End-of-Life University

Learn about a helpful book for grieving teens by grief counselor and thanatologist Dr. Korie Leigh … and why you should have it on your bookshelf. My guest Dr. Korie Leigh is a grief counselor and an Associate Professor and Program Director of the Thanatology Program at Marian University. She has spent 20 years working… Continue reading Ep. 479 A Teen’s Guide to Grief and Grievin...

Learn how grief is a major theme of Alexander Hamilton’s life as portrayed in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit musical Hamilton. Today I’m joined once again by my co-host Benjamin Kintisch for another episode of the Death & Grief in Pop Culture Series. Ben is a cantor, hospice and eldercare chaplain, music teacher, and the creator of Life Review: The… Continue re...

Learn how an astrologer uses death charts to provide insights and solace for people who are grieving. My guest Moon Zlotnik is an astrologer who has been practicing and teaching astrology full-time for over 40 years. Her practice of modern astrology includes a focus on both psychology and spirituality. She discusses her discovery of the… Continue reading Ep. 477 Astrology as a Tool for Grief...

Learn from an expert about the dynamics of the dying process and the most common concerns of caregivers as their loved one approaches death. This week I’m welcoming once again my recurring guest Barbara Karnes RN who is a hospice nurse, author, thought leader and expert on end-of-life care and the dynamics of dying. She… Continue reading Ep. 476 The Dying Process: What Caregivers Need...

Learn about a beautiful, sustainable option for disposition of ashes after death at the base of a memorial tree. My guest Gillian Nye has served at the Forest Memorials Manager at Better Place Forests for the past 6 years. She helps families create meaningful, nature-centered ceremonies that honor their loved ones in a unique and… Continue reading Ep. 475 Tree vs. Tombstone: Better Place For...

Learn about a unique postgraduate program in Scotland that offers a global and cultural context to end of life studies for a diverse group of students. My guest Marian Krawczyk is a medical anthropologist interested in the culture of health, illness and medicine, particularly in relation to the end of life. She is the Lead… Continue reading Ep. 474 End of Life Studies Postgraduate Program in...

Learn how a funeral director who is also an end-of-life doula merges “head and heart” in her work to help people prepare for the end of life. My guest Christa Ovenell is a licensed funeral director, an end-of-life doula, and the founder of Death’s Apprentice Education & Planning. She shares how she helps people think… Continue reading Ep. 473 Death’s Apprentice: P...

Learn why you should start a death collaborative in your community and tips for getting started. My guests this week are members of the Minnesota Death Collaborative and will share how the collaborative was created, including tips for others who might like to start a similar collaborative in their community or state. Michelle Kolling is… Continue reading Ep. 472 Creating a Collaborative Move...

Learn how death and grief are portrayed in pop culture through this new series that analyzes theater, film and music, starting with the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen. Trigger Warning: This episode contains references to suicide and grief after suicide so use your own discretion if these are sensitive topics for you. If you are… Continue reading Ep. 471 NEW SERIES – Death & Grie...

Learn how a palliative clinician and a researcher are helping to create a social movement for improving the patient and family experience of serious illness. This week I’m welcoming Drs. Sammy Winemaker and Hsien Seow, creators of The Waiting Room Revolution and authors of the book Hope for the Best Plan for the Rest. Sammy… Continue reading Ep. 470 Transforming the Illness Experience...

Learn about some helpful episodes from the EOLU Archives that can show you how and why to start teaching others about death and dying. This week I’m sharing another “Podcast Playlist” which is a topic-focused deep dive into the archives of EOLU. I have created several anthologies of episodes that deal with specific subjects to make it… Continue reading Ep. 469 Podcast Playlist: Dea...

Learn some tips and tools for offering support to family caregivers tending a loved one on hospice. My return guest Gabby Jimenez is a hospice nurse, end-of-life doula, death and dying educator, author and blogger. She is the author/co-author of numerous books, including Dignity Day and The Doula Tool Kit and the host of The… Continue reading Ep. 468 Supporting Family Caregivers: Notes from...

Learn how a home funeral guide and an aqua cremation provider collaborate to help families care for a loved one’s body after death. My two guests this week are collaborators who work together to ensure that their clients can access family involved deathcare: Trina Wacasey is an end-of-life doula, home funeral guide and the founder… Continue reading Ep. 467 A New Twist on Home Funerals:...

