Ask A Death Doula

This is a moment in time that marks a profound shift in how we care for one another. In this powerful episode, Suzanne B. O’Brien, RN—founder of the Doulagivers Institute—announces a historic expansion of the Doulagivers Death Doula World Training, now available in 15 different languages. For the first time in modern history, people around the world can access free, life-changing education that teaches them how to care for a loved one at the end of life—bringing these essential human skills back into the hands of families and communities. This is more than a training. This is a global movement. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why end-of-life care is a human right, not just a medical service The reality that families provide 98% of hands-on care—yet most feel unprepared How we’ve lost these sacred caregiving skills over the past 100 years—and why it’s time to bring them back What a death doula is and how this role is transforming end-of-life care worldwide The vision behind translating this training into 15

In this powerful and necessary episode of Ask a Death Doula, Suzanne B. O’Brien, RN, shares the essential questions every aspiring death doula must ask before choosing a training program. With the rapid growth of the death doula profession, not all trainings are created equal. This episode is a call to discernment, integrity, and responsibility—because the work of supporting individuals and families at the end of life is sacred, deeply human, and requires the highest level of preparation. Suzanne breaks down the three non-negotiables that define a legitimate, ethical, and high-quality death doula training—so you can confidently choose a path that truly prepares you to serve.     -What You’ll Learn Why the death doula profession requires high ethical standards and deep training The risks of choosing an underqualified or superficial program How to be a wise and empowered consumer in a rapidly growing field The 3 essential components every legitimate death doula training must include How proper training directl

In this deeply moving and expansive episode, Suzanne shares her personal experience traveling to Thailand to train Buddhist monks in end-of-life care through the Doulagivers program. What unfolds is a powerful reminder that while cultures, traditions, and languages may differ, the heart of caring for someone at the end of life is universal. Through moments of connection, humility, and shared wisdom, Suzanne reflects on what it was like to teach those who have long held sacred space for the dying—and what they, in turn, taught her. The experience revealed a profound truth: this global death doula movement is not about creating something new, but remembering something ancient—compassionate, present, human care at the end of life. This episode is a beautiful bridge between East and West, science and spirituality, and tradition and modern practice—showing us that no matter who we are or where we live, we are all connected through this sacred human experience. What You’ll Hear in This Episode Suzanne’s journey to

In this special episode, Suzanne B. O’Brien, RN—founder of the Doulagivers Institute—announces the 8th Annual Death Doula World Training Day, taking place on April 22nd at 7 PM ET. This global event is more than a training—it’s a movement. With over 400,000 people trained in 39+ countries, Death Doula World Training Day continues to bring together individuals, caregivers, and professionals from around the world to learn how to support others through the end of life with presence, compassion, and confidence. This year’s theme is Global Unity, and the event is dedicated to the 100th birthday of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, whose groundbreaking work helped bring awareness, dignity, and humanity back to the end-of-life experience. ✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why end-of-life education is a human right The inspiration behind Death Doula World Training Day How this global movement is helping to transform fear into empowerment The impact of training over 400,000 people worldwide The deeper meaning of Global Unity

In this deeply meaningful episode, we invite you into a global movement rooted in compassion, presence, and love. Join Suzanne B. O’Brien, RN, founder of Doulagivers Institute, as she announces the 8th Annual Death Doula World Training Day, happening on April 22nd—a day dedicated to unity, education, and the sacred honor of supporting one another at the end of life. This year’s event is especially powerful as we celebrate the 100th birthday of Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, the pioneer who transformed how the world understands death, dying, and the human experience. Her groundbreaking work opened the door for conversations that were once feared—and today, we continue that legacy together. This episode is both an invitation and a remembrance:  -A remembrance of the truth that death is not something to fear  -An invitation to step into service, awareness, and love  -A call to bring this essential knowledge back into our homes and communities Whether you are a family caregiver, healthcare professional, aspiring Deat

JOIN DEATH DOULA WORLD TRAINING DAY ONLINE LIVE APRIL 22nd at 7pm EST. Save your seat HERE:CLICK HERE NOW!!!   After sitting with over a thousand people at the end of life, one truth becomes clear: we suffer not because of what happens to us, but because of what we continue to carry. In this powerful episode, Suzanne shares one of the most life-changing lessons from those nearing death: you are not here to carry everything. You’ll learn how to release emotional burdens, stop absorbing the weight of the world, and return to a more peaceful, grounded, and empowered way of living. ✨ In this episode: • Why holding onto pain keeps you stuck • The difference between experiencing life vs. carrying it • What forgiveness really means • How to stop absorbing fear, anxiety, and overwhelm • The power of becoming a compassionate witness At the end of life, people don’t wish they carried more pain—they show us how to let go. Ask yourself: What am I carrying right now that is not mine? This episode is a reminder that you ar

