This episode is a classic, and I am eternally grateful to Dr Byock for talking with this “small potatoes” podcaster back in March of 2023. Echoing other practices, including the ancient Hawaiian practice of Hoʻoponopono, Dr Byock talks about the importance of “I love you, I forgive you/please forgive me, thank you, and goodbye.” What might it mean to “make right”?

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This week my daughter and I talk about our recent publishing adventure of writing two children's books together. We explore the personal experiences that inspired our first book about "energy bubbles" and our second about death, loss, and signs from loved ones. How did this second book come to Anna? How did hospice nurses help shape its authenticity? What part did we decide to leave out? What's in the "Dear Reader" letter? And what exactly is "QT on the RC"? We believe this book belongs in the world. If you know of an organization, school, library, hospice, or counseling practice that would benefit from having it on their bookshelf, please reach out to [email protected].

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What might we do to slow down in this modern world, where so much moves at a frenetic pace? In addition to working with "burned-out creatives" in her therapy practice, Sarah Heinss combines her knowledge of human psychology with a background in video editing to create thought-provoking social media posts. One of them recently caught my eye – and the eyes of more than 30 million other people – when it went viral. What cultural nerve did she touch, and how might this conversation inspire us to find more play and less speed? This chat is for your best life!

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“The language of synchronicities is the language of the other side” – so says Janell Flores Bolte, author of Death, A Love Story. This conversation is a fascinating one, ranging from how the brain works to stories of signs from loved ones who have died. When Janell’s husband died, after defying the odds and living for 6 years with advanced cancer, she found that his presence and communication didn’t end, but it did change. Learning to send and receive this new language is part of the love story of Janell and John.

Curious? You’ll love this! Skeptical? Listen and tell me what you think.

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Jake Messier says it like it is! As a man diagnosed with breast cancer, he’s decided to shape what that means and how that is perceived, for himself and for all the people out there who don’t know that this is a thing. With breast cancer for women deeply researched and heavily funded, Jake is a voice for males who have this disease. An advocate, activist, board member, and influencer – Jake is making his voice heard and raising the visibility of rare diseases. With his decision to “over turn every stone of his life,” Jake opts for being the best version of himself, no matter what comes his way.

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My guest this week found a creative niche reading obituaries online, and this has turned out to be informative, moving, funny, and insightful! It is truly story telling at its finest and most concise.

Enjoy Part 2, in which Mary and I explore three more unique obituaries and have a sneak peek of her upcoming book. Thank you, Mary, for all that you bring to the wider discussion of what it means to live a successful life.

For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at ⁠⁠www.bestlifebestdeath.com⁠⁠
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Who would have thought that reading obituaries on social media could be so informative, moving, funny, and insightful?? Mary McGreevy tried it and found a solid audience. First, she shared obits she had collected over time. Now, devoted fans from all over send her the most extraordinary stories of everyday lives.

Enjoy Part 1, in which Mary and I explore how she found her way to this project, the meaning it holds for both her and her listeners, and three obituaries that she shares with us.

For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at ⁠⁠www.bestlifebestdeath.com⁠⁠
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What does it mean to be “too poor to die”? Author and researcher Amy Shea took a deep dive into how poverty affects the end of life.

What happens when you die with no money and no family to collect the remains? What are the trajectories that lead someone to be buried in a potter’s field, aka county burial grounds? How are people in the unhoused population cared for at the end of life? Are there any bright spots? Listen as we raise important questions about poverty, dignity, remembrance, and how society cares for people at the end of life. As you can imagine, the bubbles we live in shape how we see death.

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I so appreciate the wisdom and writing of Francis Weller. His book The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief has been a touchstone for me, and now this book offers more perspective on grief, aging, sorrow, and “times of uncertainty.” Listen this week as I read Chapter 4 from In the Absence of the Ordinary: Soul Work for Times of Uncertainty.

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Have you ever wondered what a “death doula” does? Doulas offer compassion, guidance, and information to help people better understand their options around the end of life. This week, I talk with Vanessa Johnston, an active doula in Colorado, as she shares “a day in the life of a doula.” How do people find her? At what point do they typically reach out? Why do supportive colleagues matter so much? How does she structure her work and fees? And how does she — as a compassionate companion — recharge and care for herself while working so closely with death and dying?

For more information on Best Life Best Death please visit our website at ⁠⁠www.bestlifebestdeath.com⁠⁠
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