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In this episode, a palliative care physician explains how early support and thoughtful end-of-life planning can reduce fear, ease suffering, and improve quality of life for patients and families.

Dr. David Casarett, chief of Palliative Care at Duke Health, describes palliative care as whole-person support that relieves symptoms and helps people make difficult medical decisions, even while receiving aggressive treatment. He contrasts this with hospice, which focuses on comfort for those expected to have six months or less to live. 

00:17 Welcome to Seeing Death + Meet Dr. David Casarett

01:49 What Palliative Care Really Is (and What It Isn’t)

03:50 Palliative Care vs. Hospice: The Key Differences

04:39 How to Access Palliative Care Outside the Hospital

08:42 Misconceptions & Resistance: Why Palliative Care Gets Misread

10:38 Making Hard Choices: Ventilators, Odds, and Patient Goals

14:08 Age Isn’t the Whole Story: Function, Resilience, and Will to Live

16:15 Inside the Interdisciplinary Team: Social Work, Chaplaincy, Nursing & More

19:23 The Undiscovered Country: A Doctor’s Travel Guide to the End of Life

20:21 What People Fear About Dying (and What It Often Looks Like)

21:34 How Death Happens: The Body’s Timing, Physiology, and a Peaceful End

25:04 The Moment of Death: Quieter Than the Movies

25:57 What Comes After? Making Peace With the Unknown

26:34 Can People Sense Their Death? Monks, Intuition, and Timing

27:59 A Patient Who ‘Needed to Go Home’: The Botswana Story

31:43 Patterns Across Cultures: Visions and ‘People in the Room’

32:57 Terminal Delirium vs. End-of-Life Visions (and When to Treat)

35:47 Why Education Matters: Preparing Families for What’s Normal

36:36 Media Myths, Hospice Misconceptions, and Getting Support Sooner

41:45 Changing Care Earlier: Goals-of-Care Conversations + AI ‘Goal Coach’

45:23 Where to Find the Book + Final Thanks and Listener Support

Website: www.casarett.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/david-casarett

David’s TED Talk: A Doctor's Case for Medical Marijuana

David’s TEDxTalk: Gods, Munchkins & The Science Of Reviving The Dead

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Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast.

I appreciate the support, and it helps get the word out to more people who could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life.

You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms.

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In this episode, for Black History Month, Jill interviews her longtime friend Rashine Curry (Rah Rah), a mother of six from Atlantic City. Rah Rah describes how poverty, racism, and systemic bias shaped her life, including incarceration, untreated mental illness, and medical neglect in prison. She shares major losses: her daughter’s father was murdered when the baby was six months old, her longtime partner and father of her other children was murdered, and she was not allowed to attend his funeral while incarcerated. She also recounts her brother’s murder, being raped in prison, and witnessing incarcerated people die after requests for medical help were ignored. 

Rah Rah talks about how she welcomed a woman, who once sheltered Rah Rah and her children during homelessness, into her home for hospice. Rah Rah provided hands-on care, kept family visitors close, used music meant for hospice patients, and says Ms. Denise died peacefully on December 20. Rah Rah also speaks about her father’s ongoing incarceration: he received a 65-years-to-life sentence for snatching a bag of money from UPS, has been imprisoned about 35 years, is now 75, blind, and showing signs of dementia and being denied clemency despite petitions. 

00:00 From Prison to Peace: Rah’s New Life

00:15 Meet the Host + Black History Month Episode Setup

01:21 How Cathedral Kitchen Opened Jill’s Eyes to Systemic Bias

03:03 Rah Introduces Herself: Atlantic City, Motherhood, and Reentry

06:16 Grief Piled on Grief: Murders, Separation, and Mental Health

11:38 Survival, Crime, and the Inhumanity of Prison

14:29 Paying It Forward: Bringing Her Benefactor Home for Hospice

19:43 The Final Days: Love, Exhaustion, and Letting Her Rest

23:04 After Death: Signs, Spirits, and What Still Lingers at Home

24:01 Spirits at Home: Feeling Ms. Denise Still Around

25:12 Signs & Comfort: When the Spirit Tries to Calm You

26:10 Remembering Ms. Denise: The Life of a Beloved Friend

27:54 Show Up Before It’s Too Late: Visiting Loved Ones at End of Life

31:31 Her Father’s Prison Story: A Final Visit in Handcuffs

34:34 Aging, Dementia & Prison Reform: Why Keep Him Locked Up?

