Buried in Work Podcast

When death doula Kacie Gikonyo held the hands of hundreds of people in their final moments, she kept hearing the same thing again and again:

"I wish I had spent more time living… and less time working."

In this episode of Buried in Work, Death Doula Kacie Gikonyo, founder of the Death Doula Collective and Death Doula School, joins us to share the raw, human stories she's witnessed at the end of life — and how they transformed her own purpose and path forever.

We dive deep into what death teaches us about purpose, presence, and priorities. Kacie explains what a death doula actually does, how she helps families transform fear into peace, and how we can all begin having these hard conversations long before it's too late.

Whether you’re facing a diagnosis, helping a loved one, or simply want to live with more intention, this episode offers clarity, courage, and compassion.

Showlinks:

🕊️Join a supportive nationwide network for end-of-life doulas //https://deathdoulakacie.com/

🎓 Enroll in Death Doula School // https://deathdoulakacie.com/death-doula-school

🔹 𝙄𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙃𝙪𝙗𝙨 🔹

Essential Resources: https://buriedinwork.com/info-hubs/#toc_Essential_Resources

Estate Planning Concepts & Services: https://buriedinwork.com/info-hubs/#toc_Estate_Planning_Concepts_Services

All Information Hubs: https://buriedinwork.com/info-hubs/#toc_All_Information_Hubs

🔹 𝘿𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 🔹

https://buriedinwork.com/directories/

🔹 𝘽𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩 🔹

https://buriedinwork.com/podcast/

🔹 𝙀𝙣𝙙-𝙤𝙛-𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙧𝙨 🔹

https://buriedinwork.com/info-hubs/careers-in-end-of-life-professions/

🔹 𝙏𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨, & 𝙊𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙨 🔹

https://buriedinwork.com/partners-and-offers/

🔹 𝘽𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙥 🔹

CLEAR Kit Packages - https://shop.buriedinwork.com/collections/clear-kits

Executor's Summary Report - https://shop.buriedinwork.com/products/executors-summary-report

Courses & Workshops - https://shop.buriedinwork.com/collections/courses-and-workshops

Services - https://shop.buriedinwork.com/collections/services

Estate Planning & End-of-Life Templates- https://shop.buriedinwork.com/collections/templates

Conversational Games - https://shop.buriedinwork.com/collections/games

Connect with Buried in Work

Website// https://buriedinwork.com/

Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buriedinwork

Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buriedinwork/

LinkedIn// https://www.linkedin.com/company/buriedinwork

In this episode of Buried in Work, Adam Zuckerman speaks with Jess Wakefield, funeral director and Director of Partnerships at Better Place Forests, and Don Gilmartin, trauma cleanup entrepreneur and advocate. Together, they are pioneering the Dignity in Death and Privacy Protection Act of 2025—a proposed federal law that would make it illegal to publicly share graphic trauma scene photos or videos without next-of-kin consent.

They dive into why this legislation matters, what happens behind the scenes in trauma cleanup, and how the legal system currently fails grieving families. This is an emotional and necessary conversation for anyone who values dignity, privacy, and respect—even after death.

Key Takeaways:

• There’s no federal law preventing the public sharing of death scene photos.
• Grieving families are being re-traumatized by seeing their loved ones' death sites online.
• Trauma cleanup is an unregulated, under-acknowledged industry—and it’s time that changed.
• Photos taken for insurance purposes are being misused. Consent is not optional.
• The Dignity in Death Act seeks to create nationwide ethical standards and real legal consequences for violations.
• Every listener has a role to play—by spreading awareness, contacting legislators, or joining the advocacy.

