Soul Injury at the End of Life with Deborah Grassman

Seeing Death Clearly

https://opuspeace.org/

26:18

How do you know when it’s time to make your next big career move? With International Women’s Day around the corner, we are excited to feature Avni Patel Thompson, Founder and CEO of Milo. Avni is building technology that directly supports the often overlooked emotional and logistical labor that falls on parents—especially women. Milo is an AI assistant designed to help families manage that invisible load more efficiently. In this episode, Avni shares her journey from studying chemistry to holding leadership roles at global brands like Adidas and Starbucks, to launching her own ventures. She discusses how she approaches career transitions, the importance of unpleasant experiences, and why she’s focused on making everyday life easier for parents. [01:26] Avni's University Days and Early Career [04:36] Non-Linear Career Paths [05:16] Pursuing Steep Learning Curves [11:51] Entrepreneurship and Safety Nets [15:22] Lived Experiences and Milo [19:55] Avni’s In Her Ellement Moment [20:03] Reflections Links: Avni Patel Thompson on LinkedIn Suchi Srinivasan on LinkedIn Kamila Rakhimova on LinkedIn Ipsos report on the future of parenting About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030. Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

about a year ago 39:12

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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://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

106 episodes

#Fitness #Society #Podcasting Education #Mental Health #Jill McClennen

Soul Injury at the End of Life with Deborah Grassman

Seeing Death Clearly

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

Send us a text

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.

https://opuspeace.org/

https://courses.opuspeace.org/

Support the show

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

#Fitness #Society #Podcasting Education #Mental Health #Jill McClennen

All episodes

1
Jessica Fein’s Story of Grief, Family, and Healing 35:44

6 days ago35:44

35:44

Send 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…

1
Katina Jones on Embracing Grief, Spirituality, and End-of-Life Care 40:03

13 days ago40:03

40:03

Send 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…

1
End-of-Life Nutrition & Hydration with Hospice Chaplain Hank Dunn 40:05

20 days ago40:05

40:05

Send 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…

1
My Life at the Cemetery with Sandy Doyle 38:35

27 days ago38:35

38:35

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…

1
Always a Sibling: The Forgotten Mourner with Annie Sklaver Orenstein 41:03

5 weeks ago41:03

41:03

Send 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…

1
Embracing Death and Transformation with Tash Ritz 43:47

6 weeks ago43:47

43:47

Send 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…

1
Music, Mortality, and Meaning: The Story of 'Nightside Songs' 36:09

7 weeks ago36:09

36:09

Send 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…

1
Exploring Memorial Forests with Gillian Nye 41:29

8 weeks ago41:29

41:29

Send 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…

1
Reviving Philadelphia’s Forgotten Mount Vernon Cemetery with Brandon Zimmerman 43:44

9 weeks ago43:44

43:44

Send 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…

1
Insights from Medical Medium Marie Miller 39:05

10 weeks ago39:05

39:05

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…

1
Influencing Death: Reframing Dying for Better Living with Penny Hawkins Smith 44:23

11 weeks ago44:23

44:23

Send 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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End of 2024 Reflections and Our Personal Journey with my husband Stephen Wilson 40:19

14 weeks ago40:19

40:19

Send 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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Living a Life That Matters: From Nazi Nightmare to American Dream 1:32:37

16 weeks ago1:32:37

1:32:37

Send 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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Liz Fiedler on Grief, Joy, and Entrepreneurship 45:35

17 weeks ago45:35

45:35

Send 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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Digital Assets, Family Disputes, and Estate Planning Done Right with David Edey 42:52

18 weeks ago42:52