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In this conversation, Christine Gautreaux shares her journey of understanding death and caregiving, beginning with her early experiences of loss in her family. She discusses how these experiences shaped her career in social work and her role as a death doula. Christine emphasizes the importance of self-care for caregivers and the need for open conversations about death and dying. She also shares personal stories about her family and the impact of caregiving on health and well-being. She shares her experiences with art, death, and the importance of having open discussions about difficult topics. She reflects on her relationship with her Aunt Joan, who faced terminal illness with grace and clarity about her wishes. Christine emphasizes the importance of amplifying marginalized voices through her work, which includes storytelling and community engagement. The discussion also touches on the challenges of maintaining personal grounding amidst the emotional weight of her work and the necessity of finding joy and laughter even in the face of loss. She reflects on her father's final days, the role of a death doula, and the importance of being present in the moment. The discussion highlights the importance of communication regarding end-of-life wishes and the therapeutic benefits of nature.

Christine is the co-author of Stillpoint: A Caregiver's Playbook to find ease and to take a deep breath and reclaim joy, and Women Connected in Wisdom stories and resources rooted in the eight dimensions of wellness, volumes I & II. She believes in the power of body wisdom and somatic play to help heal trauma and live the best life possible. Christine coaches professional caregivers, activists, and artists to maintain balance and self-care. Christine is the Co-Host of the Women Connected in Wisdom Podcast and the Co-Founder of the Women Connected in Wisdom Community. She currently serves as the Integrity and Innovation Coordinator of InterPlay.

Interplay.org

Gather the Wild & Colorado Interplay

Women Connected in Wisdom

Self-Care. Care While Giving Care YouTube

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You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one on one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.

And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

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In this engaging conversation, Kilah Storm, a writer and puppeteer, shares her unique perspective on life, death, and storytelling through her art. We discuss her early encounters with death, the impact it had on her desire for honest storytelling, and her journey into puppetry using taxidermy roadkill. Kilah emphasizes the importance of honoring life and death in her performances, aiming to change perceptions of taxidermy and encourage positive conversations about mortality. Through her work, she connects with audiences, especially children, fostering a deeper understanding of life and death. In this conversation, we explore the themes of life, death, and the importance of storytelling in understanding and honoring both. We discuss the value of self-care, the cycle of life and death, and the need for community support in navigating difficult conversations about mortality. The conversation emphasizes the beauty in acknowledging death and the importance of being present in the moment, as well as the significance of solitude for personal reflection.

Kilah is a writer and puppeteer. Obsessed with nature and life’s big questions, Kilah has created a unique line of puppets made from taxidermied roadkill. These discarded critters are now characters in The World Of Fluff, a puppet theater that performs retellings of fairy tales. The World of Fluff has performed in multiple venues, including the Denver Performing Arts Complex, Planet V, and the Oddity and Bizarre Expo in Colorado Springs. Kilah is an active member of the Rocky Mountain Puppetry Guild and the Puppeteers of America.

Links:

Kilah's Website
Oddity & Bizarre Expo (Kilah's next performance)
Planet V

Support the show

You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one on one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.

And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

Send us a text

You can see the video version of this episode here

In this reflective conversation, hosts Wakil David Matthews and Annalouiza Armendariz discuss the highlights of their third season, featuring a diverse array of guests who share insights on death, dying, and the various cultural and personal approaches to end-of-life care. They explore the roles of death doulas, innovative practices in body disposition, and the importance of community support in navigating grief. The conversation emphasizes the interconnectedness of life and death, the need for cultural sensitivity in death care, and the evolving understanding of grief and loss.

Support the show

You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one on one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.

And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.