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In this episode we are honored to speak with poet, Steve Dahl. Steve’s career has always been in the world of marketing and creativity. He’s helped many clients over the years promote and grow their business with his creative writing, photography, and social media skills. Steve holds a Master’s degree in Organization Development and a Master’s degree in Spiritual Psychology.

His marketing experience took an interesting twist in 2013 when he became Director of Marketing for the Cal State University Institute for Palliative Care. There, he began to dive into the worlds of hospice and palliative care education.
His task at that point was to help bring awareness of the value of hospice and palliative care to doctors, nurses, social workers, and chaplains.

In this conversation, Steve discusses his journey into the world of hospice and palliative care education and the importance of having conversations about death and end-of-life care. He shares personal experiences and poems highlighting the need for open dialogue and preparation for the inevitable. We emphasize the significance of starting these conversations at a young age and the role of healthcare professionals in facilitating these discussions. The conversation explores the importance of end-of-life planning and the need for open and honest discussions about death. It highlights the need for healthcare professionals, spiritual care providers, and advocates to be better equipped to support individuals and their families during the end-of-life process. We also touch on the fear of incompleteness and the desire to live a fulfilling life. The guests share their personal experiences and discuss the power of poetry in addressing end-of-life topics. The conversation concludes with a discussion about the potential publication of a book of collected poems and the importance of spreading awareness about end-of-life planning.

The Chaplaincy Innovation Lab

Inspiring Guy on TikTok

You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Also, we would love your financial support and you can join us on Patreon. Anyone who supports us at any level will be invited to a special live, online conversation with Annalouiza and 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 episode we meet Rebecca Crichton, the executive director of Northwest Center for Creative Aging. We discuss her work in the field of creative aging and grief counseling. She shares personal experiences with death and highlights the importance of having conversations about death and end-of-life choices. Rebecca emphasizes the value of resilience and positive psychology in the grieving process. She also talks about the significance of legacy letters and the need for open discussions about death and dying. Rebecca encourages listeners to embrace the gift of each day and find purpose in their lives.

Rebecca is the Executive Director of Northwest Center for Creative Aging
(NWCCA) and brings wisdom and purpose to her work with the aging community. She retired from a 21 year career at Boeing as a writer, curriculum designer and
leadership development coach. Her Encore Career uses her knowledge and
experience to offer programs and resources related to Creative Aging in the Seattle area. NWCCA collaborates monthly with Seattle’s Town Hall.

Rebecca facilitates Wisdom Cafes for the King County Library System and writes a regular column for Third Act Magazine.

Trained as a Hospice Volunteer, Rebecca continues to teach and facilitate Grief and Resilience support groups for several organizations. Rebecca has master’s degrees in child development and organizational development and is a Certified Coach.

Resources we discussed:

Northwest Center for Creative Aging
Food and Finality
Death over Dinner
3 Secrets of Reslilient People - TedTalk by Lucy Hone
Resilient Grieving - Book by Lucy Hone
Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology Center

You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Also, we would love your financial support and you can join us on Patreon. Anyone who supports us at any level will be invited to a special live, online conversation with Annalouiza and 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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Today we're very happy to be able to share a conversation with two friends, Diana & Luc

Diana O'Riordan Verschoor, who also goes by Dee, is an eco folk artist living in the Colorado on Cheyenne, Ute, and Arapaho ancestral land. Dee's small business, Thimble and Stone, supports collective liberation through functional folk arts, placing an emphasis on ritual and wellness. One of Dee's artistic focuses is on painting simple, nature-inspired designs onto eco-cremation urns using natural pigments.

Luc Nadeau is an entrepreneur, artist, and freelance ecologist living in Longmont, Colorado. He started Nature's Casket in 2008 to provide eco-friendly caskets and urns.

In this conversation, Luc and Dee discuss their work in the field of eco-friendly caskets and urns. Luc is the founder of Nature's Casket, which provides eco-friendly burial options, while Dee is an artist who paints nature-inspired designs on eco-cremation urns. They talk about their personal experiences with death, the beauty of using beetle-kill wood for their creations, the challenges they face, and the joy they find in their work. They also discuss the importance of green burial options and the need for more awareness and support in this field.

Here is a link to Diane’s art gallery where you will find photos of the painted caskets and urns.

For the coffin Luc and she were talking about, you have to click the plus sign to load more photos to see it.

