#familes_grieving

Today’s guest, Greg Barnsdale, is a Death Doula, speaker, Certified Financial Planner, Certified Executor, and unconventional undertaker. He is also the author of "Do Not Ignore Your Mortality: Practical Advice from a Funeral & Financial Insider."In this interview, Greg shares his motivation behind the book—to help people navigate essential end-of-life topics. He covers the importance of conversations about end-of-life care planning, appointing a Power of Attorney for both medical and financial matters, preparing wills, establishing medical directives, and planning funeral or memorial preferences, including burial choices. As Betsy observed, discussing these matters may feel uncomfortable, but having these conversations repeatedly can help make them feel more natural. For more insights, Betsy highly recommends visiting Greg’s website, which offers free resources and more details about his work. Do Not Ignore Your Mortality is available for purchase on the website in audiobook and e-book formats.

Jody produced the central oral history piece at the New Jersey Vietnam Era Educational Center in Holmdel, NJ, and was the founding Director of Film & Video at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. In addition to her work in film, Jody has extensive experience in both radio and television. In this insightful interview, we discuss Jody Small's new documentary, The Storm & The Boats: A Pandemic Stories Project. The one-hour film captures the experiences of New Jersey residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, preserving their stories for future generations. With over 25 hours of footage, this material will be archived at the Rutgers Oral History Archive.Jody interviewed a diverse group of NJ residents in the spring of 2021, right from her basement, to document their experiences. The film includes stories from a police officer, a NJ mayor who underwent a "drive-by double mastectomy," a bone marrow recipient facing further isolation, doctors and nurses grappling with mental health challenges, and a food shortage crisis in Bergen County.

We talked about the benefits of learning to accept and embrace our emotions. I read a powerful paragraph from the book about "post-traumatic growth" after a loss, which resonated deeply with me. We also explored how to find what is right for us and the possibility of attaining well-being. Dr. Kurland shared her favorite vantage points and how they have helped her and her clients.I highly recommend this book; it has helped me tremendously! Dr. Kurland’s struggles make the book highly relatable. In  Betsy's opinion, this book should be in high school and college libraries.