Best Rev Wakil David Matthews Podcasts (2025)

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Addressing the Gaps in End of Life Care with Marci Donaldson 43:22

2d ago43:22

43:22

Send us a text In this conversation, Marci Donaldson shares her journey from a small town in Wyoming to becoming a passionate advocate for end-of-life care. She discusses her early experiences with death, the impact of her mother's strength, and how these experiences shaped her career in hospice and nursing. Marci highlights the gaps in care for th…

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Announcing Child Loss Virtual Support Group with Phoenix Destiny and Karen Carlissi 21:26

7d ago21:26

21:26

Send us a text In this episode, Karen Carlissi discusses her work as a death doula and the collaborative event she is hosting with Phoenix Destiny, focusing on supporting individuals who have experienced child loss. We explore the concept of disenfranchised grief, the format of their workshops, and the importance of ongoing support for participants…

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Introducing the Grievers' Library with Pamela Belyea 38:34

10d ago38:34

38:34

Send us a text In this conversation, Pamela Belyea shares her journey through grief after losing six family members in a short span. She discusses the founding of the Griever's Library, a nonprofit that provides grief resources to the community. We explore the importance of being present for those in grief, the role of community support, and the im…

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Telepathic Connections: Communicating with the Deceased with Fran Parker 42:54

17d ago42:54

42:54

Send us a text In this episode, we welcomed Fran Parker. Fran is a writer who loves Earth and the diversity of life on planet Earth. Her awe of humanity's potential, her communication with God, and her journeys in dreams and meditations led her to write the book God's Gift to Gaia: Guidance for Awakening Humans. Messages from Jesus led to a book se…

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Called to Accompany the Dying with Karen Carlisi 34:35

24d ago34:35

34:35

Send us a text In this conversation, Karen Carlisi shares her profound journey from being an English language educator to becoming a death doula. She reflects on her early experiences with death, including the loss of loved ones, and how these moments shaped her understanding of life and death. Karen discusses her transition into the role of a deat…

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Helping Navigate Grief in the Wild Heart Space with Mirabai Starr 39:42

1M ago39:42

39:42

Send us a text In this conversation, Mirabai Starr shares her profound experiences with death and loss, detailing how these events have shaped her spiritual journey and her work. She discusses the impact of her brother's and first love's deaths on her life, leading her to explore the sacred dimensions of grief. Mirabai also introduces her current p…

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Natural Body Disposition and Mindfulness at End of Life with Mike Reagan 41:37

1M ago41:37

41:37

Send us a text In this conversation, Mike Reagan, CEO of The Natural Funeral, shares his profound journey in end-of-life care, from his teenage years working in a cemetery to his current role in revolutionizing the funeral industry. He discusses the importance of presence and compassion during the dying process, the innovative approach of terramati…

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Unique Death Education with the Death Doyenne, Gail Rubin 33:16

1M ago33:16

33:16

Send us a text In this conversation, Gail Rubin, a pioneering death educator, shares her journey into the field of death education, emphasizing the importance of planning for end-of-life issues. She discusses her creative approaches, including the use of humor and film clips, to engage people in conversations about death. Gail also reflects on her …

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The Wind Phone: A Symbol of Connection with Russell Young 29:46

2M ago29:46

29:46

Send us a text In this conversation, Russell Young shares his profound experiences with death, grief, and the importance of community support. He reflects on the impact of losing loved ones, particularly his father and wife, and how these experiences shaped his understanding of life and death. We also highlight his installation of a 'wind phone' on…

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What is a Death Doula 1:12:12

2M ago1:12:12

1:12:12

Send us a text In this episode, we introduce the concept of death doulas, professionals trained to support individuals and families during the end-of-life process. Four experienced death doulas are featured in the conversation, sharing their backgrounds, specialties, and personal stories that inspired them to enter this field. They discuss the impo…

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Hand Woven Coffins and the Importance of Death Literacy with Dr. Tamara McIntyre 46:11

