About Death-Defying Discussions Podcast with Diane DeVivo and Michael Williams
End-of-Life Planning educators and facilitators Diane DeVivo and Michael Williams get together to discuss death, dying, and grief. In each episode, they discuss a different aspect of the end-of-life process and offer practical tips on creating your own end-of-life plan.
Connect with Diane Devivo at www.dianedevivo.com and Michael Williams at www.myendoflifeplan.ca
If you are interested in learning more about training as an end-of-life planning facilitator, check out Before I Go Solutions® at www.beforeigosolutions.com.
Bonus: 10 Reasons Why You Need an End-of-Life Planning Facilitator
When it comes to end-of-life planning, having the help of a professional End-of-Life Planning Facilitator can ensure the process is an easy and smooth one. Whether it's help with your legal and financial paperwork, funeral and burial arrangements, or future health care planning, an End-of-Life Planning professional can help. In this short episode, Before I Go Solutions EOL Planning Facilitator and Trainer Michael Williams offers 10 reasons to consider hiring an End-of-Life Planning Facilitator to help you get your affairs in order.
Music by Tiny Putty by Blue Dot Sessions
15 Sept 2023
Bonus: Coping with the Fear of Death (5:30)
End-of-Life Planning Facilitator Michael Williams shares his thoughts on supporting someone to cope with the fear of death. Dr. Williams is the co-host of Death-Defying Discussions and the Senior Facilitator and Trainer with Before I Go Solutions (www.beforeigosolutions.com).
29 Aug 2023
14. Talking about grief and poetry with writer Sue Woodworth-Scalia
Prince Edward Island writer Sue Woodworth-Scalia lost her partner of twenty years recently. In the throes of grief, she turned to poetry to find meaning and solace. Her new book, entitled Keening: Poems of love and loss, is a beautifully crafted chapbook containing a dozen heart-wrenching poems dealing with grief. Arranged in what she calls "the seven stages" they range through "shock and denial", "pain and guilt", "anger and bargaining", "depression and reflection", "upward turn", "working through" and "acceptance". By no means linear or chronological, Sue's poetry takes the reader on a soul's journey.
Listen as Diane and I enter into a deep conversation with Sue about her grief journey and how poetry is helping her make sense of her experience. While deeply personal, Sue's poetry has a universal appeal that will have anyone who's experienced or is experiencing grief engaged with her writing.
You can obtain a copy of Sue's book Keening: Poems of love and loss by emailing Sue at dancer2@eastlink.ca. (dancer2@eastlink.ca)
23 Aug 2023
13. Living Wills
Michael Williams shares some reflections on "living wills" (also known as advance directives or letters of wishes).
A living will documents your wishes or instructions for the treatments or care you would want to be withdrawn during the final stages of life if the quality of life cannot be guaranteed. Of course, "quality of life" needs to be defined. What would you be prepared to live with or without?
People often ask that "heroic measures" not be taken. Again, these "measures" need to be detailed and could include CPR, antibiotics, mechanical ventilation, and feeding tubes. It's important to discuss your wishes with family and loved ones, especially with you power-of-attorney for personal and health care.
24 Jun 2023
12. The Unfortunate Demise of Mrs. Thompson (or what could happen to you without your powers of attorney)
Storyteller and co-host of the Death-Defying Discussions Podcast, Michael Williams, tells a cautionary tale of poor Mrs. Thompson. When her health declines and she is hospitalized, her family discovers that their mother does not have her powers of attorney in place for health care and finances. The lack of a designated decision-maker adds a burden to an already grieving family. Don't let this happen to you.
Julie Saeger Nierenberg is an author, artist, educator, and an accredited End-of-Life Planning Facilitator. Her book Daddy, This is It (2020) Nierenberg describes her father's death as a "beautiful event". It's a touching tribute to him and tells how he prepared his daughter and how she coped with his loss. Her second book, Journey's End: Death, Dying, and the End of Life, co-written with Victoria Brewster, features numerous stories of people's experiences of death and dying from people around the world and shares the authors' personal and professional reflections on end-of-life matters. Her recent book, It Is What It Is explores the author's response and decision-making process when she is diagnosed with a brain tumour.
