End-of-Life University

Learn what it means to have a “good death” and how and why we all need to prepare for the end of life to benefit ourselves, our loved ones and our planet. My guest Suzanne B. O’Brien RN is the founder and CEO of Doulagivers Institute and a “pioneer” in the global death doula movement. She has trained hundreds of thousands of people from all around the world to care those at the end of life. Most recently Suzanne is the author of The Good Death: A Guide for Supporting Your Loved One Through the End of Life. She discusses the book and why it’s so important that we facilitate a shift in how we experience death at this time in our world. Learn more at her websites: Doulagivers.com TheGoodDeathBook.com Get the book here Watch on YouTube Listen here: This episode includes: How Suzanne first got started offering free end-of-life trainings to lay people as a hospice nurse Why hospice care alone can’t fix all the problems with how we approach the end of life How as a society we lost generational knowledge about caring for the sick, dying and dead at home Why allowing natural death can be a better choice than aggressive life-prolonging treatment Most family members lack the skills and training to care for their dying loved ones at home As the physical body goes through the dying process the spiritual aspect of life becomes more apparent Contemplating mortality helps us shift our mindset about death and changes how we live our lives How rituals help us cope with the losses we experience in life and death Links mentioned in this episode: Register for Caritas Consciousness Project event on March 28th (I will be presenting) https://tinyurl.com/WyattCaritas Access to Competent Caregiver Course with Suzanne (Buy 3 books and get the course for free) 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 Soul Subscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher Radio Check out the Series I’ve recorded in the past here Join 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 donor Connie WS and to John Wadsworth for renewing your pledge. Also thanks to Someone who became a monthly member of Buy Me a Coffee! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Learn about the benefits of creating intentional rituals for the big and small moments of life and death. My guest Megan Sheldon is a cultural mythologist, humanist celebrant, and end-of-life doula in North Vancouver, BC. She is the co-founder of Be Ceremonial, the world’s first guided ritual and ceremony app. Megan will discuss her work creating ceremonies for people around the world, focusing on what she calls the ‘seemingly invisible moments of change’ in life and in death. She offers online workshops, virtual courses, and seasonal retreats and you can learn more at her website: beceremonial.com Watch on YouTube Listen here: This episode includes: Why rituals are important as we navigate life and loss How rituals are a forgotten part of our lives that come naturally to us Ceremonies and rituals ultimately involve storytelling What inspired Megan and her husband to create the Be Ceremonial app How the app works and who might benefit from using it Daily rituals can help us build our own creativity The components of a meaningful ceremony, including a ritual for being present Examples of simple rituals Rituals for care providers for supporting self and others How rituals help us embody the emotions we feel during challenging times Links mentioned in this episode: Mountains of Courage Conference – March 29 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 Soul Subscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher Radio Check out the Series I’ve recorded in the past here Join 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 has bought me a coffee or donated on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Learn about the benefits of team-based care and how the hospice team works together on behalf of patients and families. This week I’m welcoming my recurring guest Barbara Karnes RN, who is an internationally recognized thought-leader and expert on end-of-life care and the dynamics of dying. We are continuing our series of conversations on various aspects of hospice care and you can find links to previous episodes in the notes below. Today we discuss the importance of a team approach to care on hospice and the roles played by each member of the team. Barbara is the author of numerous books on death, dying, grief and caregiving including “the little blue hospice book,” Gone from My Sight. Check out her books and videos at her website: bkbooks.com Watch on YouTube Listen here: This episode includes: Why team-based care is essential at the end of life in order to meet the needs of the whole person and their loved ones The medical model focuses primarily on physical care but dying is also an emotional and spiritual experience The members of the hospice team and what they do How the hospice physician’s role has changed over time Why creativity in the moment is important for hospice workers How the hospice team shares information and works together to create a care plan with and for patients Links mentioned in this episode: Mountains of Courage Conference – March 29 Previous conversations with Barbara: 483 – The Evolution of Hospice Care 476 – The Dying Process 464 – Nutrition at End of Life 445 – Grief and Bereavement on the Hospice Journey 438 – Choosing the Best Hospice 429 – Debunking Myths About Hospice 420 – Providing Comfort During the Last Days of Life 412 – Dealing with Anger at End of Life 401 – End-of-Life Visions and Other Phenomena 393 – End-of-Life