End-of-Life University

Karen Wyatt MD

Dr. Karen Wyatt, hospice physician and author of "What Really Matters," interviews experts on all aspects of the end-of-life, including: caring for the dying, funeral and burial practices, planning for the end-of-life, conscious dying, grief and loss, caregiver support, afterlife, death and the arts, and community initiatives to improve end-of-life care. Access more interviews at www.eoluniversity.com

  • 1 hour 14 minutes
    Ep. 538 Helping “Stuck Souls” Cross Over with Father Nathan Castle

    Learn about the unusual work of a priest who experiences after-death communication with souls who have become “stuck” in their afterlife journey.

    My guest Father Nathan Castle is a Dominican priest known for his work in campus ministry and his unusual calling of helping souls who have died suddenly to find peace. He discusses his unique work and how he was called to serve others in this way. He discusses the communications he receives in his dreams and how he began working with the souls who connect with him whose afterlives have been interrupted by unfinished business. He is the host of The Joyful Friar Podcast and the author of four books including his most recent: Afterlife: Interrupted Book 3 – Let Me Explain. Learn more at his website:

    Nathan-castle.com

    Get the books here

    Watch on YouTube

    Listen here:

    This episode includes:

    • What he means by “stuck souls”
    • How he first experienced contact from a deceased soul in his dreams
    • Why certain people might get stuck in this way after death
    • What is an “interrupted death experience”
    • Stories of souls he has encountered during after death communication experiences
    • How he works with stuck souls and their guardians to help them cross over
    • How he uses prayer as a subset of love for helping souls
    • In his experience many people who died by suicide felt optionless and just wanted the pain to stop
    • How he manages to be “The Joyful Friar” in the midst of the work he does
    • Advice for the living: Stay in the present moment and don’t be defined by the worst thing that happened to you in order to avoid getting stuck in the afterlife

    Links mentioned in this episode:

    If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

    2 March 2026, 12:50 am
  • 55 minutes 52 seconds
    Ep. 537 Grief and the Widowed Mom with Krista St-Germain

    Learn about grief support for widows who are also raising children as they navigate loss and bereavement.

    My guest Krista St-Germain is a life coach, post-traumatic growth and grief expert, widowed mom, and host of The Widowed Mom Podcast. She coaches and teaches other widows to love life again and shares with us in this conversation what she has learned. She and her work have been featured in Psychology Today, Medium, Thrive Global, Bustle, Psych Central, and Parents Magazine. Learn more at her website:

    coachingwithkrista.com

    Watch on YouTube

    Listen here:

    This episode includes:

    • The challenges of grieving while raising children
    • How our limited knowledge of grief makes it more difficult to navigate
    • Coping with unexpected effects of grief
    • Myths about what is “normal” in grief
    • What Krista wishes she had known about grief
    • The dual-process model of grief
    • The importance of community in navigating grief
    • How just hearing someone else talk about their grief is helpful
    • Post-traumatic growth and grief
    • Understanding secondary losses and grief

    Links mentioned in this episode:

    If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

    16 February 2026, 9:00 am
  • 57 minutes 31 seconds
    Ep. 536 Never Can Say Goodbye: The Life of a Death Doula with Darnell Lamont Walker

    Learn about a powerful memoir from the life of a death doula who was inspired by his grandmother to sit with the dying.

    My guest Darnell Lamont Walker is a death doula, Emmy-nominated children’s television writer, producer and explorer. He creates spaces worldwide for healing through storytelling, end-of-life care, and workshops on grief, resilience, unlocking the writer within, and radical empathy. He is the author of the newly published memoir Never Can Say Goodbye: The Life of a Death Doula and The Art of a Peaceful End published by HarperCollins. Learn more at his website:

    darnellwalker.com

    Get the book here

    Watch on YouTube

    Listen here:

    This episode includes:

    • How Darnell was first introduced to end-of-life care by his grandmother
    • The power of storytelling
    • Why caring for the dying seems foreign to some people but is actually an innate ability
    • Why we should be training children at a young age to be present with dying or we may pass on our own fear of death
    • Death within the Black community and the impact of systemic racism, generational trauma, and unequal access to healthcare on end-of-life decision-making
    • Why listening first is the best way to build trust and get people to talk about difficult subjects
    • Why we can make better choices for life when we become aware of our mortality

    Links mentioned in this episode:

    If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to Jolynn Deloach for making a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

    10 February 2026, 8:59 am
  • 55 minutes 33 seconds
    Ep. 535 Planning Your Funeral and Legacy Online with Paul Fried

    Learn about a helpful online platform for end-of-life planning and the benefits of using technology for this work.