One of the most distressing moments for families at the end of life is when a loved one stops eating and drinking. It can feel like they are starving, like something is wrong, or like we should be doing more. But what if this is actually one of the most natural and peaceful parts of the dying process? In this episode, Suzanne B. O’Brien, RN—who has cared for over 1,000 patients at the end of life—explains the true physiology behind why eating and drinking stop, what your loved one is actually experiencing, and how to provide the right kind of comfort in those final days. You’ll learn why the body no longer needs food or water, what happens when the swallowing reflex turns off, and why your loved one is not feeling hunger the way you might think. We also explore what the dying process typically looks like in the final days, the most common comfort issue patients experience, and what families should—and should not—do during this phase. This episode will help you shift from fear and confusion to understanding, a

Most people believe hospice means that medical professionals will come in and take care of everything when someone is dying. But the reality is very different. In this episode, Suzanne B. O’Brien RN — former hospice and oncology nurse who has cared for more than 1,000 patients at the end of life — reveals the number one problem with hospice care today and why so many families feel overwhelmed during one of the most important moments of life. The truth may surprise you. Hospice was designed to provide comfort, guidance, and medical oversight, but the majority of hands-on care actually falls to family members at home.  In fact, families often find themselves responsible for tasks such as: administering medications managing symptoms bathing and repositioning their loved one monitoring breathing and physical changes All while navigating grief, exhaustion, and fear. Many families enter hospice believing full-time care will be provided — only to discover that nurses and hospice staff may visit periodically while l

In this special episode, Suzanne O’Brien, RN, founder of Doulagivers Institute and former oncology and hospice nurse, celebrates the one-year anniversary of her book The Good Death: A Guide for Supporting Your Loved One Through the End of Life. After caring for more than 1,000 people at the bedside, Suzanne witnessed how much fear and confusion families experience simply because they were never taught what to expect during the end-of-life process. Just 100 years ago, families knew how to care for loved ones at the end of life. Today, much of that knowledge has been lost. This episode explores how education, compassion, and open conversations can help us bring this sacred knowledge back. What You’ll Learn in This Episode • Why understanding death can help us live more meaningful lives • What inspired Suzanne to write The Good Death • Lessons learned from caring for over 1,000 people at the end of life • Why end-of-life education is urgently needed today • How individuals and communities can help shift the cult

What if the secret to a happier life isn’t positive thinking — but remembering that life is finite? After caring for more than 1,000 people at the end of life, Suzanne B. O’Brien, RN discovered a profound truth: awareness of death doesn’t create fear — it creates gratitude. Recently quoted by The New York Times on happiness, Suzanne shares how working with dying patients transformed her life. What once felt like obligation — “I have to” — became privilege — “I get to.” Even ordinary moments began to feel extraordinary. In this episode, she explores how consciously acknowledging mortality awakens presence, clarity, gratitude, and deeper life meaning. She also reflects on research highlighted by The Washington Post showing that healthy mortality awareness can actually increase happiness and life satisfaction. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: • Why death awareness increases gratitude instead of anxiety • The most common regret of the dying • How shifting from “have to” → “get to” changes everything • The science b

What if one question could change everything about how you die? In this powerful episode, Suzanne shares a pivotal moment from her early days as an oncology nurse that transformed her understanding of end-of-life care. At the heart of this story is the one question that becomes the foundation for all future medical decisions: What does quality of life mean to you — and when would you consider it no longer acceptable? Without this conversation, the system is designed to keep treating — even when it no longer aligns with what matters most.With it, care becomes aligned, peaceful, and intentional. You’ll learn why most end-of-life suffering comes from lack of planning, how fear drives crisis decisions, the difference between hope and false hope, and why defining your quality-of-life benchmark is one of the greatest gifts you can give your family. A good death doesn’t begin in the final days — it begins the moment you choose how you want to live.    Join the upcoming FREE Doulagivers Level 1 End of Life Doula and

Can learning about death actually heal grief? In this deeply moving episode from The Good Death virtual book tour, Suzanne B. O’Brien, RN, sits down with award-winning filmmaker and death educator Johanna J. Lunn, co-founder of The When You Die Project. After experiencing multiple profound losses early in life, Johanna was unexpectedly guided toward a life devoted to exploring death, grief, and consciousness through film and community dialogue. What she discovered is transformative: education about death doesn’t increase fear — it dissolves it. Together, Suzanne and Johanna explore how understanding what truly happens at the end of life can soften grief, awaken spiritual insight, and reconnect us to the essence of who we are. In this episode, they discuss: • Why avoiding conversations about death amplifies suffering • How awareness brings peace instead of fear • Lessons from those at the end of life • The continuity of love and consciousness • Grief as a doorway to awakening This conversation is for anyone wh

This Valentine’s Day, we’re talking about love — not the romanticized version we’ve been sold, but the deeper truth revealed by those at the end of life. After sitting with over 1,000 people as they were dying, one message comes through again and again: love is the meaning of life. Not achievement. Not productivity. Not perfection. Love.   In this episode, Suzanne B. O’Brien RN shares what the dying teach us about: Why we’ve misunderstood love The Four Truths people realize at the end of life How coherence — heart-led living — changes everything Why the heart was always meant to lead, and the mind to support What true life mastery actually looks like How remembering who we truly are transforms our choices, relationships, and peace. This is an invitation to soften, to remember, and to return home to the truth of who you are: a spiritual being having a human experience, here to learn love.  

