155 Navigating Life and Death: An Interview with Author Sandy Doyle part 2 In this episode of Hospice Explained, host Marie Betcher RN discusses the complexities of end-of-life care and grief with author Sandy Doyle. They explore Sandy's experiences in the death care industry, highlighting the psychological impacts on families, the importance of planning for end-of-life arrangements, and some unusual but poignant anecdotes from Sandy's career. The episode also emphasizes the importance of seekin...
Jun 29, 2025•18 min•Season 8Ep. 155
154 Life and Stories from the Cemetery: An Interview with Author Sandy Doyle In this episode of Hospice Explained, host Marie Betcher RN, a former hospice nurse, interviews Sandy Doyle, author of 'My Life at the Cemetery: It's Not As Dead As You Think'. Sandy shares her remarkable experiences from her 12-year career in the death care industry. She recounts intriguing stories about managing funerals, dealing with grief, and the surprising aspects of working in a cemetery. The discussion also delv...
Jun 22, 2025•21 min•Season 8Ep. 154
153 Understanding the Hero Generation: Empowering Caregivers with Nicole àBeckett In this episode of Hospice Explained, Marie Betcher, RN interviews Nicole àBeckett, founder of Hero Generation. Nicole shares her personal journey as a caregiver to her parents, which inspired her to create Hero Generation—a platform designed to support caregivers with tools, resources, and a community. They discuss the importance of collaboration in caregiving, the benefits of using digital resources and AI, and t...
Jun 15, 2025•35 min•Season 8Ep. 153
152 The Importance of Rest and Laughter in Hospice Care In this episode of Hospice Explained, host Marie Betcher, a registered nurse and former hospice nurse, emphasizes the importance of rest and laughter for caregivers and families navigating the end-of-life season. Marie discusses the need for periodic breaks and introduces listeners to the Cloud Nine care system for preventing pressure injuries. She shares practical tips for incorporating rest, prayer, and humor into daily routines. Marie al...
Jun 08, 2025•4 min•Season 8Ep. 152
151 Interdisciplinary Insights on Aging and Advocacy with Dr. Jacob Kendall In this episode of Hospice Explained, host Marie Betcher RN interviews Dr. Jacob Kendall, a meta gerontologist with a rich interdisciplinary background in biology, social work, public health, and theology. Dr. Kendall shares his personal journey through two open-heart surgeries and how his experiences shaped his career in health advocacy. They discuss the importance of self-advocacy in healthcare, the challenges of navig...
Jun 01, 2025•33 min•Season 8Ep. 151
150 Understanding Hospice Care: Scams, Patient Rights, and Quality Services In this episode of Hospice Explained, host Marie Betcher RN, a former hospice RN, introduces the podcast's educational mission and introduces returning guest Peter Abraham BSN, RN, an accomplished author on hospice topics. They discuss the importance of identifying legitimate hospice agencies, recognizing patient rights, and ensuring quality hospice care. Marie and Peter also explore the emotional challenges of hospice s...
May 25, 2025•33 min•Season 8Ep. 150
149 Understanding the Role of Professional Fiduciaries with Sara Ecklein In episode 149 of Hospice Explained, host Marie Betcher RN, interviews Sara Ecklein, a private fiduciary and host of the Legacy of Love podcast . Sara shares her journey from witnessing a loved one's final days to becoming a professional fiduciary who helps families navigate elder care, conservatorships, special needs trusts, and long-term care planning. She discusses the importance of estate planning, the roles of trustees...
May 18, 2025•30 min•Season 8Ep. 149
148 Exploring Compassionate Coaching and the Power of Grief Improv Theater with Erin Whalen In this episode of Hospice Explained, host Marie Betcher RN interviews Erin Whalen, founder of Compassionate Coaching. Erin shares her unique approach to supporting grieving individuals and end-of-life professionals through her workshops, trainings, and interactive programs that blend acting, facilitation, and playback theater. Erin discusses her inspiration drawn from her personal experiences with grief ...
May 11, 2025•34 min•Season 8Ep. 148
147 Understanding End-of-Life Planning and the Cloud 9 Care System In episode 147 of Hospice Explained, host Marie Betcher, a former hospice RN, discusses the importance of end-of-life planning. She encourages listeners to prepare essential documents and communicate their wishes clearly to loved ones. Marie also highlights the collaboration with Cloud 9 Care System, explaining its innovative approach to preventing pressure injuries for bedridden patients. Additionally, she recommends a PBS docum...
May 04, 2025•6 min•Season 8Ep. 147
146 Navigating the End of Life: Insights from Hospice Nurses - Part 2 with Meg Johnson Hall MS, RN, NEA-BC In episode 146 of Hospice Explained, host Marie Betcher RN interviews Meg Johnson Hall, a nurse with over 40 years of experience. In this second part of their conversation, Meg shares her profound personal and professional experiences in hospice care, including lessons in being a strong patient advocate and handling the emotional and psychological complexities of patients nearing the end of...