    My guest Paul Fried is an entrepreneur who recognized a need to reshape how we think about end-of-life planning. He founded a digital-first platform that focuses on compassionate funeral planning, digital legacy preservation, and emotional wellness titled I Made the Arrangements. He discusses the value of recording our end-of-life wishes and messages digitally for the sake of our loved ones. Paul is also the author of the book Live Fully. Leave Wisely: End-of-Life Planning as the Ultimate Act of Love. Learn more at his website:

    Imadethearrangements.com

    Get the book

    Watch on YouTube

    Listen here:

    This episode includes:

    • How Paul’s ancestry and personal history led him to create I Made the Arrangements
    • Why digital planning services are important right now
    • The disastrous consequences of not planning ahead or talking about our end-of-life wishes
    • Why employers are starting to offer online end-of-life planning as a benefit to their employees
    • How technology is rapidly advancing to help people reconnect with holographic images of their loved ones
    • How “wishkeepers” help secure their loved ones’ legacies
    • Resources available on the website

    Links mentioned in this episode:

    If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

    2 February 2026, 11:00 am
  • 1 hour 1 minute
    Ep. 534 Sacred Dying: Honoring the Legacy of Megory Anderson with Jeremy Damec

    Learn about the beautiful contribution of Dr. Megory Anderson to the field of sacred death and dying and how her legacy lives on 7 years after her death.

    My guest Jeremy Damec is a NEDA-certified death doula and a grief counselor who has also completed chaplaincy training and worked at a funeral home. He was a friend and mentee of Megory Anderson and knew her well during the years prior to her untimely and unexpected death in 2019. We discuss her pioneering contributions to end-of-life care and her book Sacred Dying along with our own stories of being inspired by Megory’s wisdom on the 7th anniversary since her death. Learn more about Jeremy’s work:

    jeremydeathandgrief.com

    deathandgriefworkercollective.com

    Get Sacred Dying

    Watch on YouTube

    Listen here:

    This episode includes:

    • Megory’s book Sacred Dying as a valuable resource for all death workers
    • How Jeremy got to know Megory Anderson
    • Jeremy’s experience sitting vigil with Megory before she died
    • How Jeremy still learns from Megory in his work
    • Honoring Megory as a pioneer in the sacred aspect of death and dying
    • What Jeremy has been inspired to create through the Death and Grief Worker Collective

    Links mentioned in this episode:

    If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu, especially my latest patron Leslie Robinson! And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

    19 January 2026, 5:15 pm
  • 1 hour 8 minutes
    Ep. 533 The Legacy of Hospice in the U.S. and Around the World with Dr. Robert Buckingham

    Learn the history of the hospice movement in the US from one of the original founders.

    My guest Dr. Robert Buckingham is a Professor Emeritus of Public Health at the University of Michigan and has been a pioneer of the U.S. hospice movement, having played a role in the founding of the very first hospice program in this country. In addition he has co-developed 81 hospice programs across the globe including the firs hospice for children with AIDS in Thailand. He is the author of 12 books – 7 dedicated solely to hospice and palliative care. His latest book is Understanding Loss and Grief for Women. Learn more at his website:

    rwbuckingham.com

    Watch on YouTube

    Listen here:

    This episode includes:

    • The birth of hospice in America
    • Current threats to the hospice movement
    • Dr. Buckingham’s involvement in developing hospice programs around the world
    • The historical philosophy of hospice care
    • The benefits of providing hands-on care to a loved one at the end of life
    • How the AIDS crisis helped fuel the growth of the hospice movement
    • Lessons learned from dying patients
    • Why he wrote about loss and grief for women and why we need to make sure we include men in grief work
    • Remembering that change takes time and taking the long view on our work

    Links mentioned in this episode:

    If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

    5 January 2026, 7:20 pm
  • 59 minutes 23 seconds
    Ep. 532 Writing Your Obituary as Part of End-of-Life Planning with Gail Shapiro

    Learn how and why to write your own obituary as a legacy project.

    My guest Gail Shapiro is a seasoned writer and editor and also a professional organizer who has guided many people through the details of end-of-life planning. She also helps people write memorable obituaries for themselves and others and today discusses why this process is an important part of end-of-life planning. She shares tips and best practices for writing an obituary and how she can help when we aren’t sure what to include or how to say what we mean. Learn more at her website:

    gailshapiro.com

    Listen here:

    This episode includes:

    • How Gail became interested in obituary writing
    • Why an obituary can also be a legacy project
    • Why should we consider writing our own obituary rather than leaving it to someone else
    • What should an obituary include
    • What should NOT be in an obituary
    • Best practices for writing a beautiful obit
    • How AI can make serious mistakes in obituary writing and cannot replace the human touch
    • What services Gail provides for those who aren’t comfortable doing their own writing

    Links mentioned in this episode:

    If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu, especially my latest supporter Adele Flaherty and to Jen Davidson for increasing your pledge. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

    15 December 2025, 5:03 pm
  • 1 hour 8 minutes
    Ep. 531 Sacred Wild: Soul Connections with Our Pets in Life and Death with Miki Jacobs

    Learn about the spiritual bond between humans and their pets and how it continues after physical death.

