Dying Well: What an End-of-Life Doula Wants Us to Know

In this episode of Meaning and Moxie After 50, Leslie sits down with Rachel Langenohl, an end-of-life doula and founder of Sacred Time, for a heartfelt conversation about bringing greater peace, dignity, and even joy to the end of life. Rachel explains how an end-of-life doula complements hospice care by focusing on the emotional, spiritual, and relational needs that often arise when someone is dying. Drawing on her years as a hospice volunteer and her personal experiences with loved ones, Rachel shares how simply listening, facilitating difficult family conversations, offering companionship, and understanding what matters to an individual can make an enormous difference during this deeply personal time.

Rachel also shares several moving stories from her work, including sitting vigil with people who might otherwise have died alone, praying the rosary with a frightened man whose anxiety eased before he passed, and witnessing people near death seemingly communicate with loved ones who had already died. Leslie and Rachel explore why our culture tends to avoid conversations about death and how becoming more comfortable with mortality can actually deepen our appreciation for life, connection, and the present moment. Rachel also discusses her “Eat, Drink, and Be Mortal” dinners, where people gather over dishes that remind them of someone they've lost, using stories, laughter, and sometimes tears to make conversations about death less frightening and more human.

Rachel's info: https://www.sacredtime.net/

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