In this episode, Suzanne O’Brien reflects on the first anniversary of The Good Death and the simple intention behind the book: to soften fear, open conversations, and remind us that death can be sacred and peaceful when we plan ahead. After hearing from caregivers, nurses, doctors, and families whose lives were changed by the book, Suzanne invites listeners to leave a heartfelt review—because reviews are how this message reaches people before crisis, supports overwhelmed caregivers, and helps families discover another way to walk the end-of-life journey.    Join the upcoming FREE Doulagivers Level 1 End of Life Doula and Family Caregiver Training Webinar here  Register to join us for FREE: THE GOOD DEATH BOOK CLUB EXPERIENCE: 12 MONTH FREE DEATH AND DYING COURSE  Or visit our website here!  GET THE GOOD DEATH BOOK Here      Please Share!   Know someone who is a caregiver, healthcare worker, or spiritual seeker? Share this episode and invite them to join this sacred and supportive experience.    Listen &

In this episode, Suzanne shares her guiding model, Serve & Assist, and why it’s essential for heart-centered death doulas and caregivers today. Learn how serving your community first—through education and presence—creates trust, impact, and a sustainable practice without pressure or hustle. Suzanne explains why 80–90% of a positive end-of-life experience comes from planning ahead and how this work can bring both purpose and fulfillment. If you want to make a real difference while staying in integrity with your heart, this episode is for you.    Join the upcoming FREE Doulagivers Level 1 End of Life Doula and Family Caregiver Training Webinar here  Register to join us for FREE: THE GOOD DEATH BOOK CLUB EXPERIENCE: 12 MONTH FREE DEATH AND DYING COURSE  Or visit our website here!  GET THE GOOD DEATH BOOK Here      Please Share!   Know someone who is a caregiver, healthcare worker, or spiritual seeker? Share this episode and invite them to join this sacred and supportive experience.    Listen & Subscribe

Are Men and Veterans Being Left Alone in Grief and at the End of Life? Or Are We Asking Them to Carry Their Pain in Silence? There is a quiet truth in end-of-life care that is rarely spoken about: many men—and especially veterans—carry grief, trauma, and emotional pain without support. In this episode of Ask a Death Doula, Suzanne O’Brien, RN—founder of Doulagivers Institute—is joined by end-of-life doula Adam Daviau for an honest, compassionate conversation about grief, presence, and dignity at the end of life.  

Is End-of-Life Pain Really Being Managed? Or Are Families Being Asked to Do the Impossible Without Training? There is a quiet truth in end-of-life care that many families discover too late: pain is often misunderstood, mismanaged, or missed entirely. In this episode of Ask a Death Doula, Suzanne O’Brien, RN—founder of Doulagivers Institute—speaks with honesty, clarity, and deep compassion about pain management at the end of life and what family caregivers truly need to know. This is not about blame. It is about education, empowerment, and dignity.  Join the upcoming FREE Doulagivers Level 1 End of Life Doula and Family Caregiver Training Webinar here  Register to join us for FREE: THE GOOD DEATH BOOK CLUB EXPERIENCE: 12 MONTH FREE DEATH AND DYING COURSE  Or visit our website here!  GET THE GOOD DEATH BOOK Here      Please Share!   Know someone who is a caregiver, healthcare worker, or spiritual seeker? Share this episode and invite them to join this sacred and supportive experience.    Listen & Subscribe

In this episode of Ask a Death Doula, Suzanne O’Brien shares a heartfelt reflection on this moment in humanity—and a special announcement: Doulagivers Life Café is now meeting weekly, live, free, and globally. Life Café was born during the COVID pandemic as a sanctuary when fear and isolation were overwhelming. Today, it returns weekly as a space to pause, breathe, and remember our shared humanity. This is not about doing more. It’s about being. And choosing love over fear.

As we close out 2025, Suzanne B. O’Brien, RN shares a heartfelt Year in Review for the Doulagivers Institute, reflecting on three extraordinary milestones that are helping transform end-of-life care around the world. This episode honors what’s possible when education, compassion, and community come together.

Is the Death Doula Movement Dying?   Or Is It Being Called to Grow Up?   There is a quiet question being asked behind the scenes of end-of-life care—by hospices, medical teams, families, and even doulas themselves: Is the death doula movement losing its way? In this powerful episode of ASK A DEATH DOULA, Suzanne B. O’Brien, RN—founder of the Doulagivers Institute and author of the bestselling book THE GOOD DEATH—speaks with honesty, compassion, and clarity about what is really happening within the death doula movement today. This is not an attack. It is a call to integrity.