links to contact Jay and all of his groups. https://selfloveandmindsetcoach.com https://www.facebook.com/selfloveandmindsetcoach https://fb.com/groups/selfloveandmindsetcoach https://fb.com/groups/learning2LOVEyourself https://fb.com/groups/mylifeafterloss https://fb.com/groups/griefsupportforyoungadults Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 The Moment Everything Changed with Jay Deutsch Part 1 30:29
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Welcome back to Seeing Death Clearly. I'm your host, Jill McClennen, a death doula and end-of-life coach. The conversations I have with my guests may challenge you to think outside the box of what you believe to be true about death, dying grief, and learning to live life to the fullest. This week's episode is a little different. I have a conversation with Jay Deutsche about the healing journey, he went on after the death of his wife by suicide. Because the finished episode ended up being about an hour long, I cut it in half. This week you'll get to hear the first half of the story. Jay talks about his first experiences with death, how he and Larissa met, about her postpartum depression, and her first attempt at ending her life. Then he goes on to share about the successful attempt at ending her life, the dark hole he went into, and the moment he was able to forgive her. Next week, I'll bring the second part of his healing journey, he went through a dark night of the soul and came out the other side completely transformed. In the 31 episodes of the podcast that I have recorded, this is the only one that has made me cry during the interview. It's a really beautiful story of love and forgiveness. Be sure to come back next week to hear the rest of the story of how Jay has transformed his life after the death of his wife. You don't wanna miss the end of this story of how after the shift he now uses his experience to help others. Jay talks next week about the work he does now with people, and about the Facebook groups he created, there are links here to all of them and you will hear more about them next week. https://selfloveandmindsetcoach.com https://www.facebook.com/selfloveandmindsetcoach https://fb.com/groups/selfloveandmindsetcoach https://fb.com/groups/learning2LOVEyourself https://fb.com/groups/mylifeafterloss Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Reenvisioning Community with Dr. Jessica Metcalfe 42:43
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In this episode, my guest is Dr. Jessica Metcalfe, she is a general dentist by trade but ended up specializing in working with cancer patients. Jessica kept wishing away the next 25 to 30 years, thinking she has to get through the dental profession and make it to retirement but working at the cancer center showed her that not everyone makes it to retirement and we need to live life today. We talk about her work with patients and how when you go through cancer treatments it may affect your teeth and gums, depending on what type of treatments you have. The after-treatment care can and should involve a variety of different types of doctors so you have the best possible outcome. A lot of our conversation focuses on the role of community in our life and our death. There are new ways that people are creating community and connection, it is not only about the “traditional” family unit. Having conversations with a lot of people with different beliefs is also very important to our growth as human beings. Developing relationships with other people can lead us to feel very vulnerable but it is important to do this if we want a deep connection. Jessica does work with individuals on asking those hard questions, being vulnerable with yourself, and it's how you go about changing that inner voice. If you're interested in connecting with her you can find her on her website https://www.drjessicametcalfe.com/ and on all social media platforms with the same at Dr. Jessica Metcalfe. https://linktr.ee/Dr.Jessica.Metcalfe Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
Send us a text Laura West is a Registered Nurse, energy healer, psychic medium, author, and podcast host dedicated to both the sciences and spirituality. She hosts her own podcast called A Guided Life and authored her book titled Guided. She is dedicated to spreading the word of love and teaching others how to communicate with their spirit guides through intuition. Growing up Laura did not experience a lot of death, her Grandmother died when she was a teenager and Laura shares what she thinks her parents did correctly surrounding the illness and death. Her experiences with grief are not as different than the rest of us even though she is a psychic medium but after her Grandmother died and she visited in her dreams, Laura had the confirmation needed to accept her gifts as a medium. The time that Laura felt the most grief was after her dog died, and in our culture there can be a lot of shame connected to greiving pets, but she shares with us her experience. Jill also shares why she sometimes feels she doesn’t grieve “properly”. In the episode, we mention when I was a guest on Laura’s podcast as well as an episode she did about processing anxiety after being spiritually awakened. There is a link in the timestamps to both of those episodes if you would like to listen to them. Thank you so much for joining us. Find out more about Laura at https://linktr.ee/guidedwest Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
