Before You Go

For the final episode of the season, host Natalie Buster sits down with the visionaries behind Abode Contemplative Care for the Dying : co-founders Edwin and Patsy Sasek . Edwin and Patsy share the journey of creating Abode, a space that many guests, staff, and volunteers describe not just as a facility, but as "coming home". They detail how their vision transcended mere caregiving, inst...

Natalie Buster welcomes Kristin Bunyard , an artist and author who is not afraid of the podcast's core philosophy: "We're all going to die." Kristin works with death every day, first as an ossuary jeweler , which is Latin for "house of bones." Kristin shares how she ethically sources materials, transforming bones from roadkill and farm animals into stunning, contemplati...

Natalie Buster welcomes a cherished, long-time friend and "kindred spirit," Shavonne Conroy. Shavonne is a professional actor, a gifted singer, and the former Interim CEO of Abode Contemplative Care for the Dying. Shavonne shares her incredible, unconventional journey that seamlessly transitioned from a successful career in theater and television (including roles on Late Night with David...

In this episode of Before You Go , host Natalie Buster sits down with poet, essayist, and narrative medicine facilitator Vive Griffith to explore the often-overlooked emotional landscape of caregiving. Drawing from her own experience caring for her mother through terminal illness, Vive shares how storytelling, poetry, and reflection can help caregivers reconnect with themselves, find community, an...

Host Natalie Buster welcomes poet and restorative writing facilitator Laura Van Prooyen for a conversation about how poetry can become a lifeline in times of grief, trauma, and transition. From her work with soldiers experiencing PTSD to healthcare workers navigating burnout and loss, Laura shares how writing offers a sacred space for emotional honesty, resilience, and healing. Through personal st...

In this episode of Before You Go , host Natalie Buster explores the power of creative arts and storytelling to normalize conversations about death and grief—a central theme of the podcast's current season. Natalie sits down with Elizabeth Coplan , founder of Grief Dialogues. Elizabeth shares her journey from a corporate career back to her roots in theater and storytelling after a year of profo...

In this lively and heartfelt episode, host Natalie Buster welcomes Melissa Meadow, a funeral concierge, death doula, and social media educator, for a conversation that redefines what it means to care for the dead. From green burials and water cremation to DIY funerals and therapy dogs, Melissa shares her journey from embalmer to advocate, and how she’s helping families reclaim their final rites. N...

In this unforgettable episode, host Natalie Buster sits down with Benjamin Kintisch, a hospice chaplain, cantor, and creator of Life Review: The Musical . Inspired by real-life stories from his time at the bedside, Benjamin transforms grief, memory, and mortality into song. Natalie and Benjamin explore the power of humor in death work, the role of spiritual questioning, and how musical theater can...

In this soul-stirring episode, host Natalie Buster welcomes Leah Gundrum, a landscape designer, death doula, and Abode volunteer, for a conversation about how sacred spaces shape our experience of dying. From the contemplative backyard at Abode to green burial parks in Sweden and Pennsylvania, Leah shares how nature, design, and ritual can soften grief and deepen our connection to life. They explo...

Grief is an interesting beast.  It can curl up inside of you and make itself quite cozy.  It can unpack its bags, put up the do not disturb sign on the door and lock itself in.  It’s pretty much guaranteed that we will all experience grief at some point.  And we can ignore grief, befriend it, or take it out for a walk every now and then.  The relationship we have with grief is entirely up to us. ...

Memento Mori: remember you must die: an invitation to become aware, to bask in the wonder of being alive, to not take anything for granted, to be witness to the painful beauty of this life and all that was, is, and ever will be.  It’s these little invitations that we see around us that allow each moment to be that much sweeter.  Our guest today, Courtney Sheets, is someone who is constantly inviti...

The month of April is a beautiful time to be in San Antonio, Texas.  It’s bluebonnet season, and the wildflowers are in full bloom.  This is a perfect time to take a field trip to LaVernia, Texas, home of a beautiful green burial site called Countryside Memorial Park, owned and operated by our guest today, Sunny Markham.  In this episode, Sunny talks about the services she provides people at Count...