2M ago46:11

46:11

Send us a text In this conversation, Dr. Tamara McIntyre shares her journey and insights into death literacy, the importance of curiosity in facing mortality, and her work with hand-woven willow coffins. She discusses the challenges of engaging people in conversations about death, the cultural shifts surrounding end-of-life practices, and the need …

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Cultural Ritual with the Founder of A Thoughtful Death Neshia Alaovae 38:32

2M ago38:32

38:32

Send us a text In this conversation, Neshia (Nee sha) Alaovae (Alah vi) shares her profound experiences and insights on death, grief, and the importance of cultural rituals. Raised by her grandparents in Samoa, Neshia's early encounters with death shaped her understanding and approach to end-of-life care. She emphasizes the significance of rituals …

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Helping Children and Adults Find Meaning in Death with Rich Nisbet 43:47

3M ago43:47

43:47

Send us a text In this conversation, Rich Nisbet shares his profound experiences with death, grief, and spirituality. He discusses his journey from personal loss to becoming a grief counselor, emphasizing the importance of finding meaning in death. Rich also introduces his children's book, The Life Cycle, which aims to help children understand deat…

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Last Words & First Words and How They Relate with Michael Erard 39:02

3M ago39:02

39:02

Send us a text In this conversation, Michael Erard discusses his work on language, mainly focusing on the first words of babies and the last words of the dying. He shares personal experiences with death, including a profound encounter that shaped his understanding of grief and mourning. The discussion explores the importance of communication at the…

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Compassionate End-of-Life Care for the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community with Tianna Dargent 33:46

3M ago33:46

33:46

Send us a text In this conversation, Tiana Dargent, founder of Queer Community Death Care, shares her personal journey with death and grief, highlighting the importance of inclusive and compassionate end-of-life care for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. She discusses her experiences with death from a young age, the evolution of her understanding of grief,…

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🔒 How to Become a Death Doula - Premium Episode 1:13:40

3M ago1:13:40

1:13:40

Subscriber-only episode Send us a text An edited video version of this episode is available here: https://youtu.be/9bLisrm7q4w In this podcast episode, the hosts engage with experienced death doulas to explore the journey of becoming a death doula, the personal inspirations behind their work, and the training involved. The conversation highlights t…

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Culturally Sensitive Training with Joe'l the Grave Woman 36:40

3M ago36:40

36:40

Send us a text In this conversation, Joe'l Simone Maldonado, a licensed funeral director and grief educator, shares her profound experiences with death from a young age, the challenges she faces in her profession, and the importance of self-care and boundaries in her work. She emphasizes the need for cultural competency in death care and reflects o…

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Serving 10,000 Veterans at their End of Life with Deborah Grassman 32:59

3M ago32:59

32:59

Send us a text In this conversation, Deborah Grassman shares the profound insights she gained from her extensive experience as a hospice nurse for veterans. She discusses the concept of 'soul injury,' a wound that disconnects individuals from their true selves and emphasizes the importance of healing through self-discovery, grief, and forgiveness. …

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Serving Individuals and Families Navigating the End-of-Life with LiElla Kelly 37:13

4M ago37:13

37:13

Send us a text LiElla Kelly is a nationally recognized NEDA (National End-of-Life Doula Alliance) Proficient End-of-Life Doula and After-Death Care Educator. She founded Leaving Well, a groundbreaking business that serves individuals and families seeking to navigate end-of-life transitions with grace, dignity, and peace. Her clients understand the …

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Speaking with Death Doulas - with Phoenix Destiny and Myra Daniel 38:32

4M ago38:32

38:32

Send us a text In this episode, we spoke with two new friends we met at a recent death care conference in Seattle. They are both Death Doulas and some of their cohort will share their inspiration and work in a special premium video episode called “What is a Death Doula?” We hope you’ll subscribe to enjoy that and other premium content. Phoenix and …

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Training Caregivers At The Humane Prison Hospice Project with Laura Musselman 43:18

4M ago43:18

43:18

Send us a text Laura Musselman is the Director of Communications (and program facilitator) for the Humane Prison Hospice Project. She is also a trauma-support specialist and advocate for compassionate, dignified end-of-life care. A mother of one child and three dogs, she enjoys exploring how privilege affects access to a “good death” and learning f…