Send us a text In this episode, my guest is Patrick Linfante. Patrick Linfante has experienced more valleys and mountaintops than most people – transforming from a broken man to an Ironman. He uses his experience to give listeners a vision for creating their own path to their dreams, their own vision, and to recapturing the dream of their life. Patrick should have died in a car accident 12 years ago. After that experience, he devoted his life to sharing his story to help people not feel so alone. He has found that being vulnerable helps others to be vulnerable, which bridges the gap between us. Patrick shares some details about the accident and the long road to recovery, which was more mental than physical. He has taken this experience and realizing that he has a second chance, he can use it to help people and he has dedicated his life to being in service to others. “I want to know what I can do with this life. I want to know what a second chance can be. I wanna know how much I can use and try to counteract and offset that feeling of, I don't deserve this by, okay, I have gotten this chance, so what can I do with it?” This is a really wonderful episode about healing and transformation. You can go to the timestamps or the transcript to skip or find certain sections of the podcast. You can reach Patrick through his website www.patricklinfante.com Or on social media. Facebook: www.facebook.com/patricklinfante LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/patricklinfante Instagram: www.instagram.com/thepatrickperspective Thank you so much for joining us. Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
Send us a text Welcome back to Seeing Death Clearly. I'm your host, Jill McClennen, a death doula and end-of-life coach. In this episode, I talk with Danikah Rose Danikah is a poet, a singer-songwriter, a mother, and a lover. She does business consulting and strategy and uses her intuition to help guide her clients. Danikah is also a psychic medium of 13 years and has a strong connection with people who have passed on. Her business name is Danikah Rose Creative, and you can find her on all the platforms. Danikah Rose Naweli | Facebook Danikah Intuitive Business Strategy & Authentic Marketing (@danikahrosecreative) Our conversation gets into some really touchy subjects, you can check the time stamps to see if there are any parts you may want to skip, and there is a transcript of the full episode as well. We talk about suicide and abortion, and this is partially a trigger warning but also a reminder that these are really deep topics that we share some of our thoughts and opinions but what is shared is by no means a complete explanation of what either of us believes about these topics. Over time you will hear more about my beliefs, I have already had a few conversations with people about suicide, but one thing about me is that I am always learning and changing, so my beliefs around these topics have changed and will continue to change over time. We also talk a bit about miscarriage and stillbirth, so if any of these subjects are sensitive to you, there are timestamps for you to be able to skip the sections you do not want to hear. I would love for you to send me a message and let me know what you think about this episode, your beliefs about the topics we discuss, and if we gave you some new ways to view things. Thank you so much for joining us. Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 None of It Matters, Just Don't Be a D*ck with Beth McMillan 50:49
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Welcome back to Seeing Death Clearly. I'm your host, Jill McClennen, a death doula and end-of-life coach. In this episode, I talk with my friend Beth McMillian. Beth McMillan is the forever winner of “2 Truths and A Lie”. She loves her boring job at the coolest place on earth and belongs to one cat. She has 2 kids, a mortgage, and is a Real AdultⓇ about 42% of the time. Seeing Death Clearly is a show that challenges you to think about your beliefs about death, dying, grief, and living life. Today’s episode covers a lot of ground over all of those topics including do animals have an awareness of death as humans do. Beth shares with us what it was like growing up Jewish in the South. Trigger warning that there is a bit of cursing in this episode, as well as a story of going through a reenactment of the Holocaust when Beth was in a teenage youth group. You can go to the timestamps to skip that part if you would like. Beth talks about two of her favorite books, here are the links to the books. https://www.amazon.com/Stiff-Curious-Lives-Human-Cadavers/dp/0393324826 https://www.amazon.com/Smoke-Gets-Your-Eyes-Crematory/dp/0393351904 If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend or family member that may find it helpful. If you could leave me a 5-star review on your favorite platform, that helps more people find that show that may enjoy the conversations. Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Accessing Healing Through Conversations about Death and Grief with Erin Hodgson 40:52
