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In this conversation, Christine Jurisich shares her journey as a retreat facilitator and her experiences with grief and spirituality. She discusses the profound impact of death on her life, the importance of vulnerability and community in healing, and the role of rituals in processing grief. Christine emphasizes the non-linear nature of grief and the significance of listening and being present for others. She also highlights her ministry, Retreat Reflect Renew, which aims to foster deep spirituality and genuine community. The conversation concludes with a contemplative prayer that invites listeners to connect with their emotions and the divine.

Taking care of your well-being is essential, especially as you live through grief and loss. This video gives insight into improving your mental health through practicing self-care. You'll also learn about mindfulness techniques to reduce stress and anxiety

To find out more about upcoming retreats, go to www.RetreatReflectRenew.org

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And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

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You can view this as a video on YouTube! We encourage you to do so and to like and subscribe to our channel. And it really helps our statistics if you listen all the way to the end.

On this episode, we are joined by Jamie Dravecky. Her journey in funeral service began when she was 19 years old. She is a graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science and holds a bachelor’s degree in business management. She is the Senior Account Executive for Homesteaders. Homesteaders is an organization providing products and services to promote and support the funding of advanced funeral planning and end-of-life expenses, which began in 1906 in Des Moines, Iowa. Before joining Homesteaders, Jamie held almost every role in funeral service.

When Jamie decided to step away from direct funeral services, she joined Homesteaders. She understands what it’s like to wake up to early morning calls and support families during their most difficult times with compassion. She enjoys working with funeral homes that are seeking to try something new. She enjoys helping funeral home owners find innovative ways to connect with their communities, whether through events or unconventional ideas.

https://www.homesteaderslife.com/jamie-dravecky

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You can find us on SubStack, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one on one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.

And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

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You can view the video version on YouTube here. We encourage you to do so, subscribe to our YouTube Channel, and 'Like' the video. It also helps us a lot if you watch it till the end.

Monica Kumar, an end-of-life educator and author, shares her profound insights on death, grief, and the importance of legacy planning and asking/answering all of these essential questions as soon as you can. Drawing from her personal experiences of loss, she emphasizes the need for open conversations about death and the values that guide our decisions at the end of life. Monica discusses the challenges of caregiving planning, the limitations of traditional wills, and the significance of understanding quality of life. She advocates for a playful approach to discussing mortality, highlighting the importance of self-care in the field of death work.

Website: beyondeolplanning.com
Book: Beyond Loss: The Power of Purposeful Grief https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F899PY61 (Kindle) https://payhip.com/b/1nKkl (PDF)
Recent Article: https://www.elephantjournal.com/2025/07/we-dont-have-to-inherit-the-silence-choosing-a-new-lens-on-death-grief-monica-kumar/

Support the show

You can find us on SubStack, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one on one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.

And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

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You can view the video version on YouTube here. We encourage you to do so, subscribe to our YouTube Channel, and 'Like' the video. It also helps us a lot if you watch it till the end.

In this conversation, Annalouiza, Sarah Sawyer, and Gus Reid explore the profound themes of grief, death, and the healing power of poetry. They discuss Andi's posthumously published poetry collection, which candidly addresses end-of-life issues and the complexities of grief. The dialogue explores personal experiences with death, the impact of Andy's work on readers, and the significance of open conversations about mortality. Through readings of Andi's poems, the group reflects on the nuances of grief, the role of humor, and the societal challenges of coping with loss. The conversation highlights the importance of emotional expression and connection in the face of death, ultimately celebrating Andi's writing as a source of comfort and understanding for those navigating their own grief journeys.

Links:

ToSeeYourselfAsYouVanish.com
Book- Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/ag24mhn
Wesleyan Link: https://www.weslpress.org/9780819502070/to-see-yourself-as-you-vanish/
Instagram

Article on the cancerletter site about Andi, written by Gus:

The discount code (QWR35) is for 35% off (Hardback, Ebook, or both!) versions of To See Yourself As You Vanish. (click the Wesleyan link above). Preorders help with the algorithms, so if people order before Sept 9th, that's great for us, but honestly, all orders are great for us! We just want Andi's work in the hands of the readers.

Support the show

You can find us on SubStack, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one on one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.

And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

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You can see the video version on YouTube here. https://youtu.be/Xv8Hts6y-ow

In this conversation, Chef Dave Dekker shares his profound experiences with death, caregiving, and the importance of compassion in senior living. He reflects on his personal encounters with loss, the impact of his mother's decline, and how these experiences shaped his approach to culinary caregiving. Dave emphasizes the need for dignity in elder care, the significance of nutrition, and the role of care staff in creating a supportive community. He concludes with reflections on finding purpose in service and the importance of caring for others.

Support the show

You can find us on SubStack, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one on one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.

And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

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You can view the video version on YouTube here.

In this episode, Mel Bennett, co-founder of Life Forest Cemetery, shares her journey in the death care industry, emphasizing the importance of compassionate care, innovative burial practices, and community support. She shares her expertise in creating Life Forest, a mapped forest cemetery. Mel highlights the significance of cemetery mapping and deeded burials, ensuring families have access to their loved ones' resting places. The conversation also touches on the emotional aspects of death care and the need for resources to support grieving families.

Life Forest's website: https://www.thelifeforest.com/

Video: The inspiration that created Life Forest https://youtu.be/8-J2SPcRVOs?si=ElC0VHz0LIuKyyxZ

Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Support the show

You can find us on SubStack, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one on one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.

And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

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In this conversation, Elizabeth discusses her deep connection to Irish music, particularly revenant songs, which explore themes of death, grief, and resilience. She shares personal experiences with death and how they shaped her understanding of life and loss. The discussion highlights the importance of community in the grieving process and the therapeutic role of traditional songs in coping with grief. Elizabeth also reflects on her journey as a singer and the significance of music in her life, emphasizing the interconnectedness of life and death.

Elizabeth joined us all the way from Westport on the west coast of Ireland, for this episode!

Recently, Elizabeth developed a fascination with an important, though largely unexplored aspect of Irish musical and cultural heritage: the genre of traditional songs known as Revenant Songs. These songs, deeply rooted in Irish and international folklore, narrate tales of the dead returning, mostly in their full human form, to resolve unfinished earthly matters.

Here are links to two of the songs, as examples

1) The Unquiet Grave, sung by Luke Kelly

Luke Kelly: The Unquiet Grave

2) The Wife of Usher's Well, sung by Karine Polwart

The Wife Of Usher's Well by Karine Polwart

Book - My Father’s Wake: How the Irish Teach us to Live, Love, and Die by Kevin Toolis

The Keening Festival in Mulranny, about an hour's drive north of Westport, Ireland.

Support the show

You can find us on SubStack, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one on one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.

And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

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In this conversation, Corinne Auman discusses her journey in reshaping perceptions of aging through her work with Choice Care Navigators and her book, KEENAGERS. She shares personal experiences with death and caregiving, emphasizing the importance of planning ahead, the desire for independence among older adults, and the need for open conversations about end-of-life planning. Corinne highlights the challenges families face in navigating elder care and the role of professionals in providing support. The discussion also touches on the financial aspects of elder care and the significance of quality of life over mere longevity. Ultimately, the conversation aims to empower individuals to embrace aging positively and take control of their aging process.


Aging Life Care Resource Website

Corinne’s Organization - Choice Care Navigators Website

Keenagers: Telling a New Story About Aging - her book

Support the show

You can find us on SubStack, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one on one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.

And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.