Ask a Death Doula

As we close out 2025, Suzanne B. O’Brien, RN shares a heartfelt Year in Review for the Doulagivers Institute, reflecting on three extraordinary milestones that are helping transform end-of-life care around the world. This episode honors what’s possible when education, compassion, and community come together. 🌍 In This Episode, You’ll Hear About: • Expanding End-of-Life Education Worldwide In Janu...

Is the Death Doula Movement Dying?   Or Is It Being Called to Grow Up?   There is a quiet question being asked behind the scenes of end-of-life care—by hospices, medical teams, families, and even doulas themselves: Is the death doula movement losing its way? In this powerful episode of ASK A DEATH DOULA, Suzanne B. O’Brien, RN—founder of the Doulagivers Institute and author of the bestselling book...

In this episode, Suzanne O’Brien shares her inspiring journey from working as a nurse to becoming the founder of Doulagivers, an organization dedicated to providing free end-of-life care training to people around the world. Suzanne discusses her impactful work in countries like Guatemala and Thailand, where she has helped bring compassionate care and vital resources to communities in need. She emp...

THE GOOD DEATH VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR: Suzanne B. O'Brien RN in Conversation with Michelle Donaldson. Michelle Donaldson, a certified end-of-life doula from Doulagivers Institute, joins this episode of "Ask a Death Doula" to share her profound insights into hospice care. Her journey from advanced EMT and pharmacy technician to end-of-life doula reflects her deep commitment to holistic, dignified suppor...

What if the true measure of success isn't found in material achievements but in aligning with your heart's purpose and serving others with love? Join us for an enlightening journey as we challenge traditional notions of success, drawing wisdom from those nearing the end of life. We share the story of transitioning from the routine disillusionment of nursing to uncovering profound peace and purpose...

What if the key to a fulfilled and regret-free life lies in embracing the present moment? Join us on a transformative journey as we unravel the profound shift from living in fear and ego to embodying love, unity, and heart guidance. We reflect on the invaluable wisdom shared by individuals at the end of their lives, urging us to transform mundane routines into privileges steeped in gratitude. By p...

THE GOOD DEATH VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR: Suzanne B. O'Brien RN in Conversation with Lee Webster. Have you ever considered the lost art of caring for our deceased loved ones personally? Lee Webster, a pioneer in end-of-life care, shares her profound insights into how society has shifted away from hands-on death care, and what we can do to reclaim these sacred practices. With her journey from a hospice vol...

THE GOOD DEATH VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR: Suzanne B. O'Brien RN in Conversation with Jo Dagless. How often do we pause to consider the profound connection between life and death? Our latest episode invites you to join us on a journey with Jo, a visionary in the arts and theater, who has transformed her encounters with grief into a global dialogue through the Lifting the Lid festival. Scheduled from Novemb...

What if confronting the reality of our own mortality could transform how we live today? In this episode of the Good Death Podcast, I invite you to step into the often-avoided conversation around end-of-life care and discover how facing this inevitability can deepen our appreciation for life itself. Through the raw and poignant story of a family navigating a terminal brain cancer diagnosis, we expo...

THE GOOD DEATH VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR: Suzanne B. O'Brien RN in Conversation with John Kenney What if embracing your vulnerabilities could be the key to unlocking your dreams? Join us as we welcome John, an inspiring writer whose remarkable journey from a copywriter to a published author in The New Yorker is a testament to the power of persistence and passion. John opens up about facing years of reject...

What if embracing death could bring more meaning to life? Join us on a profound exploration into the concept of a "good death," where we unravel the practical and emotional dimensions often shrouded in fear. We tackle the age-old perception of death as a sacred rite of passage and invite listeners to redefine their relationship with life's inevitable end. Together, we establish personal benchmarks...

Unlock the secrets to navigating the profound journey of end-of-life care with insights from my 20 years of experience as a hospice and oncology nurse. You'll gain the tools needed to transform your perception of mortality from one of fear to acceptance, understanding death as a sacred rite of passage. By exploring the expansion of Doulagiver's Institute to Boise, Idaho, as part of the Good Death...

THE GOOD DEATH VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR: Suzanne B. O'Brien RN in Conversation with Jerry and Nya Chambless How can a childhood friendship ignite a transformative cinematic journey? Join us as we sit down with a young filmmaker and her father to unpack the inspiring story behind their heartfelt film, shaped by the powerful bond with her friend. Through their intimate narrative, we promise you'll gain ins...

