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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, leading her to explore the sacred dimensions of grief.

Mirabai also introduces her current projects, including the Wild Heart Space community, which supports individuals navigating grief as a spiritual path. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing all forms of loss and the transformative power of grief in connecting with the divine.

In this conversation, we delve into the complexities of grief and loss and the healing power of writing. We explore how writing is a spiritual practice and a means to navigate emotional challenges.

The discussion emphasizes the importance of embracing suffering and the mundane aspects of life as pathways to spiritual growth.

We also reflect on the challenges of balancing creative work with the demands of life and the necessity of allowing oneself to feel and express emotions authentically.

Ultimately, we invite listeners to recognize the sacredness in everyday experiences and walk the ordinary mystic's path.

Mirabai Starr is an award-winning author of creative non-fiction and contemporary translations of sacred literature.

She taught Philosophy and World Religions at the University of New Mexico-Taos for 20 years and now teaches and speaks internationally on contemplative practice and inter-spiritual dialog. She is a certified bereavement counselor who helps mourners harness the transformational power of loss. Her book, WILD MERCY: Living the Fierce & Tender Wisdom of the Women Mystics, was named one of the “Best Books of 2019”. She lives with her extended family in the mountains of northern New Mexico.

Wild Heart Space Website - references the writing workshops and Holy Lament community.
Mirabai’s Books
Levine Talks Website - Steven and his wife Ondrea
Love Serve Remember Foundation - Ram Dass
Murshid Samuel Lewis Archive - writings and stories of Samuel Lewis, the founder of the Ruhaniat Sufi Order and Dances of Universal Peace
The Lama Foundation
Poet Rosemary Watola Trommer

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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 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 importance of presence and compassion during the dying process, the innovative approach of terramation, and the challenges of raising awareness about eco-friendly death care options. Mike reflects on his personal experiences with death and dying, emphasizing a sense of peace and acceptance regarding the end of life. This conversation explores the profound experiences of end-of-life care, emphasizing the importance of unconditional love, joy in service, and the spiritual connections that arise during this sacred time. The speakers share personal stories highlighting the beauty and peace found in supporting individuals as they transition while also addressing the need for self-care among caregivers. The discussion culminates in reflecting on the Prayer of St. Francis, reinforcing the themes of love, compassion, and connection.

The Natural Funeral

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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 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 humor and film clips, to engage people in conversations about death. Gail also reflects on her personal experiences with loss and the challenges she faces in her work, advocating for pre-need funeral planning and the need for open discussions about mortality. In this conversation, Gail Rubin shares her experiences with medical aid in dying, the role of death doulas, and the importance of planning for end-of-life decisions. She discusses her personal journey through grief and loss, the significance of mourning, and her fears surrounding her own end of life. She also introduces the Before I Die Festival, an initiative to encourage conversations about death and dying.

A Good Goodbye - Gail's website
Gail's Videos
Doyenne of Death Podcasts
Thanatopsis by William Cullen Bryant
Elizabeth Town movie
Before I Die Festivals
Information on Death Cafes and Jon Underwood

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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 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 his understanding of life and death. We also highlight his installation of a 'wind phone' on his church's property, a symbolic gesture that allows individuals to communicate with lost loved ones. Russ emphasizes the significance of maintaining connections, whether through imagination or belief, and the role of community in navigating grief. He shares insights on resilience, the healing power of memories, and the importance of living in the present.
Russ has been a member of Columbine United Church since 2017 and a volunteer at Nourish Meals on Wheels since 2016. He is also an Uncle to two nieces in Littleton, Co, where he currently lives.
The Colorado Gazette recently posted an article about a wind phone that had been installed in our local community. We first heard about wind phones when Ira Glass reported on this in his series, This American Life. “One Last Thing Before I Go” was a tribute to Itaru Sasaki, a Japanese man devastated by the loss of his cousin. In 2010, he set up an old-fashioned phone booth with a nonworking rotary phone in his garden. Calling his cousin on the Kaze No Denwa, translated as The Telephone of the Wind. In a manner, moving his grief through a telephone. We asked Russ to join us when we heard that he was the one who installed the local wind phone

My Wind Phone website
Nourish Meals on Wheels

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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 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, specialties, and personal stories that inspired them to enter this field. They discuss the importance of providing emotional and practical support to families, their unique challenges, and their profound impact on the dying and their loved ones.

The doulas emphasize the need for better organization and support during the dying process, highlighting the value of their role in facilitating a peaceful and dignified transition. We discuss the multifaceted role of death doulas, emphasizing the importance of listening, emotional support, and the unique stories that arise in end-of-life care. The doulas share personal experiences, highlighting the challenges and rewards of being present for families during such a profound time.

They also discuss the complexities of compensation in this field, advocating for transparency and understanding in financial matters while maintaining a compassionate approach to care. We also discuss the importance of training, tools, and community support. We explore the challenges of insurance coverage and accessibility for doula services, the complexities of certification, and the significance of finding the right match between clients and doulas. The discussion also highlights the emotional aspects of grief.

