Best Life Best Death
Episodes
#125 How Is Caregiving for Someone Who is Dying Different? – Katie Duncan, Death Care Coach, Part 2
25 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Caring for someone who is dying takes a different approach, and family members may not always remember that or see that it is no longer time to "...
#124 How Do We Cope with Long Term Caregiving? – Katie Duncan, Death Care Coach, Part 1
18 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
At some point in your life, caregiving will likely come upon you, if it hasn’t already. As Rosalynn Carter noted, there are only four kinds of peopl...
#123 The Experience of Aging and the Myth of Independence – Sonya Barsness, Gerontologist
10 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sonya Barsness brings theory and practice together in her work and teaching as a "revisionary" Gerontologist. How can we improve the experie...
#122 A Beginner’s Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death – Diane Hullet
04 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why is this one of my favorite books? How can a book like this have a positive impact on your view of your life *and* your death? What are some pragma...
#121 The Heart of Hospice and Best Life Best Death in Conversation - Helen Bauer and Diane Hullet
27 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week: a joint podcast with The Heart of Hospice and host Helen Bauer. This is swift-talking, wide-ranging, longer-than-usual chat! What brought m...
#120 Choices at the End of Life Part 2: Dementia Advance Directives and Voluntary Stopping of Eating and Drinking – Chaplain Hank Dunn
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Description:This podcast is jampacked with content, including a discussion of advance directives for dementia, Voluntary Stopping of Eating and Drink...
#119 Choices at the End of Life Part 1: Crisis Decision Making – Chaplain Hank Dunn
14 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When difficult choices arise around healthcare and the nearing end of life, Hank Dunn has some ideas to help us decide what to do. In his book, Hard C...
#118 Three Doulas and The Doula Tool Kit – Diane Button, Gabby Jimenez and Angela Shook
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What an honor to chat with three leading doulas and teachers, Diane Button, Gabby Jimenez and Angela Shook. Their new book combines the best of all th...
#117 What Do We Mean by “New” and “Greener” After Death Care? – Eric Rooney, Regeneration Earth
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Eric Rooney and I talk about what it might mean to have a “greener” mindset about death, and how “natural burial” is not new at all, in the Bi...
#116 Thanksgiving Gratitude – Hank Dunn, Chaplain
23 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, in honor of Thanksgiving here in the US, I share a brief conversation with Hospice Chaplain Hank Dunn. He reads two moving pieces from his ...
#115 Sharing the Stories and Artifacts of Our Lives – Heather Nickerson, Artifcts Founder
16 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What’s the latest way to organize your stuff and plan for where it goes when you are gone? Enjoy my conversation with Heather Nickerson, Founder of ...
#114 Dementia – How Do We Approach This Long Road? Kay Adams, Dementia Coach and Author
09 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dementia is disruptive, incredibly so. You can’t get help for what you don’t understand, so this path requires gathering information, pushing for ...
#113 What Is the Enneagram? - Renee Rosario, Narrative Enneagram
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Enneagram is a psychological and spiritual map… and a fascinating predictor of what motivates you, drives your responses to others and shows you...
#99 As Good as Hospice Can Be… There Are Gaps – Susan Elliott, End of Life Coach and Doula
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When Susan Elliott’s mother was at home on hospice, she was cared for by her husband and adult children. These primary caregivers received a great d...
#112 What is a Healthcare Advocate? – Ashley Bright, Founder of Life Journey Advisors
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ashley Bright asks an incredibly important question: Who can families turn to, in order to get guidance in navigating the complexities of healthcare t...
#111 Living Fully and Dying Prepared – Francesca Arnoldy, Author and Community Doula
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Francesca Arnoldy takes us into the Big Picture overview of why conversations about mortality matter. She notes, “We need to remember what it is to ...
#110 Do No Harm: A Conversation with Dr Diana Barnard, Vermont Palliative Care Provider — Dr Diana Barnard
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Diana Barnard is one of those doctors you hope to have sitting in a room with you when decisions have to be made. Thoughtful, patient- and family-...
#109 Loose Ends: Finishing the Project Someone Else Started - with CoCreators Jennifer Simonic and Masey Kaplan
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This world-wide project, called Loose Ends, started in 2022 and “aims to ease grief, create community, and inspire generosity by matching volunteer ...
#108 Last Flight Home: A Family's Experience with the End of Life Option Act in California - Ondi Timoner, Filmmaker and Founder/CEO of Interloper Films
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It is not often that a film captures some of the most tender moments of a family’s experience and shares the love and lessons from a beloved man at ...
#107 This Conversation is for All of Us: Suicide - Cait Maddan, Death Doula/Educator with a Focus in Suicide Care and Conversations
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Starting with material from her digital workbook called "How to Live with Suicidal Ideations," Cait and I discuss how to move from fear and ...
#106 Dignity Day: The Experience of Choosing Medical Aid in Dying for Individuals and Families — Gabby Jimenez — Hospice Nurse, Doula and End of Life Educator
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hospice Nurse and dynamic educator, Gabby Jimenez shares thoughts from her latest book, “Dignity Day: A guidebook for anyone searching for comfor...
#105 We Will All Be Called to Care for Someone at the End of Life - Suzanne O'Brien RN
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Founder of of the Doulagivers Institute, one of the largest doula training institutes in the US, Suzanne O’Brien RN shares her expertise and opinion...
#104 What Is the Role of a Hospice Chaplain? - Ellie Douglass and Kathy Gambino, Hospice Chaplains
30 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week enjoy the perspectives of two hospice chaplains, Ellie Douglass and Kathy Gambino. What does their job entail? What role do they play on a h...
#103 How Talking about Death Changes Your Life - Aimee Yawnick, Death Doula and End of Life Coach
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week I talk with my friend and colleague Aimee Yawnick. She and I are both end-of-life coaches who teach classes and workshops + work with indivi...
#102 Why Bother with Social Media - Joyce Feustel, Boomer Social Media Tutor
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As we age, one of the biggest things we need is social connections! Listen in as social media tutor and trainer Joyce Feustel and I talk about how soc...
#101 Another View of Dementia - Emerson Lee, Dementia Readiness Coach and Life Enrichment Specialist
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Emerson Lee shares a view of dementia that broadens how we perceive the loss of cognitive abilities – and thus might shift how we deal with such cha...
#100 Let's Talk about Death and Dying - Penny Smith, aka Hospice Nurse Penny
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hospice Nurse Penny is everywhere on social media with her fast-paced, humorous, informative commentary, through which she offers education about deat...
#98 The Experience of the Hospice Doctor's Widow: An Art Journal of Love and Loss - Jennifer O'Brien, Author and Artist
20 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jennifer and I talk about this rare treat of the book she created! Intimate, never preachy; concrete but not a self-help book; art-sy but so much more...
#97 Bonus Episode #1 - Extra Material from Theresa Brown, Barbara Karnes and Avani Dilger
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this Bonus Episode #1, I tell you more about why I interviewed these people, and they each share more about themselves and their work. Hear more fr...
#96 How Is the End of Life Deck a Conversation Starter? - Lisa Pahl and Lori LoCicero, Co-Creators of The Death Deck
28 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Lisa Pahl and Lori LoCicero met when Lori’s husband was dying, in his 40s. Together, they realized they could create a tool to help families and fri...
#95 Caring for People with Disabilities at the End of Life: Getting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable - Carrie Batt, Death Doula and Grief Educator
21 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Carrie is a doula and a sister to a man with disabilities. She wants people to consider how communication, comprehension and pain management are diffe...
#94 What Is Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation? - Cheryl Talley, Director of PR and Communications for the Donor Alliance
14 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Talking with Cheryl made me more keenly aware of the ripple effect that donations have in the world. Organ, eye and tissue donations are life-saving. ...
#93 Financial Matters: How Do You Know Which Questions to Ask? - Shane Phillips - Founder of First Steps Help
07 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Let's delve into financial matters with expert Shane Phillips! As Shane says, “The genesis of my work is seeing that most people are not prepare...
#92 Dying with Dad: Tough Talks for Easier Endings - Yvonne Caputo - Author
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Yvonne Caputo felt compelled to write about her experiences with her father and family. She wrote "Flying with Dad: A Daughter. A Father. And the...
#91 It's Hard Being You: A Primer on Being Happy Anyway - Sharon Emery - Author
24 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Working with a severe stutter in the field of communication, Sharon Emery faced huge challenges daily. Finding love, raising children, creating satisf...
#90 Donating Your Body to Science: Why? How? - Kate Serr - Admin Coordinator for the Colorado State Anatomical Board
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Every state has a process to donate your whole body to science when you die. This week I talk to Kate Serr, organizer of this program for the state of...
#89 Doulas… from the First Breath to the Last: A Conversation with a Birth Doula and an End-of-Life Doula - Gabby Jimenez and Claudia Peñate
10 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode I talk with two doulas, Gabby Jimenez and Claudia Peñate. Both of them: work with individuals and families; offer guidance, support and ...
#88 The Art and Science of Reconstruction - Monica Torres - Funeral Director, Embalming and Reconstruction Specialist
03 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s BLBD conversation covers embalming and reconstruction with Funeral Director and specialist Monica Torres. What is it? Who wants it? Why ...
#87 Patient-Centered Care and Medical Assistance in Dying - Dr Stefanie Green - Doctor, Author, Speaker, Educator
26 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Stefanie Green is a Canadian physician with a whole lot of experience and information to share about MAID. What is Medical Assistance in Dying in C...
#86 What Does Active Dying Look Like? Julie McFadden, aka Hospice Nurse Julie - RN/BSN, Social Media Educator
19 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hospice Nurse Julie delves into the details of dying, so that we can all learn more ahead of time and be better prepared when someone we love is at th...
#85 Help Texts: Expert Support in Hard Times - Emma Payne, Founder and Barbara Karnes, RN and Educator
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
So many people are struggling with grief, burnout, caregiving, and more. The idea behind Help Texts is to get expert support directly into people'...
#84 Jack Has a Plan, A Documentary Film - Bradley Berman - Director
03 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
"Jack Has a Plan" is a 73-minute personal documentary which follows the story of a man diagnosed with a brain tumor. Director Bradley Berman...
#83 The Perplexing Fundamental Truth of Death - Jade Adgate - Founder, Farewell Fellowship
20 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jade and I were on such a roll when we recorded our podcast that, well, we just kept going! Part 1 is about death literacy, books we love, literature,...
#82 How Reading Shapes Our Experience of Death and Loss - Jade Adgate - Founder, Farewell Fellowship
20 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jade Adgate and I both love to read and we love to read books that expose us to new angles of death, dying, loss and grief. Sounds miserable, eh? But ...
#81 Stuff: What to Do with It? - Louis Clough, Founder of Transitions by National Rarities
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As a specialist in selling the many and varied items in an estate after someone has died, Louis Clough has some thoughts to share about stuff. How doe...
#80 Making Meaning at the End of Life - Rhea Mader, End-of-Life Practitioner
07 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In her work as an end of-life practitioner, Rhea Mader finds herself in the deep end of the pool when it comes to conversations! Sometimes she simply ...
#79 Dr Ira Byock - Palliative Care Physician and Author - The Four Things that Matter Most
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Ira Byock - leader in palliative care, advocate for patients, and author - joins me this week. We discuss: What might it mean to “die well”? Wh...
#78 Rachel Donnelly - Founder and CEO of Black Dress Consultants - What Is an After Loss Professional and How Can They Help?
21 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After Loss Professionals such as Rachel Donnelly play a unique role for all there is to be done after someone has died. Different from an attorney, mo...
#77 C.C. Boyce - Woodworker and Founder, Boyce Studio - Urns as Art
13 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The range of unique urns is as wide as the artists who are making them! This week I talk with woodworker C.C. Boyce, who developed a two-part wooden u...