The Green Burial Council

You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Also, we would love your financial support and you can join us on Patreon. Anyone who supports us at any level will be invited to a special live, online conversation with Annalouiza and 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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Today we have an opportunity to share a conversation with Dr. Amelia Phillips, a black woman working in a variety of fields dominated by white men including Engineering Information technology and real estate.
Dr. Phillips is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a BS degree in Astronautical Engineering and a BS in Archaeology along with an MBA in Technology Management from the University of Phoenix. She completed her PhD at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Computer Security.
She has also managed rock bands, worked on an assembly line; has been a real estate broker, computer consultant, and hard money lender.
She was a Fulbright Scholar at the Polytechnic of Namibia and returned there over the course of more than a decade as they grew to become the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST).
Dr. Phillips, a black woman with a diverse background, shares her unique life experiences and perspectives on death and dying. She reflects on the impact of her mother's death at a young age and how it shaped her outlook on life.
Dr. Phillips discusses the African American view of death and the role of funerals in the community. She also talks about her current work, challenges she faces, and her desire to leave a lasting impact on the world.
Dr. Phillips discusses how she feels supported at the end of life. She talks about the importance of having good friends and accountability partners who provide emotional support and keep her motivated. She also emphasizes the significance of staying connected with spiritual practices and preparing for the next transition.
The conversation touches on the fear of leaving a messy living space after death and the importance of decluttering and simplifying one's belongings. The idea of gifting meaningful items to friends and community members is also discussed as a way to pass on cherished mementos.

https://www.sfltimes.com/news/black-news-news/origins-and-history-of-the-black-funeral-service

https://blogs.loc.gov/inside_adams/2021/02/african-american-funeral-homes/

https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/01/black-funeral-homes-mourning/426807/

https://www.delawareonline.com/story/sponsor-story/evan-w-smith-funeral-services/2021/02/01/african-american-funeral-homes-essential-throughout-history-and-today/4211105001/

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-black-funeral-homes-closing-ron-alexander/

You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Also, we would love your financial support and you can join us on Patreon. Anyone who supports us at any level will be invited to a special live, online conversation with Annalouiza and 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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Twana Sparks MD is a semi-retired ear, nose and throat surgeon and writer. She is a native New Mexican and 1986 graduate of the University of New Mexico Medical School.
Dr. Twana Sparks excels at oral histories mixed with scientific information. Her books on Medical Aid in Dying (2024) and Tuberculosis treatment (2013) blend the personal with the process.
She was raised in a large family in New Mexico and by age 12 she had a bucket list that included but was not limited to: become a doctor, write a book, walk across America, go around the world, and learn to surf. Due to a charmed and blessed life she got to do it all and much more including stand-up comedy, adoptive mother and grandma, music maker and a volunteer firefighter. In 2022, she began supporting those choosing medical aid in dying.
She explains the importance of terminology and the distinction between medical aid in dying, euthanasia, and suicide. She shares her role in educating patients and the public about medical aid in dying and providing support to those who choose it.
In this conversation, Twana Sparks discusses her work as a prescriber for medical aid in dying and the challenges she faces. She shares that one challenge is the repetition of the process and the need to keep each experience impactful and meaningful.
Twana also discusses the surprises she has encountered in her work, including the realization that people die how they live and the increasing interest in voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED) as a way to end life.
Ping Pong Balls & Donkey's Milk: A History of Tuberculosis in Fort Bayard New Mexico by Twana Sparks MD
The VSED Handbook: A Practical Guide to Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking
In Passing: Stories of Medical Aid in Dying by Twana Sparks MD
Dying Wish - the movie about VSED
The lyrics for the song are in the transcript

You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Also, we would love your financial support and you can join us on Patreon. Anyone who supports us at any level will be invited to a special live, online conversation with Annalouiza and 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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On today’s episode we have a wonderful conversation with Isabel Knight. Isabel is the Founder of The Death Designer, a company that provides end-of-life planning services, including funeral and vigil planning, digital account password management, advance directives, and assistance with reconciling fears of mortality. She takes a human-centered design approach, with a focus on promoting individual autonomy, sustainability, and home deathcare options. Her goal is to create a more humane and equitable end-of-life experience for all.

She is also the President of the National Home Funeral Alliance, a board member of the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Pennsylvania, and the Program Director for the Jewish Association for Death Education. She helps doulas and death-positive businesses create a more inclusive and accessible experience for their clients through human-centered design workshops and also creates online courses and offers freelance graphic design work.

