Ask a Death Doula

In this episode, Suzanne O’Brien reflects on the first anniversary of The Good Death and the simple intention behind the book: to soften fear, open conversations, and remind us that death can be sacred and peaceful when we plan ahead. After hearing from caregivers, nurses, doctors, and families whose lives were changed by the book, Suzanne invites listeners to leave a heartfelt review—because reviews are how this message reaches people before crisis, supports overwhelmed caregivers, and helps families discover another way to walk the end-of-life journey.

 Join the upcoming FREE Doulagivers Level 1 End of Life Doula and Family Caregiver Training Webinar here

 Register to join us for FREE: THE GOOD DEATH BOOK CLUB EXPERIENCE: 12 MONTH FREE DEATH AND DYING COURSE

In this episode, Suzanne shares her guiding model, Serve & Assist, and why it’s essential for heart-centered death doulas and caregivers today. Learn how serving your community first—through education and presence—creates trust, impact, and a sustainable practice without pressure or hustle.

Suzanne explains why 80–90% of a positive end-of-life experience comes from planning ahead and how this work can bring both purpose and fulfillment.

If you want to make a real difference while staying in integrity with your heart, this episode is for you.

 Join the upcoming FREE Doulagivers Level 1 End of Life Doula and Family Caregiver Training Webinar here

 Register to join us for FREE: THE GOOD DEATH BOOK CLUB EXPERIENCE: 12 MONTH FREE DEATH AND DYING COURSE

Are Men and Veterans Being Left Alone in Grief and at the End of Life?

Or Are We Asking Them to Carry Their Pain in Silence?

There is a quiet truth in end-of-life care that is rarely spoken about: many men—and especially veterans—carry grief, trauma, and emotional pain without support. In this episode of Ask a Death Doula, Suzanne O’Brien, RN—founder of Doulagivers Institute—is joined by end-of-life doula Adam Daviau for an honest, compassionate conversation about grief, presence, and dignity at the end of life.

🔗 Connect with Adam Daviau:

 Join the upcoming FREE Doulagivers Level 1 End of Life Doula and Family Caregiver Training Webinar here

 Register to join us for FREE: THE GOOD DEATH BOOK CLUB EXPERIENCE: 12 MONTH FREE DEATH AND DYING COURSE

Is End-of-Life Pain Really Being Managed?

Or Are Families Being Asked to Do the Impossible Without Training?

There is a quiet truth in end-of-life care that many families discover too late: pain is often misunderstood, mismanaged, or missed entirely. In this episode of Ask a Death Doula, Suzanne O’Brien, RN—founder of Doulagivers Institute—speaks with honesty, clarity, and deep compassion about pain management at the end of life and what family caregivers truly need to know. This is not about blame. It is about education, empowerment, and dignity.

 Join the upcoming FREE Doulagivers Level 1 End of Life Doula and Family Caregiver Training Webinar here

 Register to join us for FREE: THE GOOD DEATH BOOK CLUB EXPERIENCE: 12 MONTH FREE DEATH AND DYING COURSE

In this episode of Ask a Death Doula, Suzanne O’Brien shares a heartfelt reflection on this moment in humanity—and a special announcement:

Doulagivers Life Café is now meeting weekly, live, free, and globally. Life Café was born during the COVID pandemic as a sanctuary when fear and isolation were overwhelming. Today, it returns weekly as a space to pause, breathe, and remember our shared humanity. This is not about doing more. It’s about being. And choosing love over fear.

🌍 In This Episode, You’ll Hear About:

• Why most end-of-life experiences are harder than they need to be

• How death becomes one of our greatest teachers about life

• The difference between human ego energy and being/heart energy

• How fear impacts the nervous system and keeps us disconnected

• Why Life Café was created—and why it’s now weekly

💛 The Heart of This Episode Every day, we are being asked to choose: love or fear. When we choose love, we come back into coherence—with ourselves, with others, and with life itself.

🗓️ LIFE CAFÉ (WEEKLY)

LINK HERE

Every Wednesday 12:00–1:00 PM Eastern Time

Live on Zoom | Free | Global

Life Café is a place to simply show up—in presence, compassion, and non-judgment. Each gathering closes with a global meditation and prayer, holding humanity and the Earth in love.

🧭 FREE GUIDE Universal Life Mastery (ULM) Guide What Suzanne has learned from end-of-life patients about how to live more fully.

👉 Download here: https://doulagivers.com/ulm-guide/

💬 QUESTION FOR YOU

Where in your life are you being invited to choose love over fear right now?

#AskADeathDoula #LifeCafe #Doulagivers #ChooseLove #EndOfLifeWisdom #ConsciousLiving #NervousSystem #Presence #LoveOverFear

As we close out 2025, Suzanne B. O’Brien, RN shares a heartfelt Year in Review for the Doulagivers Institute, reflecting on three extraordinary milestones that are helping transform end-of-life care around the world. This episode honors what’s possible when education, compassion, and community come together.

🌍 In This Episode, You’ll Hear About: • Expanding End-of-Life Education Worldwide In January 2025, the Doulagivers Level 1 End-of-Life Doula Training was expanded into 15 languages and offered completely free.

To date, more than 400,000 people in 36 countries have accessed this foundational caregiver education—returning a skill once passed down through generations. With 98% of hands-on end-of-life care provided by family caregivers, this training continues to fill one of the most critical gaps in modern healthcare.

A Book That Met the World Suzanne reflects on the release of The Good Death, launched March 18, 2025. Often described as “What to Expect When You’re Expecting—for the other end of life,” the book became an instant international bestseller and was named one of Library Journal’s Best Books of 2025. Now available in Spanish and distributed across Europe, China, and India, the book is helping families approach end-of-life with peace, clarity, and empowerment.

Compassion Made Tangible in Guatemala One of the most moving moments of the year was Suzanne’s return to Guatemala to witness the completed Elizabeth Kübler-Ross Respite House, which Doulagivers Institute helped fund. The respite house now provides a safe and dignified place for families traveling from the mountains to Guatemala City for medical care—families who previously slept on the streets while their loved ones were hospitalized. This story is a powerful reminder of what happens when compassion becomes action.

🎧 Listen, Reflect & Share This episode is a celebration of impact, gratitude, and the growing global movement to restore sacredness to both life and death.

🌟 Free Live Masterclass Invitation Jan. 1st at 7pm EST : CLICK HERE: https://suzannebobrienrn.com/masterclass  Continue the journey with Suzanne in this free live online masterclass:

In this episode, Suzanne O’Brien shares her inspiring journey from working as a nurse to becoming the founder of Doulagivers, an organization dedicated to providing free end-of-life care training to people around the world. Suzanne discusses her impactful work in countries like Guatemala and Thailand, where she has helped bring compassionate care and vital resources to communities in need. She emphasizes the belief that compassionate end-of-life care is a fundamental human right, and describes the ongoing global expansion of Doulagivers’ mission.

Suzanne highlights several recent milestones, including the successful completion of a much-needed respite house in Guatemala, which offers comfort and support to those facing end-of-life challenges. She also announces the launch of Spanish-language training programs to better serve diverse communities, and introduces the upcoming Life Café community initiative, designed to foster open conversations and support around end-of-life issues. Throughout the episode, Suzanne encourages listeners to choose love over fear, embrace conscious and intentional living, and become part of the growing movement to make compassionate, accessible end-of-life care available to all.

