In Today’s episode, Saul talks with Joelle Johns on the importance of community education on death, dying and grief. Joelle is a pastoral thanatologist and a clinical chaplain.

When someone close to us dies at an older age, we often take comfort not only in celebrating their life, but also in knowing that death is part of the natural process of living. This experience is not the same when you are faced with the sudden death of your child. In this episode, Julie Spears talks about the tragic death of her 16 year old son and how she has coped with it.

This is Part Two of Saul’s conversation with Ronald Greer about his new book, “The Quiet House.” Ron Greer is the Director of the Pastoral Counseling Service at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, having been with this ministry for forty years. He is an ordained United Methodist minister, a Fellow of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, and a Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. He is the author of four books: The Path of Compassion: Living with Heart, Soul, and Mind; Now That They Are Grown: Successfully Parenting Your Adult Children; Markings on the Windowsill: A Book About Grief That’s Really About Hope; and If You Know Who You Are, You’ll Know What to Do: Living with Integrity. A native of Louisiana, he has a Bachelor of Science from Louisiana State University, a Masters of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, and a Masters of Theology in pastoral counseling from Columbia Theological Seminary. You can find out more about Ron here; https://ronaldjgreer.com/

In Today’s episode, Saul talks to Ronald Greer about his new book, “The Quiet House.” Ron Greer is the Director of the Pastoral Counseling Service at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, having been with this ministry for forty years. He is an ordained United Methodist minister, a Fellow of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, and a Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. He is the author of four books: The Path of Compassion: Living with Heart, Soul, and Mind; Now That They Are Grown: Successfully Parenting Your Adult Children; Markings on the Windowsill: A Book About Grief That’s Really About Hope; and If You Know Who You Are, You’ll Know What to Do: Living with Integrity. A native of Louisiana, he has a Bachelor of Science from Louisiana State University, a Masters of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, and a Masters of Theology in pastoral counseling from Columbia Theological Seminary. You can find out more about Ron here; https://ronaldjgreer.com/

In Today’s episode, Saul talks to Indira Dyal-Dominguez on her book “You: A spiritual being on a spiritual journey.” This book redefines a new paradigm shift that is shaped by the Self. In this paradigm shift, Connecting becomes a way of knowing that at any moment you can ‘unplug’ or ‘disengage’ the Mind’s vibration and speaking of what is occurring to ‘Connect’ to your Self for the answers that are unique to you. Here is an example of Indira’s guided audio; https://www.indiralife.com/connect Indira is the CEO of INDIRA LIFE and founder of the revolutionary self-help practice of Connecting, getting answers from your intuitive Self for the results in all areas of your life. For more than 15 years, Indira has trained c-suite executives and individuals in getting results from the practice of Connecting, for explosive personal and professional results. She now delivers an online program where anyone, anywhere can learn and the practice of Connecting for results giving them the life they want. You can find out more about Indira, her book and her courses at; https://www.indiralife.com/

In today’s episode, Saul talks to Dr. Joshua Black on Grief Dreams. Dr. Black holds a MA and PhD in Psychology. He is a grief researcher, speaker, consultant, and host of the Grief Dreams Podcast. His work focuses on dreams and continuing bonds after loss, including prenatal and pet loss. As one of the leading academic experts in grief dreams, which can be dreams of the deceased, Joshua has directed his efforts on raising awareness about this fascinating phenomenon through media interviews, including PBS Next Avenue, CBC News, and Toronto Sun, in addition to speaking engagements and workshops.

In Today’s episode, Saul talks to Dr. Christopher Hamilton on his philosophical thoughts on life, middle age and death. Dr. Hamilton is a professor of Philosophy at Kings College in London. Dr. Hamilton completed his BA in philosophy at King's College London (where he also completed the Associateship of King's College) and went on to do an MPhil and PhD in philosophy at Birkbeck College London. As part of his PhD he also studied philosophy and literature at the University of Bonn, Germany. He later completed a PGCE and worked for four years as a secondary school teacher. He joined King's in 2003. In 2007, he was Scholar in Residence at the University of Salzburg, Austria, and in 2013 he was Visiting Professor at the University of Trent, Italy.

In today’s episode, Saul talks to Dr. Wendy Cadge about her new book, “The Everyday Work of Chaplains”. She is a Professor in the Department of Sociology and the Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Brandeis University. She founded and co-directed the Transforming Chaplaincy Project from 2015-19, and in 2018 launched the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab. An award-winning teacher, she has published more than 75 articles and raised more than $6.5 million in support of her own research and teaching and that of colleagues.

