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You know you should talk to your family about your end-of-life wishes, funeral preferences, or what happens after you're gone—but every time you try to bring it up, the conversation dies before it starts.

It's not that they don't care—it's that no one taught us how to do this without it feeling morbid, uncomfortable, or like we're ruining our time together.

We've been conditioned to avoid these conversations until there's a crisis, so when someone brings them up out of nowhere, they feel heavy and scary.

But when you approach it differently—casually, early, and with intention—it stops being this "big death talk" and becomes just another important conversation, like planning a trip or talking about money.

The discomfort shrinks when you remove the urgency and the secrecy.

In this episode, we'll cover three things:
- How to start a conversation about death naturally – the exact prompts and moments that can make it easy
- What to actually say when people shut down – how to handle resistance with compassion and gentleness.
- How to keep the conversation going over time – why one talk isn't enough, and how to make it ongoing - keeping the conversation going helps to normalize and destigmatize it. And that is our mission here.

By the end of this episode, you'll have a handful of simple, tested approaches that take the weight off these conversations—and maybe even make them something your family actually thanks you for starting.

Because the truth is, the people who love you want to know what matters to you. They just need permission to talk about it.

Support the show

You can find us on SubStack, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one on one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.

And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

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In this new current events episode from End of Life Conversations, the hosts discuss the pervasive theme of grief in contemporary society, particularly focusing on state-induced grief and the loss of connection within communities. They explore the importance of acknowledging collective mourning, the unseen deaths that affect marginalized communities, and the erosion of trust in societal structures. The conversation emphasizes the need for rituals, community support, and finding purpose through service to navigate grief and foster connection.

Support the show

You can find us on SubStack, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one on one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.

And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

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What does it take for a woman to work and thrive as a funeral director? How difficult is it to work in what has long been a male-dominated profession? Are things changing in the funeral industry now that more women are joining the profession?
In this episode, Rev Wakil and Rev Annalouiza speak with Lisa Baue, a third-generation funeral director and founder of Your Funeral Coach. They discuss Lisa's journey in the funeral industry, the impact of death on personal identity, the importance of women in leadership roles within the profession, and the significance of dealing with one's own grief and mourning while supporting others. Lisa shares insights on pre-planning funerals, the challenges faced in the funeral profession, and the future of funeral services with more young female professionals. She shares insights into how these roles, like ministry, often require unpredictable schedules and nights on call, which can impact personal well-being. We explore strategies for professional development and career guidance, emphasizing the importance of support for career women in the funeral industry.

Learn more or purchase her book here: Wake-Up Calls by Lisa Baue.

Funeral Women Lead Foundation

Join the community to keep the conversation going. Please subscribe, and we'd deeply appreciate it if you chose to support us financially.

Subscribers will have access to premium content, special online meet-ups, and subscriber chats.

Support the show

You can find us on SubStack, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one on one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.

And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.