Seeing Death Clearly

Send us a textIn this episode, I’m joined by Aaron Pyne, a meditation teacher, digital artist, and the creator of Inner Realms Journey. This imaginative and mythically inspired guided meditation experience helps people of all ages explore their inner world. Aaron blends ancient traditions, storytelling, and spiritual tools to support people in navigating life, death, and everything in between.Aaron shares how his early fascination with mythology led him into meditation and spirituality, and how over time he integrated those passions with his skills in art and technology. The result is Inner Realms Journey, a platform offering more than 80 immersive audio meditations that guide users through magical landscapes, help them discover their unique avatars, and create deeply personal sanctuary spaces.What began as a personal creative project evolved into something much bigger, one that’s now being used in children's hospitals to support kids facing terminal illness. These guided meditations help young people process fear, anxiety, and uncertainty, while also giving them a way to create a legacy project: a story, map, or vision of where they’ll go after death. Families can then use the same tools to continue connecting with their loved one even after they’ve passed.Aaron also speaks about spiritual dimensions, ancestral connection, and the energetic aspects of dying that are often overlooked in modern Western culture. He shares how imagination and myth can be healing tools, offering comfort, wonder, and even excitement about what comes next.Whether you’re a caregiver, a spiritual seeker, or simply someone curious about what lies beyond this life, Aaron’s work invites you to see the dying process through a magical and empowering lens. This conversation is filled with beauty, depth, and a refreshing approach to death that honors both mystery and imagination.www.AaronPyne.comwww.InnerRealmsJourney.comSupport the showSupport the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support, and it helps get the word out to more people who could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life. You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. jill@endoflifeclarity.com Website www.endoflifeclarity.comInstagramFacebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity CircleLinkedInTikTok

Send us a textElizabeth Wood, a sociologist who studied gender and sexuality, found her focus shifting when her mother was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2009 and later terminal cancer in 2012. Watching her mother’s final months opened her eyes to the ways our healthcare system avoids death and how families often do the same. This deeply personal experience led Elizabeth to explore death work from a more practical and emotional place, beyond academic research.Her mother’s story was unique. After a life of unfulfilling relationships, she discovered her identity as a sexual dominant in her late 50s. Those years, especially during peritoneal dialysis, were surprisingly freeing and fulfilling for her. She even began writing about her experience for an online sex magazine, opening a window into the joy she found in reclaiming her sexuality.Though mother and daughter always spoke openly about sex, they struggled to talk about death. Elizabeth’s mom often received mixed messages from her medical team, with some doctors avoiding end-of-life discussions and others trying to prepare her.  Even as her health declined, she never verbally acknowledged that she was dying, though Elizabeth later found journal entries that hinted at her quiet attempts to say goodbye.The experience revealed how little space there is in medicine to talk about both death and sexuality.  Despite being open in many parts of her life, her mother feared judgment and avoided sharing her identity with healthcare providers. Elizabeth believes this silence, rooted in stigma and power dynamics, leads people to miss out on important support and care.https://elizabethannewood.comBound: A Daughter, a Domme, and an End-of-Life Story - https://www.amazon.com/Bound-Daughter-Domme-End-Life/dp/1631526308Between Us: Healing Ourselves and Changing the World Through Sociology - https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/B/bo215858659.htmlhttps://www.facebook.com/ElizabethAnneWoodAuthorhttps://www.instagram.com/elizabeth.anne.wood/Support the showSupport the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support, and it helps get the word out to more people who could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life. You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. jill@endoflifeclarity.com Website www.endoflifeclarity.comInstagramFacebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity CircleLinkedInTikTok

Send us a textEd Bixby shares his journey from real estate developer to national leader in the green burial movement. After inheriting Steelmantown Cemetery, a family burial ground in New Jersey dating back to the 1700s, Ed shifted his focus toward more natural and sustainable ways of honoring death. His love for the land, history, and simple living helped shape a new approach to dying, one that respects nature, supports families, and celebrates each person’s legacy.In this episode, Ed explains how natural burial aligns with conscious living and deep healing. He contrasts traditional burial practices with green alternatives, highlighting how natural cemeteries require fewer resources and allow the environment to thrive. He also shares how COVID-19 led more people to ask deeper questions about end-of-life choices. Now, many are rethinking cremation and traditional funerals in favor of legacy trees, simple burials, and authentic connection to nature. Ed’s story offers hope and practical insight for a more grounded, compassionate future of death care.globalgreenburialalliance.netdestinationdestinymemorials.com Support the showSupport the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support, and it helps get the word out to more people who could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life. You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. jill@endoflifeclarity.com Website www.endoflifeclarity.comInstagramFacebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity CircleLinkedInTikTok

Send us a textMeghan J. Maher, a death doula based in Central Florida, shares how the loss of her mother led her to this meaningful work. After experiencing grief firsthand, Megan began volunteering with a local hospice and discovered what end-of-life doulas do. The connection was instant she knew this path was right for her. Now, she helps families navigate the dying process with emotional, spiritual, and practical support.Megan reflects on how our society often avoids talking about death. Most people have never witnessed someone dying, which leads to fear, denial, and uncertainty. She believes we need to return to being a village, offering support not only to those at the end of life but also to their caregivers, families, and communities. She talks about how nature’s cycles can help us feel more connected and grounded, even during hard times.Megan emphasizes that doula work doesn’t have to become a business. It’s enough to gain skills and offer support informally within families, neighborhoods, and friend circles. The work matters even if it’s done quietly and without pay. She also explains the difference between hospice and doula care, noting that doulas often have the gift of time and can support families long before hospice becomes available.As someone caring for young children while supporting aging parents, Megan understands the pressure on the “sandwich generation.” She urges people to ask for help and to offer help in creative ways like spending time with a caregiver’s kids or running errands. Small actions make a big impact. When we stop pretending we’re okay doing it all alone, we open the door to true connection, healing, and care at the end of life.https://www.meghanjmaher.com/https://www.instagram.com/meghanjmahereold/Support the showSupport the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support, and it helps get the word out to more people who could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life. You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. jill@endoflifeclarity.com Website www.endoflifeclarity.comInstagramFacebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity CircleLinkedInTikTok

Send us a textWhat if dying could be more peaceful, intentional, and healing for both the living and the dying? In this powerful conversation, healer and death priestess Cristabeth Ingold shares how her soul’s calling guides her to support individuals and families through death, grief, and spiritual healing. Her work spans the physical and energetic realms, blending bodywork, astrology, ancestral healing, and soul-guided practices to help people face the end of life with clarity and peace.Christabeth works closely with the dying and their loved ones, offering bedside support and spiritual guidance as souls prepare to transition. She combines tools like Akashic records, oracle cards, energy medicine, and traditional Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage to bring comfort and clarity during life’s most sacred thresholds. Her journey began early in life, feeling called to this path through personal experiences of death and loss. As a death doula and spiritual practitioner, she now helps others heal grief, explore forgiveness, and reconnect with ancestral wisdom.Christabeth also speaks about breaking down the cultural and patriarchal systems that distance us from death, calling instead for a return to ritual, ceremony, and conscious living. Through her work, she invites us to examine how we carry emotional pain and how unprocessed grief can impact our physical health. Whether guiding souls to the other side or helping the living reflect on their legacy, Christabeth reminds us that healing is always possible and that we can always begin again, even in our final breaths.www.soulfullynourishing.comhttps://www.instagram.com/christabethli/Support the showSupport the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support, and it helps get the word out to more people who could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life. You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. jill@endoflifeclarity.com Website www.endoflifeclarity.comInstagramFacebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity CircleLinkedInTikTok

Send us a textIn this moving conversation, Deborah Charman and Brian Wardale share their powerful personal journeys through grief, caregiving, and healing, and how those experiences inspired their work in suicide prevention and emotional education. Both survivors of deep loss and personal struggles, they now use their stories to help young people navigate grief, end-of-life challenges, and the difficult emotions that can come with living and dying.Brian, after his father’s stroke, stepped up to care for his mother until she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Losing his role as caregiver sent Brian into a spiral of depression, eventually leading to a life-altering suicide attempt that resulted in the amputation of his leg. Through that pain, he found a new purpose by sharing his story and helping others.Deborah worked as a healthcare aide, caring for elderly patients who often struggled with the emotional weight of aging and dying. She used compassion and deep listening to help them find meaning in their final years. Having survived her own suicide attempt decades earlier, Deborah brings personal insight to their mission of guiding others through emotional struggles.Together, Brian and Deborah developed an educational program for young people, focusing on conscious living, emotional resilience, and making good choices in difficult moments. Their framework teaches kids to understand their feelings, process grief, and build hope for the future. By sharing their experiences with death, dying, and healing, they help others move from despair to meaning, offering a message of hope for anyone facing life’s hardest challenges.https://www.survivorsofhopelessness.com/https://teensuicidepreventionsociety.com/https://www.facebook.com/brian.wardalehttps://www.instagram.com/the.iron.byron/Support the showSupport the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support, and it helps get the word out to more people who could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life. You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. jill@endoflifeclarity.com Website www.endoflifeclarity.comInstagramFacebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity CircleLinkedInTikTok

Send us a textIn this heartfelt episode, Daryl McCullough shares how childhood grief led him to create a story that now helps others navigate death, loss, and healing. What started as a middle school writing assignment after the death of his cousin became a lifelong journey of finding meaning in grief and honoring loved ones through storytelling. His children’s book, The Story of Tree and Cloud, began as a crayon-illustrated parable about connection and the enduring nature of spirit, written in the wake of that early loss.Years later, when Daryl’s mother was dying of cancer, he found that very book carefully saved by her, a reminder of their shared love and the deeper threads of life, death, and legacy. That moment inspired him to turn his childhood story into a published book, beautifully illustrated by his aunt, to help children and adults alike process death in a gentle, natural way. Set in California’s oak trees and infused with universal spiritual ideas, the story reflects Daryl’s belief that life continues beyond physical form, whether through nature, memory, or something greater than ourselves.Daryl speaks openly about caring for his mother through hospice, the power of legacy, and the healing that comes from making meaning out of grief. His second book, Chubby the Bear’s Big Choice, explores bullying, friendship, and self-worth—again using storytelling as a tool for conscious living and emotional healing. For Daryl, writing children’s books is not just about entertainment—it’s about helping people of all ages sit with life’s hardest moments and offering hope that we are never truly alone.From working through childhood loss to donating his books to nursing homes and schools, Daryl’s mission is clear: to use art and story as a bridge between grief and growth. Through conscious living, love of nature, and honoring family legacy, he’s offering a path toward healing for anyone navigating the journey of life and death.https://www.instagram.com/author_darylmc/https://www.darylrmccullough.com/https://www.amazon.com/Story-Tree-Cloud-Daryl-McCullough/dp/166571140XSupport the showSupport the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support, and it helps get the word out to more people who could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life. You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. jill@endoflifeclarity.com Website www.endoflifeclarity.comInstagramFacebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity CircleLinkedInTikTok

Send us a textFor over 25 years, Caroline has walked beside the dying and their families, offering support, stories, and sacred presence. Her work as a death doula and funeral celebrant has brought her into homes, long-term care facilities, and sacred circles, where she’s helped others navigate grief and end-of-life transitions with honesty, humanity, and compassion.Caroline’s journey began as a volunteer, eventually leading her into long-term care where she found her calling—sitting with people at the end of their lives and learning from their stories. She described the deep spiritual moments that arise when sitting quietly with someone near death, where small miracles and lessons in compassion reveal themselves. Over the years, she’s supported grieving families, helped children understand death, and made space for people to feel and express the messy emotions that loss brings.She shared that many people today don’t follow one faith but instead build a patchwork of beliefs. However, when death nears, fear often rises because the topic hasn’t been discussed. Caroline believes these conversations matter. She even normalized them in her own family by talking openly about funerals during car rides and creating playlists with her children for their future services.In her work, Caroline has learned to hold space for both deep sadness and lightness. Sometimes, her goal during a funeral is simply to get someone to laugh. She’s also created rituals like “ice catchers,” made from frozen petals, seeds, and fruit, which families hang on trails as an act of remembrance and quiet healing. Whether she's singing hymns or playing rap music requested by the deceased, she meets each moment with authenticity and reverence.Caroline’s work reminds us that grief is muddy but not hopeless, and that legacy, love, and laughter can walk beside sorrow.https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-fenelius-carpenter-2001464a/https://www.facebook.com/share/19EwSjU2xT/www.samla.caCaroline@samla.ca Support the showSupport the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support, and it helps get the word out to more people who could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life. You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. jill@endoflifeclarity.com Website www.endoflifeclarity.comInstagramFacebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity CircleLinkedInTikTok