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Celebrating the End of Season Two 7:01

4M ago7:01

7:01

Send us a text NOTE: You can see the video version of this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/L-mUMV5shaA Also, please note that subscribing to the YouTube channel (though we appreciate it!) is not the same as subscribing to our podcast to have access to our premium content. Please consider clicking on the "Support the Show" link at the bottom o…

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Plant Medicine for Grief and Healing with Teresa Yung 43:45

5M ago43:45

43:45

Send us a text In this conversation, Teresa Yung shares her profound journey through grief and healing, exploring the impact of death on her life and work. As an activist and therapist in training, she discusses her experiences with plant medicine, the awakening process, and her role as a life doula. Teresa emphasizes the importance of self-discove…

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Be Vessels of Love in the World and Imagine Peace - with Author and Playwright Anastacia Dadashpour 41:00

5M ago41:00

41:00

Send us a text In this conversation, Anastasia Dadashpour shares her profound experiences with death and loss, exploring how these events have shaped her understanding of life, love, and spirituality. She discusses the impact of her grandmother's fear of death, the loss of her daughter, and her father's suicide, emphasizing the connections that rem…

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AI Replicants, Sentience, Death Awareness - with Playwright Duane Kelly 38:49

5M ago38:49

38:49

Send us a text Duane Kelly is an award-winning author of eleven full-length plays. His plays often delve into end-of-life themes. The two most recent productions were a premiere of Abacus in Seattle in September 2024 and the play Patrimony in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in October 2024. Abacus tells the story of a synthetic human replicant who experiences une…

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The Importance of Planning for the End of Life as a Gift to Your Loved Ones with Dr Kimberly Harms 44:51

5M ago44:51

44:51

Send us a text In this conversation, Dr. Kimberly Harms shares her profound experiences with grief and loss, detailing the impact of her mother's and son's deaths on her life. She discusses the importance of processing grief, the role of legacy planning, and how to support others through their grief journeys. Dr. Harms emphasizes the significance o…

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Funeral & End of Life Planning with Jamie Sarche 43:40

5M ago43:40

43:40

Send us a text In this conversation, Jamie Sarche discusses her mission to help people confront their mortality and plan for their funerals, which she believes leads to more meaningful lives. She shares personal experiences with death, the importance of open conversations about grief, and the various options available for funeral planning. Jamie em…

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Speaking With a Pharmacist About Medical Aid in Dying with Rodney Diffendaffer 37:17

6M ago37:17

37:17

Send us a text Rodney Diffendaffer, a clinical compounding pharmacist and certified functional medicine practitioner, discusses his work in the field of medical aid in dying (MAID). He shares his personal experiences with death growing up on a farm and how it shaped his perspective. Rodney talks about his role at Flatirons Family Pharmacy, where he…

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What Comes Next - A Near Death Experience with Libby Carr 44:08

6M ago44:08

44:08

Send us a text Libby Carr. Libby has been an environmental and political activist for much of her life. It was when she had her first big job (working for the Sierra Club) when she had her near death experience while on a white-water raft trip on the Snake River. This happened in 1972, several years before much had been written about this phenomeno…

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🔒 The What, Why and How of Advanced Care Directives 30:06

6M ago30:06

30:06

Subscriber-only episode Send us a text This premium episode is available as a video at: https://youtu.be/axTn31uxgGA In this conversation, Wakil and Annalouiza delve into the significance of advanced care directives, exploring their definition, importance, and the various components involved. They discuss who should have an advanced care directive,…

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Simplify Estate Planning and Organization - Buried In Work Website for End of Life Resources with Adam Zuckerman 34:17

6M ago34:17

34:17

Send us a text Adam Zuckerman is the Founder of Buried in Work, a leading eCommerce platform specializing in estate planning/organization, end-of-life tasks, and estate transitions. With a deeply personal motivation stemming from his experience managing his father's estate, Adam is dedicated to simplifying these complex processes for individuals an…

