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Welcome to This Side of the Grass! On this podcast, host Val Amsden seeks to normalize conversations about death and dying, so that we can be prepared for the inevitable: at some point, we will all die. Val will share personal stories and experiences about loss in her life, and will also interview subject matter experts on the complicated, and oftentimes expensive and morbid parts of preparation. “The loss of my mom when I was a young mother, and then the unexpected and tragic death of my br ...
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Legacy Matters

Sam Devine - Kate Westfall - Marc Dickhut

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One of our guests suggested we change the name of the show to more accurately convey what it is we do. Her suggestion was "Four People Talking at a Table". That does pretty much sum it up! Legacy Matters has proven that conversations are still important. On our show, we the hosts do no research on the guests we invite to be a part of our show. Every two weeks we sit down with a stranger and learn their story. We ask questions, sometimes serious and sometimes silly, as we get to know these st ...
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Another season has gone by, and it’s been another amazing opportunity to see how the episode topics and guests have woven organically into the theme of “positive reframing” over the last several months. Just like in Seasons 1 and 2, with the themes of “finding meaning” and “connections” respectively, it took looking back to see all the ways that th…
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Today is a heartfelt and deep dive into complicated loss. Unresolved issues, being estranged, suddenness, guilt and anger are all examples of complications that could muddy the waters of grief when someone dies. On today’s episode, we hear a unique perspective from former ICU nurse, Joy DiVincenzo, who worked in the Intensive Care Unit during the C…
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‘Tis the season…. For graduations! Whether you are a graduate, have one in your family, or are just in a transition stage of life, today’s show is for you. As I was reflecting on all the graduations this time of year, I was thinking of new beginnings. And whenever something begins, something has come to an end. This season of life had me considerin…
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I am honored to have palliative care physician, Dr. Joel Carter, with me today. In addition to educating me on what this specialty is and how it differs from hospice, Dr. Carter delves into some incredibly powerful insights into just how powerful stories can be at the end of someone’s life, and shares several moving stories of his own. Joel Carter …
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Wendy Benning Swanson is my guest today! She is a spiritual guide, healer, and teacher in the mysteries of life. “Her purpose is to support people in finding their inner light which will allow them to align with their most powerful self.” (wendybenningswanson.com) She found her purpose through a winding journey after significant loss in her life – …
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I’m so honored to have Brian Muller back with me today! If you have not heard our first conversation from about a year ago, please listen here first: Putting Pain Into Purpose: A Conversation with Brian Muller - This Side of the Grass. His story is incredibly powerful and moving – and since our last episode together, he has finished writing a book …
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In this episode of 'Legacy Matters', hosts Sam and Mark welcome their guest, Chris Stedman, a writer, professor, and podcaster. They begin by discussing their show sponsors and comedic experiences before diving into a meaningful conversation with Chris. The discussion covers Chris’s background, including his work on a podcast series about his frien…
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Today’s amazing guest is Dr. Jane Oh. After practicing internal medicine for 30 years, Dr. Oh was looking for a new challenge, while also watching her patients age. Transitioning to hospice care seemed a natural next step to help provide comfort and support for her patients. This conversation provides clarity in a field that many perceive and assum…
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Today’s episode features musical sisters Kjersten Dysthe and Kara Millerhagen, from the Minnesota musical group, Sister. Through their beautiful words, songs and stories, they have shared their gifts with one another and their audiences going back to childhood. Starting as a trio, with their sister Alisa, they evolved from young women into mothers …
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In this episode, Marc and Sam introduce their show with a casual, humorous conversation and begin by thanking their sponsors, including a new addition, Dylan Olson-Cole with Anderson Realty. They reflect on the quirky nature of their podcast and the awkward yet valuable dynamic they bring to their listeners. The hosts then welcome their guest, Gabr…
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Today was a day. It was one of those crummy days, in spite of the sunshine, that I wanted to just stay in bed. I was definitely on the Struggle Bus. Listen as I share with you how I hopped off that bus, in hopes that it will help you. It feels way too big to think of your life’s purpose when there are day-to-day struggles that keep you from even wa…
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John Moe joins us as we start recording and releasing new episodes in 2025 after an extended break over the winter. Maybe we are rusty, but we really take the whole "don't want to know you ahead of time" thing to an extreme with John, which he handles well. John Moe is a Twin Cities-based podcast maker, author, public speaker, and mental health adv…
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On today’s episode, I take an intentional look at New Year’s goals, several months into the year. I use the following recommendations* on how to get through “National Quitter’s Day” and correlate them to loss, and the new you that you become after you have significant loss. Set realistic goals – smaller goals are more likely to be achieved and star…
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It’s finally Season 3, with a fresh season and a fresh perspective on the topic of death and dying. Because It’s been several months since new episodes were released, I talk through the hiatus over the holiday season and what’s to come over the next few months. On today’s episode, I discuss re-framing “Why me?” into “Why NOT me?” This mental shift …
