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Ask a Death Doula Podcast is a weekly show hosted by Hospice and Oncology nurse Suzanne B. O’Brien. Suzanne is the CEO and founder of International Doulagivers Institute. This is a vital platform for discussions and interviews that will bring back death into the natural fold of life. Ask a Death Doula will share vital education on how to care for those who are dying as well as sharing inspiring stories from working at the bedside with over 1000 dying people from all around the world. Please visit www.doulagivers.com to access our free education and resource center. About International Doulagivers Institute: The goal of Doulagivers Institute is simple and powerful - to provide affordable and accessible education and support to everyone in the world so that every person has the opportunity to die with comfort and dignity in their own home. Death is something that we all have in common no matter our race, religion, or socioeconomic status. We believe that this education to support people to have the most positive end of life experience is a human right, not a privilege.
Episodes
Saturday Jan 23, 2021
Wednesday Nov 11, 2020
Wednesday Nov 11, 2020
Behind the Scenes of the Death Doula Global Summit 💕
Suzanne B. O’Brien here,
As a former Hospice and Oncology nurse, I have been working in the end of life space for a long time. After witnessing so much suffering at the end of life due to the large gaps in care that exist in the mainstream medical system, I created Doulagivers International. The Doulagivers End of Life Doula training was born out of a pure organic need to provide more education and support to both patient and family at the end of life. It has worked beautifully. Helping to support those at the end of life to have a positive passing (we only have one chance to have end of life go well, we cannot go back and do it over) is one of the greatest gifts we can give to one another. We need change and we need it now.
Talking about Death is Talking about Life
If you think that the Death Doula Global Summit is going to be scary and depressing, think again! I have always said that people at the end of life can teach us everything we need to know about living if we would just listen. We are a global family. One of the things that has had the biggest impact on me during my career is how end of life patients would say the same things to me. It did not matter what culture, religion, or socioeconomic status they were from
– many of them would share the same “awareness” with me at the end of their lives.
- Everything was meant for a reason. - We are ALL connected to one universal energy.
- There is no judgment.
These “Universal Laws” and principles have been around for thousands of years. We have all but lost them in our modern society. How profound that these are the words spoken before people leave this world. What would our world be like if we brought these principles back into our everyday lives?
Behind the Scenes of the Death Doula Global Summit
In this episode of “Ask a Death Doula” I take you behind the scenes of the Death Doula Global Summit! This summit has been 8 months in the active working phase, and I am thrilled to say that it is almost here!
All through my years working as a Doulagivers trainer, I have come to know and admire so many wonderful people that work in this space. All around the world, we experience end of life and here is what is so beautiful – we go through and experience many of the same things no matter where we are in the world or what our personal situation is. We are all more similar than we are different, and the end of life shows this truth vividly.
Bringing together the “voices” of 24 speakers from 9 different countries and letting you hear firsthand about their experiences, wisdom, and what is needed for the future is priceless. In this podcast I will take you on a tour of the summit website, show you how to join, and share a bit about each one of the amazing speakers that we are SO incredibly grateful to have be a part of this!
Today More Than Ever
“Let us allow death to be our greatest teacher about life. Let it remind us of just how similar we are, not different. Let death teach us that kindness and presence are the greatest gifts we can give to one another. “– Suzanne B. O’Brien RN
We would love for you to join us for the online Death Doula Global Summit November 16th – 22nd. Tickets are free, click here to join: https://www.doulagiversinstitutefhl.com/death-doula-summit/
In Love & Service,
Suzanne B. O’Brien RN
Monday Aug 24, 2020
Monday Aug 24, 2020
In this episode of Ask a Death Doula, I will be having a discussion with Dr Karen Wyatt on all the beautiful things we have learned working with those at the end of life. Their wisdom is priceless. We will also share the training we are hosting together. Please click the link below for registration details. xo Suzanne "How to be Resilient in Difficult Times" with Dr Karen Wyatt and Suzanne B. O'Brien RN Dr Karen Wyatt and Suzanne B. O'Brien RN Dr. Karen Wyatt of End of Life University and Suzanne B. O'Brien RN founder of International Doulagivers Institute have joined together to offer their combined years of bedside experiences and wisdom working with those at the end of life in an empowering and progressive new webinar series! Top Lessons Learned from Those at The End of Life: How to be Resilient in Difficult Times will uncover the truth of what lifes' journey is really all about and offer ways that we can access the deeper meaning through experiential exercises.
Monday Jul 20, 2020
Monday Jul 20, 2020
On this episode of "Ask a Death Doula", I have the great pleasure of interviewing Barbara Karnes RN. Enjoy this lively discussion from this expert about "Pain at End of Life" - the title of her latest educational booklet. Barbara has insights and wisdom that every person can benefit from.
Barbara Karnes, RN, is an internationally recognized author, speaker, thought leader and expert on end of life care and the dynamics of dying. Barbara was recognized in 2018 as a Hospice Innovator by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and was named the 2015 International Humanitarian Woman of the Year by the World Humanitarian Awards.
Barbara’s experience as a hospice care provider at the bedside of hundreds of people, and as an administrator overseeing the care of thousands, led to the 1985 publication of Gone from My Sight: The Dying Experience. Affectionately referred to in the industry as the “little blue hospice book,” Gone from My Sight has sold over 25 million copies worldwide, is published in 12 languages, and remains the leading resource on the market today educating families on the signs of approaching death.
