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End of Life Conversations

End of Life Conversations

By: Rev Annalouiza Armendariz & Rev Wakil David Matthews
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Now you can find our new video episodes on YouTube! We encourage you to do so and to like and subscribe to our channel. And it really helps our statistics if you listen all the way to the end where we include a bonus conversation!


https://www.youtube.com/@EndofLifeConversationsPodcast


We post a monthly newsletter on Substack. It contains announcements about end-of-life classes and events, previews of our upcoming episodes, and many resources for planning and learning. Articles and POETRY, of course.


You can subscribe to our Substack here: https://endoflifeconvos.substack.com

We will also be asking our readers (that’s YOU!) for articles, poetry, or event listings.

If you would like to be added to our list (can cancel anytime), please contact us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com


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The Reverent Mother Annalouiza Armendariz and Reverend Wakil David Matthews offer classes on end-of-life planning, grief counseling, and interfaith (or no faith!) spiritual direction. If you are interested in any of these, please don't hesitate to contact us via email at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

In this podcast, we'll share people’s experiences with end-of-life. We have reached out to experts in the field, front-line workers, as well as friends, neighbors, and the community, to have conversations about their experiences with death, dying, grief, and loss. We invite wonderful people to sit with us and share their stories.

Our goal is to provide you with information and resources that can help us all navigate and better understand this important subject.


Our mission/ministry is to normalize and destigmatize conversations about death, dying, grief, and loss.

You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. Additionally, we would appreciate your financial support, and you can subscribe by clicking the Subscribe button. Subscribers will be sent a dynamically updated end-of-life planning checklist and resources document. They will have access to premium video podcasts on many end-of-life planning and support subjects. Subscribers at $8/month or higher will be invited to a special live, online conversation with Annalouiza and Wakil and are eligible for a free initial session of grief counseling or interfaith spiritual direction.

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

We want to thank Wakil and his wife's children for the wonderful song that begins our programs. And we want to thank our excellent editor, Sam Zemkee. We also acknowledge that we live and work on unceded indigenous peoples' lands. We thank them for their generations of stewardship, which continues to this day, and honor them by doing all we can to create a sustainable planet and support the flourishing of all life, both human and more-than-human.

© 2025 End of Life Conversations Social Sciences Spirituality
Episodes
  • The Simple TRUTH About Medical Aid in Dying Laws

    The Simple TRUTH About Medical Aid in Dying Laws
    Nov 26 2025

    Send us a text

    Please take a few moments to fill out our audience survey.

    You can view this as a video on YouTube! We encourage you to do so and to like and subscribe to our channel. And it really helps our statistics if you listen all the way to the end, where we include a bonus conversation!

    This video discusses the death with dignity or medical aid in dying laws that have been in place for 30 years in the United States, emphasising that there have been no cases of coercion or abuse during this time. The speaker explains that safeguards are effective and that, if anything, families have tried to persuade loved ones not to use the law, but ultimately respected their wishes.

    In this conversation, we speak with Mandi Zucker, who shares her personal experiences with loss and her reflections on what it means to face death, particularly in relation to her family and the legacy she hopes to leave behind.

    Mandy has been working to change the law in New York State to allow people to choose medical aid in dying, and appeals to everyone to let the governor know you support her signing this into law by the end of the year.

    End of Life Choices New York

    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.
    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • What Happens When We Face Death Together?

    What Happens When We Face Death Together?
    Nov 19 2025

    Send us a text

    You can view this as a video on YouTube! We encourage you to do so and to like and subscribe to our channel. And it really helps our statistics if you listen all the way to the end where we include a bonus conversation!

    This video highlights perspectives on death, emphasizing the importance of understanding grief and the dying process. We explore how different rituals can help us cope with the emotions surrounding loss, assisting people during death education. Understanding natural death and the experiences of final days is an essential part of the journey.

    In this conversation, we host a group of guests from the Blessing Your Journey retreat who discuss their personal experiences with death and how it has shaped their lives and work. The guests share their insights on the importance of community, support, and the healing process surrounding death. They delve into the structure of their retreats, emphasizing the blend of information, ritual, and emotional support provided to participants. The discussion also touches on self-care practices for those working in the field of death and dying, and the significance of creating a safe space for sharing and healing.

    Blessing Your Journey June 2026

    Wild Grief: https://wildgrief.org/

    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.
    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
  • What Happens When Psychedelics Meet End of Life Care?

    What Happens When Psychedelics Meet End of Life Care?
    Nov 15 2025

    Send us a text

    You can view this as a video on YouTube! We encourage you to do so and to like and subscribe to our channel. And it really helps our statistics if you listen all the way to the end where we include a bonus conversation!

    In this conversation, Reverend Bodhi Be discusses the evolution of his work in conscious dying and the establishment of the Ram Dass Institute of Psychedelic Studies. He emphasizes the importance of community care in the dying process, the role of death doulas, and the integration of psychedelics as a tool for end-of-life care. The discussion also touches on cultural appropriation in the use of sacred medicines and the need for a community-centered approach to dying. The upcoming event in Maui aims to bring together various practitioners to explore these themes further.

    This video explores the intersection of end of life care and the use of psychedelics in managing anxiety and fear. It highlights the importance of health care and support during the death and dying process, emphasizing community care and how hospice care teams can provide comfort. We also touch on death education to assist people during end-of-life situations.

    Our inaugural Ram Dass Institute of Psychedelic Studies with the Dying Retreat takes place January 3–8, 2026 on Maui.

    Experience five days of sacred learning, community, and spiritual depth — rooted in Ram Dass’s teachings and guided by the spirit of aloha.

    Ticketing and more details.



    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.
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
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