The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Love, Challenges, and Joys: A Daughter's Alzheimer's Caregiving Journey

Author Sarah Vosburgh is a daughter who became a caregiver for her mother, learning to navigate advocacy, care coordination, and the intricacies of memory care. Sarah and

Death Fasting: A Son's Powerful Story With Oliver Christen

In this deeply moving episode, author Oliver Christen tells how he supported his mother and her decision to embrace a death fast, creating a deeply spiritual experience f

Laboring Out of Life With Death Doula Kacie

Listen to this episode to learn details about the work of a death doula with Kacie Gikonyo, better known as Death Doula Kacie. Kacie has built a large online community as

Walking With the Dying: On Hospice, Doulas, and Love

In her work as a Spiritual Life Doula and hospice nurse, Marggie Moertl walks with her clients through the challenges of chronic illness and decline, continuing through t

Alzheimer's Caregiving: How to Know When Senior Living is Needed

Keeping her balance as a daughter, mom, and wife made Certified Dementia Practitioner Amanda Bailey feel pulled in multiple directions, feeling the full range of emotions

When Hospice Becomes Personal for a Hospice Professional

As a hospice nurse and end-of-life caregiver for her husband, Shari Brase-Smith learned the power of good communication and coordination at the end of life.  Now she devo

How to Use Friendships to Create Your Advance Care Plan

Karen Fee took what she learned as an end-of-life caregiver to her mom and shared it with family and friends, creating a ripple effect that impacted how they all talked a

How to Be a Companion on the End of Life Journey

End of Life Doula Tracy Chalmers is dedicated to helping others find the beauty and healing that so often exists alongside the pain at end of life.  In her doula work, sh

Dying, Doulas, and Life Lessons with Darnell Lamont Walker

Death Doula Darnell Lamont Walker shows up for difficult conversations and heartbreaking losses. He knows the power of dying moments. His new book Never Can Say Goodbye:

Understanding Grief When a Loved One Has Dementia

Grief specialist Dawn Delahoye is supporting people with terminal illness and their caregivers, promoting intentional self care and accepting help when offered.  After ca

After-Death Care Explained: A Compassionate Look at What Happens Next

As a hospice aide and certified End of Life Doula, Cassidy Bastien is helping her clients and their families facilitate and provide meaningful after death care.  She’s ca

How to Find Okay-ness in the Messiness of Grief

Social Worker Bridget Sumser works to provide support to patients and families in palliative and end-of-life care for over a decade, looking to unearth untended-to grief

How to Practice the Art of Mindful Caregiving

Today’s guest Roy Remer is teaching caregivers how to practice mindful caregiving, creating sustainability and calm during the caregiving experience.  Roy is the author o

Medical Students Are Learning How to be With the Dying

Walking alongside someone with serious illness takes compassion, skill, and a willingness to learn.  Dr. Kevin Dieter is teaching medical students how to be with the dyin

A Hospice Nurse Explains How to Prepare for a Better End of Life Scenario

End of Life Doula and hospice nurse Jan Booth teaches at the intersection of end of life care and quality of life, promoting open-hearted advance care plan conversations

How to Find Life Lessons in Caring for the Dying

Hospice nurse and end of life doula Trish Rux believes that considering our death helps us to live life more fully.  After being at the bedside of hundreds of dying patie

How to Prepare Emotionally and Financially for Serious Illness

Tracy Heath is taking a holistic approach to serious illness and dying, finding a healthy balance of emotional, physical, and financial well-being.  Although her family n

Learn the Value of the Professional Hospice Aide

Hospice aides hold a special place on the hospice team, bringing their hearts to the hard work of personal care for seriously ill patients.  Kathleen Schrek shares the st

How to Find Joy in the Caregiving Experience

During her caregiving experience, author Alexandra Grabbe came to know her mom on a deeper level and found joy in their last days together.   Alexandra juggled caregiving

Listen to the Heart of a Pediatric Death Doula

Today’s guest Alexandra Dionisio offers an honest look at the work of a pediatric death doula, describing how she has learned to sit with hard truths and face them with a