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You know you should talk to your family about your end-of-life wishes, funeral preferences, or what happens after you're gone—but every time you try to bring it up, the conversation dies before it starts.

It's not that they don't care—it's that no one taught us how to do this without it feeling morbid, uncomfortable, or like we're ruining our time together.

We've been conditioned to avoid these conversations until there's a crisis, so when someone brings them up out of nowhere, they feel heavy and scary.

But when you approach it differently—casually, early, and with intention—it stops being this "big death talk" and becomes just another important conversation, like planning a trip or talking about money.

The discomfort shrinks when you remove the urgency and the secrecy.

In this episode, we'll cover three things:
- How to start a conversation about death naturally – the exact prompts and moments that can make it easy
- What to actually say when people shut down – how to handle resistance with compassion and gentleness.
- How to keep the conversation going over time – why one talk isn't enough, and how to make it ongoing - keeping the conversation going helps to normalize and destigmatize it. And that is our mission here.

By the end of this episode, you'll have a handful of simple, tested approaches that take the weight off these conversations—and maybe even make them something your family actually thanks you for starting.

Because the truth is, the people who love you want to know what matters to you. They just need permission to talk about it.

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And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

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In this new current events episode from End of Life Conversations, the hosts discuss the pervasive theme of grief in contemporary society, particularly focusing on state-induced grief and the loss of connection within communities. They explore the importance of acknowledging collective mourning, the unseen deaths that affect marginalized communities, and the erosion of trust in societal structures. The conversation emphasizes the need for rituals, community support, and finding purpose through service to navigate grief and foster connection.

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You can find us on SubStack, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one on one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.

And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

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What does it take for a woman to work and thrive as a funeral director? How difficult is it to work in what has long been a male-dominated profession? Are things changing in the funeral industry now that more women are joining the profession?
In this episode, Rev Wakil and Rev Annalouiza speak with Lisa Baue, a third-generation funeral director and founder of Your Funeral Coach. They discuss Lisa's journey in the funeral industry, the impact of death on personal identity, the importance of women in leadership roles within the profession, and the significance of dealing with one's own grief and mourning while supporting others. Lisa shares insights on pre-planning funerals, the challenges faced in the funeral profession, and the future of funeral services with more young female professionals. She shares insights into how these roles, like ministry, often require unpredictable schedules and nights on call, which can impact personal well-being. We explore strategies for professional development and career guidance, emphasizing the importance of support for career women in the funeral industry.

Learn more or purchase her book here: Wake-Up Calls by Lisa Baue.

Funeral Women Lead Foundation

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Subscribers will have access to premium content, special online meet-ups, and subscriber chats.

Support the show

You can find us on SubStack, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one on one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.

And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

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You can view this as a video on YouTube! We encourage you to do so and to like and subscribe to our channel. And it really helps our statistics if you listen all the way to the end.

In this engaging conversation, Andee Kinzy, creator of the Kicking the Bucket podcast, discusses the importance of addressing caregiving and end-of-life topics through humor and storytelling. The podcast aims to empower families to have difficult conversations about death, using fiction as a tool to facilitate these discussions. Kinsey shares her personal experiences with death, the creative process behind the podcast, and the challenges of engaging audiences in serious topics. The conversation highlights the significance of community engagement through listening clubs and the role of humor in navigating the complexities of death.

Special early access for End of Life Conversations with Annalouiza and Wakil listeners!
While Kicking the Bucket makes its way through the festival circuit, you get exclusive early access before the public release.
Unlock it here: https://improvedarts.org/kickingthebucketpodcast
Access Code: KTBPODEOLCON

• Website: https://improvedarts.org/kickingthebucketpodcast
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kickingthebucketpodcast
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kickingthebucketpodcast
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kickingthebucketpodcast
• LinkedIn (Podcast Page): https://www.linkedin.com/company/kicking-the-bucket-podcast
• LinkedIn (Andee Kinzy): https://www.linkedin.com/in/andeekinzy

Support the show

You can find us on SubStack, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one on one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.

And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

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You can view this as a video on YouTube! We encourage you to do so and to like and subscribe to our channel. And it really helps our statistics if you listen all the way to the end.

In this conversation, we speak with Cobie Whitten, a psycho-oncology consultant, about her experiences with death, the importance of emotional, psychological, and spiritual support for cancer patients and their caregivers. We explore the distinct difference between healing and cure, noting that they are not interchangeable. Cobie shares her profound experiences facilitating Harmony Retreats, describing it as the most significant healing journey imaginable, emphasising how a wellness retreat can foster personal growth and contribute positively to mental health, highlighting that true healing goes beyond mere physical recovery.

We discuss the need for open conversations about death and dying. The dialogue emphasises the importance of quality of life, self-care, and living authentically in the face of terminal illness.

Please take a few moments to fill out our audience survey.

Harmony Hill Retreats

Book - Talking About Death Won't Kill You

Author Irvin Yalom's Website

Support the show

You can find us on SubStack, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one on one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.

And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

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You can view this as a video on YouTube! We encourage you to do so and to like and subscribe to our channel. And it really helps our statistics if you listen all the way to the end.

In this conversation, we engage with David Zartman and Joanna Franco from Caring House, a nonprofit hospice care facility. We discuss Caring House's mission, which focuses on providing compassionate end-of-life care to underserved communities. We explore the importance of hospice care at home and discuss valuable caregiver advice for those supporting individuals at the end of life. The conversation highlights the significance of dignified care at the end of life.
We explore the critical need for hospice care at home and offer valuable caregiver advice for those supporting loved ones. The discussion emphasizes dignified end-of-life experiences, ensuring comfort and respect during this sensitive time.

Caring House Website

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Support the show

You can find us on SubStack, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one on one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.

And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

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In this conversation, we discuss Ann Thompson's The End-of-Life Caregivers' Pocket Guide. This practical book condenses a lot of information and offers valuable tips. We include personal anecdotes and storytelling elements to foster engagement and help people realize they are not alone in their experiences. This approach effectively combines practical advice with relatable narratives, enhancing communication skills.

We discuss the importance of community support during the dying process, the role of hospice and palliative care, and the significance of Reiki in providing comfort to both caregivers and those who are dying. Anne shares her personal journey and insights into the challenges faced by caregivers, as well as different cultural perspectives on caregiving. The conversation emphasizes the need for open discussions about death and the resources available to support individuals and families during this difficult time.

Videos with poetry from Ann Thompson (USA)

Support the show

You can find us on SubStack, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one on one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.

And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

Send us a text

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You can now view this episode on YouTube! Please do so, like, and subscribe. And, it really helps our statistics if you listen all the way to the end, where we include a bonus conversation!

In this conversation, Asher Smith discusses their journey as a queer farmer and artist, exploring themes of ecological consciousness, grief, and the role of art in addressing environmental issues. They reflect on their master's thesis on the American chestnut, a species that symbolizes loss and hope amid biodiversity decline. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of community engagement, Indigenous perspectives, and finding joy in nature as a means of coping with ecological despair.

Asher's Thesis

Support the show

You can find us on SubStack, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one on one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.

And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.