    My guest Miki Jacobs is an internationally acclaimed medium, speaker, and author who shares wisdom and teachings from the spirit world with audiences worldwide. Her lifelong love of animals led her, along with her husband Clayton, to create a sanctuary for rescued animals on their ranch in Southern California. In her book Sacred Wild: The Spiritual World of Animals, Including Pets, and its Interconnectedness with Ours – she explores the spiritual nature of animals and the sacred bond they share with humans, which we discuss in this episode. Learn more at her website:

    mikijacobs.com

    Get the book here

    Watch on YouTube

    Listen here:

    This episode includes:

    • How Miki developed her connection with animals and with the spiritual realm
    • We can all teach ourselves to communicate with “the other side” if we choose to and do the necessary spiritual work
    • How mediumship helps with the fear of death
    • Animals are capable of unconditional love because they don’t have an ego
    • For humans our true selves can be obscured by the energy of the ego
    • Animals can detect our wellbeing and recognize when someone is dying
    • The pets we have are meant to be with us if we are open to that – we have “soul contracts” with them
    • Why Miki believes that our animal companions have a spiritual existence after death and continue to accompany us
    • Signs that our departed animal companions might send to us in everyday life or dreams
    • Spiritual growth is hard but the benefits are beautiful – we grow through challenges
    • How connecting with a pet could be the pathway to spiritual growth, including teaching us about impermanence

    Links mentioned in this episode:

    If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu, especially my latest supporter Marion Folkemer. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

    8 December 2025, 11:00 am
  • 59 minutes 54 seconds
    Ep. 530 Six Pillars of Care for Palliative Care Providers with Meina Dubetz RN

    Learn about a training course for professionals entering the palliative care field to prepare them for the emotional and spiritual demands of this work.

    My guest Meina Dubetz is a registered nurse specializing in Palliative and Oncology Care and also a Certified Grief Educator and Reiki Master. She is the author of the book When Death Comes Knocking for Your Patients: A Guide for Nurses and Palliative Caregivers, which became a #1 bestseller on Amazon in the US and Canada. Recently she has developed a course for professionals entering the palliative care field in an institutional setting titled 6 Pillars of Care that we discuss today. Learn more at her website:

    meinadubetz.com

    Get her book here

    Watch on YouTube

    Listen here:

    This episode includes:

    • How Meina was first called to work with the elderly and dying at the age of 17
    • How her path was shaped as well by the deaths of her father and her son
    • The healthcare system is not prepared or trained to cope with grief and help people at the end of life
    • Healthcare providers are affected by every death they experience whether they realize or not
    • The importance of our history with death, dying and grief when we serve others at the end of life
    • Why we should practice having difficult conversations before we engage in them
    • Why we need to share our struggles with our peers

    Links mentioned in this episode:

    If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to Kquasny who bought me a coffee and to everyone who has made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

    1 December 2025, 11:00 am
  • 1 hour 13 minutes
    Ep. 529 The Dementia Deck: Preparing for Future Decisions with Lisa Pahl and Jamie Thrower

    Learn about a helpful conversation game that encourages discussions about advance care planning for dementia.

    My guests for this episode, Lisa Pahl and Jamie Thrower, are the co-creators of The Dementia Deck, a new card game to help inspire conversations about demential. Lisa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Advanced Practice Hospice and Palliative Social Worker who previously created The Death Deck and The EOL Deck–conversation games that are changing the way we talk about death. Jamie is a queer death doula, end-of-life educator and community grief-tender serving the LGBTQ+ community in life and in death. She also runs Queer Grief Club (and I plan to have her back on the podcast to talk about her work!) They discuss how to use The Dementia Deck to overcome fears of dementia and help families prepare for future changes and decision-making. Learn more at their websites:

    thedeathdeck.com

    jamiethrower.com

    Watch on YouTube

    Listen here:

    This episode includes:

    • What The Death Deck and The EOL Deck consist of
    • The story behind The Dementia Deck and its creation
    • How Jamie collaborated on the design of the deck
    • Why conversations and advance care planning are important for people with dementia
    • Many people fear dementia even more than death
    • Millions of Americans are impacted by dementia either as a patient or a caregiver
    • How to introduce The Dementia Deck to an individual
    • Tips for getting the most out of working with the deck
    • Why it’s important to “stack the deck” when you first begin talking about dementia

    Links mentioned in this episode:

    If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to everyone who has bought me a coffee or made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

    24 November 2025, 4:51 pm
  • 1 hour 4 minutes
    Ep. 528 Sharing Our Stories to Preserve Our History with Stephanie Ford

    Learn how to discover and preserve our own and others’ stories to provide inspiration in challenging times.

    My guest Stephanie Ford is the founder of Life Stories with Steph, a video storytelling service dedicated to preserving personal and family histories. With a background in caregiving, hospice and training as an end-of-life doula, she discusses the importance of sharing and recording stories to preserve legacies and histories of those who came before us. Learn more at her website:

    lifestorieswithsteph.com

    Watch on YouTube

    Listen here:

    This episode includes:

    • How Stephanie became interested in this work
    • Why storytelling is important to society and especially to those facing the end of life
    • How ordinary lives contain remarkable resilience and hope that can be shared through stories
    • How to discover stories of our ancestors
    • The value of genealogy work
    • Using photos to inspire storytelling
    • How to capture small meaningful moments of everyday life
    • What services she offers and how it works
    • Who benefits from recording and sharing life stories with Steph

    Links mentioned in this episode:

    If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu. And thanks to “Someone” who bought me 5 coffees and those who made a donation on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.

    17 November 2025, 8:31 pm
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