INELDA - International End-of-Life Doula Association
Going With Grace website
humaneprisonhospiceproject.org
Insight Garden Project
Have A Good Death YouTube with Myra
Myra's Website
Threshold Choir
LiElla - Leaving Well Podcast - Home Funerals
Leaving Well Podcast - Finding Peace in the Darkness
Death Becomes Her podcast
Streamlining Funeral Planning
End-of-Life Essentials
LiElla's Website
LiElla's Instagram
Karen - Enduring Love: Child Loss Virtual Support Group
Doula

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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 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 conversations about death, the cultural shifts surrounding end-of-life practices, and the need for community support in navigating these experiences. Dr. McIntyre emphasizes the significance of understanding our mortality and making informed choices about death and dying. We explore the importance of advanced care planning, compassion in healthcare, and the dynamics of end-of-life conversations. We discuss the emotional impact of medical diagnoses, the necessity of self-care for caregivers, and the significance of creating safe spaces for individuals to express their feelings and desires regarding death. The conversation also touches on the fears surrounding medical interventions, the role of mindfulness in life reflection, and the importance of family dynamics in end-of-life planning. Humor and lightness are emphasized as essential elements in discussing death, ultimately leading to a deeper appreciation for open conversations about aging and dying.

Dr. Tamara MacIntyre is an end-of-life doula, retired chiropractor, and doctor of natural medicine with over 20 years of experience in holistic healthcare. Now, as a death educator and funerary artisan, she weaves together her expertise to increase death literacy and inspire upstream conversations about aging, illness, and end-of-life planning.

As the creator of handwoven willow coffins, Tamara blends artistry and sustainability to reimagine after-death practices. Her mission is to empower individuals to approach mortality with clarity, confidence, and compassion—transforming how we live by rethinking how we prepare for death.

https://www.consciousdeath.org/

Instagram @EndofLife_Architect or Facebook @drtamaramacintyre

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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 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 shaped her understanding and approach to end-of-life care. She emphasizes the significance of rituals in navigating grief and the need for community support. Neshia discusses her journey into death work, highlighting her current role as an end-of-life consultant, where she helps individuals, particularly young adults, confront and plan for their mortality. In this conversation, we explore the themes of midlife reflections, the importance of end-of-life planning, and the role of a death doula. We discuss how intimate connections can be fostered through conversations about death and dying the cultural rituals surrounding grief, and the challenges faced in death work. The conversation also touches on the fears surrounding the end of life and the celebration of life through death work, emphasizing the importance of community support and personal connections.

Neshia Alaovae (she/her) is a Black and Samoan, disabled mama, poet, and death worker. She cares deeply about connecting cultural wisdom, ancestral resilience, and BIPOC joy to create new, empowered possibilities for how we live and die. Her first experience of what many refer to as death doula work was in 2012 as a “Compassionate Companion” at a residential hospice in Washington, DC, that serves homeless or housing-insecure people dying of AIDS or cancer. Neshia continues to think of herself as a death companion.

Neshia has worked as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion trainer for faith organizations, non-profits, and institutions such as the Washington Department of Health. She is a licensed mental health counselor who spent over a decade serving people navigating trauma, grief, and cultural identity. Currently, she runs "A Thoughtful Death," a deathcare practice offering end-of-life consultation and support for people wanting a more intentional experience with dying. Neshia loves reading, eating long meals with loved ones, and trying to keep her two toddlers from eating too much dirt (a little is just right).

A Thoughtful Death Website

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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 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 introduces his children's book, The Life Cycle, which aims to help children understand death and the continuity of life.

The discussion also touches on the significance of open conversations about death, the stigma surrounding spiritual experiences, and the therapeutic benefits of journaling in processing grief. Rich advocates for a holistic approach to grief that acknowledges both pain and healing. In this engaging conversation, the speakers delve into the complexities of grief, trauma, and the therapeutic process. They explore how thoughts influence pain, the importance of confronting old traumas, and the challenges faced in counseling. The discussion also touches on near-death experiences and the fears surrounding death, emphasizing the evolving nature of therapy and self-discovery. We share insights on how individuals can take responsibility for their healing journey and the significance of mindfulness in processing emotions.

In the early 2000s, Rich was asked, “Have you ever been out of your body?” This question drove home the point that if you can leave your body, then you’re not your body. He relocated from Michigan to California to study philosophies, religions, processes, and methods for coaching and counseling.

When Covid hit, Rich developed an entire series of individual coaching procedures called “Achievements.” These Achievements are like philosophical processes that people can actually do on themselves.

In 2000, Rich supported a client who was caring for his dying grandmother. He wrote out steps for his client, which they found very valuable. That prompted Rich to write a book on the subject called “When It’s Time.”

His website contains accounts and stories of everyday people who have had out-of-the-ordinary experiences.

His Website - Above it All

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.