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Learn about an innovative program to provide end-of-life care to people living on the streets and in shelters in Toronto. My guest Dr. Naheed Dosani is the founder of PEACH, a mobile outreach program that provides palliative care to the homeless on the streets and in the shelters of Toronto. His model led to the development of Journey Home Hospice, Toronto’s first hospice for the homeless, which opened in May 2018. He’ll share how and why he started PEACH and inspire all of us to be more aware of and active in dealing with the issues of homelessness and health inequities in our communities. Learn more about PEACH at this webpage: http://www.icha-toronto.ca/peach-covid-19-palliative-care-resources-for-physicians-and-frontline-workers Follow Dr. Dosani: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naheedd/Twitter: https://twitter.com/NaheedDTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.naheeddClubhouse: @naheedd Listen here: This episode includes: What inspired Naheed to create a palliative care program for homeless peopleHow PEACH functions and provides care for patients on the streets and in sheltersWhy there is a great need for palliative care for the homeless populationHealth issues faced by homeless people and their shockingly low life expectancyHow to replicate PEACH in other cities and countriesTrauma-informed care and why it is needed for all patients, including those who are homelessWhy we need systemic change in medicine to provide more equitable care to all peopleDealing with grief, compassion fatigue and moral injury for healthcare providersWhy we’re facing a global pandemic of grief due to COVID-19 Links mentioned in this episode: Register here for Laughter Yoga Webinar (now scheduled for March 10, 2121; get the replay if you can’t attend live)Canadian Grief AllianceSign up for the 2021 online reading group A Year of Reading Dangerously at this linkSupport your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to SoulSubscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher RadioCheck out the Series I’ve recorded in the past hereJoin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it). PLUS get our new bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, movie reviews from 2 Doctors and a Movie, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! 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!

Learn how writing poetry helped Bruce express his grief and find a connection with others. My guest Bruce Sterling is a writer and poet who earned a degree in psychology and worked in the technology sector for decades. As he compiled his first book of poetry he recognized that a significant number of his verses focused on his grief after the death of both of his parents in a tragic auto accident. Because these poems seem to touch others deeply as well he has published his first poetry book Not Enough: Musings on Grief and is currently writing a second book Stories of Grief and Hope. In this conversation he talks about grief, poetry, lessons learned and connecting with others through our shared experiences of pain. Learn more at Bruce’s website: www.brucesterlingllc.com Listen here: This episode includes: Bruce’s journey of grief and poetryHow the organization of his poetry book reflects his personal process with griefAfter a sudden traumatic death, shock happens first, grief begins laterHow Bruce’s process for writing poems includes surrenderWhy poetry is a good medium for expressing the pain of griefGrief as a tool for acknowledging previously repressed emotionsHow poetry makes space for the mystery and the unknown “It wasn’t my parents’ death, but the miracles that came next, that took tragedy and loss and turned it heavenward. I can’t look at all these gifts and synchronicities and think that life is anything less than miraculous; tragic, certainly; wondrous, at times; meaningful, hopefully; but miraculous, even when we’re not looking.”Bruce Sterling – Stories of Grief and Hope Links mentioned in this episode: February VigilBook: Not Enough: Musings on Grief Register here for Laughter Yoga Webinar (now scheduled for March 10, 2121; get the replay if you can’t attend live)Sign up for the 2021 online reading group A Year of Reading Dangerously at this linkSupport your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to SoulSubscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher RadioCheck out the Series I’ve recorded in the past hereJoin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it). PLUS get our new bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, movie reviews from 2 Doctors and a Movie, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! 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!