Imagine a world where people were able to talk about death and dying openly and without fear.  Our guest today, Nurse Penny Hawkins Smith is doing just that.  Nurse Penny uses social media channels and her recent book, “Influencing Death: Reframing Dying for Better Living” to talk openly about death and dying without fear, thus encouraging others to do the same.  We’re excited that Nurse Penny wil...

Contemplativeness - a tricky word to say!  Yet, it’s the cornerstone of all that we do at ABODE.  it’s even a part of our name: ABODE Contemplative Care for the Dying.  But what does it mean?  At ABODE, we sometimes define it as being in the present moment, being mindful, when time seems to stop.  Our guest today, Justin Burton is the embodiment of contemplativeness.  Justin serves as ABODE’s Vice...

Choosing to go on hospice is a difficult decision for most people.  We have been conditioned in our society to “not give up,” and some see hospice as a way of giving up.  Our guest today, Jen LeCavalier from Suncrest Hospice in San Antonio, sheds some light on the truth of hospice and all of the wonderful benefits that hospice can provide.  Jen has been a hospice nurse for over ten years and finds...

“If I die young, bury me in satin Lay me down on a bed of roses Sink me in the river at dawn Send me away with the words of a love song” These lyrics by The Band Perry offer a beautiful description of honoring a loved one who has passed.  Our guest today, Dawn Walsh provides such a service for the people she cares for after they pass.  Dawn is the Executive Director of The Lily House, a community...

Our guest today, Colleen McCool-Pierce definitely turns heads and inspires conversation wherever she goes.  Whether she’s pulling up for gas in her hearse or wearing a bright and colorful clown costume, Colleen is the epitome of living life to the fullest.  It doesn’t surprise us that she embraces life so exuberantly due to her lifelong contemplation on death.  In today’s episode, Natalie chats wi...

Fred Rogers, of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood fame has a famous quote: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”   In today’s episode, Natalie sits down to talk with one such helper.  Jen Ferguson is a San Antonio hospice social worker - a helper for families who are facing grief and be...

Planning your Parting with the Parting Planner Welcome to Season Two of Before You Go - the official podcast of ABODE Contemplative Care for the Dying.  In this episode, Natalie sits down with Lynn Perez, founder of the Parting Planner, an organization in San Antonio, Texas designed to guide and support families who wish to create meaningful and personalized tributes for their loved ones who have...

Eminem once said “You only get one shot,” and we at ABODE took that to heart this year.  We had such an amazing 2024 and we’re excited to share our most memorable events with you!   While we’re sad that this is our last episode of Season One, we’re so grateful for the memories and experiences we’ve explored on this podcast.  We’re also incredibly grateful to you, our listeners, for being a part of...

In our line of work, we come across things that challenge us.  We like to call them opportunities for growth, or sticky situations.  When you work with people, you’re bound to have challenges.  Family dynamics often come into play when someone is dying.  It’s a very tender time, it’s a very emotional time.  So learning to be aware and not overreact when faced with any number of situations has been...

Join co-host Natalie Buster as she takes us through a simple technique to create healthy boundaries while working in death care.  Learn how to “open the shop” to arrive fully present and ready to do your work, and then learn how to “close the shop” so you don’t take your work home with you.  These techniques are particularly effective for people who work in death care, but can be very valuable for...

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “End of Life Yoga”?  In this episode, Mary and Natalie dispel the myth about yoga being only about pretzel positions and tight pants and how it’s actually about being present and connecting to the breath.  ABODE launched their End of Life Yoga Certification this year, and are offering two cohorts in 2025.  Learn how yoga can benefit people at the end of...

Join co-host Natalie Buster as she takes us through a Metta (lovingkindness) meditation.   If you’re in the San Antonio area, please come by for a tour of ABODE! Learn more about ABODE Learn more about Natalie Donate to keep this mission going

Rosalind Carter once said “There are only four kinds of people in this world – those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers.”  We couldn’t agree more.  Caregiving is a challenging and often unpaid job.  In this episode Mary and Natalie talk about the different shadow archetypes caregivers can fall into, and wha...