What Now? On the threshold of life, death, and grief.

The death of a child is a traumatic event for any parent and a death by suicide carries its own unique challenges. As Sharon MacLeod shares her story, we hear a difficult journey of a family’s struggle to support, manage and seek help for their exceptional yet complex son Alexander. We are honoured to have Sharon join us and thank her for her openness and courage. We hope this recording honours Al...

In Season 2 we offered "The Written Word": which was an episode dedicated to sharing poems, lyrics and quotes that speak to us. We had positive feedback from the original episode, so we decided to do it again this season. We hope some of these words will resonate with our listeners and we welcome your feedback!     Have feedback about the podcast? Have an idea for a future episode? Get i...

In this episode we engage in a lively discussion with our colleague and friend, Dr. John Beamish. Together, we explore what it means to face our own mortality and work toward finding moments of acceptance and peace with the inevitable reality of death. Our conversation explores how we and John have worked with death anxiety and grief within ourselves over the years. It's a treat to have Dr Be...

People often speak of the importance of dignity at the end of life. Sometimes the medicalization of illness interrupts being seen in our full humanness which erodes our sense of dignity. In the first episode of 2025, we speak with Dr. Harvey Chochinov, physician, author, researcher, and developer of Dignity Therapy, who shows us how to put dignity front and center in the process of caring for thos...

In this last episode of 2024, the co-hosts offer support, compassion and suggestions for navigating the holidays.  It’s often not the most wonderful time of the year, especially for those grieving and living with illness. Have a listen or pass it along to someone who needs a little extra support during this month. Our blessings to all our listeners.  We’ve got some great episodes lined up for Janu...

In a previous episode, we discussed how guilt and grief are frequent companions on the journey. Anger can also be a frequent traveler.  In this episode, we discuss the protective and helpful role of anger, how to go beneath anger to other feelings, and offer suggestions about what to do if you find yourself stuck in your anger. Being in the presence and feeling the effects of another’s anger can a...

In this episode we have the honour of speaking with members of the Birrell family who share their insights after the death of their 8-year-old son and brother James in 2001.  Our conversation focuses on grief and its long-term impacts on families. The Birrells aid us in understanding grief from the parental and sibling perspectives. Pam, Syd and Rebecca are transparent and honest in sharing the di...

In this episode, Harrison's mother, Shannon shares their family story of Harrison's significant yet short life. With incredible grace and generosity Shannon shares what life was like for her and her husband as they rode the emotional and physical ups and downs, joys and sorrow, treatment and recovery and eventual death of their first child and little superhero, Harrison. It's a hear...

In this episode we interview a friend and colleague of the hosts: Tracy Condon. Tracy is a registered social worker with many years experience supporting women and their partners through perinatal loss. This is an arena of grief we often don't speak about and is often not acknowledged. In this conversation, Tracy's passion, care and commitment shine through and she encourages listeners t...

In his book Cancer Confidential, Dr. Charles Hayter draws on his years of experience as a radiation oncologist and writes something accessible, interesting and readable.  In our discussion Dr. Hayter addresses the difficult and sometimes misunderstood subject of cancer and radiation treatment. For those currently going through, or those who will be undergoing, radiation treatment this is a sensiti...

We open Season 3 with the great privilege of speaking with Dr. Kerr about his work and research into the dreams and visions of the dying. Through interviews with over 1,400 dying patients Dr. Kerr’s research reveals that the pre-death dreams and visions of the dying can be life altering experiences offering resolution of relationships and peace in the dying process. Dr. Christopher Kerr is the CEO...

In this short episode the co-hosts take time to reflect on the second season of the podcast.  We review the teaching and learning that occurred because of the amazing guests throughout this season.  Also discuss feedback from listeners and what resonated for them and a few tidbits about what is to come in season 3 - recording is already underway!  Please listen to the end so that you can hear the...