Links Mentioned in This Episode
Barbara Karnes Books
End of Life Care Facebook Group
Something-To-Think-About Blog
Wednesday Jul 15, 2020
Wednesday Jul 15, 2020
In this segment of Ask a Death Doula's O Mag Insiders Series, I have the fortune to interview the magnetic Amy Boyle. Amy Boyle is the Founder of the 52 Phenomenal Women Project and has been a Brand Ambassador with O, the Oprah Magazine since 2017! A photographer for more than 20 years, Amy graduated from Northwestern University where she received a dual degree in art history and marketing. Her work has been published internationally and includes portrait, theater, PR, as well as fine art photography.
Enjoy this interview with this inspiring woman.
xo Suzanne
You can catch up with Amy Here:
Project: https://www.52phenomenalwomen.com/ #52PWP
Work: http://www.amyboylephotography.com/
Social: @amyboylephoto Email: amy@amyboylephoto.com
Tuesday Jun 16, 2020
Tuesday Jun 16, 2020
Death Doulas and Hospice Working Together to Provide the Best Possible Care! In This episode of "Ask a Death Doula" I am speaking with Lynda Anello who is the Community Liaison for Vitas Healthcare. Today we explore the beautiful holistic work of hospice and how Death Doulas are a wonderful support to the present day hospice team. xo Suzanne B. O'Brien RN
Tuesday May 12, 2020
Tuesday May 12, 2020
In this Interview of Ask a Death Doula, I have the great pleasure of interviewing Dr. Karen Wyatt! Dr. Karen Wyatt is the bestselling author of the books The Tao of Death and 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying, which contains stories of patients she cared for as a hospice doctor and the spiritual lessons she learned from them at the end of their lives. Dr. Wyatt also hosts End-of-Life University Podcast, which features conversations with experts who work in all aspects of end-of-life care. She is widely regarded as a thought-leader in the effort to transform the way we care for our dying in the U.S. In addition, she is valued for her application of spiritual principles to illness and healthcare and teaches that in order to live life fully we must each overcome our fear of death and embrace the difficulties that life brings us.
Website: https://www.eoluniversity.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eoluniversity/
Twitter: @spiritualmd
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kwyattmd/
Monday Apr 13, 2020
Monday Apr 13, 2020
On this episode of "Ask a Death Doula", I have the great pleasure of interviewing Barbara Karnes RN. Enjoy this lively discussion from this expert about "Pain at End of Life" - the title of her latest educational booklet. Barbara has insights and wisdom that every person can benefit from.
Barbara Karnes, RN, is an internationally recognized author, speaker, thought leader and expert on end of life care and the dynamics of dying. Barbara was recognized in 2018 as a Hospice Innovator by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and was named the 2015 International Humanitarian Woman of the Year by the World Humanitarian Awards.
Barbara’s experience as a hospice care provider at the bedside of hundreds of people, and as an administrator overseeing the care of thousands, led to the 1985 publication of Gone from My Sight: The Dying Experience. Affectionately referred to in the industry as the “little blue hospice book,” Gone from My Sight has sold over 25 million copies worldwide, is published in 12 languages, and remains the leading resource on the market today educating families on the signs of approaching death.
Links Mentioned in This Episode
Friday Mar 06, 2020
Friday Mar 06, 2020
On Today's episode of Ask a Death Doula, my guest is Justin M. Yopp, PhD,. Justin Yopp is a clinical psychologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As a member of UNC’s Comprehensive Cancer Support Program, Dr. Yopp offers psychotherapy, assessment, and consult-liaison services for both pediatric oncology and adult oncology populations at the N.C. Cancer Hospital. Dr. Yopp also co-leads the Widowed Parent Program (www.widowedparent.org), which offers support groups for parents who have lost a spouse or partner and are raising children on their own and conducts research to support grieving families. He co-authored The Group: Seven Widowed Fathers Reimagine Life (Oxford Press), which weaves together contemporary thinking on grief, adaptation and resiliency with the true story of the men from their first support group. Prior to joining the faculty at UNC, Dr. Yopp served as a psychologist at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
links mentioned in this Interview::
** website: www.widowedparent.org
** TED talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/justin_yopp_more_than_grief_how_seven_fathers_reimagined_life_after_loss
** Book:The Group: Seven Widowed Fathers Reimagine Life The Group: How Seven Widowed Fathers Reimagine Life
Friday Feb 07, 2020
Friday Feb 07, 2020
On this episode of Ask a Death Doula, My guest is Michael Hebb. Michael is the founder of Death Over Dinner and author of the book Let’s Talk About Death (Over Dinner.) He will share how the early illness and subsequent death of his father led him on a path to seek answers to life at just a tender age of 13. It is no wonder that he has accomplished so much inspiring work in this sacred space. In this episode, he will discuss the value of conversation at the dinner table and particularly for discussing difficult topics like death. We learn how Death Over Dinner now includes death dinners for healthcare providers. Michael also shares information about the upcoming event Love and Death, which will take place April, 2020 in Seattle, WA.The Love and Death Conference is bringing together the most poignant and inspired thought leaders in relationships, love, aging, death and dying to create a beautiful opportunity to explore what makes us human.
Links Mentioned in this show:
• Death Over Dinner Website : https://deathoverdinner.org/?fbclid=IwAR2UM1kfJbSVe1w5WXHG3gVxx07_wgUWU8t0YdIKDvOS1AEi52cv1f0zpeA
• Love and Death Conference Event Seattle, WA April 24th-26th Connect. Collaborate. Express | RoundGlass Collective: https://collective.round.glass/v1/love-and-death
• Email Michael Hebb at Michael@deathoverdinner.org if you’re interested in being part of the EOL Collective