End of Life Conversations
Annalouiza and Wakil offer classes on end-of-life planning, grief counseling, and interfaith (or no faith!) spiritual direction. If you are interested in any of those, don't hesitate to get in touch with us via email at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.
In this podcast, we'll share people’s experiences with the end of life. We have reached out to experts in the field, front-line workers, as well as friends, neighbors, and the community, to have conversations about their experiences with death and dying. We have invited wonderful people to sit with us and listen to each other’s stories.
Our goal is to provide you with information and resources that can help all of us navigate and better understand this important subject.
You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. Also, we would love your financial support and you can subscribe by clicking on the Subscribe button. Subscribers will be sent a dynamically updated end-of-life planning checklist and resources document. They will have access to premium video podcasts on many end-of-life planning and support subjects. Subscribers at $8/month or higher will be invited to a special live, online conversation with Annalouiza and Wakil and are eligible for a free initial session of grief counseling, or interfaith spiritual direction.
And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.
We want to acknowledge that the music we are using was composed and produced by Charles Hiestand. We also acknowledge that we live and work on unceded indigenous people's lands. We thank them for their generations of stewardship which continues to this day, and honor them by doing all we can to create a sustainable planet and support the thriving of all life, both human and more than human.
Episodes
64 episodes
Announcing Child Loss Virtual Support Group with Phoenix Destiny and Karen Carlissi
In this episode, Karen Carlisi discusses her work as a death doula and the collaborative event she is hosting with Phoenix Destiny, focusing on supporting individuals who have experienced child loss. We explore the concept of disenf...
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Season 3
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Episode 18
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21:26
Introducing the Grievers' Library with Pamela Belyea
In this conversation, Pamela Belyea shares her journey through grief after losing six family members in a short span. She discusses the founding of the Griever's Library, a nonprofit that provides grief resources to the community. We explore th...
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Season 3
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Episode 17
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38:34
Telepathic Connections: Communicating with the Deceased with Fran Parker
In this episode, we welcomed Fran Parker. Fran is a writer who loves Earth and the diversity of life on planet Earth. Her awe of humanity's potential, her communication with God, and her journeys in dreams and meditations led her to write the b...
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Season 3
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Episode 16
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42:54
Called to Accompany the Dying with Karen Carlisi
In this conversation, Karen Carlisi shares her profound journey from being an English language educator to becoming a death doula. She reflects on her early experiences with death, including the loss of loved ones, and how these moments shaped ...
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Season 3
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Episode 15
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34:35
Helping Navigate Grief in the Wild Heart Space with Mirabai Starr
In this conversation, Mirabai Starr shares her profound experiences with death and loss, detailing how these events have shaped her spiritual journey and her work. She discusses the impact of her brother's and first love's deaths on her life, l...
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Season 3
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Episode 14
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39:42
Natural Body Disposition and Mindfulness at End of Life with Mike Reagan
In this conversation, Mike Reagan, CEO of The Natural Funeral, shares his profound journey in end-of-life care, from his teenage years working in a cemetery to his current role in revolutionizing the funeral industry. He discusses the importanc...
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Season 3
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Episode 13
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41:37
Unique Death Education with the Death Doyenne, Gail Rubin
In this conversation, Gail Rubin, a pioneering death educator, shares her journey into the field of death education, emphasizing the importance of planning for end-of-life issues. She discusses her creative approaches, including the use of humo...
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Season 3
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Episode 12
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33:16
The Wind Phone: A Symbol of Connection with Russell Young
In this conversation, Russell Young shares his profound experiences with death, grief, and the importance of community support. He reflects on the impact of losing loved ones, particularly his father and wife, and how these experiences shaped h...
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Season 3
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Episode 11
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29:46
What is a Death Doula
In this episode, we introduce the concept of death doulas, professionals trained to support individuals and families during the end-of-life process. Four experienced death doulas are featured in the conversation, sharing their backgrounds, spec...
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Season 3
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Episode 10
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1:12:12
Hand Woven Coffins and the Importance of Death Literacy with Dr. Tamara McIntyre
In this conversation, Dr. Tamara McIntyre shares her journey and insights into death literacy, the importance of curiosity in facing mortality, and her work with hand-woven willow coffins. She discusses the challenges of engaging people in conv...