Care for People with Dementia 384 – People Don’t Die Like They Do in the Movies 376 – Creating a Sacred Space 354 – The Hospice Journey 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 Soul Subscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher Radio Check out the Series I’ve recorded in the past here Join 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 has bought me a coffee or donated on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Learn why and how to share your end-of-life wisdom and stories by writing a non-fiction book. My guest Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers, dark fantasy, and memoir as J.F. Penn. She is also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. Her most recent publication is the 2nd edition of How to Write Non-Fiction: Turn Your Knowledge Into Words. Today we discuss the challenges of writing non-fiction books about difficult and personal subjects like death and grief. Joanna offers her best tips and encouragement for anyone who wants to write a book but doesn’t know where to begin. Learn more about her work at her website: thecreativepenn.com Get the book here Watch on YouTube Listen here: This episode includes: Types of non-fiction books and how to choose the best format for your subject matter Why you don’t have to be an expert or “great” writer to write a book Why and how to identify the target market for your writing Choosing the best title for your book (and why it’s important) The balance between writing what you think people need vs. what people want to read The challenge of vulnerability in writing memoir Why you need an outside editor or proofreader for your book Links mentioned in this episode: Joanna’s online bookstore: https://creativepennbooks.com/en-us My interview on The Creative Penn Podcast: Writing About Death, Dying and Grief My interview on Books and Travel Podcast: Memento Mori: How Travel Can Help Us Deal with Death and Grief 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 Soul Subscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher Radio Check out the Series I’ve recorded in the past here Join 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 supporters Morgan Everitt and Minda Sanchez. Also thank you to everyone who has bought me a coffee or donated on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Learn from “Hospice Nurse Penny” how she started working in hospice and ended up being a viral influencer about end-of-life issues on social media. My guest this week is Penny Smith RN, known on social media as “Hospice Nurse Penny.” She discusses her journey to becoming a hospice nurse and her rise to fame on TikTok during the COVID-19 lockdown. Her new book Influencing Death, Reframing Dying for Better Living is an honest and vulnerable look at her own life story and what she has learned from working with dying patients. Learn more and connect with Penny at her website: hospicenursepenny.com Get the book here Watch on YouTube Listen here: This episode includes: How Penny’s life experiences helped her be a better hospice nurse How she helps family members feel comfortable when their loved ones experience end-of-life visions and dreams How Penny went viral on TikTok What information TikTok users are searching for about death and dying Why social media platforms can be a good place to address misconceptions about death Links mentioned in this episode: 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 Soul Subscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher Radio Check out the Series I’ve recorded in the past here Join 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, to Simply Celebrate for donating on Paypal and thanks (again) to Robin Bissell for buying me 3 cups of coffee! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Learn how talking about death and grief on a podcast can help us face tragedy and loss together. My special guest David Ferrugio is the host of DEAD Talks Podcast, where he hosts guests like Tony Hawk, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Billy Carson, David Dastmalchian, Bryan Callen, Hospice Nurse Julie and many more over a growing audience of nearly 1 million followers, including social media platforms. He discusses his story of loss at the early age of 12 and his passion for helping others face grief by sharing conversations with his guests about loss. As current residents of Los Angeles we also talk about the recent fires that have devastated this city. Learn more about David’s work and podcast at this link: www.deadtalks.net Watch on YouTube Listen here: This episode includes: David’s journey with grief since the death of his father on 9/11 What inspired him to create DEAD Talks Podcast Why his podcast is about life as much as death The fact that grief is both universal and also unique to each and every person Loss as an impetus for growth How his perspective on a possible afterlife opened after interviewing certain guests The importance of gratitude in life and when facing loss The impact of the LA fires and grieving as a community Links mentioned in this episode: How to help victims of CA wildfires: CBS News Article World Central Kitchen 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 Soul Subscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher Radio Check out the Series I’ve recorded in the past here Join 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. Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Learn about research being done in Canada to improve access to palliative care for marginalized populations. My special guest Dr. Kelli Stajduhar is is a professor in the School of Nursing and Institute on Aging & Lifelong Health at the University of Victoria and the Canada Research Chair in Palliative Care, Aging and Community Health. She has worked in oncology, palliative care, and gerontology for 30+ years as a practicing nurse, educator, and researcher.  She discusses her clinical work and research which have focused on health service needs for those at the end-of-life and their families, and on the needs of marginalized and vulnerable populations.  Learn more at the website: equityinpalliativecare.com YouTube Channel Listen here: This episode includes: Loss and grief after the fires in Los Angeles Obstacles to receiving palliative care for marginalized communities How the palliative care system fails to meet the needs of these populations The value of mobile palliative care teams as demonstrated in research Why trust is a huge issue for people in marginalized communities Models being studied in Canada to improve access to palliative and hospice care for vulnerable populations The need for an equity-informed advance care planning tool for unhoused people The importance of supporting community workers who are providing services to marginalized populations on the street Why we need to continue to evolve and adapt our systems of palliative and hospice care The value of authenticity in our provision of care Links mentioned in this episode: Equity-Informed Advance Care Planning 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 Soul Subscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher Radio Check out the Series I’ve recorded in the past here Join 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 supporters Chris Rogers and Jan Wiebking and thanks to Robin Bissell for buying me 3 cups of coffee! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Learn about a Top Ten Playlist of songs selected by hospice patients for their own end of life journey. We start out this new year with another episode our special series: Death & Grief in Pop Culture. This week my co-host Ben Kintisch and I will be reviewing the Top Ten Songs from an end-of-life playlist created by hospice patients in the UK. Ben is a cantor, hospice and eldercare chaplain, music teacher, and the creator of Life Review: The Hospice Musical. Learn more about Ben’s work at his website: lifereviewmusical.com YouTube Channel (Check out the full un-edited video there!) Listen here: This episode includes: How the Top Ten List was compiled Why music is a compelling marker for our life histories and companion for our journey The List What was expected and what was surprising about the playlist choices Why end-of-life workers should help people create playlists as part of their legacy Our personal choices to add to the playlist Links mentioned in this episode: Songs to Die For Playlist on Spotify 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 Soul Subscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher Radio Check out the Series I’ve recorded in the past here Join 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 has bought me a coffee or made a donation through Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Find out what you may have missed in 2024 if you haven’t listened to every episode! In this solo episode I recap some of the episodes of this podcast that had the greatest impact on me personally and professionally! All of the interviews from 2024 were fantastic but if you missed any of these be sure to take a listen! Thanks for your support this year! Looking forward to another amazing year – be sure to subscribe and leave a rating and review if you enjoy this content. HAPPY NEW YEAR AND MANY BLESSINGS TO YOU AND YOUR BELOVEDS! Watch on YouTube Listen here: Links mentioned in this episode: 442. When You Die Project: Raising Death Awareness with Johanna Lunn 446. “The Last Ecstatic Days:” with Aditi Sethi-Brown MD 451. Filling the Gaps in End-of-Life Care with Kaishauna Guidry MD 453. Gravestone Recipes: Cooking to Honor the Dead with Rosie Grant 456. Passages: An EOL Program for a Senior Living with Tom Waknitz 458. The Phone of the Wind: Connecting with Those We Grieve with Dina Stander 464. Nutrition at the End of Life with Barbara Karnes RN 468. Supporting Family Caregivers: Notes from the Field with Gabrielle Elise Jimenez 470. Transforming the Illness Experience with Hsien Seow PhD and Sammy Winemaker MD 478. Death & Grief in Pop Culture: Hamilton with Benjamin Kintisch 479. A Teen’s Guide to Grief and Grieving with Korie Leigh PhD 481. Help Texts: Text-Based Grief Support with Emma Payne Join 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 supporters Nancy Walker and Linda Fennigbauer and thanks to Linda for also making a Paypal donation! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

Learn from this special recording of a workshop with Drs. Sammy Winemaker and Hsien Seow from their book Hope for the Best Plan for the Rest. For this special episode I will share a few thoughts for everyone who has (like me) experienced a life-changing diagnosis during 2024. This holiday season will be different than all others for us as we face uncertainty in the future and also recognize the value of living fully in each and every moment. Check out my blog post Five Gifts to Give Yourself this Holiday Season for more thoughts and tips. I also share a replay from a workshop with Drs. Sammy Winemaker and Hsein Seow from their amazing book Hope for the Best Plan for the Rest titled: Learning the Illness Roadmap. I hope you gain insights from this conversation that will help you on your journey. Listen here: