Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula

Katie Keckeisen, a historian and researcher specializing in Victorian grieving practices, brings fascinating insights into the world of 19th-century Spiritualism. She discusses the profound impact of the Fox Sisters on public mourning and how women gained a voice through this movement. The conversation delves into how the Civil War shaped grief and the rituals surrounding it, including the intimate experience of dying at home. Furthermore, technology like the telegraph offered new metaphors for the afterlife, reflecting our enduring quest for connection with the deceased.

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli sits down once again with Erica Baccus, whose husband Jon was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. What followed was a journey of deep love and courageous choices- culminating in his decision to pursue assisted death in Switzerland. Now, months later, Erica returns to share reflections from her new book, A Promise Kept: Honoring His Wishes, Embracing Our Love. We talk about what it means to truly honor a loved one’s end-of-life wishes, the emotional reality of choosing a death with dignity, and how it feels to hold someone’s hand through their final moments. Erica also opens up about mentoring others facing similar paths and her involvement with A Better Exit, a group working to support patients with dementia, ALS, and other devastating diagnoses.  Whether you’re walking a similar road, supporting someone who is, or simply trying to understand what compassionate end-of-life care can look like, I hope this episode offers a sense of connection and clarity.  Links/Resources Guest: Erica Baccus – https://ericabaccus.com Host: Traci Arieli – https://www.comfortingclosure.com Book: A Promise Kept: Honoring His Wishes, Embracing Our Love Mentioned: In Love by Amy Bloom – https://www.amybloom.com Organization: Dignitas – https://www.dignitas.ch Advocacy: A Better Exit – https://www.abetterexit.org Podcast Episode- Death with Dignity in Switzerland: A Husband’s Final Choice :https://watch.comfortingclosure.com/death-with-dignity-switzerland  Please like, share, and subscribe to the channel to support more honest conversations around aging, illness, dying, and grieving. Your voice helps break the silence and spread comfort where it's needed most. 

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli explores the emotional and financial toll of denied medical claims. Joined by founder and patient advocate Holden Karau, creator of Fight Health Insurance, they unpack the broken insurance system and how one AI-powered tool is helping people push back. From appeal letters to patient assistance programs, this episode offers clear, empowering steps for those facing healthcare denials, because no one should have to fight alone. Links/Resources Guest: Fight Health Insurance – https://fighthealthinsurance.com Host: Traci Arieli's Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com   Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes! 

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli explores the true meaning of a good death, and why it begins with how we choose to live. Joined by teacher, speaker, and author Chris Palmer, they unpack what it means to live with intention, plan ahead with compassion, and face death as a part of life rather than a medical failure. Chris shares deeply personal stories and lessons from his book Achieving a Good Death: A Practical Guide to the End of Life, reflecting on fear, autonomy, quality of life, and how to make end-of-life care more humane and empowering. Key takeaways include: Why intentional living leads to a more peaceful death How to approach advanced directives, even if you're scared Practical tools for having difficult conversations with loved ones How medical culture can hinder, rather than help, end-of-life care The importance of creating a personal mission statement for life and legacy Whether you work in aging care, are planning ahead for yourself or a loved one, or are simply curious about what it means to die well- this episode offers powerful, grounded, and compassionate information.  Links/Resources Guest: Chris Palmer’s Website -  https://www.chrispalmeronline.com/death-dying Host: Traci Arieli’s Website -  https://www.comfortingclosure.com Resources Mentioned: Book: Achieving a Good Death: A Practical Guide to the End of Life by Chris Palmer Compassion & Choices Dementia Values Tool – https://www.compassionandchoices.org Final Exit Network – https://www.finalexitnetwork.org AARP Advance Directive Links – https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/financial-legal/free-printable-advance-directives   Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes. Help us normalize these vital conversations and bring more comfort, clarity, and closure to end-of-life planning. 

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli explores the complexities of senior living decisions with Angie Graham, Division President of Our House Senior Living. Together, they break down what “good care” really looks like, and how families can distinguish between nurturing communities and places that fall short. Angie shares her personal story of navigating memory care for her father, insights into caregiver burnout, and why culture and communication are just as important as the building itself. You’ll learn what questions to ask on facility tours, how to read between the lines, and how to prepare emotionally for this deeply personal transition. Whether you're supporting an aging parent or planning for yourself, this episode offers practical tools and guidance to help you make informed, compassionate choices. Key Takeaways: What defines high-quality senior living How to spot red flags during facility visits Common misconceptions about assisted and memory care Ways to support caregivers and avoid burnout The emotional dynamics of transitioning into senior living This conversation aims to normalize these often-difficult discussions, & empower families. Links/Resources Guest: Our House Senior Living – https://www.ourhousesl.com Host: Traci Arieli’s Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com   Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes! Help us spread awareness and compassion around aging, dying, and grief. 