This hour-long podcast provides insight into an author who has had to deal with death and her own mortality. Her hope is that her words and experiences will help anyone facing similar challenges and help part the veil on end of life so that we can talk more openly about death, dying, and grief and how we can best prepare for the inevitable.
2 Jun 2023
10. Let's Talk about Death and Body-Disposal
After a prolonged absence, our intrepid End-of-Life Planning Facilitators Diane DeVivo (https://www.dianedevivo.com) and Michael Williams (https://www.myendoflifeplan.ca) are back to open another can of worms -- talking about death and body disposal. Their mission is to make having conversations about death and end-of-life planning as commonplace as talking about just about anything else. After all, we're all going to die one day. So let's get talking . . . and planning so we can go on living the best life possible knowing that we're planning for peace of mind when the time comes.
17 May 2022
9. What is an End-of-Life Planning Facilitator?
In this episode, Diane DeVivo and Michael Williams share stories of how they became licenced End-of-Life Planning Facilitators. Listen and learn what they do and how they work with their clients. Learn why they love serving their community by educating and helping people create personal end-of-life plans through the Before I Go Method course. Discover, too, how you can become an end-of-life planning facilitator yourself by joining the Before I Go Solutions EoL Training programme (www.beforeigosolutions.com (https://www.beforeigosolutions.com)).
Learn more about Diane DeVivo at www.dianedevivo.com (https://www.dianedevivo.com)
Learn more about Michael Williams at www.myendoflifeplan.ca (https://www.myendoflifeplan.ca)
The music ("Sage the Hunter") for today's podcast is courtesy of Blue Dot Sessions. (https://www.sessions.blue/)
How do you want your body to be taken care of when you die? Buried? Cremation? Have you considered a natural or green burial? More and more people are considering the environmental impact of funerals which is why many are now considering the "green" or "natural" option. Listen as hosts Michael Williams and Diane DeVivo talk with Jenna Parascandalo about these options and why she is so passionate about cemeteries and natural burials. Recorded March 15, 2022.
Learn more about Jenna's work at https://www.naturalburialassociation.ca (https://naturalburialassociation.ca/about-natural-burial/)
Video: https://youtu.be/a_4YLEY1w2A (https://youtu.be/a_4YLEY1w2A) Short video on natural burials from the Natural Burial Association.
29 Jan 2022
7. Let's Talk About Advance Care Planning with Health Care Consultant and Ethicist, Sandra Andreychuk
In this episode, host Michael Williams is in conversation with Advance Care Planning Consultant and Health Ethicist Sandra Andreychuk. With more than 30 years of experience in nursing and the palliative and end-of-life care fields, Sandra speaks openly about her work and the importance of Advance Care Planning. Learn more about Sandra's work at www.qualitylifeplanning.com (https://www.qualitylifeplanning.com)
(39 mins)
Music courtesy of Blue Dot Sessions. "Basketliner" by https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/87467 (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/87467)
Michael Williams https://www.myendoflifeplan.ca (https://www.myendoflifeplan.ca)
Diane DeVivo https://www.dianedevivo.com (https://www.dianedevivo.com)
For more info about Advance Care Planning in Canada, go to www.advancecareplanning.ca (//www.advancecareplanning.ca)
18 Sept 2021
6. Let's Talk about Funerals
In this episode, Diane and Michael speak with funeral director Jane Diamond of Family Tree Funeral Home in Stroud, England. Jane is one of a growing number of women coming into the funeral services and she speaks openly and candidly about her work. Learn all about what a funeral director does and how families can take more of a part in the service. Diane and Michael bring their curiosity and leave no stone unturned. Putting the "fun" back into funerals, Death Defying Discussions peels another layer of the taboo around death, dying, and grief. 18 September 2021
7 Jun 2021
4. Death-Defying Discussion: What is a Death Doula?
In this episode, Diane and Michael invite 'death doula' Sue Phillips (www.suephillips.ca (//www.suephillips.ca)) into the conversation on death, dying, grief, and end-of-life matters. Sue provides a unique insight into her work as a death doula, someone who accompanies the dying and their family on their journey towards death, bringing them emotional and, often, spiritual comfort. She talks about the benefits and challenges confronting the doula in this growing and important profession.