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This week’s episode falls near several important milestone dates related to the loss of my mom: Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, and the anniversary of her passing on June 4. As milestones and anniversaries loom year after year, it sometimes feels like no time at all has passed – even years or decades after we have lost a loved one! After participating …
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This episode was recorded just a few days after a deadly shooting near my house that made national news. Two officers and a firefighter were killed when responding to a domestic disturbance call a little over a block away. This incident was unsettling on so many levels, and I was confused as to why it so strongly affected not only me, but my family…
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Happy Holidays! If you are listening in real time, this bonus episode is being released as we celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States. For many people, today marks the start of the holiday season, and is a painful reminder of those who are no longer with us. My guest today is Tara Paul, who is no stranger to loss. We met through our sons, but I…
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It is the third Thursday in November, which is National Children’s Grief Awareness Day. On today’s bonus episode, Nicole Barnes joins me from the Park Nicollet Foundation’s ‘Growing Through Grief’ program: www.parknicollet.com/growingthroughgrief Nicole shares the history of how this program began, and the heart-breaking prevalence of how many chil…
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In this episode, Kate and Sam are joined by Jon Blum, an accomplished entrepreneur and creative thinker. Jon shares his unique journey through the world of creativity and entrepreneurship, highlighting the pivotal moments that shaped his career. He discusses the importance of embracing failure, the role of collaboration in creative processes, and h…
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In this episode, Kate and Sam are joined by Kam, a creative entrepreneur with deep expertise in branding and community building. Kam shares his journey of transitioning from corporate life to starting his own brand, discussing the challenges, motivations, and personal growth that came along the way. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamden-nute…
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Wow – we’ve reached the end of another season! I’m so proud of this show, and love hearing from you about how these topics and episodes are helping to drive discussions, make decisions, and think about end of life to more purposefully live each and every day! You may recall that Season 1 had the threads of “Finding Meaning” (be sure to check out Da…
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Today’s important episode is about the option to be an organ and tissue donor at the end of life. Micah Webb joins me today. She is the Donation Liaison from LifeSource, one of 56 Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) in the country, serving the second largest geographic region. https://www.life-source.org/ I learned of LifeSource following the de…
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It’s been a while, but today’s episode is just me, talking to you. Synchronicity hit hard again, as the universe aligned to allow me a week to record in the studio without a guest. If you feel like the action steps have been overwhelming in all of our This Side of the Grass episodes, today’s episode is for you. As I recap the checklist that we’ve h…
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It was my absolute honor to spend time with Kelly Grosklags on today’s episode. Kelly shares her thoughts, experiences and learnings from nearly 30 years in and around the fields of grief and end-of-life care. Our conversation makes its way to the importance of signs from those who have died, the magnitude of speaking the names of our loved ones wh…
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September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and today’s episode – both recorded and released in September of 2024 – is about suicide. My friends Melissa MacPhail and Lis Klein bravely join me to share their experiences losing loved ones to suicide: Melissa’s dad, Jerry; and Lis’s brother, Steve. Through our conversation, we touch on forgiveness…
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Wow. If today’s episode with guest Dan Neitz doesn’t help you to see endings differently, I don’t know what will! Endings are not just deaths, but a near-death experience is what brought Dan to clarity and purpose in his life and in his work. On today’s episode, we hear Dan’s story of dying from sepsis, and being brought back to life. His perspecti…
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Attorney Steve Messick is back! As promised on his first high-level show about all things legal when it comes to dying, Steve and I take a deeper dive on legacy planning through Trusts. One of the big take-aways: you don’t have to have millions of dollars for a Trust to be a valuable planning tool! If you haven’t yet listened to Steve’s first show,…
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On today’s episode, I am joined by 4th generation owner of White Funeral Homes, Mike White. Mike’s family has been serving the Twin Cities community in Minnesota for more than 125 years, and currently own and operate 5 funeral homes in the South Metro area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Mike has an amazing vantage point of life, loss and what it is l…
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I called an audible today! No notes or outline, but today’s show is a rich and entertaining conversation with Sam Devine. Sam is the “Devine” part of DevineFox Productions, the company that produces “This Side of the Grass”. He also has his own podcast called “Legacy Matters”, and today’s episode is a blend of his show and mine, as we just talk. Ou…
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Isn’t it kind of crazy to think that there are days that completely change the course of your life… and when you wake up on those days, oftentimes you don’t even know it’s about to happen. It’s only when you look back that you realize your entire life changed on that day. On today’s solo episode, I take a little pivot. Instead of sharing a specific…
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Lorna Landvick is an honest to goodness published writer with fans around the world. We only found that out when we asked what the heck she was doing in the basement with us! Now that the show is over, we can see that she has published 12+ published works and has been in the news quite a bit. You just never know who you are going to meet in an unde…
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On today’s episode of This Side of the Grass, I am so happy to have Katie Novak, Registered Nurse, share her expertise on healthcare documentation. She is here to provide clarity on decisions and forms that often are needed at end of life, including Health Care Directives and the POLST. A “Health Care Directive”, prepared by an attorney, is a legal…