Learn how a former Buddhist nun brought her gentle, compassionate approach to hospice chaplaincy. My guest Tenzin Kiyosaki has been a certified interfaith hospice chaplain for the past 13 years. She also practiced as a Buddhist nun for 27 years after being ordained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and brings an Eastern perspective to her hospice work. She is the author of the book The Three Regrets: Inspirational Stories of Love and Forgiveness at Life’s End and shares the spiritual wisdom she gathered from her work with dying patients. Get the book here. Listen here: This episode includes: How Tenzin was inspired to become a hospice chaplainWhat Tenzin learned from her Buddhist studies about the end of lifeWhat hospice work is always an ongoing learning experienceHow Western culture avoids the subject of death while Eastern cultures embrace itThe failure of Western medicine to accept impermanenceWhat led Tenzin to return her vows and become a lay person once againThe role of a chaplain in hospice to find the “heart” of each patientDo chaplains and hospice need different titles to overcome bias in our society?How to help patients who regret a lack of accomplishment in lifeHelping patients who have not shared enough love during their livesWhy regret at the end of life is actually a good signA Buddhist perspective on medical aid in dying Links included in this episode: Register here for Laughter Yoga Webinar (and get the replay if you can’t attend live)Sign up for the 2021 online reading group A Year of Reading Dangerously at this linkSupport your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to SoulSubscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher RadioCheck out the Series I’ve recorded in the past hereJoin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it). PLUS get our new bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, movie reviews from 2 Doctors and a Movie, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! 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!

On the ninth of each month we have been called to hold space in our communities on life, death and transformation by ObservetheNinth.org. Today’s vigil will hold space for the we have been carrying for the past year and help us explore it for the hidden blessings it contains. May it bring you peace and comfort. Vigil for Exploring Our Grief VIGIL-Script-February-2021Download Miracles Abide There by Bruce Sterling  (from Not Enough: Musings on Grief)   We each have loss none escape it.  Grief, the healing process that reintegrates feelings and thoughts, desires and regrets, the past and no future.  Through life, through living we choose the palate but never the timing,  the circumstances or the outcome.  So there it is, shock then sadness, later reality, an unreal reality the likes of which you've never experienced.  Like taffy you're pulled into shapes that leave you in a state from which you can never return.    Like flying in the clouds you can't tell which end is up even when firmly planted in your seat.  Like walking the streets on Christmas morning when gifts are exchanged and no one’s outside.  Like you've walked into the emotional post-apocalypse.  Like love has filled your heart but the drain plug is three times the size it should be, and the vacuum left collapses everything  that made sense, everything that gave you substance, everything.  Grief, the humanizing, humbling shape-shifter that tears the fabric of you and explodes your heart into newer dimensions you didn't realize you signed up for.  I don't wish the pain on anybody I just know the value of the outcome. Miracles abide there, if you can just see. 

Learn about the power of laughter to reverse the effects of stress, improve our health and prevent burnout. My guest Janet Carroll has had a dual career with 48 years in nursing and 35 years as a massage therapist, which have given her not only decades of experience in health services, but also a special insight into wellbeing. She is also a certified Laughter Yoga Leader and Instructor and will share today how laughter can help us improve our health, prevent burnout, and find deeper joy in life. In addition, I will be hosting a free experiential webinar with Janet on Laughter Yoga on February 17th! Learn more about her work at her website: www.janetcarrollrn.com Janet-Carroll-4-slide-presentation-1Download Register for the FREE webinar here! Listen here: This episode includes: What exactly is laughterWhy you don’t have to be happy in order to laughThe history of Laughter YogaThe catastrophic effects of stress on the body and how laughter counteracts themThe benefits of laughter for individuals and groupsHow Laughter Yoga can help prevent burnoutWhy it’s better to laugh out loud than to laugh internallyWhat you’ll learn at the upcoming FREE webinar with Janet Links mentioned in this episode: Register for the webinar on February 17th, 4 pm Pacific/7 pm Eastern here; you’ll receive the replay if you can’t attend liveBuddha on the Train video: https://youtu.be/Lakg26y2nhgBook: Anatomy of an Illness: As Perceived by the Patient by Norman CousinsHeartmath Institute: https://www.heartmath.orgSign up for the 2021 online reading group A Year of Reading Dangerously at this linkSupport your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to SoulSubscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher RadioCheck out the Series I’ve recorded in the past hereJoin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it). PLUS get our new bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, movie reviews from 2 Doctors and a Movie, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! 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 Jen Davidson, Alissa Silva and Brittany J. Ellis! Your contributions make all the difference!