Apr 27, 2025•22 min•Season 8Ep. 146
The Transformative Stories and Lessons from Hospice Care with Meg Johnson Hall MS, RN, NEA-BC In episode 145 of 'Hospice Explained,' host Marie Betcher, RN, speaks with Meg Johnson Hall, a veteran nurse with over 40 years of experience and a specialized career in hospice and palliative care. Meg shares poignant stories from her journey, including her life-changing encounter with death at 16 and powerful experiences helping patients seeking quality end-of-life care. Meg emphasizes the importance ...
Apr 20, 2025•25 min•Season 8Ep. 145
Understanding Hospice Care: An Interview with Scott Zimmerman In episode 144 of 'Hospice Explained,' host Marie Betcher BSN, RN a former hospice nurse, interviews Scott Zimmerman, a trusted advisor in life insurance and long-term care. Scott shares his personal experience with hospice care for his father, who had COPD, and discusses the importance of hospice in providing comfort during the end-of-life season. The episode delves into Scott's background, his professional insights, and his positive...
Apr 13, 2025•20 min•Season 8Ep. 144
Navigating Grief: An Acceptance Coach's Journey with Chris Mamone In this episode of Hospice Explained, hosted by former hospice nurse Marie Betcher RN, acceptance coach Chris Mamone shares his personal journey of overcoming grief, loss, and trauma. Chris opens up about the pivotal moments that led him to becoming a coach, including the death of his grandfather and the heart-wrenching stillbirth of his son, Caden. Emphasizing the importance of self-acceptance and emotional expression, Chris prov...
Apr 06, 2025•32 min•Season 8Ep. 143
Understanding End-of-Life Care with Barbara Karnes RN In episode 142 of Hospice Explained, host Marie Betcher, RN, discusses crucial aspects of end-of-life care with renowned hospice educator Barbara Karnes RN. The conversation covers Barbara's background, her influential booklet 'Gone From My Sight,' and the importance of end-of-life education. They address common misconceptions about the dying process perpetuated by media, emphasizing the need for accurate knowledge to transform a potentially ...
Mar 30, 2025•29 min•Season 8Ep. 142
141 Navigating Hospice Care: Insights from Helen Bauer BSN, RN CHPN In this episode of 'Hospice Explained,' host Marie Betcher RN interviews Helen Bauer BSN, RN, CHPN an experienced hospice nurse and founder of Hospice Navigation Services. Together, they explore the critical perspectives caregivers gain through personal experience, the importance of interdisciplinary hospice teams, and demystify underutilized services like chaplains and social workers. Helen also shares details about her busines...
Mar 23, 2025•23 min•Season 8Ep. 141
140 Understanding the Heart of Hospice with Helen Bauer RN BSN CHPN In this episode of Hospice Explained, host Marie Betcher BSN, RN interviews Helen Bauer RN BSN CHPN, an experienced hospice nurse and podcaster from the Heart of Hospice. Helen shares her background, the motivations behind starting her podcast, and an impactful first hospice visit that shaped her career. The discussion emphasizes the importance of educating the public about hospice care, the challenges caregivers face, and the c...
Mar 16, 2025•18 min•Season 8Ep. 140
139 Understanding Soul Injury: Insights from Deborah Grassman, Part 2 In episode 139 of Hospice Explained, host Marie Betcher, RN, continues her interview with Deborah Grassman ARNP. A nurse practitioner with 30 years of experience in hospice care for Veterans. Deborah introduces the concept of 'soul injury'—a disconnection from one’s sense of self caused by unmourned losses, unforgiven guilt, and fear of helplessness. She shares compelling stories, including that of a former POW who found peace...
Mar 09, 2025•20 min•Season 8Ep. 139
138 Soul Injury and Healing: An Insightful Conversation with Deborah Grassman ARNP In this episode of Hospice Explained, host Marie Betcher RN interviews Deborah Grassman ARNP , a seasoned nurse practitioner who served in hospice care at the VA for 30 years. Deborah, who has coined the term 'soul injury,' shares her profound experiences caring for over 10,000 dying veterans. She discusses the unique concept of 'soul injury'—a separation from one's sense of self that extends beyond PTSD and moral...
Mar 02, 2025•19 min•Season 8Ep. 138
137 When Hospice Doesn't Go Well: Navigating Difficult Conversations with Jamie Haberman RN In episode 137 of the Hospice Explained podcast, host Marie Betcher, RN, interviews returning guest Jamie Haberman, RN, a dedicated Christian wife, mother of six, homeschool teacher, hospice nurse, and international bestselling author. They discuss the challenges when hospice care doesn't go as expected, focusing on calming distressed families and managing symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, anxiety, ...
Feb 23, 2025•21 min•Season 8Ep. 137
Managing Expectations in Hospice Care with Jamie Haberman, RN In this episode of Hospice Explained, host Marie Betcher, RN, interviews returning guest Jamie Haberman, RN, about the challenges and realities of hospice care. They discuss common misconceptions about hospice, the role of family and caregivers, emergency respite care, and options for patients who are not satisfied with their hospice provider. Jamie also talks about her work with Hospice Buddy, a support service for those navigating e...