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In today's episode, I'm talking with Erin Hodgson. I love talking with Erin, I was a guest on the podcast she cohosts and our conversation always flows so naturally. You can find a link to that episode here . Erin and I talk about having tough conversations with children as well as how to work with our grief in a way that we can access it without it overwhelming us. Erin is a psychic medium and intuitive healer who specializes in working with grief. Erin has a long personal history with grief, both her own and that of those around her. Through her healing journey, she has learned that grief is something we must learn to live with, move with, and find peace with. Erin is a passionate advocate for openly acknowledging our grief, collectively and as individuals. Since discovering her psychic medium gifts in her late 30's, Erin has found that her capacity to hold space for the women she works with is deeply enhanced through having a foot in each world, the human and the spiritual. She uses several modalities and tools to provide a safe, compassionate, and loving space for women to grieve and heal. Erin is a Co-Founder at Awakening the Wise Woman , they help women to believe they are enough so they can tap into their potential, be more present, and engage with life more fully. Awakening the Wise Woman works with women who are fed up with staying stuck and small and are ready to say YES to change through leadership coaching and 1:1 grief support. If you would like to learn more about how you can work with me on your end-of-life or grief journey, you can head to my website where you will find a link to book a complimentary 30-minute call. You can also visit Awakening the Wise Woman’s website to learn more about how you can work with Erin. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend or family member that may find it helpful. If you would like to leave me a review on your favorite platform, that helps more people find that show that may enjoy the conversations. Erin@awakeningthewisewoman.com Erin Hodgson on Facebook @erinhodgsonawakening Instagram “We empower w Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 The Cycles of Life: Healing, Death and Grief with Mary McMonagle 50:16
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In episode 9 of Seeing Death Clearly, my guest is Mary McMonagle. Mary is your healing hype girl guiding you to live a purposeful life through her spiritual lifestyle brand True Vibe. She is a reiki master teaching students to heal, transform and understand their life's purpose from a vibrational level. Also, she is a certified quantum life and energy coach. Her brand True Vibe is about following your heart and staying true to yourself. She believes healing doesn't happen overnight. Mary guides her clients to embody trust and confidence - trusting themselves and feeling confident living their purpose. Mary specifically works with women who want to heal parts of themselves so they can attract their soulmate. When you are really seeking love and you are getting ready to put yourself out there, it all comes down to healing beliefs that you have created over the years around your confidence, your self-love, and around trusting yourself. “Our beliefs that are so ingrained in us from childhood, they were put there by our parents, by the society around us, whether it's our schools, our religions, and where we grow up. They stay with us and it really affects the way that we move through life. With my work with people around the end of life, we need to shift what we believe in order to meet the experiences that we're gonna have.” This episode is a little different, we recorded it in two parts. When I first spoke with Mary, her father was on hospice and we recorded an additional quick episode after her father died, so be sure to listen to the entire interview. The break in recordings happens around the 38-minute mark, you can find the break in the chapters as well if you would like to jump there easily. This is a really beautiful episode where we talk about healing as well as death and grief. As with all of my conversations on the podcast, I hope it challenges you to think about your experiences and beliefs about death, dying, and grief. Please subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly to hear more stories about people’s experiences around death, dying, grief, and living life. You can find Mary at the links below, and be sure to check out the freebie she talks about in the episode. Instagram: www.instagram.com/marymc4 Mary's Podcast: https://anchor.fm/mary-mc Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 A Conversation with Death Doula Kelly Hayler 40:53
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In episode 8 of Seeing Death Clearly, my guest today is Kelly Hayler. Kelly is a trained End of Life Doula based in New York City with a deep understanding and respect that everyone brings their own fears, beliefs, and experiences to the topic of death and dying. Her background is in project management which means she knows how to get organized and address your needs as quickly as possible. She is here to assist with your questions and navigate the path forward by talking about what you want, and what your options are and helping to prepare you for this phase of your life. Kelly and I talk about her work as a death doula in New York City and her work with the LGBTQIA+ community. Kelly was never afraid of death but in our culture today, we have made death so clinical and gotten away from community support. We talked about how she had a similar experience to me during her training to become a death doula. I found through first-hand experience that the more I came to terms with my thoughts and feelings about death and dying, the more present I became in my everyday life. Kelly and I hope to share that with you too in this episode, how you can live a better life by having a healthier relationship with death and dying. She shares about the death of a good friend and the experience they both had while Kelly supported her through her illness and the end-of-life process. Our conversation also centers around grief, all types of grief, not just for the death of a loved one. “Grief is about loss but doesn't mean it has to be about death only. It's about loss, we don't give ourselves a society enough kindness and gentleness around what it means to end a relationship or have to say this is not a healthy exchange, and I need to separate myself from that. You're coming from a place of feeling wounded or knowing that something wasn't healthy for you. There's still loss around that. You have to grieve that even if it was your choice or not.” You can find Kelly at https://deathdoulanewyork.com/ or https://linktr.ee/deathdoulanyc Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Releasing Grief Trapped Inside with Fiona Pimentel 38:48
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In episode 7 of Seeing Death Clearly, my guest today is Fiona Pimentel. Fiona grew up in the UK but lives in the Cayman Islands and has for the last 21 years. Fiona and I talk about her experiences with death and dying, focusing on the death of her sister and her mother within a few weeks of each other. It is an interesting story, she shares how things lined up in a way that almost felt like they were meant to be that way and how it allowed her to be with her mother for the last few weeks of her life. “I sat by my mom’s bedside for a week and just kind of stroked her arms and put moisturizer on her skin. They teach you to put a drop of water on the person's tongue because they can't drink. I would say things like, I love you and stuff like that.” We talk a lot about grief, how the body will process grief in unusual ways sometimes, and how most of us do not take the time to consciously process our grief. “My Dad was kind of in a process of dying for two years. I didn't really grieve him that much until one day I was dancing and all of a sudden all this grief came out. It was the dance, it was the movement that brought it out.” Fiona works with women who feel that they have a sense of purpose to help them to grow their confidence and to get clarity around what they need to do, to be more courageous in stepping out and doing the thing they feel called to do. The work goes so well with the lessons we have learned from people that are near death, and the regrets that they have around not chasing after their dreams because of fear. As with all of my conversations on the podcast, I hope it challenges you to think about your experiences and beliefs about death, dying, and grief. You can find Fiona on Facebook. https://www.seaorchardretreat.com/orchard-coaching-retreats/ She also has a Facebook group you may be interested in joining. https://www.facebook.com/groups/calledtocourage Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Death and Grief in the Black Community with Brion McMillan 43:04
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In today’s episode, I talk with my friend Brion about his experiences growing up as a Black man in America. The experiences he shares do not represent how all Black men grow up in the United States, but it is his experience growing up in Trenton NJ. It started with the death of his grandfather when he was 8 years old, and not understanding what he was feeling and how to process the grief. Brion is a follower of Islam and he shares with us the beliefs that he has about death and dying according to his faith. I share some of what I have observed about death and grief in the black community from my experiences with my friends, coworkers, and students. This is by no means an expert opinion on the matter, only two friends having a conversation about our experiences. As with all of my episodes, the conversation will challenge your thoughts and beliefs about death, dying, grief, and living life. Please listen with an open mind. A quick warning that we do talk about gun violence and suicide in this episode, there are no graphic details and you can look to the time stamps if you would like to skip those parts of our conversation. Brion shares about gun violence in his community including the death of two of his friends. Together we share our experience around the death of my coworker and his teacher Chef Jonathan. Both of us felt his loss deeply but in different ways. I have also added a full transcript of this conversation if you want to read it after listening. Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Death is Sacred Experience with Bex Feltmann 40:16