She earned her MA in Religion and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She taught in the Religion and Philosophy Department at The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey for over a decade earning the Dunbar Abston Jr. Chair for Teaching Excellence.

In Today’s episode, Saul talks to Karen Docherty on the intersection between mediumship and end of life care. Since the discovery of her abilities, Karen has worked tirelessly to bring the word of Spirit to those who need it most. From the UK to the USA, from Asia to Australia, clients from all over the world meet with Karen to receive readings, enroll in mentorships and share a space for discussions on the power of Spirit. A woman with spirit and a breath of fresh air, Karen offers a contemporary approach to psychic work and mediumship based on traditional principles. Filled with love and compassion, she stands as one of the most reputable and skilled mediums in modern times.

In today’s episode, Saul talks to Dr. Jeremy Holloway on Social Isolation in older adults and Tellegacy. Dr. Holloway is a speaker, consultant, and cross-cultural communication educator. He is also a Geriatric Professor and Director of Geriatric Education at the University of North Dakota, specializes in diversity, equity, & inclusion with a unique focus in cross-cultural communication, human connection, resiliency, self-efficacy, and personal empowerment of individuals, especially in the healthcare workforce. You can find out more about Dr. Holloway at www.jeremyholloway.com

In today’s episode, Saul talks to Pamela Coley, a former hospice nurse to reflect on her experience of working in hospice. Prior to hospice, she also worked as a school nurse and currently also does some local acting. She is passionate about her faith and about educating people on what happens as we die.

In Today’s episode, Saul talks to Dr. Leanne Griffiths on the intersection between sports, living well and dying well. Dr. Griffiths is the Dean of Faculty, Sport, Technology and Health Sciences (FSTHS) at St. Mary’s University in Twickenham, London. As Dean of Faculty, Dr. Griffiths is responsible for the expansion and development of our contemporary portfolio of programmes, the day to day management of Faculty matters and ensuring a positive working environment for staff and students. Dr. Griffiths started working at St Mary's University as a Senior Lecturer in Sport Rehabilitation in 2011 and has been a Head of Department for Sport and Exercise Science for a number of years. She has overseen the growth and implementation of many new programmes and the expansion of sporting facilities. Dr. Griffiths qualified as a Physiotherapist in 2008 from Keele University and completed her PhD in 2016. Her PhD investigated the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on muscle adaptation in stroke patients. Her clinical time working within the NHS puts her in an excellent position to lead St Mary's through an exciting expansion of Allied Health provision within the Faculty.

In Today’s episode, Saul talks to Shelby Forsythia about her book, “Your Grief, Your Way.” Shelby Forsythia (she/her) is a grief guide, author, and podcast host. In 2020, she founded Life After Loss Academy, an online course and community that has helped dozens of grievers grow and find their way after death, divorce, diagnosis, and other major life transitions. Following her mother’s death in 2013, Shelby began calling herself a “student of grief” and now devotes her days to reading, writing, and speaking about loss. Through a combination of mindfulness tools and intuitive, open-ended questions, she guides her clients to welcome grief as a teacher and create meaningful lives that honor and include the heartbreaks they’ve faced. Her work has been featured in Huffington Post, Bustle, and The Oprah Magazine.

In today’s episode, Saul talks to both Karen Oikonen and Kate Wilkes on “Constellations: Designing participatory engagement and end of life.” Kate Wilkes is a service designer based in Toronto, Canada. Passionate about meaningful collaboration, Kate is always keen for opportunities to leverage diverse perspectives to make sense of complex problems in pursuit of impactful solutions. Kate studied at the University of Toronto, George Brown College's Institute without Boundaries, and the Dun Laoghaire Institute Of Art, Design + Technology in Ireland. Kate’s interest in the death, dying, and the end of life period is rooted in her own experience navigating her mother’s illness and death in 2015. Karen Oikonen is also a designer based in Toronto, Canada. Shas a Bachelor of Interior Design from the University of Manitoba and a Masters of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation, from OCAD University. She teaches design research at OCAD University and design thinking at Sheridan College – She finds that having a foot in an academic environment challenges her perspective and is deeply fulfilling. Her experience in health care helped to develop a rigorous approach to research while allowing her to engage directly with patients, caregivers, and clinicians – this helped shape her exploratory path to innovation design – from visual and spatial design to service design and design research. You can find the constellations images here.

In today’s episode, Saul talks with Masey Kaplan who is one of the founders of the Loose Ends Project about the Loose Ends Project and the therapeutic value it brings to end of life care. Masey Kaplan is a graphic designer and voracious knitter. The idea for Loose Ends Project came about when Masey Kaplan and Jennifer Simonic, both avid knitters, realized that they had a shared experience: Friends would often ask them to finish blankets, sweaters, or other projects left undone by deceased loved ones. They always do so enthusiastically, understanding what it feels like to wear something a loved one has made.

In Today’s episode, Saul talks to Juli Boit about her new book, “Brave Love: A Nurse’s Story of Courage and Compassion in a Kenyan Hospice.” In 2004, at just 25 years old, Juli Boit embarked on a remarkable journey from her home in Los Angeles to a remote Kenyan village of Kipkaren River. Driven by a profound calling and desire to make a difference, Juli witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on the local community, particularly among young adults and children. Year after year, she dedicated herself to caring for the sick and dying alongside her Kenyan colleagues. Now, nearly two decades later, Juli has gathered a collection of stories that reveal the essence of her courageous and compassionate journey. Her new book, “Brave Love: A Nurse’s Story of Courage and Compassion in a Kenyan Hospice” is a powerful testament to the transformative power of love and will be released on November 6, 2023. Brave Love invites readers to explore the heart and soul of hospice care in Kenya, offering a beacon of hope in even the most challenging circumstances. Guided by the question, “What does it look like to love in this situation?” Juli dives deep into the essence of love in challenging circumstances, something we can all relate to. And Juli will tell you that loving your neighbor can happen anywhere - both in a Kenyan hospice and right down the street. Amazon (two books): https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B095RHXRQM?ingress=0&visitId=cb9dfb59-ba98-4369-bf3a-3655bde5122e

In Today’s episode, Saul talks with Paul Nash- Senior Chaplain at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital in the England , Arooj Rashid Hussain- Editorial Director at Ta Ha Publishers and Zamir Hussain- Author and Chaplain at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital in the England. The conversation is on Zamir’s ground breaking new publication “A Guided Journal for the Bereaved Muslim Parent.” Zamir Hussain is a UK-based Muslim Healthcare Chaplain since 2007 and a qualified teacher. She holds an Honours degree in Islamic studies and PGCE in Religious Education as well as a Certificate of Muslim Chaplaincy and is a qualified hijama therapist, and life coach. She has several publications, including Palliative care booklet and books for bereaved Muslim parents and siblings. And has led on multi-faith resources and books for Healthcare Chaplaincy, as well as developing Spiritual care activities for sick children and their families. She has also developed the first UK blended learning resource, which includes, virtual rooms online training programme, care plans and pathways for lslamic daily, palliative, end of life and bereavement care for paediatric staff. Zamir has worked as a Muslim Chaplain for both the Heart of England NHS Trust and Birmingham women's and Children's hospital where she has run training courses for staff on caring for the Muslim patients and their families Zamir has spoken at end of life and bereavement conferences and delivered training workshops and lectures on care for Muslim patients to organisations across the country. You can purchase the journal here.

In Today’s episode, Saul talks to Abby Brockman about her life’s journey and work. Abby Brockman is a Jewish board-certified clinical trauma chaplain. She received her Masters of Divinity from Boston University's School of Theology, completed her clinical residency at the Seattle VA hospital, and worked as a staff chaplain for many years at Seattle Children's Hospital on their Cancer Care Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and In-patient Psychiatric Unit. She specializes in trauma, grief and loss, and end-of-life work and recently started her own private practice to provide spiritual care. Her work is deeply informed by an anti-oppression ethic, she's passionate about advocating for a systemic lens and power analysis in all conversations about mental health and wellness, and believes there are gateways to holiness everywhere.

In Today’s episode, Saul talks to Dr. Jonathan Singer on grief issues around end of life care. Dr. Singer is the assistant professor of clinical psychology at Texas Tech University. Some of the research that Dr. Singer has been part of that is covered in this episode; Examining public stigma and expectations of grief following medical aid and dying in the US: A vignette-based experiment. Palliative and Supportive Care 21 ,270276. Pandemic grief risk factors and prolonged grief disorder in bereaved young adults during COVID-19 Education: B.A., Adelphi University M.A., Teacher's College, Columbia University Ph.D, University of Nevada, Reno Lab Website: The GRILL Lab