The importance of Advance Directives: A discussion with Sylvia Cohen Can you imagine the emotional turmoil and familial discord that arises when end-of-life wishes are not clearly defined? Get ready to walk in the shoes of Sylvia Cohen as she courageously recounts her personal journey surrounding end-of-life care and the profound impact it had on her family. An enlightening chat about the cultural complexities within a multicultural family in a medical setting awaits you, emphasizing the importa...
Nov 28, 2023•58 min•Ep. 78
How do you envision the end of your life? What if you could transform that vision from a fear-filled one to a peaceful and sacred experience? Join us for a heart-to-heart conversation with our guest, Cathy Yuhas, a seasoned nurse specializing in ICU, ER, and hospice care. Cathy shares a powerful, deeply personal story about how a woman's decision to embrace hospice care completely redefined her perception of death, and illuminated the profound importance of planning for the end, free of judgment...
Nov 14, 2023•34 min•Ep. 77
I have been studying what makes a “Good Death” for years. When I was working with end of life patients and their families, I quickly learned that being a part of a positive end of life experience is a blessing. It not only makes you aware that this natural and guaranteed part of life can be beautiful - but it changes you. It allows you to step into a sacred and wondrous place. It suddenly gives a deeper meaning to life and it exposes you to a new energy and connection that shifts your perspectiv...
Oct 05, 2023•32 min•Ep. 96
What is the Meaning of Life? YES- This is a big question and one that I have sought the answer to for a long time. Ironically, it was when I started to work with the dying, that I learned everything about HOW to LIVE! We are on the brink of a personal and collective shift. The world is full of chaos, and we are untethered to our spiritual being part of who we are and why we are here. Join me in this heartfelt conversation with Ron Damico. Ron Damico is an Intuitive Healer, Spiritual Guide, and...
Sep 28, 2023•35 min•Ep. 95
It takes an extremely special person to go from being the poster girl of health/wellness and how to live our best lives to talking about grief. And not just grief we feel when a loved one dies, but grief on all levels and of all kinds. Could the denial of death, and thus the lack of education and information about grief, be the cause of so much depression, anxiety, and even disease in our world today? Many of you may not know, but Kris Carr has been a guiding light, mentor, and supportive presen...
Sep 14, 2023•39 min•Ep. 94
On this episode of Ask a Death Doula, I had the pleasure of Interviewing Mary Landry, the creator of the My Loved One and Me grief journal. My Loved One and Me started as a sympathy gift for a friend. It is a guided journal to assist the grieving process by reflecting on how time spent with a loved one can help you to continue to move forward. To create it, Mary Landry drew upon her professional design background, Tai Chi/Chi Gung/Chinese Medicine training and a lifetime of intuitive experiences...
Sep 07, 2023•29 min•Ep. 93
In this episode of Ask a Death Doula, I'm officially announcing "The Good Death": What to Expect When Your Loved One is Dying and How to Have Positive End of Life Experiences on Your Own Terms Book. Little Brown Spark ( March 2025 ) The book is a step by step guide on how to care for your loved one at the end of life. It includes the vital pre-planning, the actual teachings of how to care for someone dying in all three phases of end of life, and new ways to celebrate, honor and choose final rest...
Aug 02, 2023•50 min•Ep. 92
In this episode of Ask a Doulagiver, I have the great pleasure of interviewing Christianne Wolff about her new book THE HEALED STATE! The book shares beautiful stories, techniques and the science of how to heal. This episode is an impactful conversation between two holistic healers who are able to share their stories and importance of understanding we are energetic beings having a human experience. In This Episode, You Will Learn: Topic #1 How Christianne learned she was a healer. Topic #2 How y...
Jul 26, 2023•38 min•Ep. 91
The Truth About Becoming a Certified Death Doula There is a worldwide global movement going on and it is known as the Death Doula. Just like birthing doulas that care for and guide a baby into this world, there are now Death Doulas that are guiding people out of the world! In this episode of Ask a Death Doula, I will share with you the truth about becoming a Death Doula and what you need to know when deciding if this profession is the right path for you. Death is having a rebirth! We have been d...
Jul 12, 2023•37 min•Ep. 90
80%-90% of a positive end of life ( no matter what the disease process) depends on these two things: Planning ahead and sharing your end of life wishes with those you love ahead of time and Knowing the basics on how to care for someone at the end of life. In this episode of Ask a Death Doula, I have the great pleasure of interviewing Lisa Pahl co-creator of The Death Deck and The E•O•L Deck; games. These card games inspire meaningful conversations on what matters most in our lives and in our dea...