Feb 16, 2025•21 min•Season 8Ep. 136
135 Death Essentials: Education and Empowerment for End-of-Life Care, Featuring Amy Hensley MSN, RN and Erin Putney MSN, RN In episode 135 of 'Hospice Explained,' host Marie Betcher RN continues her discussion with returning guests Amy Hensley and Erin Putney, both master's prepared end-of-life educators. They stress the importance of communicating end-of-life choices and normalizing conversations about death. They discuss their 'Death Essentials' workshop for nurses and 'Sips and Wishes' worksh...
Feb 09, 2025•21 min•Season 7Ep. 135
Taking the Guilt Out of Goodbyes: How Open Conversations Change End of Life Care In episode 134 of 'Hospice Explained,' host Marie Betcher BSN, RN, is joined by end-of-life educators Amy Hensley MSN, RN and Erin Putney MSN, RN from 'Before the Casket.' The episode explores their Buisness, which aims to normalize conversations about death through workshops like 'Sips and Wishes' and 'Comfort Compass,' offering medical education and personal advice. Key topics include the importance of end-of-life...
Feb 02, 2025•21 min•Season 7Ep. 134
133 Living Funerals and Embracing Death: A Conversation with Kathy Dempsey In Episode 133 of Hospice Explained, the host welcomes Kathy Dempsey, an award-winning author, keynote speaker, and RN. Kathy shares her personal journey to Scottsdale, her move inspired by illness, and her relationship with Ron Black, who was diagnosed with stage four renal cancer. Kathy introduces the concept of 'living funerals,' an interactive way for terminal patients to attend their own funeral, share moments with l...
Jan 27, 2025•17 min•Season 7Ep. 133
132 Shedding the Old: Navigating Life and Death with Kathy Dempsey In this episode of Hospice Explained, host Marie Betcher interviews Kathy Dempsey, an award-winning author and change expert. Kathy shares her journey from an ER trauma nurse to a 'death doula,' and discusses her profound concept of 'shedding,' which involves letting go of the old and embracing the new from birth to death. Kathy recounts her personal story of being diagnosed with HIV in the 80s and how a miraculous recovery led h...
Jan 19, 2025•17 min•Season 7Ep. 132
The Unsung Heroes: Examining the Role of Chaplains in End-of-Life Care In episode 131 of Hospice Explained, Marie Betcher RN interviews Dr. Robert Klitzman, a distinguished psychiatrist and author. Dr. Klitzman discusses his latest book, 'Dr. Will You Pray For Me?: Medicine, Chaplains, and Healing the Whole Person' which explores the crucial role of chaplains in providing spiritual, existential, and emotional support to patients and their families during end-of-life care. He shares personal stor...
Jan 12, 2025•34 min•Season 7Ep. 131
130 Understanding Give a Mile and the Power of Final Reunions In episode 130 of Hospice Explained, host Marie Betcher, RN, replays a previous interview with Alison Potter, RN, a palliative care nurse and volunteer at Give a Mile. Alison shares poignant stories and details about the nonprofit organization, which provides free flights to family members wanting to visit loved ones receiving end-of-life care, leveraging billions of unused flight loyalty points. Discussing the importance of family pr...
Jan 05, 2025•31 min•Season 7Ep. 130
129 Reflecting on End-of-Life Experiences and Looking Forward to 2025 In episode 129 of 'Hospice Explained,' host Marie Betcher, RN, reflects on past guests and her personal experiences with loved ones' end-of-life journeys. As the year 2024 comes to a close, Marie expresses gratitude for her audience and guests, and shares touching memories of her late family members. She opens up about the importance of appreciating life's small moments and encourages listeners to share their own stories to su...
Dec 29, 2024•4 min•Season 7Ep. 129
128 Fall Prevention Strategies for the Elderly: Insights from Hospice Explained Fall Prevention Strategies for the Elderly: Insights from Hospice Explained In episode 128 of Hospice Explained, host Marie Betcher, RN, discusses crucial fall prevention strategies for the elderly. She shares a personal experience with falling and highlights various factors contributing to falls, including age, medication, environmental hazards, and pride. Marie emphasizes the importance of clear walking spaces, pro...
Dec 22, 2024•10 min•Season 7Ep. 128
127 In this episode of 'Hospice Explained,' host Marie Betcher RN discusses end-of-life care and comprehensive advanced care planning with Dr. Josh Lowentritt, a seasoned nephrologist. They delve into the significance of having hard conversations about patient care preferences, the development of advanced care planning programs with Aledade, and real-life stories demonstrating the impact of these important discussions. 00:00 Introduction to Episode 127 00:29 Meet Dr. Josh Lowentritt 03:10 Aledad...
Dec 15, 2024•29 min•Season 7Ep. 127
Understanding Caregiver Stress and the Importance of Self-Care In Episode 126 of Hospice Explained, host Marie Betcher RN discusses the critical challenges and emotional toll faced by caregivers, especially during busy times like December. She elaborates on the symptoms of caregiver stress burnout, citing a definition from the Cleveland Clinic, and emphasizes the importance of self-care for caregivers. Practical advice is offered on how friends and family can support caregivers, including visiti...
Dec 08, 2024•6 min•Season 7Ep. 126