#76 Samatha Trad - Natl Director of Care Advocacy, Compassion and Choices - Charting Your Own End of Life Journey Part 2
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In Part 2 of our conversation, Sam and I talk further about compassionate options at the end of life. How have various state Medical Aid In Dying laws...
#75 Samantha Trad - Compassion and Choices, National Director of Care Advocacy - Charting Your Own End of Life Journey, Part 1
30 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week and next, Sam and I dive and digress into several aspects of the end of life. How do we die? How did the organization Compassion & Choic...
#74 Kayla Nakano - Co Founder, Rainbow Bridge Connection Podcast - Beloved Animals, Death and Grief
23 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week I talk with Kayla Nakano, one of the founders of a podcast about pet loss. Kayla and I talk about these loving relationships and the complex...
#72 Kim Mooney - Founder, Practically Dying - How Do We Die? Part 2
16 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week Kim Mooney (thanatolgist and founder of Practically Dying) and I continue our conversation about “exit ramps.” Listen to learn about: pa...
#71 Kim Mooney - Thanatologist, End-of-Life Educator and Founder of Practically Dying - How Do We Die? Part 1
09 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week I talk with Kim Mooney, long-time end-of-life educator and expert in the field. If you want to hear a couple of high-energy, fast-talking wo...
#70 Dr Rob Colbert - Transformation through Psychedelic- and Ketamine-Assisted Therapies
02 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rob and I discuss drugs like psilocybin, MDMA and ketamine. How are they impacting the therapeutic world and the end-of-life world? What can come from...
#69 Avani Dilger - Founder of Natural Highs Community - Neuroscience, Connection and Addiction
29 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Avani Dilger's career and calling in working with addiction, trauma, connection, and the existential questions that we all seek to explore began e...
#68 - Diane Hullet - What Is Storyworth?
21 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
One of many online “story capturing” programs, I gave my dad a gift of Storyworth last Christmas. How did it work, what did he have to do, how did...
#67 Scott Ginsberg and Joshua Siegel - Founders - What Is Titan Casket?
14 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s conversation is with the two of the Founders of Titan Casket, Scott Ginsberg and Joshua Siegel. As they say on the Titan website: “Titan C...
#66 Brother James Patrick Hall - Rocky Mountain Refuge for End of Life Care - Care for Our Un-Housed Neighbors
08 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The mission of the Rocky Mountain Refuge for End of Life Care is "to offer a dignified alternative to dying alone on the street for those with te...
#65 Barbara Karnes - RN, End-of-Life Educator - The Holiday Season - A Time of Joy and Grief
30 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Barbara Karnes, RN and I talk about the ins and out of the holiday season – the awkwardness at times, group gatherings, being alone. What things can...
#64 Barbara Karnes - RN, End-of-Life Educator - Caring for Caregivers
23 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This podcast is all about the role of being a caregiver: what situations put us in this role, who is finding themselves doing the bulk of caregiving, ...
#63 Greg Dale - Owner, Artful Ashes - Beauty for Remembrance: Glass Art from Cremated Remains
17 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Greg Dale of Artful Ashes (Seattle, WA) says simply: ”We create beautiful, tangible treasures. Something that people can hold and remember the good ...
#62 Theresa Brown - RN, Author - When a Nurse Becomes a Patient
09 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Theresa and I run the gamut in this conversation, from her many experiences as a nurse to her sudden role as a breast cancer patient. Her book -- Heal...
#61 Seth Viddal - Chief Operating Officer and Co-Owner - What Services Are Offered at The Natural Funeral?
03 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
“We kind of are a ‘just say yes’ funeral home!” says Seth Viddal of The Natural Funeral. Seth is full of information about what they offer at ...
#60 - Peter Mayer - Singer/Songwriter - Miracles in the Everyday
26 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What does a singer/songwriter have to do with Best Life Best Death? Just listen, as Peter Mayer offers an uplifting reminder of the beauty in th...