In this episode, Isabel discusses her work in end-of-life planning and the challenges she faces in the death care industry. She shares her personal experience with death and how it has influenced her approach to life. Isabel emphasizes the importance of human-centered design and creating a more inclusive and accessible end-of-life experience.

She also discusses the need to break the monopoly in the casket industry and the role of gatekeepers in the death care space. Isabel highlights the changing landscape of death care, with more young, progressive, and diverse individuals entering the field.

In this conversation, Isabel Knight discusses the importance of celebrating life and the need for community support during times of grief and loss. She emphasizes the value of co-creating and sharing the responsibility of planning and organizing end-of-life events. Isabel also highlights the need to redefine societal norms around death and dying, encouraging people to have open conversations and make plans in advance. She suggests hosting parties and gatherings to discuss and plan for end-of-life care and funeral arrangements. Isabel also touches on the broader societal implications of valuing emotional labor and the importance of community support.

You can find her on Instagram at @thedeathdesigner.
National Home Funeral Alliance
Green Burial Council
The Death Designer

You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Also, we would love your financial support and you can join us on Patreon. Anyone who supports us at any level will be invited to a special live, online conversation with Annalouiza and 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 episode we got to spend time with Brie Smith. Brie is the longest-standing employee at Return Home, a leader in the new (but old) practice of terramation or body composting. She first served as Director of Services, then as COO, and now she is responsible for overseeing Return Home’s community outreach initiatives, including both their in-person and online efforts.

She is also the General Manager of Return Home’s newest venture, TerraPets. With TerraPets she works to offer terramation to families who have lost their beloved pets. Finally, Brie is the “voice” of Return Home, delivering their message of sustainable death care to both traditional media and social media alike.

After beginning her work in the funeral industry in 2011 doing death calls, she quickly found a passion for helping people during one of the most challenging times of their lives. With an immediate knack for gentle guidance and a complete lack of judgment, Brie found herself feeling deep compassion for every single decedent and each one of their family members. Because of this sincerity, she has been able to continue providing excellent support to each family that she encounters, whether working with humans or pets.

While Brie originally joined the Return Home team to challenge her professional aptitude, she quickly found herself passionate about the science behind the natural breakdown of the body. Always up for a new adventure, Brie has been given the opportunity to dive deep into the process of composting. She takes joy in learning about the intricacies that make each terramation successful. Her passion to deliver an industry-leading standard of care, combined with her vigor to learn and adapt to difficult situations, has made her a skilled executive of our team.

She discusses her journey in the funeral industry and her passion for sustainable death care. She shares her experiences with traditional funeral practices and the challenges she faced in providing meaningful support to grieving families. Brie also talks about her role at Return Home, where she focuses on empowering families and offering alternative options such as terramation. She emphasizes the importance of education and resources in helping people make informed decisions about end-of-life care. In this conversation, Brie discusses the lack of support and resources for professionals in the funeral industry. She shares how she has created a community and support system through her work at Return Home and the Death Darlings group. Brie also talks about her own fears about the end of life and the importance of being informed about donation programs. She emphasizes the need for education and self-care in the industry and expresses her passion for her work with both humans and animals.

Return Home Website

Next year's TerraCon conference information: https://terracon.life/

Walt Whitman's poem from Leaves of Grass here: https

You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Also, we would love your financial support and you can join us on Patreon. Anyone who supports us at any level will be invited to a special live, online conversation with Annalouiza and 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 episode you can view as a video podcast on YouTube or on Spotify

Annalouiza and Wakil discuss the first twenty episodes from Season One and all of the profound and inspirational insights that we learned from our guests.

We also talk about what is coming in Season Two, including a new website and new video offerings for paid subscribers that will include discussions of some of the episodes, short classes on preparing for end-of-life, role-playing ways that you can communicate about grief and loss, and examples of what you might experience as a care giver for someone who is dying.
Summary

In the first season of the podcast, we explored the impact of death on people's lives and the challenges of discussing death in our culture. We found that many people had experiences of death in their childhood that were not acknowledged, leading to a disconnect with death later in life. The fear and discomfort around death were attributed to societal pressures and the saturation of death-related images in the media. We also discovered that nature and community were important resources for people in navigating death and grief. We emphasized the importance of open communication, forgiveness, and expressing love to prepare for the end of life.

You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Also, we would love your financial support and you can join us on Patreon. Anyone who supports us at any level will be invited to a special live, online conversation with Annalouiza and Wakil.

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