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In today’s episode, I am talking with Bex Feltmann. Bex of Helper B LLC Holistic Healing Support is a former western medicine nurse of over 15 years with experience as an ER nurse and OR First Assistant who has adopted a more holistic approach as a provider. She is a practicing holistic health and well-being astrologer and a Certified Provider of Compassionate Bereavement Care® offering empowering client-centered care through all of life’s transitions. Her work is rooted in self-awareness and self-acceptance which supports her clients in living a more authentic approach to life. In this episode, we also talk about her great experience with the death of her Grandmother. Bex believes that death and grief are sacred experiences and she shares with us why she believes so. Trigger warning: Bex and I talk about our slightly unconventional ideas about suicide, there are no graphic details but I didn’t want it to be a surprise. I encourage you to listen to this episode with an open mind. If this subject is a trigger for you please skip the episode or use the time stamps to skip the parts you don’t want to hear. If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 in the US, you will be connected to trained counselors that will listen, understand how your problems are affecting you, provide support, and connect you to resources if necessary. Bex's website is www.HelperB.com You can also find her at https://www.instagram.com/helperBhealing/ and https://www.facebook.com/helperbhealing Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Preparing Loved Ones for Death with Lauren Fonseca 34:40
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text In today's episode, Jill McClennen talks with Lauren Fonseca about the death of her sister at a young age, as well as Jill and Lauren’s love for the state of NJ. Lauren talks about the experience of having a sister live with and die from Cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder that causes problems with breathing and digestion. CF affects about 35,000 people in the United States. (source https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/disease/cystic_fibrosis.htm ) When Lauren was 27 her sister died when she was 25. Lauren shares with the listeners how her sister was a model for how to face death, she even was able to plan out her entire funeral from the outfit she would wear to the songs being sung and who would sing them. In the end, her sister’s death led to her family being closer than they ever were. Join us for this moving conversation. Lauren Fonseca works in higher education as both a professional staff and an instructor. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2007 (two years before her sister died) and blogs about disability and higher education (among other things) at proffonseca.com . Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 A Conversation with Death Doula Bonnie Silva 36:11
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text I n today's episode, Jill McClennen talks with Bonnie Silva about her background and how it has affected her beliefs about death, dying, and grief. Bonnie Silva has worn many hats throughout her working career and in the most recent years being a Postpartum+EOL doula and UX/UI Designer. As a doula, Bonnie has transitioned from Birth Doula and stepped into the EOL Doula path. Through empathy, and sarcasm but with loving humor, she describes her work and understanding of life. Bonnie lives in Brooklyn, NY with her beloved cats Lucifer and Delilah. On her days off she enjoys pole dancing, watching detective movies, and hanging with like-minded friends. In this episode we talk about death doulas play an important role in society and will do even more so in the future. We discuss the importance of informing people about the end of life and the challenges that come with it. Jill and Bonnie discuss their common background of being raised Catholic and how it shaped their spiritual beliefs. Bonnie became a death doula in 2020 after experiencing a stillborn birth as a birth doula. We talk a lot about the importance of the online community, especially since 2020, but also how amazing it is that we could meet and it would not have been possible without the online platforms. 2020 also showed us a lot about grief and we both learned how to process it partially due to our training to become death doulas. You can find Bonnie at bonniesilva.com and on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/realdoulaclub and on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@doulaclub Her podcast is Doula Club on your favorite podcasting platform. Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
Send us a text Rebecca Johnson gives widows permission to widow their own way. She is the host of the podcast; Love is not dead…Just my husband, which is a podcast for widows and anyone that is grieving. As a widow that has survived multiple losses, and is living with a rare cancer, she is dedicated to encouraging widows moving forward in their grief. After realizing she was falling down a rabbit hole of grief, she was determined to find her way back to the living. In this episode, we will talk about how our experiences of death and dying will change with age as well as with our relationship with the person who has died. Having conversations with our loved ones about what we want at the end of life is important to help prepare them if the unexpected happens. When her husband suddenly died, she tried to navigate her grief in an unconventional way, learning that grief does not work the way that we hope it will. Time is needed to grieve properly and