Jul 05, 2023•36 min•Ep. 89
In this episode of Ask a Doulagiver, I have the great pleasure of interviewing Nurse Hadley Vlahos about her upcoming book THE IN-BETWEEN: Unforgettable Encounters During Life's Final Moments. The book shares beautiful bedside stories of that special time when people have "one foot in this world and one foot in the next". This episode is a heart to heart episode, from one hospice nurse, to another hospice nurse, as we discuss the common experiences we have had with our patients that will change ...
Jun 13, 2023•33 min•Ep. 88
Date: 6/7/23 How to Fill the "Hospice Gap" Hospice is a beautiful model of care, but at the present time, due mostly to Medicare guidelines, we are seeing major "gaps" in hospice care. When someone is dying, we only have one opportunity to have it go well- there are no do overs. This is why it is vital to understand the hospice gaps and what we can do to fill them. In This Episode, You Will Learn: Topic #1 What Hospice Care Is Topic #2 What Hospice Care Isn’t Topic #3 What YOU Need to Know to Fi...
Jun 08, 2023•26 min•Ep. 87
Date: 6/1/23 The Marriage of Death and Spirituality When I was just starting my career as a hospice nurse… the things I witnessed… the things I learned… the things dying people shared with me… changed my LIFE! At the end of life, as someone's physical body is diminishing, their spiritual body is growing and there is one point in the journey that they get all this spiritual wisdom. This is what they say: Trust that all the experiences in your life have been lessons to bring you closer to a higher...
May 31, 2023•41 min•Ep. 85
How to Care for Dying Veterans Veterans experience extraordinary emotional and mental challenges as they near the end of life due to the experiences and trauma they endured serving their country,” O’Brien explained. “Recognizing their specific needs and providing them with proven techniques to help them on their life journey is a tremendous gift we are delighted to share with military families. 642,000 Veterans die each year in the US In This Episode, You Will Learn: Topic #1 Why we need specifi...
May 24, 2023•20 min•Ep. 83
Date: 5/3/23 How The Death Positive Movement is Giving us Life Death is having a rebirth! People today are going back to their roots with the re-adoption of home wakes and funerals. Centuries ago, this was the common way to handle death. People would die at home and remain there for the viewing and the ceremony to honor their life. In fact, the “living room” was given its name because that’s where those who were still alive congregated before they went into the parlor to pay their respects to th...
May 03, 2023•31 min•Ep. 76
Date: 4/18/23 Zimbabwe: The start of the Death Doula Movement I have been a hospice nurse since 2008, but it was on a volunteer trip to Zimbabwe, Africa, that I was taught the true power of our presence as the best medicine there is. I was reminded that death is not a medical experience- it's a human one. And I was taught the effectiveness of having someone present and "holding the space" for someone who is dying- and for their loved ones- like a birthing doula. I learned that no matter who you ...
Apr 17, 2023•38 min•Ep. 79
Date: 4/13/23 Caregiver Syndrome and How to Avoid It Brief summary of episode: Family caregivers are often faced with a unique set of challenges as they juggle the demands of work, family and caregiving. From managing complex medical tasks to navigating legal and financial issues, it can be difficult for caregivers to find balance in their lives while providing the best possible care for their loved ones. At the end of life, it is common for a family member (usually an adult daughter) to be sudd...
Apr 11, 2023•29 min•Ep. 77
SomaEnergetics is a series of Sound Therapy Techniques developed by David Hulse at the turn of the century using the power of the ancient frequencies of the solfeggio. We use the highest quality Solfeggio Tuning forks, which are custom-made for SomaEnergetics by a manufacturer who has over 4 decades of experience developing quality, custom tuning forks. We offer training in live workshops and via Self-Study Online Courses. Our Color Solfeggio Energy Tuners and Body Tuners are available exclusive...
Feb 01, 2023•30 min•Ep. 75
Jan 05, 2023•38 min•Ep. 74
I’m thrilled to introduce you to these two heart centered dynamic women. Karen Hendrickson and Jo-Anne Haun are the founders of Death Doula Network of BC. They are passionate about making and creating connections throughout the Death industry, communities, and the world. I LOVE to support people who are doing amazing work and making the world a better place. Here are two of these women. In this episode of Ask a Death Doula, You will hear: -How Death Doula Network of BC was born -The Blessings of...
Nov 30, 2022•43 min•Ep. 73
FORGIVENESS IS THE SECRET KEY TO UNLOCKING AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE! Join the Free Forgiveness Workshop Here: https://my.demio.com/ref/SF9qKjumP2eHsSx0 Forgiveness is a continued, deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment, anger, or shame toward a person, group - or even yourself. Whether it’s a simple spat with your spouse or long-held resentment toward a family member or friend, unresolved conflict can go deeper than you may realize—it may be affecting your physical health and holding...
Nov 02, 2022•46 min•Ep. 72
Join the FREE Hospice of Green Country event with Suzanne B. O'Brien RN on October 26th at 6pm EST Below! Register Here: https://forms.hospiceofgreencountry.org/october-26th-suzanne-obrien-rn/ If your loved one got a terminal diagnosis today, would you know how to care for them? Unfortunately most people would answer no. Most end of life experiences are NOT going well today, and it is the lack of understanding about the natural process of end of life and the lack of skills on how to care for som...
Oct 17, 2022•29 min•Ep. 71
Have you ever thought about what it would be like to get a terminal diagnosis? What would you do? How would you cope? What would you say to people? What would your everyday life look like? If you answered “I don't know”, then read on, because I’m here to share with you an incredible woman that will change your mind– and here’s why: Number one: Jody has been given a terminal stage 4 ovarian cancer diagnosis and may be doing more with her busy days than I am. Number two: Her sharing the power of p...
Oct 11, 2022•38 min•Ep. 70
In This episode of Ask a Death Doula, I will share what V.S.E.D. ( Voluntarily Stop Eating and Drinking ) is, why it's a viable option, and the checklist of things you need to go over before deciding if V.S.E.D. is right for you! What is V.S.E.D.? [ 2:00 ] – V.S.E.D. stands for voluntarily stopping, eating, and drinking, and it is an intentional decision to stop drinking liquids and eating food for the specific purpose of causing death. It does not refer to stopping food or fluids provided by me...
Aug 10, 2022•23 min•Ep. 69
In this episode of Ask a Death Doula, I’m going to show you how writing a forgiveness letter can break the chains of these heavy emotions and allow you to have the future you want, and to be anything and everything you want to be in this life. Forgiveness can set you free.
Aug 03, 2022•25 min•Ep. 68
1. The Two States of Being [ 2:52 ] – We are holistic beings, and this means we are made up of four bodies of energy – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. We are equal parts of each of these four bodies of energy. At the end of life, our physical body begins to diminish, and our spiritual body of energy begins to grow. Witnessing this is a profound experience, and there is a certain part of this process where a person will have one foot in this world and one foot in the next. This is wha...
Jul 27, 2022•25 min•Ep. 67
Big Ideas: 1. How We Created Such a Dysfunctional Relationship with Death [ 5:19 ] – As a young nurse, I witnessed how poorly end of life was going for the vast majority of my patients and their families. I was fortunate to grow up in a family that worked in the medical system, so hearing about people getting sick and dying was something that I heard being discussed at a young age. I was subjected to the topic and understood from the perspective of people caring for those at end of life how much...
Jul 20, 2022•24 min•Ep. 66
Big Ideas: 1. What is a Pet Doula [ 0:30 ] – There are people in this holistic end of life care space who are being drawn to work specifically with animals. It is incredible and incredibly needed. We have known for a long time that we need to start offering more support to people at the end of life, but what about our pets? Death is a natural experience, and all living beings will experience it and the people who love them really need that help and guidance. Now those who are end of life care pr...
Jul 13, 2022•19 min•Ep. 65
Big Ideas: 1.What Psilocybin is [ 00:27 ] – Psilocybin is the main psychedelic compound found in “magic mushrooms.” The talk of using this psychedelic at the end of life has been a hot topic and is being studied intensively. It is being looked at as having potentially effective medicinal/therapeutic properties in the treatment of fear, anxiety, and depression for those at the end of life. It is a naturally occurring compound found in specific species of mushrooms. It has been used for thousands ...
Jun 28, 2022•19 min•Ep. 64
Big Ideas: A Breakdown Leads to a Breakthrough [3:20] – Many times the most painful moments in our lives lead to the best moments because it gives us an opportunity to find ourselves. The darkest points in our lives turn into the brightest when we grow spiritually through them. We are able to gain so much perspective through the struggles and challenges we face if we look at them through the proper lens. No one knows this better than Patty and Greg Howe. Greg was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2016 ...
Jun 14, 2022•49 min•Ep. 63
