Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula

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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli explores the true meaning of a good death, and why it begins with how we choose to live. Joined by teacher, speaker, and author Chris Palmer, they unpack what it means to live with intention, plan ahead with compassion, and face death as a part of life rather than a medical failure. 

Chris shar...

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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli explores the complexities of senior living decisions with Angie Graham, Division President of Our House Senior Living. Together, they break down what “good care” really looks like, and how families can distinguish between nurturing communities and places that fall short. 

Angie shares her ...

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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli speaks with Farah Baxter, co-founder of Soalma, about the essential documents, conversations, and emotional legacies we should prepare before we die. Together, they explore how thoughtful end-of-life planning can ease the burden on loved ones, reduce chaos, and create space for healing. 

Whethe...

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In this episode of Comforting Closure – Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli speaks with grief advocates and co-authors Leanne Whallett and Jess Slater about their children’s book All Around Is Me. They share personal stories of loss, parenting through grief, and the deeply healing role their book plays in helping children process death and memory. 

Together, they discu...

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What happens when the system that’s supposed to care for our loved ones after death fails?

In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli speaks with Nick Nell, founder of MorgueBoard, about the painful reality of mishandled remains - stories of people lost in the system, misidentified, or cremated without consent. Together, they explo...

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In this episode of Comforting Closure – Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli speaks with Robin Farr, Program Manager at the MAID Family Support Society in Canada. Together, they discuss Robin’s personal journey of supporting her father through Medical Assistance in Dying, and how that experience led her to help other families navigating this deeply emotional process. 

K...

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In this episode of Comforting Closure – Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli is joined by Julie Scott, Executive Director of the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, for a captivating discussion on the spiritual wisdom of ancient Egypt. Together, they explore how beliefs about the afterlife shaped Egyptian life, death rituals, and our modern understanding of grief, remembrance...

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In this episode of Comforting Closure – Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli sits down with Sandy Chen Stokes, founder of the Chinese American Coalition for Compassionate Care (CACCC), to discuss end-of-life care in the Chinese American community. 

Together, they talk about how deeply rooted traditions, intergenerational caregiving, and spiritual beliefs shape conv...

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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli sits down with Louise Silk, a celebrated quiltmaker and fiber artist, to explore how quilting serves as a tool for life review, memory, grief, and legacy. Louise shares how she began her quilting journey after reading an article in Ms. Magazine, how she has used quilting to process person...

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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli sits down with Sheila Martello, founder of Stephy’s Place, a nonprofit grief support center dedicated to providing free, peer-led support for those navigating loss. 

Sheila shares her journey of loss following the events of September 11th, and how her experiences inspired her to create a c...

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In this episode of Comforting Closure – Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli sits down with Erica Baccus to share a deeply personal and powerful story about Death with Dignity. When Erica’s husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, he knew he wanted control over his end-of-life journey. But with restrictive laws in the U.S., they were forced to travel to Swi...

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What happens after we die? How does faith shape the way we grieve? In this episode of Comforting Closure – Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli sits down with Jeff Pedersen, a former practicing Mormon turned agnostic atheist, to explore the unique and deeply rooted beliefs of Mormonism regarding death, grief, and the afterlife. 

Together, they discuss: 

• Pre-mort...

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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli speaks with Danielle Cristofano Schwartz, founder of Love From Lydia. After the devastating loss of her daughter Lydia, Danielle turned her grief into action, creating a compassionate community that provides support for grieving parents. 

Together, they discuss: 

• The unique challenges o...

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Navigating Medicare can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. In this episode of Comforting Closure – Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli sits down with Medicare expert Sharon Knox to break down the essentials of Medicare & Medicaid, enrollment periods, common pitfalls, and how to choose the right coverage. 

Whether you’re approaching Medicare ...

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In this episode of Comforting Closure – Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli sits down with Matt Jacobson, founder of LifeBooks, to explore the profound impact of storytelling and legacy documentation. 

Have you ever wondered how to preserve your loved one’s memory for future generations? Matt shares how reflecting on life stories fosters healing, connection, and a...

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In this episode of Comforting Closure: Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli sits down with Lindsay Hurty, founder of Everwell and Self School, to explore the impact of Forever Letters. These letters are more than words on a page—they’re expressions of love, wisdom, and connection that become part of a lasting legacy. 

Lindsay shares her thoughts on crafting Forever Lett...

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In this episode of Comforting Closure: Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli is joined by Lindsay Hurty, Ed.M., a Harvard-educated self-development specialist and founder of Everwell and Self School. Lindsay shares her inspiring journey and how she developed the concept of Forever Letters—a powerful practice of writing deeply personal messages of love, wisdom, and conne...

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In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli sits down with Jennifer Leal to talk about stem cell donation. Jennifer shares her personal journey with acute myeloid leukemia, the challenges of finding a donor, and how these experiences inspired her advocacy work. 

Together, they discuss the basics of stem cell donation, its life-savin...

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In this powerful episode of Comforting Closure: Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli sits down with Lori Mars, director at the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA). Together, they explore the silent epidemic of elder abuse, covering its various forms—physical, emotional, financial, and neglect—and the devastating impact it has on older adults and their families. 

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