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Alternative Body Disposition - Terramation and Water Cremation - with Seth Viddal 37:00

6M ago37:00

37:00

Send us a text In this episode Seth Viddal shares his journey of becoming aware of death and how it has impacted his life. He discusses his experiences with traditional funerals and the limitations he felt in the funeral industry. This led him to start The Natural Funeral, an organization that offers ecological funeral options. Seth explains the pr…

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Mindfulness and Art as tools for healing & support during the dying process with Tajali Tolan 36:42

7M ago36:42

36:42

Send us a text In this episode we're pleased to welcome Tajali Theresa Tolan, MS Tajali is a Certified Mindfulness Educator, Peace Educator, Marriage and Family Therapist, Family Life Educator, and Registered Yoga Teacher. She is the founder of both the Children’s Global Peace Project and The Consciousness Project–an Empowerment Life Coaching Couns…

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Caring for the Homeless and Trans Communities with rev. Dr. Meghan Rohrer 42:53

7M ago42:53

42:53

Send us a text In this episode we speak with Megan Rohrer, PhD and DMin, a social justice influencer known for their advocacy with the homeless and LGBTQ communities. Megan received a PhD in Transformative Studies from the California Institute of Integral Studies for their dissertation Trans Theology Without Apology. Megan received a Doctorate of M…

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Dementia Care with the Creator and Host of the Daughterhood Podcast, Rosanne Corcoran 41:24

7M ago41:24

41:24

Send us a text In this episode, we meet Rosanne Corcoran, who shares her experience as a caregiver for her mother with vascular dementia. She discusses the challenges of caregiving, the impact of death awareness, and the importance of supporting caregivers. The conversation also delves into the complexities of dementia care and the need to meet car…

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The Value of Listening, Patience, and Compassion in End-of-Life Care with Lynn Rovig 32:23

7M ago32:23

32:23

Send us a text In this episode, we enjoyed a conversation with Lynn Rovig. Lynn contacted us to say she had a story to tell about her work as a Home Care Consultant with a Seattle area organization called “Home Instead.” Lynn has been working with seniors for twenty-four years. She has worked with many people in hospice care and on a personal note,…

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🔒 Being With Grief 29:00

7M ago29:00

29:00

Subscriber-only episode Send us a text You can see the video version of this premium episode on YouTube here - https://youtu.be/8mWuhQCQyB8 In this conversation, Wakil and Annalouiza discuss how to support someone who is grieving. They emphasize the importance of compassionate listening and being present for the person without trying to fix anythin…

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Poetry As a Powerful Tool for Addressing End-of-Life Topics with Poet Steve Dahl 37:12

8M ago37:12

37:12

Send us a text In this episode we are honored to speak with poet, Steve Dahl. Steve’s career has always been in the world of marketing and creativity. He’s helped many clients over the years promote and grow their business with his creative writing, photography, and social media skills. Steve holds a Master’s degree in Organization Development and …

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Creative Aging, Death Awareness, and Resilience with Rebecca Crichton 30:09

8M ago30:09

30:09

Send us a text In this episode we meet Rebecca Crichton, the executive director of Northwest Center for Creative Aging. We discuss her work in the field of creative aging and grief counseling. She shares personal experiences with death and highlights the importance of having conversations about death and end-of-life choices. Rebecca emphasizes the …

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Eco Friendly Caskets and Urns with Diana O'Riordan Verschoor and Luc Nadeau 37:56

8M ago37:56

37:56

Send us a text Today we're very happy to be able to share a conversation with two friends, Diana & Luc Diana O'Riordan Verschoor, who also goes by Dee, is an eco folk artist living in the Colorado on Cheyenne, Ute, and Arapaho ancestral land. Dee's small business, Thimble and Stone, supports collective liberation through functional folk arts, placi…

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A Cultural Perspective on the End of Life from a Black Woman with Dr. Amelia Phillips 41:45

