The Waiting Room Revolution

This episode features our conversation with Daniel Nowoselski, Advocacy Manager for Hospice Palliative Care at the Canadian Cancer Society. We discuss being a lobbyist for the palliative care community, policy issues and challenges in the health care system that the Canadian Cancer Society are trying to address, where his passion for palliative care stems from, MAID and what brings Daniel hope for...

This episode features our conversation with Dr. Kerrie Noonan, clinician psychologist, social researcher, founder and innovator. We talk about death and grief literacy in Australia and around the world, what it is and why it is important and how it really is a community endeavor. Learn more about Kerries work here: https://www.deathliteracy.institute/   Our theme song is Maypole by Ketsa and is li...

This episode features Dr. Red Hoffman, a trauma surgeon who is board certified in hospice and palliative medicine from Asheville, North Carolina. We talk about her upcoming TEDTalk, her life experiences and how she got to where she is now and experiencing emotions as a surgeon alongside caring for your patients. Learn more about Reds work here: https://redhoffmanmd.com/ For more information visit:...

This episode features the Hon. Lisa Raitt, former Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament from 2008 to 2019 and caregiver to her husband Bruce. Bruce was diagnosed with young onset Alzheimer's disease during the pandemic. We talk about their experience with diagnosis, how the seven keys can be used for caregivers and what policies can help caregivers along an illness journey. For more informatio...

This episode features our conversation with Dr. Kimberly Acquaviva, a professor at the University of Virginias School of Nursing. Kimberly is the author of The Handbook of LGBTQIA-Inclusive Hospice & Palliative Care. We discuss her very personal story of losing her wife Kathy to ovarian cancer and how that shaped her advocacy and how we can provide person centred, inclusive care. Learn more ab...

In this episode, we chat with Laura Watts: Founder and CEO of CanAge, author, laywer and advocate. She is also an Assistant Professor at University of Toronto where she teaches Law and Aging. In this episode, we discuss CanAge, advocacy in senior patients and families at the policy and individual level, motivation behind her book and aging well around the world. For more information about Laura's...

This episode features our conversation with Clare Fuller, a Registered Nurse with a passion for advance care planning. Clare owns Speak for Me a Lasting Power of Attorney consultant service in the UK. She is also the host of the Conversations about Advance Care podcast. We talk about what shes learned from hosting her podcast and some of the tools shes developed to help people plan for the future....

This episode features our conversation with Dr. Christian Ntzimira. Christian is a palliative care physician, Founder and Executive Director of African Centre for Research on End of Life care. He also published a book called The Safari Concept: An African Framework for End of Life Care that uses animal metaphors to characterize patterns of a family's suffering and how healthcare providers can use...

This episode features our conversation with Dr. Susan Cadell. Susan is a professor at the University of Waterloo in the Department of Social Work. She is a researcher who focuses on positive aspects of stress and coping including post traumatic growth. Today we chat about her research, memorial tattoos and grief including grief after Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). Find out more about Susans w...

In this episode, we chat with Jia Ying Tay. Jia Ying is an end of life doula based out of Singapore and the founder of Happy ever after, a service that connects with and support individuals directly in end of life planning. She also served as a co-creative producer of an arts based community engagement project called Both Sides Now. We talk about her journey to becoming an end of life doula in Sin...

This episode features our conversation with Dr. Jared Rubenstein. He is a pediatric palliative care doctor and medical educator from Houston, Texas who creates animated videos to provoke discussion around challenging topics in healthcare, especially palliative care. We chat about how his videos connect with the upstaream messages of the Waiting Room Revolution and the ways we need to innovate educ...

This episode features our conversation with Kristin Flanary a.k.a. Lady Glaucomflecken on Social Media. She is a co-host on the podcast Knock Knock Hi with her husband Dr. Glaucomflecken. Kristin advocates for caregivers and co-survivors of medical trauma, and patient caregiver centered care. We chat about the origin story of the Glaucomflecken name, the motivation behind her advocacy work and her...

