End-of-Life University

Check out this recent episode from my podcast What Really Matters that includes why we need death-aware spirituality. This week I’m taking a little summer break from interviews and sharing with you a recent episode from my newly-relaunched podcast What Really Matters. I discuss the importance of spirituality right now at this particular time in our society and specifically what I think of as “death-aware” spirituality. I hope you find it interesting. You can check out the archives of the What Really Matters Podcast at the following link: https://www.podpage.com/what-really-matters-everyday-spirituality Listen here: This episode includes: Why we all need to look inward at this time Collectively we are facing crises of grief, meaning, and moral guidance We need spirituality that is: Death-Aware, Ego-Wise, and Rooted in Love 3 simple practices for each of those goals Why I returned to this podcast How it differs from EOLU Podcast What to expect in future episodes Links mentioned in this episode: Relaunch of What Really Matters Podcast Sign up to be notified about Wild and Holy Kickstarter Campaign Check out my Substack: Soulcode – where I share essays on AI, grief, shadow work, and spiritual reflection  View my new 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 to my latest supporter Suzanne, and thank you to everyone who 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 helpful workbook and a free workshop toolkit to support people who are navigating a life-changing diagnosis. My return guest Dr. Hsien Seow is a palliative care researcher and a professor in the Department of Oncology at McMaster University. He is a co-host with Sammy Winemaker MD of The Waiting Room Revolution Podcast and they are both the authors of the book Hope for the Best Plan for the Rest. Today we discuss the new workbook that accompanies the book and a workshop toolkit they are offering at no charge. Learn more at the website: waitingroomrevolution.com Get the book here Watch on YouTube Listen here: This episode includes: Why Hsien and Sammy created a workbook for their book What the workbook consists of – reflections, exercises, FAQ’s The power of learning from one another about navigating illness The Ambassador Program and the free downloadable workshop that people can access and teach to others Toolkit included with the “workshop in a box” The goal is to create empowered patients and families Why the workshop toolkit would work well for doulas and hospice providers This information is for caregivers and loved ones as well as patients The public health palliative care approach to illness International audience reaction to the book The value of “relational care” in the medical setting Links mentioned in this episode: Previous interview with Hsien and Sammy: Episode 470 Learn about the Ambassador Program and Workshop in a Box here Relaunch of What Really Matters Podcast Check out my Substack: Soulcode – where I share essays on AI, grief, shadow work, and spiritual reflection  View my new 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 to Molly Byock for buying me a lot of coffee and Aralyn Hughes who made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Learn about innovative educational programs for medical students and the impact they are having. My special guest Dr. Kevin Dieter is a family medicine and hospice and palliative care physician who helped to develop the nationally recognized palliative care curriculum at Northeast Ohio Medical University. He created a virtual learning module called “Being with Dying” for medical and pharmacy students to teach them what they need to know to be at the bedside of a dying patient. He discusses the course he offers, including training healthcare providers. Learn more from his website: walking-home.com Watch on YouTube Get the booklet: Facing Death with Grace Listen here: This episode includes: How Kevin first learned about end-of-life care from his patient “Mary” How Kevin went from being a family doctor to a hospice doctor The value of exposing medical students to dying patients 3 Pillars of wisdom: dying are our teachers both directly and indirectly we are the medicine for patients in our presence dying is more than a medical event How he helped initiate a learning experience called “The Hospice Patient as Teacher” for 3rd year medical students How patients don’t want their physician to “run away” when they are dying The power of home visits for patients What “Being with Dying” consists of Why this course can be replicated by other programs Why he no longer talks about “good” or “bad” deaths How Kevin became an Anam Cara Links mentioned in this episode: Sacred Art of Living Program Check out my Substack: Soulcode – where I share essays on AI, grief, shadow work, and spiritual reflection  View my new 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 to @yogat3ch for buying me a coffee and James Schultz who made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Learn about an exciting new training to become a Death Literacy Educator and teach in your community. My return guest Francesca Lynn Arnoldy is a doula and a published researcher with the Vermont Conversation Lab and she runs a program for Death Literacy Educators. She is the author of The Death Doula’s Guide to Living Fully and Dying Prepared, My Death Journal, The Map of Memory Lane, and Cultivating the Doula Heart. Today she discusses the importance of training educators who can help our communities grow in knowledge, understanding, and