8M ago41:45

41:45

Send us a text Today we have an opportunity to share a conversation with Dr. Amelia Phillips, a black woman working in a variety of fields dominated by white men including Engineering Information technology and real estate. Dr. Phillips is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a BS degree in Astronautical Engineering an…

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Episode 37: How to Make it Through Hard Things 21:36

8M ago21:36

21:36

And All Shall Be Well is an optimistic podcast where Rev. Dr. Megan Rohrer (he/him) shares wisdom or conversations with guests about mind, body and spirit health. Believing that all people are a work in progress, And All Shall Be Well. Megan is prolific author, award winning historian and a former Lutheran bishop.…

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Medical Aid in Dying & Personal Agency at the End of Life with Dr. Twana Sparks 43:19

8M ago43:19

43:19

Send us a text Twana Sparks MD is a semi-retired ear, nose and throat surgeon and writer. She is a native New Mexican and 1986 graduate of the University of New Mexico Medical School. Dr. Twana Sparks excels at oral histories mixed with scientific information. Her books on Medical Aid in Dying (2024) and Tuberculosis treatment (2013) blend the pers…

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Death Designer Isabel Knight - Creating Human Centered, Accessible and Inclusive End of Life Experiences 44:30

9M ago44:30

44:30

Send us a text On today’s episode we have a wonderful conversation with Isabel Knight. Isabel is the Founder of The Death Designer, a company that provides end-of-life planning services, including funeral and vigil planning, digital account password management, advance directives, and assistance with reconciling fears of mortality. She takes a huma…

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Terramation - Composting as an Alternative Body Disposition - with Brien Smith 41:37

9M ago41:37

41:37

Send us a text In this episode we got to spend time with Brie Smith. Brie is the longest-standing employee at Return Home, a leader in the new (but old) practice of terramation or body composting. She first served as Director of Services, then as COO, and now she is responsible for overseeing Return Home’s community outreach initiatives, including …

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Episode 36: Resilience with GAEL ISAIAH LALA-CHÁVEZ 26:27

9M ago26:27

26:27

And All Shall Be Well is an optimistic podcast where Rev. Dr. Megan Rohrer (he/him) has conversations with guests about mind, body and spirit health. Believing that all people are a work in progress, And All Shall Be Well. Megan is prolific author, award winning historian and a former Lutheran bishop.…

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Episode 35: Spiritual Direction and Sufism with the Rev. Wakil David Matthews 32:04

10M ago32:04

32:04

On this week’s podcast Dr. Megan Rohrer talks with the Rev Wakil David Matthews, an interfaith minister ordained through the Sufi Ruhaniat International order, a very universalist and ecumenical Sufi organization. He has worked in hospice as a volunteer and chaplain’s assistant, so feels called to work specifically with those who do end of life wor…

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Season One Roundup and Season Two Teaser 30:27

10M ago30:27

30:27

Send us a text In this episode you can view as a video podcast on YouTube or on Spotify Annalouiza and Wakil discuss the first twenty episodes from Season One and all of the profound and inspirational insights that we learned from our guests. We also talk about what is coming in Season Two, including a new website and new video offerings for paid s…

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Episode 34: Forgiveness and Recovery from Spiritual Injury with Kayla Oakes 28:05

10M ago28:05

28:05

On this week’s podcast Dr. Megan Rohrer talks with author Kaya Oakes. Kayla's sixth book, Not So Sorry, is out July 2024. Her other books include: The Nones Are Alright (Orbis Books, 2015), Radical Reinvention (Counterpoint Press, 2012), The Defiant Middle: How Women Claim Life’s In Betweens to Remake the World (Broadleaf Books 2021). Socials: @kay…

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Grief Companioning is Walking Side by Side with Someone Unconditionally - with Dr. Janice Lundy 35:23

10M ago35:23

35:23

Send us a text In this episode we meet Dr. Janice Lundy, who is a grief support specialist and a grief educator. She is the founder of the Metta Center, which offers specialized training in spiritual direction, also known as spiritual companionship, including one-of-a-kind grief companionship training. Having experienced a great deal of loss in her…

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Rev Wakil David Matthews Podcasts

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