End-of-Life University

Learn the history of the hospice movement in the US from one of the original founders. My guest Dr. Robert Buckingham is a Professor Emeritus of Public Health at the University of Michigan and has been a pioneer of the U.S. hospice movement, having played a role in the founding of the very first hospice program in this country. In addition he has co-developed 81 hospice programs across the globe including the firs hospice for children with AIDS in Thailand. He is the author of 12 books – 7 dedicated solely to hospice and palliative care. His latest book is Understanding Loss and Grief for Women. Learn more at his website: rwbuckingham.com Watch on YouTube Listen here: This episode includes: The birth of hospice in America Current threats to the hospice movement Dr. Buckingham’s involvement in developing hospice programs around the world The historical philosophy of hospice care The benefits of providing hands-on care to a loved one at the end of life How the AIDS crisis helped fuel the growth of the hospice movement Lessons learned from dying patients Why he wrote about loss and grief for women and why we need to make sure we include men in grief work Remembering that change takes time and taking the long view on our work Links mentioned in this episode: A Year of Reading Dangerously reading group Get Wild and Holy on Amazon or Bookshop Latest post on Substack:  Start Here – What Really Matters in 2026 What Really Matters Podcast View my  Patreon tier for Soul Supporters and receive extra reflections as a special bonus NEW Gift Guides for Caregivers, People Receiving Care, and People Who are Grieving Get my two newest books!! Stories from the Dark Night and The Tao of Death Get EOLU Podcast Merch here Conversations on Death with ChatGPT – Audiobook here; Print Book here Leave me a message by email: kwyattmd@comcast.net, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram Support your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to Souloin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and receive free gifts like the “Mind if we talk about death?” mini-poster or Love Your Life sticker or coffee mug. PLUS get our regular bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, monthly What to Watch recommendations, Behind the Scenes Bonus content, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! Buy me a coffee Donate on Paypal If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Learn how and why to write your own obituary as a legacy project. My guest Gail Shapiro is a seasoned writer and editor and also a professional organizer who has guided many people through the details of end-of-life planning. She also helps people write memorable obituaries for themselves and others and today discusses why this process is an important part of end-of-life planning. She shares tips and best practices for writing an obituary and how she can help when we aren’t sure what to include or how to say what we mean. Learn more at her website: gailshapiro.com Listen here: This episode includes: How Gail became interested in obituary writing Why an obituary can also be a legacy project Why should we consider writing our own obituary rather than leaving it to someone else What should an obituary include What should NOT be in an obituary Best practices for writing a beautiful obit How AI can make serious mistakes in obituary writing and cannot replace the human touch What services Gail provides for those who aren’t comfortable doing their own writing Links mentioned in this episode: Get Wild and Holy on Amazon or Bookshop Latest post on Substack:  Finding Light in the Darkness: How Mortality Awareness Illuminates Our Path What Really Matters Podcast View my  Patreon tier for Soul Supporters and receive extra reflections as a special bonus NEW Gift Guides for Caregivers, People Receiving Care, and People Who are Grieving Get my two newest books!! Stories from the Dark Night and The Tao of Death Get EOLU Podcast Merch here Conversations on Death with ChatGPT – Audiobook here; Print Book here Leave me a message by email: kwyattmd@comcast.net, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram Support your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to Souloin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and receive free gifts like the “Mind if we talk about death?” mini-poster or Love Your Life sticker or coffee mug. PLUS get our regular bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, monthly What to Watch recommendations, Behind the Scenes Bonus content, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! Buy me a coffee Donate on Paypal If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu, especially my latest supporter Adele Flaherty and to Jen Davidson for increasing your pledge. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Learn about the spiritual bond between humans and their pets and how it continues after physical death. My guest Miki Jacobs is an internationally acclaimed medium, speaker, and author who shares wisdom and teachings from the spirit world with audiences worldwide. Her lifelong love of animals led her, along with her husband Clayton, to create a sanctuary for rescued animals on their ranch in Southern California. In her book Sacred Wild: The Spiritual World of Animals, Including Pets, and its Interconnectedness with Ours – she explores the spiritual nature of animals and the sacred bond they share with humans, which we discuss in this episode. Learn more at her website: mikijacobs.com Get the book here Watch on YouTube Listen here: This episode includes: How Miki developed her connection with animals and with the spiritual realm We can all teach ourselves to communicate with “the other side” if we choose to and do the necessary spiritual work How mediumship helps with the fear of death Animals are capable of unconditional love because they don’t have an ego For humans our true selves can be obscured by the energy of the ego Animals can detect our wellbeing and recognize when someone is dying The pets we have are meant to be with us if we are open to that – we have “soul contracts” with them Why Miki believes that our animal companions have a spiritual existence after death and continue to accompany us Signs that our departed animal