awareness of death. Learn more at her website: francescalynnarnoldy.com Get Francesca’s books Watch on YouTube Listen here: This episode includes: What is death literacy Why Francesca created this program Training includes curricula and also tools for running a workshop and market it Who might be interested in becoming a Death Literacy Educator Why this movement needs space holders and not exclusively people who are dealing with death and loss themselves What students experience during this training Importance of sharing stories about death and grief How the training helps students find clarity in their teaching and determine the content they prefer to teach Tutorials and tools offered during the training Grant created with Compassion & Choices to provide special training The value of “attentional listening” Links mentioned in this episode: Check out my Substack: Soulcode – where I share essays on AI, grief, shadow work, and spiritual reflection  View my new 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 newest patron Stephanie Heilker, and to Curtis Robertson who made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Learn about Dr. Ira Byock’s strategic vision for approaching the major issues facing hospice and palliative care. My guest Dr. Ira Byock is a leading palliative care physician, author, and public advocate for improving care through the end of life. He is the author of the books Dying Well, The Four Things that Matter Most, and The Best Care Possible. He discusses his recent white paper “A Strategic Path Forward for Hospice and Palliative Care” and his 4-point approach for dealing with the current issues facing end-of-life care in the U.S. Learn more at his website and read the paper below: irabyock.org Read the Paper here Watch on YouTube Listen here: This episode includes: Why it’s important for insiders in the field of end-of-life care to honestly face the current crisis and the grief we are experiencing Fraud and abuse is a significant problem in hospice care today There is a high variability in quality of care in hospice Palliative care services are inconsistent across the country Leaders in the field are not addressing the problems in the field 70% of hospices are for-profit; profit needs to be tied to quality of care There must be zero tolerance of fraud and abuse in end-of-life care 4 elements of Dr. Byock’s strategic plan Links mentioned in this episode: Download a Discussion Guide for the white paper Check out my Substack: Soulcode – where I share essays on AI, grief, shadow work, and spiritual reflection  View my new 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 to Frank Voelker and Katie Daco who made donations on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Learn about a helpful book with resources for dementia caregivers. My guest Dr. Beverly Thorn is dual trained in the neurosciences and clinical psychology. She is the author of hundreds of articles, two books, and four workbooks on coping with chronic illness. She has also been trained as an end-of-life doula and served as her husband’s caregiver through his dementia illness and at the end of his life. She is the author of the newly published book Before I Lose My Own Mind: Navigating Life as a Dementia Caregiver. Learn more at her website: drbeverlythorn.com Get the book here Watch on YouTube Listen here: This episode includes: How her husband recognized that something was wrong long before his diagnosis Patients and loved ones need to be empowered to change physicians if they don’t like the care they are receiving The important contributions of end-of-life doulas and advocates The stages of dementia Beverly observed in caring for Walt Why others may not recognize significant changes that the caregiver can see The constant loss and grief of dementia caregiving Why an advance directive tailored for dementia is essential There is a window of time where life values conversations need to be held with patients and loved ones The experience of caregiver grief and guilt Links mentioned in this episode: Related episode: Advance Care Planning for Dementia Check out my Substack: Soulcode – where I share essays on AI, grief, shadow work, and spiritual reflection  View my new 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 to everyone who bought me a coffee or donated on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Listen to an important discussion about how spiritually-focused people can speak up about social justice issues and work toward community healing. In this episode I’m sharing with you part of the recent workshop on Sacred Activism I hosted with Terri Daniel and Brian Smith. Terri is an inter-spiritual hospice chaplain and end-of-life educator certified in death, dying and bereavement by the Association of Death Education and Counseling and in family-focused grief therapy by The Portland Institute. Terri is the founder of The Conference on Death, Grief and Belief and the author of four books on death and grief. Brian is a certified grief educator, author and speaker. He is the host of the podcast Grief 2 Growth and a book by the same name. Learn more about Terri and Brian at their websites: deathgriefandbelief.com grief2growth.com Register for conference here Listen here: This episode includes: How spirituality and activism are intertwined Why speaking up matters How to balance out watching the news and the effect of negativity on us The difference between detachment and non-attachment How political engagement can be an extension