Learn more about the Dignity in Death and Privacy Protection Act of 2025: https://buriedinwork.com/blog/protecting-grieving-families/

🔹 𝙄𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙃𝙪𝙗𝙨 🔹

Essential Resources: https://buriedinwork.com/info-hubs/#toc_Essential_Resources

Estate Planning Concepts & Services: https://buriedinwork.com/info-hubs/#toc_Estate_Planning_Concepts_Services

All Information Hubs: https://buriedinwork.com/info-hubs/#toc_All_Information_Hubs

🔹 𝘿𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 🔹

https://buriedinwork.com/directories/

🔹 𝘽𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩 🔹

https://buriedinwork.com/podcast/

🔹 𝙀𝙣𝙙-𝙤𝙛-𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙧𝙨 🔹

https://buriedinwork.com/info-hubs/careers-in-end-of-life-professions/

🔹 𝙏𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨, & 𝙊𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙨 🔹

https://buriedinwork.com/partners-and-offers/

🔹 𝘽𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙥 🔹

CLEAR Kit Packages - https://shop.buriedinwork.com/collections/clear-kits

Executor's Summary Report - https://shop.buriedinwork.com/products/executors-summary-report

Courses & Workshops - https://shop.buriedinwork.com/collections/courses-and-workshops

Services - https://shop.buriedinwork.com/collections/services

Estate Planning & End-of-Life Templates- https://shop.buriedinwork.com/collections/templates

Conversational Games - https://shop.buriedinwork.com/collections/games

Connect with Buried in Work

Website// https://buriedinwork.com/

Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buriedinwork

Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buriedinwork/

LinkedIn// https://www.linkedin.com/company/buriedinwork

𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙮—𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙨𝙚𝙩, 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤𝙤?

In this episode of Buried in Work, Denise McClain, Director at Hirtle Callaghan and one of the country’s leading experts on multigenerational wealth, estate planning, and philanthropy, talks about how families can pass down more than just assets. She dives into the power of stewardship, the emotional weight of family wealth, and why clear communication and shared values are essential to preserving legacy across generations.

Showlinks:

Visit Hirtle Callaghan's Website: https://www.hirtlecallaghan.com/

🔹 𝙄𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙃𝙪𝙗𝙨 🔹

Essential Resources: https://buriedinwork.com/info-hubs/#toc_Essential_Resources

Estate Planning Concepts & Services: https://buriedinwork.com/info-hubs/#toc_Estate_Planning_Concepts_Services

All Information Hubs: https://buriedinwork.com/info-hubs/#toc_All_Information_Hubs

🔹 𝘿𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 🔹

https://buriedinwork.com/directories/

🔹 𝘽𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩 🔹

https://buriedinwork.com/podcast/

🔹 𝙀𝙣𝙙-𝙤𝙛-𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙧𝙨 🔹

https://buriedinwork.com/info-hubs/careers-in-end-of-life-professions/

🔹 𝙏𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨, & 𝙊𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙨 🔹

https://buriedinwork.com/partners-and-offers/

🔹 𝘽𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙥 🔹

CLEAR Kit Packages - https://shop.buriedinwork.com/collections/clear-kits

Executor's Summary Report - https://shop.buriedinwork.com/products/executors-summary-report

Courses & Workshops - https://shop.buriedinwork.com/collections/courses-and-workshops

Services - https://shop.buriedinwork.com/collections/services

Estate Planning & End-of-Life Templates- https://shop.buriedinwork.com/collections/templates

Conversational Games - https://shop.buriedinwork.com/collections/games

“This project feels like my dad is still with me. It’s something he’d be proud of.”

In this episode of Buried in Work, founder Adam Zuckerman steps out from behind the mic and into the guest seat—interviewed by longtime friend and co-host Jared Rizzi.

Visit buriedinwork.com for the FULL SHOW NOTES

In this episode of Buried in Work, Jasmine Hathaway, founder of Compass Coordinators and co-founder of PALS (Professional Alliance of Life Services), shares how the sudden loss of her husband forced her to navigate the complex world of estate planning, paperwork, and system failures—alone, with a baby on her hip.

Visit buriedinwork.com for the FULL SHOW NOTES

In this episode of The Buried in Work Podcast, host Adam Zuckerman speaks with Gail Rubin, widely known as The Doyenne of Death, about the power and peace of mind that comes from funeral planning, estate preparation, and end-of-life conversations.