35:52 Clemency Denied & Life Inside Blind: The System’s Failures

39:51 Coping With Grief: Music, Grandkids, and Staying Busy

41:36 Cathedral Kitchen Changed My Life: Certificates, Community, and Purp

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Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast.

I appreciate the support, and it helps get the word out to more people who could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life.

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In this episode of Seeing Death Clearly, host Jill McClennen, a death doula and funeral celebrant, speaks with Marcy Shrewsbury Lopez about her extraordinary love story and journey through grief. 

Marcy shares her experience being married to her husband, who was 46 years older than her, and the deep connection they shared until his death at 98 years old. 

She reflects on the challenges of caregiving and her path to healing through art, teaching, and nature. Marcy also discusses her memoir, 'A Place of Promise,' which portrays their love story and her personal growth. 

This conversation highlights the themes of love, aging, and the perseverance required to move forward after losing a loved one.

00:00 Finding a Place of Promise

00:21 Introduction to the Podcast

01:24 Marcy's Early Life and Background

03:40 Life in The Bahamas and Return to New Jersey

07:15 Pursuing Art and Medical Illustration

10:56 Meeting and Marrying Adrian

12:50 Caring for Adrian and Coping with Loss

16:19 Moving Forward and Embracing New Experiences

19:38 The Healing Power of Horses

21:24 A Healing Connection with Horses

22:30 Art as a Grieving Outlet

24:45 The Power of Nature in Healing

26:33 Teaching and Giving Back

29:21 Writing a Memoir: A Journey of Love and Loss

33:54 The Challenges of Publishing

41:07 Final Thoughts and Reflections

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578733719839

https://www.marcieshrewsburylopez.com

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Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast.

I appreciate the support, and it helps get the word out to more people who could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life.

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In this episode of Seeing Death Clearly, host Jill McClennen, a death doula and funeral celebrant, is joined by Ken Biery, a seasoned funeral director and founder of the Funeral Service Collective. Ken shares his journey from military service into the funeral profession and the experiences that shaped his commitment to innovation and family-centered care.

Together, they explore how the funeral industry is evolving, including emerging ideas such as sustainable memorials, underwater cemeteries, and the growing role of live-streamed services. The conversation also highlights how younger generations’ desire for meaningful, personalized experiences is reshaping traditional funeral practices.

A central focus of the episode is the potential for collaboration between funeral directors and death doulas. Ken and Jill discuss how these roles can complement one another by offering emotional, spiritual, and educational support to families, and they outline practical ways death doulas can begin building relationships with funeral homes. This episode offers thoughtful insight into how collaboration can strengthen end-of-life care and better serve communities.

00:00 Introduction to Compassionate End-of-Life Care

00:39 Meet Ken Beery: A Journey from Military to Funeral Service

00:55 Innovations in the Funeral Industry

03:08 The Role of Death Doulas in Funeral Services

08:47 Challenges and Opportunities for Collaboration

17:59 The Importance of Personalized Memorials

24:02 Collaborating with Funeral Homes

25:02 Building Referral Partnerships

26:48 Addressing Certification Concerns

32:18 The Importance of Teamwork

35:25 Generational Differences in the Industry

38:14 The Role of Technology

43:24 Concluding Thoughts and Contact Information

https://thefunsc.com/

https://www.instagram.com/funeralservicecollective

https://www.facebook.com/funeralservicecollective

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Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support

Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast.

I appreciate the support, and it helps get the word out to more people who could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life.

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In this episode, I’m joined by Thomas Dixon, a Philadelphia native with a powerful and deeply personal story. Thomas shares his journey from working in psychiatry research to teaching middle school in South Korea, and the life-altering shift that followed a near-fatal accident in 2010. After being hit by a car, Thomas developed epilepsy and a permanent episodic memory disability that reshaped his daily life—and his sense of purpose.

Living with memory loss led Thomas to write his memoir, I'm Sorry, That's Awesome, and to develop ME.mory, a digital memory system designed to help people record, organize, and recall their life experiences. In our conversation, we talk about what it’s like to live with an invisible disability, how memory loss impacts identity and independence, and why memory is something all of us, regardless of diagnosis, are slowly losing over time.

Thomas is currently raising funds to support the continued development and public relaunch of ME.mory. You’ll find links in the show notes if you’d like to learn more or support his work. This is a thoughtful, eye-opening conversation about memory, meaning, and what it means to adapt when life changes everything.

00:00 Introduction and Personal Acceptance

00:25 Welcome to Seeing Death Podcast

00:47 Guest Introduction: Thomas Dixon's Journey

02:32 Life After the Accident

04:11 Understanding Memory Loss

07:15 Career Transition and Acceptance

09:09 Building a New Life and Relationships

11:32 Creating Memory: The Digital System

14:01 Writing the Memoir: 'I'm Sorry, That's Awesome'

18:36 Discussing Death and Cultural Perspectives

20:18 Reflecting on Family Losses

21:48 Impact of Injury on Life Perspective

22:43 Living with Memory Disability

25:03 Navigating Social Interactions

32:25 Traveling with Memory Challenges

37:36 Upcoming Projects and Final Thoughts

https://biausa.org/brain-injury/community/speakers-bureau/thomas-dixon

I'm Sorry... That's Awesome!: Inventing a Solution for Memory Loss on Amazon https://a.co/d/1GXfKOZ

GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-combat-memory-loss-together

Support the show

Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support

Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast.

I appreciate the support, and it helps get the word out to more people who could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life.

You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms.

[email protected]

Website www.endoflifeclarity.com
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Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle
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In this episode of 'Seeing Death Clearly,' host Jill McClennen talks with Christian Millward, a mother of six from Idaho, about her journey with grief and spirit communication. Christian shares how the deaths of her mother and seven-week-old daughter, Indi, led her to discover her spiritual connection and create the Indie Star Cards, a tool to help people communicate with loved ones who have passed away. 

They discuss emotional awareness, generational trauma, and the importance of having an exit strategy for antidepressant use during pregnancy. Kristen also emphasizes the importance of normalizing discussions about death and spirit communication to facilitate the healing process.

00:00 Introduction to Spirit Communication

00:40 Meet Our Guest: Christian Millward

02:10 Kristen's Journey Through Grief

04:26 The Loss of Baby Indi

07:33 Generational Trauma and Healing

07:55 The Role of Antidepressants

11:26 Creating the Indi Star Cards

12:24 Normalizing Spirit Communication

15:05 Using the Indi Star Cards

19:43 Finding Peace Through Awareness

20:46 Sacred Tools and Their Significance

21:12 The Journey of Creating Handmade Decks

22:04 Communicating with Loved Ones Beyond

23:49 Personal Experiences with Spirit Communication

31:25 Teaching and Building a Community

34:33 Navigating Emotional Health and Medication

37:50 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

https://www.indistarcards.com/

[email protected]

https://www.instagram.com/indi.star.cards/

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Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support

Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast.

I appreciate the support, and it helps get the word out to more people who could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life.

You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms.

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In this episode, Michael Williams, the founder of Memoir Studio, discusses his transition from end-of-life planning to helping people write their memoirs. They explore the therapeutic power of storytelling, especially for older adults, and how sharing personal stories can offer emotional and historical value. Michael emphasizes the importance of acknowledging life's ups and downs, regrets, and failures in memoir writing. Michael shares touching stories of his clients finding their voices and the profound impact of preserving legacies through narrative.

00:35 Guest Introduction: Michael Williams

00:40 Michael's Journey: From End-of-Life Planning to Memoir Writing

00:46 The Power of Storytelling

00:55 Therapeutic Benefits of Memoir Writing

01:02 Fear of Judgment and Vulnerability

01:15 Welcoming Michael to the Podcast

01:36 Michael's Background and Passion for Memoirs

01:54 End of Life Planning Facilitator

02:55 Supporting Families and Addressing Practical Aspects

04:55 Transition to Memoir Work

05:10 Discussing End of Life Plans with Clients

06:07 Reassuring Conversations About Death

08:57 Legacy Work and Finding Meaning

12:30 Recording and Transcribing Stories

13:34 Helping Clients Find Their Voice

18:12 The Importance of Preserving Stories

18:48 Personal Reflections on Family Stories

22:09 The Value of Listening to Elders

23:19 The Importance of Journaling

23:41 Family Stories and Names

25:00 Everyone's Life is Interesting

29:38 The Power of Group Writing

30:10 Therapeutic Benefits of Writing

32:38 Challenges in Writing Memoirs

34:47 Honesty and Universal Themes in Memoirs

38:59 Dealing with Regrets and Mistakes

42:54 End of Life and Legacy

43:07 Conclusion and Resources

Links: My Substack page: https://memoirstudio.substack.com

The Memoir Studio at https://memoirstudio.ca

My personal website: https://www.michaelwilliamsstoryteller.com

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

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Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support

Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast.

I appreciate the support, and it helps get the word out to more people who could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life.

You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms.