THE GOOD DEATH VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR: Suzanne B. O'Brien RN in Conversation with Darren Evans What if technology could help us preserve the true essence of a life well-lived? In this episode, Darren Evans, creator of After Cloud, shares how his digital platform captures personal histories and legacies, especially in end-of-life care. Through powerful stories, like a hospice patient leaving video messa...

THE GOOD DEATH VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR: Suzanne B. O'Brien RN in Conversation with Karen Midlo When Karen unexpectedly lost her husband, she embarked on a journey that reshaped her understanding of life and death, moving from her demanding role as an executive director in senior living during the COVID-19 pandemic to finding her true calling as a certified death doula and grief educator. In this episode...

THE GOOD DEATH VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR: Suzanne B. O'Brien RN in Conversation with Jennifer A. O'Brien. Discover the powerful journey of caregiving with Jennifer, a seasoned healthcare administrator with nearly 40 years of experience, whose personal losses and the tender care of her late husband, a hospice doctor battling cancer, shaped her profound perspective on end-of-life care. In this heartfelt con...

THE GOOD DEATH VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR: Suzanne B. O'Brien RN in Conversation with Elizabeth Coplan. Elizabeth, the visionary behind Grief Dialogues, shares her powerful journey from passionate theater lover to transformative voice in the conversation about grief and death. Born from personal loss and her love for the stage, her poignant 10-minute play became a festival favorite, proving the profound ab...

What does it truly mean to live well as we approach the end of life? In this powerful episode of the Good Death Podcast, we explore what it truly means to live well as we approach the end of life. Inspired by personal stories—from a grandmother’s courageous final months to families navigating the emotional toll of dementia—we confront the hard truths about caregiving, medical overreach, and the ne...

THE GOOD DEATH VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR: Suzanne B. O'Brien RN in Conversation with Dr. Karen Wyatt. Renowned expert Dr. Karen Wyatt joins us for a profound conversation on end-of-life care, sharing lessons learned from her work with hospice patients and urging us to embrace the inevitability of death with awareness and gratitude. We delve into the missed opportunities for meaningful dialogue within medi...

THE GOOD DEATH VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR: Suzanne B. O'Brien RN in Conversation with Reena Lazar. Imagine finding unexpected peace in facing mortality—and letting that awareness transform the way you live right now. In this episode, Reena shares her remarkable journey from surviving a life-changing car accident at sixteen to becoming a pioneer in end-of-life education and co-founding Willow with Michelle...

THE GOOD DEATH VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR: Suzanne B. O'Brien RN in Conversation with Dr. Qwynn Galloway-Salazar. In this powerful episode, we follow Qwynn Galloway-Salazar’s inspiring path from new death doula to mentor and advocate for veterans, showing how one person’s courage to follow their heart can transform countless lives. From her first moment of sharing her passion on Dr. Karen Wyatt’s podcast t...

THE GOOD DEATH VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR: Suzanne B. O'Brien RN in Conversation with Krista Montague, CDP, AT-BC. In this insightful episode, we sit down with Krista Montague—dementia care specialist and founder of Dementia Success Path—to unpack the complexities of dementia and Alzheimer’s, from understanding the differences and stages to recognizing early signs and managing challenging behaviors with co...

THE GOOD DEATH VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR: Suzanne B. O'Brien RN in Conversation with Melissa Meadow. What if everything you thought you knew about funerals was wrong? In this powerful episode, we sit down with Melissa Meadow, also known as The Modern Mortician, to uncover the truth behind the funeral industry. With nearly 30 years of experience, Melissa shares her journey into eco-friendly and transparent...

The elder care crisis is here—are you ready? In this episode of The Good Death Podcast, Suzanne B. O’Brien RN shares a powerful story from the frontlines of care, explores why most families are unprepared, and introduces the Living Well Aging Plans (Plan A, B & C) to help you plan ahead with confidence. 📘 Join the free Good Death Book Club to keep learning: TheGoodDeathBook.com   00:23  Under...

What if your end-of-life journey could be as dignified and peaceful as possible? Guided by my two decades of experience as a hospice and oncology nurse, I invite you to a candid conversation about Medical Aid in Dying (MAID), also known as Physician Assisted Death or Death with Dignity. This discussion aims to demystify the process, highlighting the distinction from euthanasia and exploring why so...