A diagnosis of a potentially life threatening illness throws us into a world of hard questions and a myriad of decisions that need to be made.  Our decisions can find us ruminating on issues and double guessing ourselves and if we don’t achieve the desired results we are often left feeling responsible and guilty about the outcome. In this episode we examine some of the questions that arise and dec...

Poets and writers often capture the experiences, thoughts,  and emotions we may struggle to express or put into words. In this episode, we do something a little different and indulge in our collective love of the written word.   We share and discuss some of our favourite poems, quotes and song lyrics that address what it means to be alive yet wrestle and dance with our mortality.  Have feedback ab...

In this episode, we speak with two experts in dementia healthcare. Dr. Sarah Brisbin and Jill MacPhee help us understand the complexity of dementia both for individuals diagnosed and living with dementia and their families and care partners. Our guests bring their expansive medical knowledge in this area, but it's their humanity and genuine caring for their patients and families that shine th...

We have the honour of speaking with meditation teacher Vinny Ferraro who leads Spirit Rock's program: A Year to Live, which focuses on waking up and living life more fully through the exploration of death as spiritual practice.  In this conversation, Vinny shares his personal perspectives, interwoven with Buddhist teachings on how turning toward the present moment and the natural inevitabilit...

In this episode we address the task of what to do with the belongings and “stuff” we accumulate throughout a lifetime. Often as a person approaches death, or a person has died, family and close friends need to make decisions about how to disseminate a lifetime's worth of stuff. This can be an overwhelming undertaking during an already emotionally exhausting time. To support those engaged in t...

In this fascinating conversation with author, psychologist and neuroscience researcher, Mary-Frances O’Connor,  we learn what happens in the brain when we experience loss and grief.  She expands the understanding of grief by sharing her discoveries of how our brain participates and responds to our loss. Dr. O’Connor explains, both here and in her book, information that is “power enabling,” because...

In this episode we delve into the world of “positivity” as it relates to the experience of living with a life-threatening illness or the experience of being bereaved. Often, well meaning friends and family espouse the power of positive thinking. Thinking positive can be supportive and helpful, however if it becomes the only emotional expression accepted or tolerated by others it can put undue pres...

In this episode we speak with award winning writer Patricia Pearson, author of: Opening Heaven's Door; What the dying may be trying to tell us about where they're going . During this fascinating conversation, Patricia shares findings from her extensive research about the "hinterland between dying and death." It's a fascinating discussion for anyone who has been curious abo...

For many, it's not the most wonderful time of the year.  Those living with life threatening illness (and their families) might be entering this season with awareness this could be the last. For others, if grief is "raw" and new we may be wondering how to survive the holidays.  If our grief is historical, then we may find the holidays trigger our grief.  It's a challenging time...

The role of caregiving can be physically and emotionally exhausting. It can also be one of the most important and fulfilling things we can do for another person and for ourselves. In this episode we explore some of the unique issues and experiences of being a caregiver for someone living with a life threatening illness. Have feedback about the podcast? Have an idea for a future episode? Get in tou...

In this episode we speak with Dr. Daniel (Dan) Rosenbaum about the exciting new role that psychedelic assisted psychotherapy is playing in helping those living with a life threatening illness. Dan covers the past, present and future of this exciting and revitalized world of research and it’s potential real world applications. Have feedback about the podcast? Have an idea for a future episode? Get...

For years our culture has not talked openly about death by suicide and this only amplifies the grief, trauma and isolation of the grief journey. It's an unbearable grief, often made even harder because it's not talked about.  In this episode, we host Maureen Pollard, MSW, a social worker who specializes in traumatic grief. With her 30 years of expertise and experience Maureen compassiona...

In this episode we have the privilege of learning and speaking from Dr MaryCatherine (MC) McDonald, author of Unbroken: The Trauma Response Is Never Wrong—And Other Things You Need to Know to Take Back Your Life .   MC helps us understand the nature of trauma, how it lives in us and how it shows up in our nervous system and our lives. She makes the connection between how some of our grief experien...