companions might send to us in everyday life or dreams Spiritual growth is hard but the benefits are beautiful – we grow through challenges How connecting with a pet could be the pathway to spiritual growth, including teaching us about impermanence Links mentioned in this episode: Get Wild and Holy on Amazon or Bookshop Latest post on Substack:  How the Fear of Death Makes Us Easier to Manipulate What Really Matters Podcast View my  Patreon tier for Soul Supporters and receive extra reflections as a special bonus NEW Gift Guides for Caregivers, People Receiving Care, and People Who are Grieving Get my two newest books!! Stories from the Dark Night and The Tao of Death Get EOLU Podcast Merch here Conversations on Death with ChatGPT – Audiobook here; Print Book here Leave me a message by email: kwyattmd@comcast.net, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram Support your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to Souloin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and receive free gifts like the “Mind if we talk about death?” mini-poster or Love Your Life sticker or coffee mug. PLUS get our regular bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, monthly What to Watch recommendations, Behind the Scenes Bonus content, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! Buy me a coffee Donate on Paypal If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu, especially my latest supporter Marion Folkemer. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Learn about a training course for professionals entering the palliative care field to prepare them for the emotional and spiritual demands of this work. My guest Meina Dubetz is a registered nurse specializing in Palliative and Oncology Care and also a Certified Grief Educator and Reiki Master. She is the author of the book When Death Comes Knocking for Your Patients: A Guide for Nurses and Palliative Caregivers, which became a #1 bestseller on Amazon in the US and Canada. Recently she has developed a course for professionals entering the palliative care field in an institutional setting titled 6 Pillars of Care that we discuss today. Learn more at her website: meinadubetz.com Get her book here Watch on YouTube Listen here: This episode includes: How Meina was first called to work with the elderly and dying at the age of 17 How her path was shaped as well by the deaths of her father and her son The healthcare system is not prepared or trained to cope with grief and help people at the end of life Healthcare providers are affected by every death they experience whether they realize or not The importance of our history with death, dying and grief when we serve others at the end of life Why we should practice having difficult conversations before we engage in them Why we need to share our struggles with our peers Links mentioned in this episode: Go to 6 Pillars of Care website to learn more Previous interview with Meina Dubetz Latest post on Substack:  What AI Knows About Ego and How it Gets Used Against You What Really Matters Podcast View my  Patreon tier for Soul Supporters and receive extra reflections as a special bonus NEW Gift Guides for Caregivers, People Receiving Care, and People Who are Grieving Get my two newest books!! Stories from the Dark Night and The Tao of Death Get EOLU Podcast Merch here Conversations on Death with ChatGPT – Audiobook here; Print Book here Leave me a message by email: kwyattmd@comcast.net, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram Support your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to Souloin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and receive free gifts like the “Mind if we talk about death?” mini-poster or Love Your Life sticker or coffee mug. PLUS get our regular bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, monthly What to Watch recommendations, Behind the Scenes Bonus content, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! Buy me a coffee Donate on Paypal If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to Kquasny who bought me a coffee and to everyone who has made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Learn about a helpful conversation game that encourages discussions about advance care planning for dementia. My guests for this episode, Lisa Pahl and Jamie Thrower, are the co-creators of The Dementia Deck, a new card game to help inspire conversations about demential. Lisa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Advanced Practice Hospice and Palliative Social Worker who previously created The Death Deck and The EOL Deck–conversation games that are changing the way we talk about death. Jamie is a queer death doula, end-of-life educator and community grief-tender serving the LGBTQ+ community in life and in death. She also runs Queer Grief Club (and I plan to have her back on the podcast to talk about her work!) They discuss how to use The Dementia Deck to overcome fears of dementia and help families prepare for future changes and decision-making. Learn more at their websites: thedeathdeck.com jamiethrower.com Watch on YouTube Listen here: This episode includes: What The Death Deck and The EOL Deck consist of The story behind The Dementia Deck and its creation How Jamie collaborated on the design of the deck Why conversations and advance care planning are important for people with dementia Many people fear dementia even more than death Millions of Americans are impacted by dementia either as a patient or a caregiver How to introduce The Dementia Deck to an individual Tips for getting the most out of working with the deck Why it’s important to “stack the deck” when you first begin talking about dementia Links mentioned in this episode: Dementia Values and Priorities Tool from Compassion and Choices Waiting Room Revolution – get the Roadmap for Alzheimer’s Latest post on Substack:  Not Just Yet What Really Matters Podcast View my  Patreon tier for Soul Supporters and receive extra reflections as a special bonus NEW Gift Guides for Caregivers, People Receiving Care, and People Who are Grieving Get my two newest books!! Stories from the Dark Night and The Tao of Death Get EOLU Podcast Merch here Conversations on Death with ChatGPT – Audiobook here; Print Book here Leave me a message by email: kwyattmd@comcast.net, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram Support your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to Souloin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and receive free gifts like the “Mind if we talk about death?” mini-poster or Love Your Life sticker or coffee mug. PLUS get our regular bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, monthly What to Watch recommendations, Behind the Scenes Bonus content, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! Buy me a coffee Donate on Paypal If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Learn how to discover and preserve our own and others’ stories to provide inspiration in challenging times. My guest Stephanie Ford is the founder of Life Stories with Steph, a video storytelling service dedicated to preserving personal and family histories. With a background in caregiving, hospice and training as an end-of-life doula, she discusses the importance of sharing and recording stories to preserve legacies and histories of those who came before us. Learn more at her website: lifestorieswithsteph.com Watch on YouTube Listen here: This episode includes: How Stephanie became interested in this work Why storytelling is important to society and especially to those facing the end of life How ordinary lives contain remarkable resilience and hope that can be shared through stories How to discover stories of our ancestors The value of genealogy work Using photos to inspire storytelling How to capture small meaningful moments of everyday life What services she offers and how it works Who benefits from recording and sharing life stories with Steph Links mentioned in this episode: EndWell Conference Latest post on Substack:  Navigating the Chrysalis Stage What Really Matters Podcast View my  Patreon tier for Soul Supporters and receive extra reflections as a special bonus NEW Gift Guides for Caregivers, People Receiving Care, and People Who are Grieving Get my two newest books!! Stories from the Dark Night and The Tao of Death Get EOLU Podcast Merch here Conversations on Death with ChatGPT – Audiobook here; Print Book here Leave me a message by email: kwyattmd@comcast.net, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram Support your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to Souloin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and receive free gifts like the “Mind if we talk about death?” mini-poster or Love Your Life sticker or coffee mug. PLUS get our regular bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, monthly What to Watch recommendations, Behind the Scenes Bonus content, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! Buy me a coffee Donate on Paypal If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to “Someone” who bought me 5 coffees and those who made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Learn about a powerful course and theatre initiative to redefine how we care for veterans at the end of life. My return guest, Dr. Qwynn Galloway-Salazar is an Army Veteran, end-of-life doula educator, and an advocate for redefining how nations honor and support veterans and their loved ones through the end of life. She is the creator of the course Caring for Veterans Through the End of Life and a new initiative We Hold the Line, which uses applied theatre to teach about veteran care through a story monologue. Today’s conversation focuses on the history and scope of Qwynn’s work and the importance of honoring and caring for veterans through aging, loss, and the end of life. Learn more at these website: intheirhonor.info psycharmor.org/caring-for-veterans-through-end-of-life Watch on YouTube Listen here: This episode includes: The widespread embrace of the Caring for Veterans course Qwynn’s experience as a George W. Bush Institute Veteran Leadership Scholar How Qwynn was inspired to bring this material to the stage Why theatre is a powerful medium for sharing a message Why we need collaboration now to change the way we approach the end of life in our society How Qwynn followed her intuition to create this work The importance of “taking the next right step” and saying yes to opportunities even when we can’t see or imagine the outcome The concerning incidence of suicide for veterans Links mentioned in this episode: EndWell Conference Previous interview with Doc Q: Episode 324, Episode 421 Latest post on Substack:  Life is a Classroom: The Curriculum of Being Human What Really Matters Podcast View my  Patreon tier for Soul Supporters and receive extra reflections as a special bonus NEW Gift Guides for Caregivers, People Receiving Care, and People Who are Grieving Get my two newest books!! Stories from the Dark Night and The Tao of Death Get EOLU Podcast Merch here Conversations on Death with ChatGPT – Audiobook here; Print Book here Leave me a message by email: kwyattmd@comcast.net, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram Support your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to Souloin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and receive free gifts like the “Mind if we talk about death?” mini-poster or Love Your Life sticker or coffee mug. PLUS get our regular bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, monthly What to Watch recommendations, Behind the Scenes Bonus content, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! Buy me a coffee Donate on Paypal If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Learn how “peace-of-mind” planning starts with a few small steps that are doable and make a big difference. My guests this week, Jennifer Tadjedin and Karen Callahan, are the co-founders of The Heartwood Collective where they guide people through all facets of developing a death plan (other than financial and estate planning.) They discuss how their paths crossed as they began exploring new meaningful work around helping other people with planning and preparing for the end of life. Learn more at their website: theheartwoodcollective.com Watch on YouTube Listen here: This episode includes: The power of collaboration and synergy to create new ideas Why we need to begin with death education and helping people get more comfortable with death before we can make other changes How their workshops normalize talking about death