Learn about a book of quotes gathered by a compassionate oncologist from deep conversations with her patients. My guest Dr. Christina Gomez is a gastrointestinal medical oncologist at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center. She is the author of the book Stopped in My Tracks: A Physician’s Collection of Cancer Patients’ Quotes, which she discusses today.… Continue reading Ep. 466 Listen...

Learn all about end-of-life doulas from this comprehensive deep dive into the archives of EOLU Podcast! This week I’m sharing a new feature: the “Podcast Playlist” which is a topic-focused deep dive into the archives of EOLU. I’ve created several anthologies of episodes that deal with specific subjects that might interest you. This is to… Continue reading Ep. 465 Podc...

Learn about a guidebook that teaches how to offer appropriate nutrition for a loved one approaching death. This week I’m welcoming my recurring guest and friend Barbara Karnes RN, hospice nurse, author, thought leader and expert on end-of-life care and the dynamics of dying. Barbara is the author of Gone From My Sight, “the little… Continue reading Ep. 464 Nutrition at the End of Life...

Learn about a grief book that combines personal experience with expert advice and a touch of humor. My guest Dina Gachman is a Pulitzer Center grantee, an award-winning journalist, and a frequent contributor to the New York Times, Texas Monthly, Vox, and more. She wrote her second book So Sorry for Your Loss: How I… Continue reading Ep. 463 “So Sorry for Your Loss:” Learning to L...

Learn about the importance of sacred rituals and practices at the end of life. This interview was recorded several years ago with Kitty Edwards, a shamanic practitioner, public speaker, published author and master teacher. She served as the director of The Living and Dying Consciously Project and as the co-founder of The No Regrets Project. Kitty’s… Continue reading Ep. 462 ARCHIVE: Creating...

Learn about a helpful tool for organizing all your records and files for your later years and your loved ones. My guest Maria Fraietta is the founder of The Nokbox, which is a complete system that helps you organize all of your accounts, possessions, social media presence, communities, kids, pets, personal history, and estate plans.… Continue reading Ep. 461 The NOKbox: A Gift for Your Next...

Learn how this hospice doctor’s important research sheds light on the dreams and visions of the dying and why they are meaningful. In this interview from the archives of EOLU my guest is Dr. Christopher Kerr  who currently practices at Hospice Buffalo in Buffalo, NY. He is conducting a research project on the dreams and visions of… Continue reading Ep. 460 ENCORE: Deathbed Dreams and V...

Learn more about the continuing bonds theory and various ways it is beneficial for grievers. This special episode is a follow-up to the previous interview with Dina Stander about the phone of the wind. I’ll take a closer look at the Continuing Bonds theory of grief to see how using a wind phone might actually… Continue reading Ep. 459 Continuing Bonds Theory of Grief: A Closer Look wit...

Learn how the “phone of the wind” can help us establish continuing bonds with our loved ones who have died. My guest Dina Stander is an end-of-life navigator, funeral celebrant and burial shroud maker. She is also the founder of the Northeast Death Care Collaborative, an author and a propagator of phones of the wind,… Continue reading Ep. 458 The Phone of the Wind: Connecting wit...

Learn how two creators each facing serious illness came together to produce an award-winning masterpiece. My guests Christina Holbrook and Walker Vreeland are joining me today to talk about their personal stories of serious illness and facing mortality in the midst of working on a creative project. Numerous synchronicities and little miracles came together to… Continue reading Ep. 457 Creati...

Learn about a senior living community that is bringing end-of-life doula training to residents, thanks to the efforts of its chaplain. My guest Tom Waknitz is a chaplain and end-of-life doula who is working with Walker Methodist Senior Living Community to establish a unique end-of-life program for residents called Passages. He is certified by INELDA… Continue reading Ep. 456 Passages: An EOL...

Learn about a powerful NY Times bestselling memoir that teaches how acknowledging our mortality helps us live a more authentic life. My guest Alua Arthur is the founder of Going With Grace, a death doula training and end-of-life planning organization. She is a frequent guest on television and radio and has been featured on CBS’s… Continue reading Ep. 455 Briefly Perfectly Human with Al...