other people will judge how people grieve, but it looks different for every person. Not all widows need the same type of support, not everyone has wonderful memories, the romanticized version of widows. Your grieving will be different than everyone else, there is no right or wrong. You can listen to Rebecca's podcast here. https://loveisnotdeadjustmyhusband.buzzsprout.com/share Follow her on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/loveisnotdead_justmyhusband/ Connect with her on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/loveisnotdeadjustmyhusband Please subscribe to my podcast to hear more stories about people’s experiences around death, dying, grief, and how thinking about our death can help us live a better life. You can also connect with me on social media and join my Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle which is a death-positive community for conversations like these to happen every day. Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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Seeing Death Clearly
1 Appreciate the time you have with the people you love with Stephen Wilson 19:39
19:39 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked19:39
Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedSend us a text Seeing Death Clearly is my new podcast and on the first episode, I have my husband Stephen Wilson. I decided to have Stephen on as my first guest because we have been together for about 23 years and we have talked about death and dying early on in our relationship but there is still more to talk about and learn about each other’s wishes. Stephen grew up in FL and I was raised in NJ, which means that our backgrounds in life are pretty different. He has basically always believed that life is part of death and that death is part of life. Stephen’s parents were young when they had him and his grandmother was young when she had his mother, so he didn’t experience a lot of death of loved ones growing up. Even though they didn’t experience a lot of death in their family when he was a child, both his parents worked in a hospital and so death was part of their normal conversations. When he was a teenager he volunteered at the hospital to be part of a disaster preparedness exercise, the experience was interesting but it didn’t scare him. Stephen had a young cousin die from a heroin overdose and we talk about how that experience made it clear that the death of a young person could happen to anyone including our children. My worst nightmare is one of the children dying before us, and Stephen has a very grounded way of viewing this. He feels that the reality is, they could die before us, but we take steps to prevent this from happening. Communicating with the parents of children that are around our children, and asking about guns in the home and how they are stored, are part of the measures we take to keep our kids safe. This could be a difficult conversation for some people to have. Part of life is having conversations about hard topics such as asking other parents about guns and talking about our wishes for the end of life. Having hard conversations will not prevent the unexpected from happening, it will make sure that when something does happen, we are as prepared as we can be. You can’t live in fear of the knowledge that one day someone will die. Thinking about death and dying has made me appreciate the time I have with Stephen and the kids in a way I wasn’t expecting. Please subscribe to my podcast to hear more stories about people’s experiences around death, dying, grief, and how thinking about our death can help us live a better life. You can also connect with me on social media and join my Facebook group End of Life Clar Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
Send us a text Welcome to Seeing Death Clearly, I am your host Jill McClennen, a death doula and end-of-life coach. Seeing Death Clearly is a show that challenges you to think about your beliefs about death, dying, grief, and living life. I found through first-hand experience that the more I came to terms with my thoughts and feelings about death and dying, the more present I became in my everyday life and I hope to share that with you too, how you can live a better life by having a healthier relationship with death and dying. Each episode will feature a guest that will share with us their beliefs and stories about death and dying, these will be real honest conversations about a topic most of us avoided talking about our entire lives. I am on a mission to change that, one conversation at a time. This podcast is for the purpose of education only and is not a replacement for therapy. I suggest you seek out the help of a trained medical professional if you are having thoughts of suicide or extreme fears about death and dying that are preventing you from functioning in your daily life. Join me to hear people’s stories about their experiences, you will be able to listen to Seeing Death Clearly on all major platforms. Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support and it helps get the word out to more people that could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life . You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. Website www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok…
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