(00:01:20) Listening to Higher Self and Life Mastery

Links mentioned in this episode:

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Foundation

Fundación Elisabeth Kübler Ross Guatemala

Join the Life Cafe here

 Join the upcoming FREE Doulagivers Level 1 End of Life Doula and Family Caregiver Training Webinar here

 Register to join us for FREE: THE GOOD DEATH BOOK CLUB EXPERIENCE: 12 MONTH FREE DEATH AND DYING COURSE

#deathdoula #deathdoultraining #dyingwell #death #life #deatheducation #doulagivers #hospice #hospicecare #hospicenurse #deathdoula #soulmidwife #deathmidwife #endoflifeplanning #healthcareproxy #funerals #fearofdeath #endoflifedoula #thegooddeath #hospice #grief #deathawareness #birth #endoflife #deathpositivity #consciousdying #dying #advanceplanning #deathpositive #gooddeath #consciousliving #endoflifedirective #palliativecare #advancedirective #livefully #suzannebobrien. #lifecafe #consciousness #awarenes

THE GOOD DEATH VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR: Suzanne B. O'Brien RN in Conversation with Michelle Donaldson.

Michelle Donaldson, a certified end-of-life doula from Doulagivers Institute, joins this episode of "Ask a Death Doula" to share her profound insights into hospice care. Her journey from advanced EMT and pharmacy technician to end-of-life doula reflects her deep commitment to holistic, dignified support. Inspired by her own parents’ hospice experiences, she now works with a dedicated hospice team in Las Vegas to blend non-medical guidance with traditional care, creating a more personal and transformative experience for patients and their families.

Education and empathy shine throughout our conversation as Michelle highlights the gaps families often face within the hospice system. She emphasizes the importance of preparing and supporting family caregivers—those who carry much of the emotional and physical load. Through her compassionate training, real-life stories, and collaboration with the hospice team, Michelle helps families navigate end-of-life challenges with confidence, connection, and cultural sensitivity. Her work shows the invaluable impact doulas can have in turning overwhelming moments into peaceful, meaningful memories—and she invites anyone drawn to this mission to join the growing movement of compassionate end-of-life support.

(00:02) The Role of End-of-Life Doulas

 Join the upcoming FREE Doulagivers Level 1 End of Life Doula and Family Caregiver Training Webinar here

 Register to join us for FREE: THE GOOD DEATH BOOK CLUB EXPERIENCE: 12 MONTH FREE DEATH AND DYING COURSE

Meet our guest: Michelle Donaldson

Website: Open Arms Doula

#deathdoula #deathdoultraining #dyingwell #death #life #deatheducation #doulagivers #hospice #hospicecare #hospicenurse #deathdoula #soulmidwife #deathmidwife #endoflifeplanning #healthcareproxy #funerals #fearofdeath #endoflifedoula #thegooddeath #hospice #grief #deathawareness #birth #endoflife #deathpositivity #consciousdying #dying #advanceplanning #deathpositive #gooddeath #consciousliving #endoflifedirective #palliativecare #advancedirective #livefully #suzannebobrien. #lifecafe #consciousness #awarenes

What if the true measure of success isn't found in material achievements but in aligning with your heart's purpose and serving others with love? Join us for an enlightening journey as we challenge traditional notions of success, drawing wisdom from those nearing the end of life. We share the story of transitioning from the routine disillusionment of nursing to uncovering profound peace and purpose within hospice care. This transformation reveals how following one's intuition and making heart-guided choices leads to genuine fulfillment. Our gratitude extends to Success Magazine for showcasing the Doulagivers Institute's mission and the impactful work we continue to do.

(00:02) Redefining Success Through Heart Alignment

 Join the upcoming FREE Doulagivers Level 1 End of Life Doula and Family Caregiver Training Webinar here

 Register to join us for FREE: THE GOOD DEATH BOOK CLUB EXPERIENCE: 12 MONTH FREE DEATH AND DYING COURSE

#deathdoula #deathdoultraining #dyingwell #death #life #deatheducation #doulagivers #hospice #hospicecare #hospicenurse #deathdoula #soulmidwife #deathmidwife #endoflifeplanning #healthcareproxy #funerals #fearofdeath #endoflifedoula #thegooddeath #hospice #grief #deathawareness #birth #endoflife #deathpositivity #consciousdying #dying #advanceplanning #deathpositive #gooddeath #consciousliving #endoflifedirective #palliativecare #advancedirective #livefully #suzannebobrien. #lifecafe #consciousness #awarenes