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Season 3
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Episode 10
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46:11
Cultural Ritual with the Founder of A Thoughtful Death Neshia Alaovae
In this conversation, Neshia (Nee sha) Alaovae (Alah vi) shares her profound experiences and insights on death, grief, and the importance of cultural rituals. Raised by her grandparents in Samoa, Neshia's early encounters with death shape...
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Season 3
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Episode 9
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38:32
Helping Children and Adults Find Meaning in Death with Rich Nisbet
In this conversation, Rich Nisbet shares his profound experiences with death, grief, and spirituality. He discusses his journey from personal loss to becoming a grief counselor, emphasizing the importance of finding meaning in death. Rich also ...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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43:47
Last Words & First Words and How They Relate with Michael Erard
In this conversation, Michael Erard discusses his work on language, mainly focusing on the first words of babies and the last words of the dying. He shares personal experiences with death, including a profound encounter that shaped his understa...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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39:02
Compassionate End-of-Life Care for the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community with Tianna Dargent
In this conversation, Tiana Dargent, founder of Queer Community Death Care, shares her personal journey with death and grief, highlighting the importance of inclusive and compassionate end-of-life care for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. She discusse...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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33:46
How to Become a Death Doula - Premium Episode
An edited video version of this episode is available here: https://youtu.be/9bLisrm7q4wIn this podcast episode, the hosts engage with experienced death doulas to explore the journey of becoming ...
Subscriber Episode
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1:13:40
Culturally Sensitive Training with Joe'l the Grave Woman
In this conversation, Joe'l Simone Maldonado, a licensed funeral director and grief educator, shares her profound experiences with death from a young age, the challenges she faces in her profession, and the importance of self-care and boundarie...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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36:40
Serving 10,000 Veterans at their End of Life with Deborah Grassman
In this conversation, Deborah Grassman shares the profound insights she gained from her extensive experience as a hospice nurse for veterans. She discusses the concept of 'soul injury,' a wound that disconnects individuals from their true selve...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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32:59
Serving Individuals and Families Navigating the End-of-Life with LiElla Kelly
LiElla Kelly is a nationally recognized NEDA (National End-of-Life Doula Alliance) Proficient End-of-Life Doula and After-Death Care Educator. She founded Leaving Well, a groundbreaking business that serves individuals and families seeking to n...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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37:13
Speaking with Death Doulas - with Phoenix Destiny and Myra Daniel
In this episode, we spoke with two new friends we met at a recent death care conference in Seattle. They are both Death Doulas and some of their cohort will share their inspiration and work in a special premium video episode called “What is a D...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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38:32
Training Caregivers At The Humane Prison Hospice Project with Laura Musselman
Laura Musselman is the Director of Communications (and program facilitator) for the Humane Prison Hospice Project. She is also a trauma-support specialist and advocate for compassionate, dignified end-of-life care. A mother of one ...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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43:18
Celebrating the End of Season Two
NOTE: You can see the video version of this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/L-mUMV5shaAAlso, please note that subscribing to the YouTube channel (though we appreciate i...
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Season 2
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Episode 41
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7:01
Plant Medicine for Grief and Healing with Teresa Yung
In this conversation, Teresa Yung shares her profound journey through grief and healing, exploring the impact of death on her life and work. As an activist and therapist in training, she discusses her experiences with plant medicine, the awaken...
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Season 2
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Episode 20
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43:45
Be Vessels of Love in the World and Imagine Peace - with Author and Playwright Anastacia Dadashpour
In this conversation, Anastasia Dadashpour shares her profound experiences with death and loss, exploring how these events have shaped her understanding of life, love, and spirituality. She discusses the impact of her grandmother's fear of deat...
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Season 2
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Episode 19
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41:00
AI Replicants, Sentience, Death Awareness - with Playwright Duane Kelly
Duane Kelly is an award-winning author of eleven full-length plays. His plays often delve into end-of-life themes. The two most recent productions were a premiere of Abacus in Seattle in September 2024 and the play Patrimony in Tulsa, Oklahoma,...
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Season 2
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Episode 18
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38:49
The Importance of Planning for the End of Life as a Gift to Your Loved Ones with Dr Kimberly Harms
In this conversation, Dr. Kimberly Harms shares her profound experiences with grief and loss, detailing the impact of her mother's and son's deaths on her life. She discusses the importance of processing grief, the role of legacy planning, and ...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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44:51