This episode features our conversation with Laurel Wittman, president of the Well Spouse Association. Laurel focuses on supports for younger, well spouses. We chat about her experience as a caregiver for her husband Eduardo, who has Multiple Sclerosis, what their journey has been like and what has saved her life. To learn more about the Well Spouse Association visit: https://wellspouse.org/     Fo...

This episode features photographer Stephen Starkman. This episide is a combination of two different conversations had a few months apart as we speak with Stephen about his journey with small cell lung cancer. We explore what its like to live with a life- limiting illness that will progress and the importance of being in the know. For more information about Stephens art and book: https://www.stephe...

This episode features social worker Joanna Vautour. Joanna is Anishinaabe and a band member of Serpent River First Nation. She is passionate about trauma informed care and transforming the healthcare system to provide culturally safe care for everyone. We discuss this in this episode alongside strengthening palliative care in Indigenous communities, cultural outlooks on dying and death in the comm...

This episode features Jeremie Saunders, speaker and co-host of the popular CBC podcast: Sickboy. Jeremie lives with Cystic Fibrosis and is committed to educating and changing the conversation about what its like to live with a serious illness. We discuss his podcast, Cystic Fibrosis and the new medications available that have changed his life. We also chat about fears, psychedelics and how they im...

This episode features our conversation with Amie Archibald-Varley and Sara Fung, co-hosts of The Gritty Nurse podcast! Amie and Sara are nurses, speakers and advocates for the nursing profession, anti-racism and health system change. We chat all about nurses and the nursing profession, the reasons for the nursing crisis and the critical role of nurses in the waiting room revolution. To learn more...

This episode features our conversation with Dr. Heather Richardson, policy lead at St Christophers Hospice in South London, UK. We talk about the current and future state of hospice care and how hospices can follow a public health approach and become connectors in the community. Pre orders are available now for our book Hope for the Best, Plan for the Rest: 7 Keys to Navigating a Life Changing Dia...

This episode features our conversation with Jennifer Klassen, Shannon Reimer and Dr. Cornelius J Woelk, all providers working with Southern Health- Sante Sud in Winnipeg, Manitoba. We chat about how they have used the seven keys in their work in the community.   Pre orders are available now for our book Hope for the Best, Plan for the Rest: 7 Keys to Navigating a Life Changing Diagnosis. We also h...

This episode features our interview with Dr. Leeroy Williams, a palliative care physician practicing in Melbourne, Australia. We chat about the differences between Australia and Canada, how people are cared for in Australia and how anyone can turn a consultation into a conversation.   We have some exciting news to share! The wait is (almost) over! Pre orders are available now for our book Hope for...

This is our last double header innovation episode of the season! Our first guest is Erin Galyean, author of Badass Advocate. She's a pharmaceutical sales trainer by day and a caregiver advocate by night. She shares some amazing tips on how to be persistent and respectful. Our second guest is Jennifer O'Brien, author of The Hospice Doctors Widow. We chat about the idea of precious time, balancing h...

This episode features our interview with Tracey Human and Bob Parke. Tracey is a pain and symptom management consultant who provides education and palliative care in the community. Bob is a bioethicist consultant. We chat about how the 7 keys can apply to individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability and their families and how to achieve patient centered care.   For more information...

This episode features our interview with Dr. Kathy Kortes-Miller, Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work at Lakehead University. We chat about her book, 'Talking About Death Won't Kill You' and about her latest project, a podcast called Disrupting Death, which focuses on Canadians sharing their experiences with Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). For more information about Kathys wor...

This is another double header innovation special! Our first guest is Bev Foster, co-founder of The Room 217 Foundation. We chat about the healing power of music across cultures and how each of us can bring music into our work. Our second guests are Dr. Julie McIntyre and Sheli O'Connor, who are teaching an education course called Last Aid, designed for the public. We chat about how Last Aid can be...

This episode features our interview with Dr. Sunita Puri, palliative care physician and best selling author of 'That Good Night: Life and Medicine in the 11th Hour'. Suntia chats with us about the power of language in the face of dying, how culture intersects with medicine and the art of communication as clinician and writer. For more information about Sunita, visit her website: https://sunitapuri...