Breaking big tasks into small steps helps people actually get the work done How planning ahead helps lessen stress and grief for loved ones The biggest barriers to end-of-life planning for most people Some people find it easier to discuss death as they get older The benefits of working in a group on end-of-life planning How to choose the best person as a healthcare proxy Links mentioned in this episode: Latest post on Substack:  Top 5 Mistakes When Using AI for End-of-Life Issues What Really Matters Podcast View my  Patreon tier for Soul Supporters and receive extra reflections as a special bonus NEW Gift Guides for Caregivers, People Receiving Care, and People Who are Grieving Get my two newest books!! Stories from the Dark Night and The Tao of Death Get EOLU Podcast Merch here Conversations on Death with ChatGPT – Audiobook here; Print Book here Leave me a message by email: kwyattmd@comcast.net, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram Support your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to Souloin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and receive free gifts like the “Mind if we talk about death?” mini-poster or Love Your Life sticker or coffee mug. PLUS get our regular bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, monthly What to Watch recommendations, Behind the Scenes Bonus content, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! Buy me a coffee Donate on Paypal If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Learn about a beautiful memoir co-written by friends whose correspondence helped them both navigate a year of overwhelming loss and grief. My guests today are Christina Holbrook and Jane Flynn, co-authors of a shared memoir from a year when they were both confronting loss and grief–the diagnosis a glioblastoma brain tumor and the death of a child by suicide. Through a series of emails the two long-term friends shared not only their grief but also the little moments of life’s wonder and joy. They discuss their newly released book Antiphon: A Call and Response in a Year of Grief and Renewal and how writing together helped them navigate overwhelming grief while offering support to one another. Learn more at the website: jane-flynn.com Get the book here Watch on YouTube Listen here: This episode includes: The long trajectory of friendship between Chris and Jane Their personal grief that led to a year of email correspondence Why they decided to share their writings in Antiphon The waterfall metaphor for grief and how it applies to each of their stories How writing helps us express complex and painful emotions Why sharing our pain lightens the burden for both parties How writing about the ordinary events of a day helps us stay in the present moment The little joys that are present even within deep grief Links mentioned in this episode: Latest post on Substack: Using AI to Talk to Children About Grief What Really Matters Podcast View my  Patreon tier for Soul Supporters and receive extra reflections as a special bonus NEW Gift Guides for Caregivers, People Receiving Care, and People Who are Grieving Get my two newest books!! Stories from the Dark Night and The Tao of Death Get EOLU Podcast Merch here Conversations on Death with ChatGPT – Audiobook here; Print Book here Leave me a message by email: kwyattmd@comcast.net, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram Support your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to Souloin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and receive free gifts like the “Mind if we talk about death?” mini-poster or Love Your Life sticker or coffee mug. PLUS get our regular bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, monthly What to Watch recommendations, Behind the Scenes Bonus content, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! Buy me a coffee Donate on Paypal If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal, especially Austyn Wells! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Learn about a new book that addresses challenges faced by patients, providers, and caregivers at the end of life. My guest Cathy Yuhas is an RN and certified end-of-life doula who founded Dying Matters, LLC to advocate for conscious, compassionate end-of-life care. She is also the author of a new book: Walking Each Other Home: Guiding Caregivers and Community Through the Sacred Passage of Death. Learn more at her website: dyingmatters.llc Get the book here Watch on YouTube Listen here: This episode includes: Cathy’s journey from being an RN to becoming an EOL doula What inspired Cathy to write Walking Each Other Home The importance of honest patient-provider communication when serious illness is diagnosed How our medical system currently fails patients and their families when the end of life is approaching The “caregiver starter kit” Cathy created and why it is essential to care for those who care for others Shifting healthcare from an outcome-driven approach to one guided by values instead The aging population and the growing shortage of end-of-life care options for seniors Links mentioned in this episode: Kickstarter campaign for Wild and Holy Latest post on Substack: The Wreath on the Door: A Call to Make Grief Visible Again What Really Matters Podcast Explore the poetry anthologies created by TGLP View my  Patreon tier for Soul Supporters and receive extra reflections as a special bonus NEW Gift Guides for Caregivers, People Receiving Care, and People Who are Grieving Get my two newest books!! Stories from the Dark Night and The Tao of Death Get EOLU Podcast Merch here Conversations on Death with ChatGPT – Audiobook here; Print Book here Leave me a message by email: kwyattmd@comcast.net, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram Support your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to Souloin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and receive free gifts like the “Mind if we talk about death?” mini-poster or Love Your Life sticker or coffee mug. PLUS get our regular bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, monthly What to Watch recommendations, Behind the Scenes Bonus content, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! Buy me a coffee Donate on Paypal If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.