Send us a textWhen we think about end-of-life, we rarely think about archivists, but maybe we should. Emily Cabaniss, a Seattle-based archivist, shares how her work preserving the personal records of the deceased offers profound insight into grief, legacy, and dying. Her reflections reveal how archivists often act as invisible companions to the dead, holding space for stories left behind.As an archivist in the Pacific Northwest, Emily works with unique historical records, from personal letters to business documents, textiles, and audio recordings. Her job involves preserving these items and making them accessible, ensuring the legacies of individuals and communities are not lost to time. She explains that an archive is not just a storage room but a program focused on the care, description, and access of primary sources. Emily shares how deeply relational this work can be, especially since most of the people she interacts with through the records are deceased.She reflects on the emotional and ethical complexities of handling someone’s personal materials after they’ve died. From diary entries to correspondence, archivists like Emily witness the private lives of people who will never know they’re being seen. This creates a unique form of grief, parasocial connections to those long gone, where the archivist feels close to a person whose descendants will never know them.Her experiences working with homicide files also highlighted the troubling ways society views death, particularly the objectification of victims. It made her more aware of how records contribute to someone’s legacy and how archivists play a crucial role in shaping how that legacy is remembered.Emily’s story is a powerful reminder that healing, grief, and conscious living extend far beyond immediate end-of-life care. The work of archivists intersects with death care in unexpected ways, holding sacred space for memory, identity, and humanity.To be part of Emily’s end-of-life project, reach out to her ecabaniss@winthropgroup.comSupport the showSupport the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support, and it helps get the word out to more people who could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life. You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. jill@endoflifeclarity.com Website www.endoflifeclarity.comInstagramFacebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity CircleLinkedInTikTok

Send us a textDr. Marc Cooper is the founder of The Contemporary Elder Institute and author of the book  Older to Elder: The Thinking and Being of a Contemporary ElderIn this episode, he shares how embracing growing older can lead to wisdom, freedom, and profound healing. In this powerful conversation, he explains the difference between simply aging and stepping into elderhood, a role that brings meaning, spiritual growth, and legacy.At nearly 80 years old, Dr. Cooper calls himself an “Elder for Our Times.” He believes that talking openly about death helps people live more fully. From his viewpoint as an elder, he sees a growing shift in awareness about dying, grief, and end-of-life planning. Instead of fearing aging or death, he encourages others to use these natural processes to deepen their understanding of life.He reflects on how growing older gives people the chance to let go of the past, make new choices, and develop a new sense of purpose. Unlike being “older,” which society often sees as useless or in decline, being an “elder” means offering wisdom, holding space for others, and guiding with compassion. Elders, he says, have earned the right to speak freely, think deeply, and live authentically, without worrying what others think.In cultures that honor their elders, aging is viewed as a valuable asset. But in today’s society, aging is often hidden or feared. Dr. Cooper explains that this fear comes from a culture focused on staying young and making money. He challenges that mindset, teaching that death is not the enemy, it’s a powerful teacher. When we face death, we become more alive. We learn to let go, love more deeply, and focus on what really matters.He ends with a reflection on legacy. He invites others to imagine what they would write on their tombstone and live today with that in mind. Dr. Cooper now teaches others how to become elders, helping them use death and aging as tools for conscious living and healing.Engage with Marc on Substack: https://drmarcbcooper.substack.com/Learn more about Older to Elder: https://www.requestingwisdom.com/Learn more about Marc, the Author: https://www.drmarcbcooper.com/Support the showSupport the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast. I appreciate the support, and it helps get the word out to more people who could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life. You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms. jill@endoflifeclarity.com Website www.endoflifeclarity.comInstagramFacebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity CircleLinkedInTikTok