Gail, author of A Good Goodbye and founder of the Before I Die Festival, shares how humor, storytelling, and even movies can break the taboo around death. You'll learn the real reason most people delay planning, the biggest mistakes in estate planning, how digital legacy planning (like managing passwords) is now essential, and why talking about death now is the greatest gift you can leave your loved ones.

Key Takeaways:

• Avoiding death conversations causes chaos later — Planning ahead relieves your loved ones from making rushed, emotional decisions.
• Only 1 in 3 adults do end-of-life planning — Fear, procrastination, and low self-esteem often hold people back.
• Passwords and digital assets are often forgotten — Without sharing access, managing your online life after death becomes nearly impossible.
• Prepaying funeral expenses can save thousands — Gail's family saved over $4,000 by securing burial and funeral plans in advance.
• Five critical details must go on a death certificate — Including birthplace, Social Security number, and veteran status—these should be documented and shared.

Showlinks:

1. Gail Rubin’s Website: www.agoodgoodbye.com
2. Before I Die Festival: www.beforeidiefestivals.com
3. Books by Gail Rubin:

• A Good Goodbye
• Hail and Farewell
• Kicking the Bucket List
• Mortality Movies (TV series)

💼 Get the CLEAR Kit: www.buriedinwork.com – Use code PODCAST10 for 10% off your estate preparations.

💬 Share this episode with someone you love—because one day, they may be the one left to plan your goodbye.

Connect with Buried in Work

• Website// https://buriedinwork.com/
• Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buriedinwork
• Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buriedinwork/
• LinkedIn// https://www.linkedin.com/company/buriedinwork

What if you had just one year left with the person you love most—would you know how to say goodbye?

Amy Shaw shares the story of her husband’s terminal brain cancer diagnosis and how it transformed her from a mother of 10 into a full-time caregiver. With grace and honesty, Amy opens up about what it truly means to walk someone through the end of life with dignity, how to talk to kids about death, and the parts of estate planning most families forget.

Visit buriedibwork.com for the FULL SHOW NOTES.

In this episode of Buried in Work, Lynn Hall, Manager of the Unclaimed Property Unit for the District of Columbia, shares her 36+ years of expertise in asset recovery and fraud prevention. You’ll learn how unclaimed property is tracked, how DC’s proactive outreach programs are helping citizens reclaim their money faster, and the surprising items found in safe deposit boxes. Plus, hear why public engagement is more important than ever—and how easy it is to check if you’re owed unclaimed funds!

👉 Visit buriedinwork.com for the full show notes

👉 Visit Buried in Work Unclaimed Property Hub: https://buriedinwork.com/unclaimed-property

What does it really mean to age well — especially when you’re doing it alone?

You think there's still time—until there isn't.

Dr. Corinne Auman, gerontologist, developmental psychologist, and founder of Choice Care Navigators, shares the emotional and financial chaos that unfolds when families don’t plan for aging. She’s also the author of Keenagers: Telling a New Story About Aging, and she’s here to show us why proactive planning isn't just smart—it’s urgent. If you’ve ever thought, “We’ll deal with it when the time comes,” this conversation is your wake-up call.

Visit Buried in Work for the FULL SHOW NOTES  and how to simplify your estate planning and end-of-life tasks.

👉 Want to learn more about aging well? Visit our Aging in Place information hub: https://buriedinwork.com/info-hubs/aging-in-place

“This is the worst day of someone’s life. And we have the chance to give them a sliver of hope.”

From attending strangers’ funerals at age 5 to holding a human brain in his hands—Calvin Amato’s journey is unlike anything you’ve heard. As a Funeral Director-in-Training at Koch Funeral Home and a Brain Recovery Specialist, Calvin is helping families face death with compassion, dignity, and purpose.

This episode will move you, challenge you, and open your eyes to the emotional, scientific, and human side of death care.

Visit Buried in Work for the FULL SHOW NOTES  and how to simplify your estate planning and end-of-life tasks.