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli speaks with Farah Baxter, co-founder of Soalma, about the essential documents, conversations, and emotional legacies we should prepare before we die. Together, they explore how thoughtful end-of-life planning can ease the burden on loved ones, reduce chaos, and create space for healing. Whether you’ve already started planning or are hearing about this for the first time, Farah offers gentle, practical guidance and introduces Soalma, a digital platform designed to help families document, store, and share life’s most important details. Key takeaways include: What you actually need to document before you die (beyond just a will) The emotional and practical impacts of being prepared How planning ahead can prevent family conflict Why even young, healthy adults should start documenting now How Soalma helps users store both vital documents and meaningful stories This episode helps normalize conversations around death and dying by showing how preparation is not only an act of love but a way to preserve peace and dignity for everyone involved. Links/Resources: Guest: Learn more about Soalma – https://soalma.com Host: Traci Arieli – https://www.comfortingclosure.com Advance Directives by state: https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/financial-legal/free-printable-advance-directives/   Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes. Every conversation helps build a more compassionate world. 

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.In this episode of Comforting Closure – Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli speaks with grief advocates and co-authors Leanne Whallett and Jess Slater about their children’s book All Around Is Me. They share personal stories of loss, parenting through grief, and the deeply healing role their book plays in helping children process death and memory. Together, they discuss how children experience grief differently than adults, why silence around death can be confusing for young ones, and how we can create safe, compassionate spaces for kids to feel and express their emotions. Key takeaways include the importance of honest conversations, recognizing signs of grief in children, and using storytelling and ritual as tools for connection. This episode gently normalizes conversations around childhood grief and offers encouragement to caregivers, educators, and anyone supporting a grieving child.  Links/Resources Guest Website: https://motherduckpublishing.com Host: Traci Arieli's Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com Book: All Around Is Me on Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/All-Around-Me-Leanne-Whallett/dp/B0DGQSC8RJ   Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes! 

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.What happens when the system that’s supposed to care for our loved ones after death fails?In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli speaks with Nick Nell, founder of MorgueBoard, about the painful reality of mishandled remains - stories of people lost in the system, misidentified, or cremated without consent. Together, they explore how these devastating errors happen and what can be done to stop them.You’ll learn about the most common mistakes hospitals and morgues make, the warning signs families should watch for, and the questions you have every right to ask when someone you love dies. Nick also shares how technology, when used with care, can restore dignity and accountability to death care.Links/Resources·         Guest: Nick Nell - https://www.morgueboard.com·         Contact Nick: nick@morgueboard.com·         Host: Traci Arieli's Website - https://www.comfortingclosure.com·         MorgueBoard platform: https://www.morgueboard.com  Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes!

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.In this episode of Comforting Closure – Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli speaks with Robin Farr, Program Manager at the MAID Family Support Society in Canada. Together, they discuss Robin’s personal journey of supporting her father through Medical Assistance in Dying, and how that experience led her to help other families navigating this deeply emotional process. Key takeaways include what MAID looks like in Canada, how peer support can be a lifeline for loved ones before and after a medically assisted death, and why grief after MAID can be more complex than many realize. This conversation offers guidance, compassion, and hope for those walking this path—and those supporting them. This episode helps normalize difficult but necessary conversations around choice, death, and the emotional complexities that come with them. Links/Resources Guest: MAID Family Support Society – https://maidfamilysupport.ca Book: The Many Faces of MAID – https://www.amazon.ca/Many-Faces-MAID-Someone-Assistance/ Host: Traci Arieli's Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com   Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes! 

I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message.In this episode of Comforting Closure – Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli is joined by Julie Scott, Executive Director of the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, for a captivating discussion on the spiritual wisdom of ancient Egypt. Together, they explore how beliefs about the afterlife shaped Egyptian life, death rituals, and our modern understanding of grief, remembrance, and legacy. Key takeaways include the soul’s multi-layered journey through the Duat, the symbolic and sacred practice of mummification, the importance of the Book of the Dead (or Coming Forth by Light), and how social class shaped burial practices. Julie also shares how ancient Egyptians maintained relationships with the dead and what these deeply spiritual traditions can still teach us today. This conversation helps normalize how we speak about death by connecting historical perspectives with contemporary grief and end-of-life care. Whether you’re a professional in the field or simply curious about how ancient traditions resonate with our lives today, this episode offers insight, comfort, and perspective. Links/Resources Guest: Julie Scott, Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum – https://www.egyptianmuseum.org Host: Traci Arieli's Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com Book Mentioned: Shamanic Wisdom of the Pyramid Texts by Jeremy Naydler – https://www.innertraditions.com/books/shamanic-wisdom-in-the-pyramid-texts Free Online Resource: The Symbolic Prophecy of the Great Pyramid by H. Spencer Lewis – https://www.rosicrucian.org/rosicrucian-books-the-symbolic-prophecy-of-the-great-pyramid   Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes!