The pearlsfrommymom's Podcast

Many people are uncomfortable with talking about death, Cassandra Yonder is not one of them. You may or may not have heard that community death caring (sometimes refered to as death midwifery, death doulas, thana doulas, etc.) is making a comeback into our culture. I think my mom would have loved this had she known it was even an option. In this week's episode, Cassandra and I talk about what it means to take care of the dead as a community and how she is passing that knowledge on to other people.

Cassandra is the co-owner of BEyond Yonder Virtual School of Community Deathcaring.  Cassandra is a prominent contributor to the alternative deathcare movement in Canada, which spans the humanities, social sciences, science, and medicine.  Her expertise and leadership in deathcare practice in Canada have been recognized nationally, and she frequently appears in the national and international media.  For example, she has been interviewed and referenced in Maclean’s, The Guardian, The National Post, CBC, The Coast, Media Co-op, The Chronicle-Herald, The Stranger, and The Huffington Post. 

Cassandra has an academic background in Sociology, Gerontology, Architecture and Grief & Bereavement.  Her family of 6 are homesteading in the forested highlands of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia with over 70 animals, where the realities of birth and death are ever present.  Cassandra is a leader in the movement to reclaim family and community centred care of the dying, dead and bereaved. 

In addition to assisting with the home funeral and home burial of her friend and neighbour, Cassandra is a member of the Order of the Good Death, has represented Canada on the board of directors for the National Home Funeral Alliance, is currently the chair of Community Deathcare Canada, and has started the BEyond Yonder Virtual School for Community Deathcaring in Canada with her partner.  She also hosts the world's largest online community for alternative deathcare on her facebook group with more than 4000 members. Cassandra's spoken and written words help us to articulate the need for a cultural re-connection with death. 

You can find her at her website: deathcaring.ca

When most people think of defining moments in life, they probably don't think winning a contest on a radio station to meet a band would be one of them. I am not most people.

I have had a deep love for the band Muse since 2005 and it continues to this day. I also have a deep sense of inadequacy which has stopped me from pursuing my passions and going after what I want. All of this changed July of 2017 when winning a radio contest helped me realize what I am capable of.

I promise all of this ties in with my mom and this podcast, but to find out how you will have to listen...

Here are a couple of Muse songs to dazzle your senses: 

Dig Down (The video I watched to win the contest)

Butterflies and Hurricanes (Muse's greatest song, imho)

Time Is Running Out -Live from Wembley Stadium (the first Muse song I fell in love with) 

Link to the Instagram post where Matt is holding my winning story

Come join me on social media or email e at [email protected] 

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Lisa's mom Naomi was as strong as they come. She was a business woman, a mother and a survivor of a Japanese internment camp in Canada during and after World War II. Naomi was a great role model for Lisa, who is a phenomenal woman in her own right. 

Listen to Lisa recount stories of her mom and talk about what has been helping her through the grieving process. We also open up a more broad conversation about death and coping. 

Lisa is the host of Super Power U.  She interviews experts and everyday Rockstars to reveal the strengths, skills and mental models to activate your Inner Superhero at www.lisabl.com/podcast

Lisa's mom Naomi was as strong as they come. She was a business woman, a mother and a survivor of a Japanese internment camp in Canada during and after World War II. Naomi was a great role model for Lisa, who is a phenomenal woman in her own right. 

Listen to Lisa recount stories of her mom and talk about what has been helping her through the grieving process. We also open up a more broad conversation about death and coping. 

Lisa is the host of Super Power U.  She interviews experts and everyday Rockstars to reveal the strengths, skills and mental models to activate your Inner Superhero at www.lisabl.com/podcast

Julie is a dynamite lady who happens to have one of the greatest laughs I have ever heard. She lost her mom Diane 25 years ago, but has managed to hold on to some beautiful memories of her. Listen as Julie tells us about her mom and reflects on love, grief, compassion and you'll for sure want to hear what Julie thinks her mom's ghost outfit looks like.

To learn more about Julie or contact her (believe me, she is the kind of person you will want more of in your life): https://www.julieostrow.com/   

Please check out Julie's beautiful remembrance post about her mom: https://www.julieostrow.com/single-post/2017/02/21/A-Remembrance%E2%80%A6From-A-Motherless-Daughter 

Julie is a dynamite lady who happens to have one of the greatest laughs I have ever heard. She lost her mom Diane 25 years ago, but has managed to hold on to some beautiful memories of her. Listen as Julie tells us about her mom and reflects on love, grief, compassion and you'll for sure want to hear what Julie thinks her mom's ghost outfit looks like.

To learn more about Julie or contact her (believe me, she is the kind of person you will want more of in your life): https://www.julieostrow.com/   

Please check out Julie's beautiful remembrance post about her mom: https://www.julieostrow.com/single-post/2017/02/21/A-Remembrance%E2%80%A6From-A-Motherless-Daughter 

This is a short episode to about joining the conversation around mental health in honor of #BellLetsTalk Day January 31, 2018. So many people either suffer in silence themselves or they know someone who is afraid to seek help for mental health issues. The more people that join the conversation, the less stigma there will be on individuals who are dealing with mental health issues. 

If you need help, please look into resources in your area or if you are in need of immediate assistance dial 911. (US and Canada)

To learn more about Let's Talk Day and find more resources: https://letstalk.bell.ca/en/bell-lets-talk-day 

If you want to reach out to me, you can email me at [email protected] or join the private Pearls From My Mom facebook support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/587769278096323/ 

Lisa's mom was an incredibly strong woman and loving mother. She came from Germany by herself and went on to become a successful business woman in the US. Lisa learned a lot from her mom and drew inspiration from her to start her own business. 

Lisa herself is an amazing woman, she is an organizing and productivity coach with her company Positively Productive Systems, LLC. Check her out on her website: https://positivelyproductive.com/

She is running a free program in February called Positively Grateful which sounds like it will be phenomenal. To sign up for her free Gratitude Series, go to:https://www.subscribepage.com/positively-grateful-series_Feb2018

I plan on having her back for a future episode about letting go and decluttering after losing a loved one so stay tuned to hear more from Lisa in the future.

A big thank you to you the listeners and a big thank you to Lisa for sharing to keep the memory alive...

Lisa's mom was an incredibly strong woman and loving mother. She came from Germany by herself and went on to become a successful business woman in the US. Lisa learned a lot from her mom and drew inspiration from her to start her own business. 

Lisa herself is an amazing woman, she is an organizing and productivity coach with her company Positively Productive Systems, LLC. Check her out on her website: https://positivelyproductive.com/

She is running a free program in February called Positively Grateful which sounds like it will be phenomenal. To sign up for her free Gratitude Series, go to:https://www.subscribepage.com/positively-grateful-series_Feb2018

I plan on having her back for a future episode about letting go and decluttering after losing a loved one so stay tuned to hear more from Lisa in the future.

A big thank you to you the listeners and a big thank you to Lisa for sharing to keep the memory alive...

Nancy is a super awesome woman who was lucky enough to have her mom around until she was 92 years old. Nancy tells us about what her mom was like and how her mom's wisdom is helping her live her best life.

I was introduced to Nancy by her son Alexander, who hosts a super cool podcast called The Podcaster's Life w/The Podcaster's Coach and you can check it out here: http://podcasterscoach.com/live-podcast/

I was actually a guest on his show so if you can't get enough of my voice, check it out. It was the first time I had ever done a live podcast which was a really cool experience: http://podcasterscoach.com/pearls-from-my-mom/

We also did a Micro Podcast Improv which Nancy references in this episode: https://www.spreaker.com/user/podcasterscoach/ep-43-boring

Last but not least, Alex is literally writing The Book on Podcasting which will publish soon and I have a couple of pages I have written for him on legacy in podcasting so check that out when it comes out!