#59 Alexandra Jo - Director of Education and Outreach, Parting Stone - Stones from Ashes: Another Option for Cremated Remains
19 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Alexandra Jo and I dig into the work of Parting Stone, a company which creates beautiful, solid, rock-like pieces from cremation remains. We talk abou...
#55 Gabrielle Jimenez - Hospice Nurse, End-of-Life Doula, and Conscious Dying Educator - What Would Gabby Say?
19 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Enjoy this fast-paced conversation with hospice nurse, end-of-life doula, and conscious dying educator Gabrielle Jimenez of The Hospice Heart. Gabby h...
#58 Dana Frost - Founder, The Forced Joy Project - What Is the Forced Joy Project?
13 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week I have a striking conversation with Dana Frost of the Forced Joy Project. In the depth of her husband’s illness, Dana and Brad decided tha...
#57 Taylor Gallegos - Muralist and Live Artist - From Bright Light to Laser Beam: How a Best 3 Months Course Inspired an Artist
06 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
“In the Best 3 Months course, you lead us through big picture questions that ultimately ask: Are you going in the direction you want to be going?”...
#57 Bonnie Compton - Doula, Therapist, Founder of Gentle Heart Journeys - The Death of a Child
28 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Pediatric expert Bonnie Compton and I discuss the death of children. Combining years of experience as an end-of-life doula, child and adolescent thera...
#56 Marcy Lindberg - Co-Owner of Stardust Memorials - What Can I Do with Cremated Remains?
22 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In episode #56, I talk with Marcy Lindberg, Co-Owner with her husband of Stardust Memorials. Specializing in the online sales of cremation remains and...
#54 Jan Booth - Music at the End of Life
08 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s podcast speaks to the heart about music at the end of life. My guest, Jan Booth, says: “Music can support and bolster people, especial...
#53 Joy Redstone - The Complexity of Suicide
31 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this tough but very important episode, therapist Joy Redstone and I discuss several aspects of suicide. We talk about the importance of language wh...
#52 Nicole Comach - Fear of Death
24 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week I talk with Nicole Comach, End-of-Life Guide, Grief Companion and founder of Emerald Awakenings. We discuss: What do people fear about death...
#51 Jamie Kramer - Beyond Forests
17 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jamie Kramer is the founder of Beyond Forests, in the Leelanau area of Michigan. In this two-fold project, Jamie and her colleagues are: 1) seeking la...
#50 Diane Hullet - Best 3 Months: What is It?
10 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Best 3 Months is a course developed by the Conscious Dying Institute which is offered by myself and other graduates of CDI who love end-of-life coachi...
#49 Johanna Lunn - Feature Film - "Saying Goodbye: Preparing for Death"
04 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
“Saying Goodbye: Preparing for Death" is the second film in the When You Die documentary trilogy -- 3 feature-length films about various aspects of ...
#47 Dr Harvey Max Chochinov - The Platinum Rule: A New Standard of Person-Centered Care
27 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Harvey Max Chochinov, Canadian psychiatrist and expert in issues around palliative care, chats with me about misperceptions, unconscious biases, an...
#46 Todd Harra - Last Rites: The Evolution of the American Funeral
20 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A 4th generation Delaware funeral director, Todd Harra is one of the foremost experts on the history (and future) of burial rites in the United States...
#45 Kate Schneider - Exploring the Altered States of Strokes and Brain Cancer
14 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I talk with the author and artist who created "Headland," Kate Schneider. Her vision for this graphic novel was to portray an internal...
#44 Day Schildkret - How Rituals Can Help Us to Change When Life Changes
06 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I talk with Day Schildkret about his life, work, books and art. As Day says, “We need mechanisms in our daily, monthly, annual live...
#43 Amy Bloom - Accompanied Suicide - "I am Not Here for the Long Goodbye"
30 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, I interview author Amy Bloom, whose husband Brian Ameche was told by doctors that he had Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive, neurod...