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In this end-of-year episode of Seeing Death Clearly, host Jill McClennen sits down with her husband Steven to reflect on three years of podcasting. As the year 2025 closes, they discuss personal and professional highlights, stoicism, aging, and emotional experiences with death and grief. They delve into broader societal issues like elder care in the United States and the balance of everyday life. Jill also shares plans for future episodes, re-inviting past guests to explore their evolving perspectives. This candid conversation touches on navigating uncertainty, staying connected, and living intentionally.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview

00:36 Reflecting on the Past Year

02:14 Guest Highlights and Future Plans

03:13 Navigating a Chaotic Year

06:47 Thoughts on Aging and Society

16:35 End of Life Conversations

21:33 Home Funerals and Personal Rituals

23:41 The Importance of Pre-Planning

24:22 Challenges in Discussing Mortality

28:18 Caregiving and Government Support

33:24 Reflections on Life and Death

41:08 Looking Forward to the Future

43:22 Podcast Appreciation and Future Plans

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Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support

Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast.

I appreciate the support, and it helps get the word out to more people who could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life.

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In this episode, I welcome back Barbara Karnes to discuss the journey of transitioning from 'we' to 'me' after her husband Jack's death. 

Barbara shares heartfelt stories about her early days in hospice care, highlighting the value of understanding daily responsibilities and her experiences with end-of-life preparations, emphasizing the importance of discussing finances and duties early. 

We also discuss how death doulas play a role in modern hospice care, her thoughts on medical aid in dying, the creation of her widely beneficial booklets like 'Gone From My Sight,' and offers perspectives on educating families about the natural process of dying. 

This episode aims to open minds and demystify death, dying, and grief, encouraging listeners to prepare and embrace end-of-life conversations.

00:00 Introduction to End of Life Education

00:45 Guest Introduction: Barbara Carnes

01:35 Adjusting to Life After Loss

02:56 The Importance of Being Prepared

04:18 Challenges of Living Independently

07:10 Support Systems and Grief Counseling

08:54 End of Life Doulas and Hospice Care

13:31 Medical Aid in Dying: Perspectives and Ethics

00:00 Comparing Birth and Death

25:39 Contemplating Mortality and Legacy

27:12 Current Projects and Writing

28:07 The Importance of Food at End of Life

30:28 The Family Support Bundle

33:11 The Origin of 'Gone From My Sight'

36:11 Personal Stories and Impact

40:04 The Shift Back to Home Deaths

43:48 Resources and Contact Information

46:17 Final Thoughts and Farewell

https://bkbooks.com/products/approaching-death-support-kit

https://bkbooks.com/blogs/something-to-think-about

https://www.instagram.com/barbarakarnesrn/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbarakarnesrn/

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Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support

Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast.

I appreciate the support, and it helps get the word out to more people who could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life.

You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms.

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In this episode of 'Seeing Death Clearly,' host Jill McClennen, a death doula and funeral celebrant, welcomes Marni Blank, a former attorney turned entrepreneur and end-of-life doula. They discuss the emotional and logistical challenges families face regarding end-of-life planning. Marni shares her personal journey, including her mother's serious accident, which highlighted the importance of having essential paperwork in order. 

The conversation focuses on the significance of open discussions about end-of-life wishes, the role of a death doula, and practical advice for organizing important documents. They emphasize the importance of choosing the right people for roles like healthcare proxies and how preparation can provide peace of mind. Jill and Marni also address the common barriers and emotional reactions people have when discussing these topics and offer insights into facilitating these important conversations.

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage

00:43 Meet Marni Blank: From Attorney to End-of-Life Doula

00:55 The Importance of End-of-Life Planning

02:44 Challenges and Realizations in End-of-Life Conversations

03:50 The Role and Impact of a Death Doula

04:25 Personal Stories and Experiences

08:09 Navigating Family Dynamics and Responsibilities

10:09 The Emotional and Practical Aspects of End-of-Life Decisions

37:21 The Role of Medical Professionals in End-of-Life Care

41:05 Marni's Business and Resources for End-of-Life Planning

44:10 Conclusion and Call to Action

Website: https://beginwiththeend.co/

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

Book a Free Call: https://calendly.com/marni-blank/marni-blank-initial-consultation

Plan Well Organizer: https://beginwiththeend.co/plan-well-organizer

Support the show

Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription, any amount large or small help to keep the podcast advertisement free. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support

Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast.

I appreciate the support, and it helps get the word out to more people who could benefit from hearing the podcast. Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life.

You can connect with me on my website, as well as all major social media platforms.

[email protected]

Website www.endoflifeclarity.com
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Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle
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