Come on Over by <a href="https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/43073">Blue Dot Sessions</a>
Palms Down by <a href="https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/43077">Blue Dot Sessions</a>
If you would like to suggest a topic for discussion, please contact us at either diane@dianedevivo.com or info@myendoflifeplan.ca.
Diane's website www.dianedevivo.com (//www.dianedevivo.com)
Michael's website www.myendoflifeplan.ca (//www.myendoflifeplan.ca)
Why not join us at our next "live" online Death-Defying Discussion. It takes place on Sunday 27 June 2021 at 2 PM ET. It's free. Register at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/death-defying-discussions-tickets-149415099585
25 May 2021
3. "Good Grief": what is grief and how to deal with it?
During the past year and a half, millions of people around the world are experiencing grief at losing loved ones to COVID-19 and its variants. Grief is a painful but normal response to a loss of any kind: death, divorce or breakup, loss of a job, loss of mobility, loss of a dream, and much more. Despite its prevalence in life, grief is seldom talked about or addressed. You know the old saying, "Laugh and the world laughs with you; cry and you cry alone. Diane and Michael want to normalize the conversation around grief and all matters pertaining to death, dying, and end-of-life planning.
If you or someone you know is experiencing grief, seek help: your partner, a family member, a trusted friend, or a professional grief counsellor, therapist, or qualified coach. There is no shame in seeking help. Google "grief support" for your area. Or, check out the Grief Recovery Network (https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/ (https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/) in North America or https://www.griefuk.org/ (https://www.griefuk.org/) in the UK.
Diane and Michael are both accredited End-of-Life Planning Facilitators. Diane can be reached at diane@dianedevivo.com while Michael can be reached at info@myendoflifeplan.ca.
Music supplied by Blue Dot Sessions:
Our Only Lark by <a href="https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/40696">Blue Dot Sessions</a>
Dolly and Pad by <a href="https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/40700">Blue Dot Sessions</a>
Palms Down by <a href="https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/40705">Blue Dot Sessions</a>
15 May 2021
2. Death Cleaning or What to do about your stuff after (or before) you die
Diane DeVivo and Michael Williams talk about "death cleaning" or "what do to about your stuff after (or before) you die".
Whether you're decluttering or sorting out your stuff before you die or you're sorting out a loved one's belongings after they've died, it can be a daunting task. End-of-life planning facilitators Diane and Michael talk about how to approach "death cleaning" and break the task down into manageable bits.
Diane DeVivo and Michael Williams are accredited End-of-Life Planning Facilitators and Educators who help their clients create personal end-of-life plans, including wills, powers-of-attorney, advance care planning, funeral plans, legacies, death cleaning, and more. Contact Diane at diane@dianedevivo.com and Michael at info@myendoflifeplan.ca.
If you are interested in becoming an End-of-Life Planning Facilitator go to www.beforeigosolutions.com.
30 Apr 2021
1. Death-Defying Discussions Podcast
Hello, I'm Michael Williams, an accredited end-of-life planning educator, and facilitator. Starting in May 2021, my colleague Diane DeVivo and I will be breaking one of the last taboos: talking about Death. Our conversations are inspired by our discussions with folk just like you who join Diane and me to share our feelings, thoughts, and experiences related to death, dying, and grief. Our goal is to make talking about death more open and honest and less scary. Given the recent pandemic, many of us have been touched by death and awakened to our mortality. Instead of ignoring the subject, Diane and I want to open it up for discussion. In addition, we'll also provide practical tips and resources on creating your own personal end-of-life plans including wills, powers-of-attorney and substitute decision-makers, Advance Directives, funeral plans, legacies, and lots more.
Our first episode will launch in May. You'll find it wherever you find your favourite podcast. That's the "Death-Defying Discussion" podcast with Diane DeVivo and me, Michael Williams.
Announcement: if you would like to join Diane and me live for an online Death-Defying Discussion, register for free at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/death-defying-discussions-tickets-149415099585. Places limited to 12 so register early for Sunday, May 23rd at 2 pm EDT or Sunday, June 27th at 2 pm EDT. The book Diane refers to is “Gifted by Grief” by Jane Rogers (www.beforeigosolutions.com). Diane’s website at dianedevivo.com. Michael’s website at myendoflifeplan.ca.
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