#42 George Frankel - What Are Eternal Reefs?
22 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I chat with George Frankel, CEO of Eternal Reefs, and find out how this organization combines the cremated remains of loved ones with an en...
#41 Jessica Wertz - Sacred Vessels: Creating Personalized Ceremonies Around Loss and Death
16 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jessica Wertz - ceramic artist + author of the Spirit Vessel Ceremony Guide Book - and I talk about road trips, small towns, ceremony, grief, and sacr...
#40 - Mary Anne Oglesby-Sutherly - Dementia Part II, We Can't Handle This in Isolation, So What Do We Do?
08 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Mary Anne Oglesby-Sutherly is the founder and executive director of a day care program for people with dementia. We discuss a variety of things, inclu...
#39 Mary Anne Oglesby-Sutherly - Dementia Part I, Finding Joy and Compassion on the Journey
02 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Mary Anne Oglesby-Sutherly talks about dementia -- the challenges of getting a diagnosis, the challenges of medication, and the challenges of day-to-d...
#38 Hannah Fowler - Conscious Dying Feature Film: The Last Ecstatic Days
25 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Hannah Fowler and I talk about how she became involved in the making of the movie “The Last Ecstatic Days,” and what she has taken away from this ...
#37 Kilie Crowley - What Is Cremation?
18 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
*Note - Solace is no longer in business. Join Kiley Crowley from Solace Cremation as she and I discuss cremation. How does it work and where does it h...
#36 Dr. Sara Zeff Geber - Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers - and Anyone!
11 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Geber's book, Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers: A Retirement and Aging Roadmap for Single and Childless Adults lays out 6 essential el...
#36 Rachel Brougham - Widowland: I'm Fine, Except I'm Not Fine
04 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
“I’m fine. That’s what grievers often say when people ask how they are doing. Except they’re not fine.” When Rachel Brougham was a young wif...
#35 Shannon Lee Dawdy - American Afterlives - What Are Our Ceremonies, Practices and Beliefs?
28 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Anthropologist Shannon Lee Dawdy set out to interview 100s of people in the U.S. over 5 years, in order to better understand American death practices....
#34 Emily Nelson - What Is Aquamation?
20 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing my exploration of body disposition options, on this podcast I talk with Emily Nelson of Be a Tree Cremation to get the details on "aquamati...
#33 Kate Hoepke - What Is the Village Movement California?
13 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What is the so-called “Village Movement," in California and nation-wide? A way for people to help people, intentionally create community, and keep e...
#32 Jackie Schuld - Grief Is a Mess
06 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Artist and art therapist Jackie Schuld and I discuss what prompted her to write “Grief is a Mess” and how creating these drawings and texts was he...
#31 Dr Chris Kerr - Part II - What Can We Learn from One of the First Hospices in the US?
30 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In Part II of this conversation with Dr Christopher Kerr, he and I get into some nitty-gritty about what it would take to have more of us choose hospi...
#30 Dr Chris Kerr - Part I - More Real than Real: Dreams, Visions and Healing Experiences at the End of Life
23 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Christopher Kerr – of Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo – studies and works daily with people who are at the end of their lives. After rea...
# 29 Brie Smith - Human Composting?!
16 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brie Smith - funeral director at Return Home - and I discuss Natural Organic Reduction aka “Terramation.” Get a look behind the sensational headli...
#28 Barbara Karnes - Part II - Sticky Questions for a Hospice Pioneer
10 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In Part II of our conversation, Barbara Karnes, RN and I move into talking about some harder questions that come up in the end-of-life arena, includin...
#27 Barbara Karnes - Part I - Knowledge about Death Reduces Fear
02 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Barbara Karnes, RN – hospice pioneer in the US and end-of-life educator extraordinaire – joins me to discuss her background, share her experience,...
#26 Preston Zeller - 365 Paintings, a Documentary Film, and a Brother's Grief
24 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
After the sudden death of his brother, Preston Zeller decided to dive into his grief and his creativity by painting every day for a year. He made a go...