Learn what the Hero’s Journey can teach us about the dying process and how to support someone on that journey. In this solo episode I share some thoughts about the archetypal Hero’s Journey, conceived by Joseph Campbell as a template for the transformative experiences of our own lives and those who are facing the end of life. Each of us has the opportunity to be a mentor for someone who is going through the ordeal of their own hero’s journey and this model can help us understand how to offer support and what is needed from us. Download a one page handout at the link below: Heros-JourneyDownload Listen here: This episode includes: Why the archetypal Hero’s Journey applies to people at the end of lifeWhy things generally have to fall apart before transformation can occurHow dissolution of life’s equilibrium can lead to either transformation or regressionThe importance of a mentor for people experiencing the sacred end-of-life journeyThe most important tasks of the end-of-life hero’s journeyReframing SufferingStrengthening ConnectionsFinding MeaningFacing Fear of DeathHow unaddressed shadow issues can sabotage transformation at the end of lifeThe benefits of stories as tools for a mentorHow to utilize stories to assist with transformation Links mentioned in this episode: Sign up for the 2021 online reading group A Year of Reading Dangerously at this linkSupport your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to SoulSubscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher RadioCheck out the Series I’ve recorded in the past hereJoin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it). PLUS get our new bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, movie reviews from 2 Doctors and a Movie, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! 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!

Learn about video advance directives and how to get involved in this game-changing innovation for the future of advance care planning. In this episode I host three guests – Patty Burgess, Dr. Fred Mirarchi, and Sheila Schultz – who have partnered together to create MIDEO University, the only organization to train and certify Advance Care Planning Educators (ACPE’s) in every community. They share how MIDEO’s video advance directives are revolutionizing end-of-life and emergency care in hospitals and how they are training doulas, advance care planners and other healthcare professionals to become paid educators using the MIDEO approach. Learn more at their website: www.YourVoiceDirectives.com Listen here: This episode includes: What MIDEO is and why Dr. Mirarchi was inspired to create a video advance directiveHow Patty and Sheila became inspired to partner with Dr. Mirarchi to create an educational program for end-of-life doulas and other healthcare professionalsHow MIDEO works and what differentiates it from other advance directivesHow certification as an ACPE can benefit an end-of-life doula professionallyWhy advance care planning should not focus solely on end-of-life scenariosWhy video directives are important during this time of the COVID pandemicHow an ACPE can benefit primary care health providers in their work with patientsHow to participate in MIDEO University and become certified as an ACPE Links mentioned in this episode: Previous interview with Dr. Mirarchi: Episode 249 and EOLU 2017Sign up to get more information about MIDEO University (next class starts in mid-February 2021)Webinars:Webinar One -January 27th at 3:00 PM EASTERN – DYING TO BE HEARD:  Medical “Stranger-Danger” and the Pitfalls of Traditional Advance Care PlanningWebinar Two – February 3rd at 3:00 PM EASTERN – LEAD THE CHARGE: A Radical New Approach to Advance Care Planning – Step on a Path with Purpose AND ProfitLearn more about MIDEO hereSign up for the 2021 online reading group A Year of Reading Dangerously at this linkSupport your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to SoulSubscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher RadioCheck out the Series I’ve recorded in the past hereJoin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it). PLUS get our new bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, movie reviews from 2 Doctors and a Movie, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! 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!

Listen as Rabbi Steve Leder shares the wisdom learned through caring for the spiritual needs of his temple members at the end of life. My guest Rabbi Steve Leder is the senior rabbi of Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles and the author of several books including the recently released The Beauty of What Remains: How Our Greatest Fear Becomes Our Greatest Gift. His beautifully-written book is based upon his experience providing spiritual care to thousands of temple members and their families as they faced the end of life. Interwoven with dozens of stories he learned as “Rabbi Steve” are the personal stories of “Son Steve”, navigating his father’s illness and eventual death from Alzheimer’s dementia. We share a deep and thoughtful conversation about the challenges of facing death and the beautiful life lessons it teaches us. Learn more about Rabbi Steve’s work at his website: www.SteveLeder.com Get the book on Bookshop or Amazon Listen here: This episode includes: What inspired Rabbi Steve to write this bookThe meaning of the title “The Beauty of What Remains”Advice for how to “show up” for the dyingDealing with the character flaws and secrets of the deceased when writing a eulogyThe need for greater honesty and authenticity when being with the dyingWhy we can’t understand deep grief until we experience it ourselvesWhy funerals during COVID may actually be more meaningful than beforeHow the dead speak to us through our memoriesWhy we must focus on “being a good ancestor” to those who will follow us “Dying makes perfect sense to the dying, just not to the living; the same way that breathing underwater makes perfect sense to the fish but not to us.”Rabbi Steve Leder Links mentioned in this episode: Get The Beauty of What Remains hereCheck out “10 Days to Activate Revolutionary Love” hereSign up for the 2021 online reading group A Year of Reading Dangerously at this linkSupport your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to SoulSubscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher RadioCheck out the Series I’ve recorded in the past hereJoin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it). PLUS get our new bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, movie reviews from 2 Doctors and a Movie, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! 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 supporter S. Robertson! Your contributions make all the difference!

Learn about a book of simple wisdom and tools for grief that can change your entire day. My guest Shelby Forsythia is an author and podcast host who shares a combination of practical tools and intuitive guidance to help grieving people find peace of mind after devastating loss. She discusses her latest book Your Grief, Your Way which provides brief inspirational passages for each day of the year to support the grieving process for anyone who is dealing with loss. This is just the book we all need in 2021! Learn more about her work, podcasts and books at her website: www.shelbyforsythia.com Get the book on Bookshop or Amazon Listen here: This episode includes: Shelby’s personal journey with griefHow grief is universal but also unique to each personWhat inspired her to write Your Grief, Your Way as a daily guideWhy we can’t find meaning in grief until we are looking back at it from a later time in lifeWhy the whole world needs to do some grief work right now in 2021Some practical and simple tools from the book to get through the dayWhy we need to share the story of our grief over and over and how the story changes with timeHow Shelby has stayed in touch with her Mom after her death Links mentioned in this episode: Vigil for Transforming AngerGet Your Grief, Your Way hereFinding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief by David KesslerI Hear You by Michael SorensonThere is No Good Card for This by Kelsey Crowe PhD and Emily McDowellConnect with Molly Clark’s Hiking Women in Training on FacebookConnect with Fr. Richard Rohr’s Center for Action and Contemplation hereSign up for the 2021 online reading group A Year of Reading Dangerously at this link TonglenDownload 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 SoulSubscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher RadioCheck out the Series I’ve recorded in the past hereJoin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it). PLUS get our new bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, movie reviews from 2 Doctors and a Movie, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! 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!

On the ninth of each month we have been called to hold space in our communities on life, death and transformation by ObservetheNinth.org. Today’s vigil will hold space for the rightful anger we are all dealing with right now and help us transform it to power. May it bring you peace and comfort. Vigil for Transforming Anger VIGIL-Script-January-2021Download Anger is the deepest form of compassion, for another, for the world, for the self, for a life, for the body, for a family and for all our ideals, all vulnerable and all, possibly about to be hurt. Stripped of physical imprisonment and violent reaction, anger is the purest form of care, the internal living flame of anger always illuminates what we belong to, what we wish to protect and what we are willing to hazard ourselves for … What we name as anger is actually only the incoherent physical incapacity to sustain this deep form of care in our outer daily life; the unwillingness to be large enough and generous enough to hold what we love helplessly in our bodies or our mind with the clarity and breadth of our whole being.”David Whyte

Learn how we can help humanity and the planet get through a challenging new year. In this solo episode I share a discussion about what we can and should bring to the world this year as death-aware, death-positive individuals. During the past year the world has been turned upside down with the global pandemic, economic downturn, systemic racism, and climate change. As we begin this new year we are still suffering but we are better prepared for the changes that are happening and the world needs us to get through these difficult days. Listen here: This episode includes: Many people in our society are dealing with despair, depression, anxiety and shock after being exposed to the reality of our fragile existence here. Those of us who are comfortable with death need to step up to help others cope with changeThe world needs from us:CalmnessCreativityBalanceCollaborationIntegrityPresenceWe need a non-dual approach to overcome the polarization of our society Links mentioned in this episode: The Conference on Death and Bereavement Studies: A Professional Development Symposium – January 10, 2021 Learn more hereSpiritual Journeys in Chronic Illness Course – with Terri Daniels – starts January 7th Learn more hereSign up for the 2021 online reading group A Year of Reading Dangerously at this linkSupport you local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to SoulSubscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher RadioCheck out the Series I’ve recorded in the past hereJoin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it). PLUS get our new bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, movie reviews from 2 Doctors and a Movie, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! 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 supporter Delores Hammons! Your contributions make all the difference!

One of the most challenging years of our lives is drawing to a close and it’s time to honor all of the grief we have experienced. In this final episode of 2020 I share some poems and verses that have helped me give words to the grief I’ve experienced this year. It’s important to grieve what has been lost before we move on to setting goals and making plans for next year so this final week of 2020 is the perfect time to “be” with our grief. Wishing you a blessed ending to this year and a hopeful and meaningful beginning of the new one! Listen here: This episode includes: Why we need to make a place for our griefPoem: Talking to Grief by Denise LevertovWhy we cannot understand our own grief when we are in the middle of itQuote from Morihei UeshibaHow a non-dual perspective of grief helps us eventually find our own answers within rather than outside of ourselvesVerse by Lao TzuLearn to just “be” in grief rather than “doing” griefPoem: Inukshuk by Rob JacquesFinding grace in little reminders that others have also traveled this road of griefPrayer by Molly Fumia This is the miracle you already have … and always ask for … in your moments of forgetful suffering. Links mentioned in this episode: Episode 267: Holding All the Joy and All the Sorrow The Conference on Death and Bereavement Studies: A Professional Development Symposium – January 10, 2021 Learn more hereSpiritual Journeys in Chronic Illness Course – with Terri Daniels – starts January 7th Learn more hereSign up for the 2021 online reading group A Year of Reading Dangerously at this linkSupport you local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to SoulSubscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher RadioCheck out the Series I’ve recorded in the past hereJoin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it). PLUS get our new bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, movie reviews from 2 Doctors and a Movie, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! 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!

Learn why the suffering we have endured in 2020 might be the prelude to growth and transformation in the future. Today I’m sharing with you an interview from the Good Grief Radio Show where host Cheryl Jones talked to me about my new book The Journey from Ego to Soul. We have a wonderful conversation discussing the transformation that is possible after everything falls apart in life and the lessons that we can learn when we make this inward, spiritual journey. Check out Cheryl’s radio show at the link: Good Grief Radio Get The Journey from Ego to Soul here Listen here: This episode includes: Why 2020 is a ripe time for self-exploration and growthWhy we can’t skip over the suffering of lifeWe can’t “fix” other people – we can only support their journeyThe challenge of COVID is to learn to share love when we can’t be in the same physical spaceGalaxy view of life vs Garden viewWe have to love ourselves first before we find a healthy partnerWhen we are unable to forgive we keep our energy tied up in the pastBeing fully present allows us to find our “purpose” more easilyWhy it’s important to learn how to surrender to what life is bringing usEnjoy each moment because nothing lasts and everything changesPoem by Maria Eugenia Vaz Ferreira Links mentioned in this episode: The Conference on Death and Bereavement Studies: A Professional Development Symposium – January 10, 2021 Learn more hereSpiritual Journeys in Chronic Illness Course – with Terri Daniels – starts January 7th Learn more hereSign up for the 2021 online reading group A Year of Reading Dangerously at this linkSupport you local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to SoulSubscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher RadioCheck out the Series I’ve recorded in the past hereJoin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it). PLUS get our new bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, movie reviews from 2 Doctors and a Movie, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! 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 supporter Jen! Your contributions make all the difference!

Learn how a long journey through cancer prepared Anna to be a hospice volunteer and inspired her spiritual growth. My guest Anna Byrne holds a combined degree in Psychology and Gerontology, is a certified teacher, and has been a coordinator for a hospice society in British Columbia. She survived 4 cancer diagnoses in her 30’s and then worked as a volunteer for an elderly hospice patient throughout one entire summer. She is the author of the book Seven Year Summer which tells the story of her own journey through cancer and her days of sitting at Eleanor’s bedside, discussing life and the approach of death. Learn more at her website: https://annabyrne2.wixsite.com/mysite Get the book here Listen here: This episode includes: How Anna’s perspective on cancer changed throughout her 4 diagnosesThe “hero’s journey” of cancer treatment and how it fell apart for AnnaThe spiritual tools and support that helped Anna navigate her illness and lossesThe use of “battle” metaphors in medicine and how they cause harmThe difference between curing and healingHow Anna’s suffering prepared her to be a hospice volunteer for EleanorThe difference between chronos and kairos timeHow caregivers can better support patients who are facing the end of lifeHow writing the book helped Anna heal some of the trauma of her cancer journey Links mentioned in this episode: The Conference on Death and Bereavement Studies: A Professional Development Symposium – January 10, 2021 Learn more hereSpiritual Journeys in Chronic Illness Course – with Terri Daniels – starts January 7th Learn more hereSign up for the 2021 online reading group A Year of Reading Dangerously at this linkSupport you local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to SoulSubscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher RadioCheck out the Series I’ve recorded in the past hereJoin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it). PLUS get our new bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, movie reviews from 2 Doctors and a Movie, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! 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!

On the ninth of each month we have been called to hold space in our communities on life, death and transformation by ObservetheNinth.org. Today’s vigil will hold space for love and compassion for all who are oppressed by systemic injustice and by the weight of grief and fear. May it bring you peace and comfort. Vigil for Those Who Are Oppressed VIGIL-Script-December-2020Download Rainer Maria Rilke, Sonnets to Orpheus II, 29 Quiet friend who has come so far, feel how your breathing makes more space around you. Let this darkness be a bell tower and you the bell. As you ring, what batters you becomes your strength. Move back and forth into the change. What is it like, such intensity of pain? If the drink is bitter, turn yourself to wine. In this uncontainable night, be the mystery at the crossroads of your senses, the meaning discovered there. And if the world has ceased to hear you, say to the silent earth: I flow. To the rushing water, speak: I am.

Learn why this is the perfect month to practice generosity in its many forms. In this solo episode I challenge you to join me in a month of giving as we explore the benefits of generosity to ourselves and others. Now more than ever we need to be willing to give to one another as we celebrate the coming holidays. Download the handout for this episode below: A-Month-of-GivingDownload Listen here: This episode includes: Health benefits of generosityHow giving to others creates greater happinessWhy we need generosity as this year of the pandemic comes to a closeHow our brains are wired for generosityWhy generosity is contagiousHow generosity stimulates the caregiving part of the brainThe 4-week “giving” challenge for the month of December When Giving is All We Have by Alberto Rios                                                 One river gives                                               Its journey to the next. We give because someone gave to us. We give because nobody gave to us. We give because giving has changed us. We give because giving could have changed us. We have been better for it, We have been wounded by it— Giving has many faces: It is loud and quiet, Big, though small, diamond in wood-nails. Its story is old, the plot worn and the pages too, But we read this book, anyway, over and again: Giving is, first and every time, hand to hand, Mine to yours, yours to mine. You gave me blue and I gave you yellow. Together we are simple green. You gave me What you did not have, and I gave you What I had to give—together, we made Something greater from the difference. Links mentioned in this episode: Sign up for the 2021 online reading group A Year of Reading Dangerously at this linkSupport you local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to SoulGreater Good Science Center White Paper on GenerosityDavid Roland interview – Episode 272Leave Your Light On – Episode 266 Subscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher RadioCheck out the Series I’ve recorded in the past hereJoin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it). PLUS get our new bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, movie reviews from 2 Doctors and a Movie, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! 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 supporter John Kuntz! Your contributions make all the difference!

Learn how and why we need to train many more family and paid caregivers to meet the needs of our aging population, especially during COVID-19. My guest Roz Jones is the founder of Jacksonville’s Best Caregivers, an organization in Jacksonville FL that provides short and long term caregivers for facilities and families. She is also an author, speaker, crisis counselor and caregiver coach who trains new caregivers and their family members to offer care at home to their ill loved ones. Learn more about her work at her website: www.thecaregivercafe.net Listen here: This episode includes: Top 6 things brand new caregivers need to learn before they start caring for a loved oneHow caregiving has changed during COVID-19What precautions family caregivers should take to keep their loved one safe from COVID-19Why setting clear boundaries is one of the most important tips for caregivers to avoid burnoutHow to have productive conversations with ill loved ones about difficult subjects like advance directives, financial issues, loss of independence, end of lifeWhy “Loneliness Kills” the elderly, how COVID-19 has made it worse, and how to helpSelf-care tips for caregiversHow to train with Roz to be a well-informed and effective family caregiver Links mentioned in this episode: Sign up for the 2021 online reading group A Year of Reading Dangerously at this linkSupport you local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to SoulClick here to set up a consultation with Roz: bit.ly/speakwithrozView Roz’ YouTube channel: Jacksonville’s Best Caregivers Subscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher RadioCheck out the Series I’ve recorded in the past hereJoin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it). PLUS get our new bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, movie reviews from 2 Doctors and a Movie, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! 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 supporter Jaime Byrne and renewing supporter Nancy Walker! Your contributions make all the difference!

For this Thanksgiving holiday enjoy a brief story about Grace and how it meets us where we are! Listen here: The Little Moments of Grace Featured Poem: Being Home by Gunilla Norris Many times today I will cross over a threshold.  I hope I will catch a few of those times. I need to remember that my life is, in fact, a continuous series of thresholds:  from one moment to the next, from one thought to the next, from one action to the next. Help me appreciate how awesome this is.  How many are the chances to be really alive.  Help me cross into the present moment – into wonder, into Your grace:  the “now-place,” where we all are, unfolding moment by moment. 

Learn some practical ideas for self-care and creative ways to find meaning in the holidays during this stressful time of COVID-19. In this solo episode I share some thoughts about we need to care for ourselves to prevent burnout during this holiday season and some ideas for reimagining our celebrations as we cope with COVID-19. Find some inspiration for your holidays and tips for staying energized and positive during the coming months. Get the handout mentioned in the podcast at the link below: Quick-Tips-for-SelfCareDownload Listen here: This episode includes: Why self-care is important now and during the holidaysWhat aspects of the holidays people find most meaningful (in surveys)Sources of stress during holiday timesHow holiday joys can become stresses if there is no balanceHow COVID-19 is changing what is possible this year for celebrations and why this could be an opportunity to rethink the holidaysFinding new ways to be “together” during the holidaysNew creative ideas for gift-giving when finances are limitedTips for self-care and for re-energizing during stressful times Links mentioned in this episode: Support you 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 RadioCheck out the Series I’ve recorded in the past hereJoin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it). PLUS get our new bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, movie reviews from 2 Doctors and a Movie, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! 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!

Learn about new research using psychedelic medications to help patients at the end of life with depression and anxiety. My guest Dr. Ira Byock is a leading palliative care physician, author and public advocate for improving care through the end of life. In this discussion he shares important information about psychedelic medications and the benefits they offer to patients at the end of life. There is current research available that shows the value of these medications especially for patients with depression, anxiety and loss of meaning who experience a profound reframing of life. Learn more about Dr. Byock’s work at his website: www.irabyock.org Listen here: This episode includes: How Dr. Byock got interested in studying psychedelic medications for palliative and hospice patientsWhat new research is revealing about the benefits of psychedelics for various medical conditionsHow psychedelics have been shown to be helpful with depression, anxiety and demoralization syndromeThe dangers of recreational use of psychedelics vs. controlled therapeutic useWhat a “psychedelic assisted therapeutic experience” consists ofHow a psychedelic experience can rewrite the brain’s “default mode network”The need for further research on these medications Links mentioned in this episode: Get my new book The Journey from Ego to Soul: How to Transform Your Life When Everything Falls Apartebook: books2read.com/u/3GAMNOPrint book: Amazon  IndieboundAudiobook  Apple and moreListen to Love Over Fear stories hereNovember 9th Vigil recording here Taking Psychedelics Seriously – ArticleBook: How to Change Your Mind by Michael PollanCalifornia Institute of Integral StudiesWatch the interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fkaBt45dFr0 Subscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher RadioCheck out the Series I’ve recorded in the past hereJoin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it). PLUS get our new bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, movie reviews from 2 Doctors and a Movie, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously! 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!