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On today’s episode, I share with you my vulnerable conversation with long-time friend of the Amsden family, Mike Zinda. Mike is the first guest who reached out to me after listening to several episodes last season, and asked if he could come on to share his story. After talking with him several times about the unexpected loss of his dad, it became …
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Kate and Sam sat down with Val Amsden, host of This Side of the Grass, a show that normalizes conversations about death and dying by being thoughtful and honest while having conversations that make a lot of people somewhat uncomfortable. Val's show isn't about grief and lamentation, it is about hope and freedom from worry. By addressing the very re…
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What a unique and beautiful privilege it is to share with you today’s conversation! My grandmother, Dorothy Waska, turned 98 in May of 2024. We recorded this conversation in her apartment about 6 weeks before her birthday. Her transparency and ease of sharing her thoughts on dying and loss really helped to shape how I approach this podcast, and I a…
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Here we go again! As we start Season 2 together, I revisit “My Why” – which is how we started Season 1. If you haven’t listened to that episode, or if it’s been a while, here it is: This Side of the Grass, Episode 1 "My Why" On today’s “My Why” for Season 2, I share with you a bit more about my grandma, and how her views on dying and preparation ha…
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We are excited to bring you a special episode of our podcast, featuring the incredibly talented singer-songwriter, Faith Boblett. Join us as we journey through the most memorable moments of her life and career, capturing the essence of her musical path. In this episode, Faith opens up about her life, sharing the pivotal moments and experiences that…
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We have reached the end of Season 1! Throughout the last 13 episodes, I have found my voice and the tone of this podcast in real time. Thank you for going on this adventure with me! As I shared my story, I have been humbled and proud to have helped others to share theirs, and look forward to taking some intentional time to reset, regroup and catch …
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This week’s episode falls near several important milestone dates related to the loss of my mom: Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, and the anniversary of her passing on June 4. As milestones and anniversaries loom year after year, it sometimes feels like no time at all has passed – even years or decades after we have lost a loved one! After participating …
  continue reading
 
Long-time friend Eric Froistad joins me on today’s episode. We share a birthday, a best friend (my husband!) and the heart-breaking burden of losing brothers unexpectedly much too soon. Because we, along with our other siblings, gave the eulogies at our brothers’ services, we have an additional connection that I wanted to explore. Eulogies include …
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I’ve teed up this topic in several previous episodes: the legal side of things! I am thrilled to have this important and specific conversation with attorney and long-time friend, Steve Messick, founder and lead attorney of Messick Law, PLLC. He is a top-rated attorney serving clients throughout the State of Minnesota. His primary areas of practice …
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My guest on today’s episode is Brian Muller: a dad, musician and fellow resident of the Twin Cities. Professionally, he has been in the financial services industry for over 25 years, and recently started his own firm and podcast. He grew up near my husband’s family, so Brian and I have been mutual friends for years! I watched via social media as he…
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On today’s episode, we are talking about obituaries! At first, this may not seem exciting – but really, what an incredible opportunity an obituary is to showcase and highlight the life of someone that has passed away. In many cases, this is the last written account of someone’s life! I talk through not only what an obituary is, but also the followi…
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Join us on this podcast to hear from our friend, the incredible author and Minnesota Book Award winner, Andrea Swensson. She's here to share insights from her latest book, delving into the fascinating world of Cornbread Harris and his relationship with Prince. Tune in to discover all the amazing projects Andrea has been working on and get ready for…
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What happens to our social media presence when we die? And what can we do about it now? I talk through the options available on three of the biggest platforms: Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). Deciding now what you want done with your online footprint is incredibly helpful to the loved ones that are left behind when you are gone! The a…
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I met today’s guest, Sheri Erickson, through a mutual friend because we both had stories in our families of tragedy and loss. We struck up a quick friendship, and it amazed me how beautifully she viewed the passing from this life to what is next – and I knew I needed her on the podcast. Listen in on our conversation as Sheri’s shares stories of los…
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Chris MacLeod of Laune Bread in Minneapolis joins us to talk about how crappy Wonder bread is and how nothing works when people eat that stuff. I think that is what we talked about anyway. You know the truth, show notes are weird and I hope my boss fires me for not knowing what to write. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/legacymatterspodcast YouTu…
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This episode was recorded just a few days after a deadly shooting near my house that made national news. Two officers and a firefighter were killed when responding to a domestic disturbance call a little over a block away. This incident was unsettling on so many levels, and I was confused as to why it so strongly affected not only me, but my family…
  continue reading
 
Listen in on my very first interview with two subject matter experts, Bethany Winters and Tim Vossen, who work in commercial insurance. Using their hearts – Bethany’s story is powerful – and combined 34 years of professional experience, they take us through the nuts and bolts of life insurance: What is it? Why do you need it? If you already have it…
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