Talk Me To Death

We enjoyed a warm conversation with Angela Fama, creator of the Death Conversation Game, about art, life, capitalism, social media, and facing your fears. Angela is a Vancouver-based intersectional artist who explores the spaces inherently found correlating within certain dichotomies (self/other, temporal/timeless, truth/fiction, right/wrong). Her praxis focuses on the inner and outer connections that can be made pushing at the edges of the barriers surrounding ‘sticky’ subjects (such as trauma, identity, love, and death). The Death Conversation Game is now available as an app in both the Play store and on iTunes. (Recorded February 19, 2022)

We have a far ranging and deeply personal conversation with Sam about everything from dark comedy to looking forward to dying. Sam brings a depth of consideration and honesty to our talk that is both humbling and stirring. Sam is a proud father to two beautiful daughters, a comedian, a retired paramedic, and ex-military. He has faced both depression and PTSD with fortitude and freely shares the uncommon insights he has gained from both. If you are based in British Columbia, help for working through a traumatic work experience can be found here. (Recorded January 26, 2022)

An erudite, engaging and human conversation with Dr. Stefanie Green about Medical Assistance in Dying. After obtaining her medical degree at McGill University in 1993, Dr. Green completed a residency in Family Medicine and then fellowships in Palliative Care and Infant and Maternal Health. She enjoyed a full-spectrum, academic family medicine teaching practice with a strong focus on multicultural maternity and newborn care. After more than 20 years in practice, and in conjunction with a change in federal law, Dr. Green re-focused her work in 2016 on medical assistance in dying (MAiD). She has experienced the work, the people, and their families as extraordinary, and is constantly aware of the deep privilege of being invited into such an intimate time in another person’s life. Dr. Green is a co-founder and the current President of the Canadian Association of MAiD Assessors and Providers (CAMAP), and author of "This Is Assisted Dying". (Recorded January 3, 2022)

We share a beautiful and vulnerable conversation with our friend Trish about after death communication and the impact that we can unknowingly have on another's life. Trish is a joyful spirit who seeks connection and understanding with those whose lives touch hers. Mother, wife, friend, amazing cook, creative soul, are only a few of the titles that can be applied to Trish. (Recorded December 2, 2021)

We talk to Jo-Anne and Karen about the rise of the death doula, courageous conversations, and celebrating your life before you die. Jo-Anne Haun is a professional Death Doula, Death Educator, licensed Willow EOL Educator, and co-founder of the Death Doula Network of BC. With over 35 years as an insurance professional, Jo-Anne has extensive experience in communications, negotiations and conflict resolution all with a focus on supporting others through difficult times. www.eol.ca Karen Hendrickson is a professional Coach in Life, Death, Grief and all the messy in-between. With over 35 years as a corporate business leader and human resources professional, Karen is well versed in the human dynamic, and what it takes to support others through change, challenges and difficult times. Karen is co-founder of the Death Doula Network of BC and a licensed Willow EOL Educator. www.karenhendrickson.ca Death Doula Network of BC IG: @deathdoulanetworkbc (Recorded November 25, 2021 via Zoom)

We talk to Christa about life, death, embalming, aquamation, and having important conversations with your parents. Christa Ovenell is a community-based death educator, a CBC columnist, a licensed funeral director and embalmer, and an end-of-life doula. She holds a Master’s degree in Adult and Higher Education from UBC and is the founder of Death’s Apprentice Education & Planning Inc., a company that specializes in holistic advanced care planning for individuals and forward-thinking companies. Christa takes a practical, empowering and heart-centered approach to her end-of-life and deathcare practice. She can be reached via her website at www.deathsapprentice.ca, by email at hello@deathsapprentice.ca or on IG @deathsapprentice. (Recorded January 3, 2022)

Laura and Amanda bond over their interest in body farms, and their hope of one day being able to participate in medical science as cadavers. It turns out I forgot to ask Laura about her thoughts on a good death to close out the episode. I guess you'll have to imagine what her answer might be. (Recorded February 20, 2021)

A raw look at suicide from a very personal perspective. Help if you are feeling suicidal: Canada Suicide Prevention Service 1 (833) 456-4566 Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 686868 https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/ https://suicideprevention.ca/ Caleb is a proud and loving new husband, as well as the resident expert on biblical context as host of the popular and irreverent The Bible Beaters podcast. He also produces several podcasts, is completing an apprenticeship as a coffee sommelier, and does stand-up comedy/ (Recorded January 10, 2021) IG: @thebiblebeaters FB: facebook.com/biblebeaterpodcast/ Medical Assistance in Dying: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/medical-assistance-dying.html https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/home-community-care/care-options-and-cost/end-of-life-care/medical-assistance-in-dying

A transplanted Australian veterinary nurse talks about dealing with the death of a pet and euthanasia in veterinary medicine as a humane treatment option. Velina has worked in both specialty and general veterinary nursing for the past thirteen years, seven of which she has called Canada home. She also hosts the popular podcast I Killed Your Dog, a raw look at life inside the veterinary industry, as well as performing regularly as a stand-up comedian. (Recorded January 9, 2021) IG: @ikilledyourdogpodcast

This episode will provide a bit of information about us, and a general discussion of some of our thoughts on death. Amanda is an RN with over a decade of emergency nursing experience. Time and again, she have been struck by people's unwillingness to acknowledge the reality of death. Not just in the unexpected circumstances, but even when it's expected. She'd like to help change that. Andrew is a Renaissance man and stand-up comedian. Reducing the stigma and discomfort around death related conversations is something he wants to be a part of. (Recorded December 13, 2020)