of our spirituality Many well-known spiritual leaders have been activists throughout history Political grief is a current research topic What “spiritual work” means for this conversation Love is not passive but a powerful creative force Why humanity is experiencing a “dark night of the soul” right now Why we need community-based projects to bring us together including communal grief rituals Links mentioned in this episode: Check out my Substack: Soulcode – where I share essays on AI, grief, shadow work, and spiritual reflection View my new Patreon tier for Soul Supporters and receive extra reflections as a special bonus Learn more about the Sacred Activism for Spiritual Care Providers Conference on July 12, 2025 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 to everyone who bought me a coffee or donated on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Learn about the specialty of pediatric palliative care and how one doctor has benefitted from his relationship with his seriously ill patients. My guest Dr. Bob Macauley is one of only a few hundred pediatricians in the U.S. specializing in palliative care for children with life-threatening illness. Uniquely Dr. Macauley attended both divinity school and medical school at the same time, which gives him a spiritual perspective on palliative care as well. He is the author of the recently published book Because I Knew You: How Some Remarkable Sick Kids Healed a Doctor’s Soul. Learn more at his website: robertmacauley.com Get the book here Watch on YouTube Listen here: This episode includes: What makes pediatric palliative care different from adult care How children understand and cope with their own mortality How his training as both a doctor and an Episcopal priest intersect in his approach to care Some of the remarkable stories of children he has encountered The challenges and rewards of supporting families during the most vulnerable times Why the presence of joy and sorrow often coexist in children’s experiences The spiritual and emotional lessons Dr. Macauley has learned from his work Links mentioned in this episode: Check out my Substack: Soulcode Download Novena for Humanity on my Substack page 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 thank you to Yoshimi Kanagawa for buying me 5 coffees and to Kathleen Cheetham who made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Learn how death doulas are improving end-of-life care in our medical system by tending to things that often get ignored. In this episode, I’m joined by Kacie Gikonyo, founder of The Death Doula Collective and Death Doula School. Drawing on more than a decade of nursing experience, Kacie shares how death doulas are helping to transform end-of-life care by addressing the emotional, spiritual, and relational needs that often go unmet by the medical system. We discuss the gaps in Western medical care, the shifts needed in how we approach dying, and how death doulas are bridging the divide with presence, advocacy, and compassion. Learn more at her website: deathdoulakacie.com Watch on YouTube Listen here: This episode includes: The limitations of Western medical care at the end of life What death doulas provide that hospitals and hospice often cannot How cultural mindset shifts could improve death care for everyone Why presence and non-medical support are essential for a good death Training and certification insights from the Death Doula School Stories of transformation from Kacie’s doula practice Links mentioned in this episode: Register for free workshop on Sacred Activism for Soulcare Providers OR go to: tinyurl.com/sacredactivismworkshop Download Novena for Humanity on my Substack page 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 to everyone who bought me a coffee or donated on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Learn about making beautiful memorial art as way of navigating grief and honoring loved ones. My guest Ian McCartor is a hospice nurse, musician, and founder of The Ash Rose, a project that transforms the ashes of loved ones into beautiful rose-shaped keepsakes. In this episode, Ian shares how his work helps individuals navigate grief by creating tangible symbols of remembrance and healing. Ian shares his journey from hospice care to creating tangible symbols of remembrance, highlighting how art and creativity can aid in the grieving process. He delves into the inspiration behind The Ash Rose, the impact it has had on individuals coping with loss, and the broader implications of integrating beauty into end-of-life rituals. Learn more at his website: theashrose.org Watch on YouTube Listen here: This episode includes: Ian’s journey from hospice nursing to creating The Ash Rose The inspiration behind transforming ashes into rose-shaped keepsakes How art and creativity can play a role in the grieving process Stories of individuals who have found solace through The Ash Rose The importance of honoring loved ones in unique and personal ways Ian’s perspective on the intersection of grief, beauty, and healing “Out of the ashes, something beautiful can still grow.”Ian Mccartor Links mentioned in this episode: Register for free workshop on Sacred Activism for Soulcare Providers OR go to: tinyurl.com/sacredactivismworkshop See the Vogue article on Grief Travel my work was mentioned in! (This is the topic of the new book I’m working on – very exciting!) 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 to Barbara Walker for donating on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.