Seeing Death Clearly

Jill McClennen

Seeing Death Clearly is a show that challenges you to think about your beliefs about death, dying, grief, and living life. I am your host, Jill McClennen, a death doula and end-of-life coach. As a death doula, I found through first-hand experience that the more I came to terms with my thoughts and feelings about death and dying, the more present I became in my everyday life and I hope to share that with you too, how you can live a better life by having a healthier relationship with death and dying. Each episode features a guest who shares their beliefs and stories about death and dying. These are honest conversations about a topic most of us avoided talking about our entire lives. I am on a mission to change that, one conversation at a time.

  1. Preserving Family Stories with Ralf Ellervee

    2d ago

    Preserving Family Stories with Ralf Ellervee

    Send us Fan Mail Jill McClennen, a death doula and funeral celebrant, hosts Seeing Death Clearly and talks with Ralf Ellervee about preserving life stories as a lasting legacy that supports grief, healing, and conscious living. Ralph shares how interviewing his grandfather—an Estonian surgeon deported to Siberia at age nine—showed him how easily memories can be lost, especially with dementia, serious illness, or unexpected death.  He explains why long audio recordings often go unused, while a printed book with photos becomes a timeless keepsake families reread and pass down. Ralph describes how his company, Ethos Books (ethosbook.co), evolved from in-person interviews and writers into an app that guides storytelling, lets users skip or edit answers, and can use AI to identify old photos and add context.  Jill also connects this work to her funeral and end-of-life planning conversations, and offers a complimentary 30-minute call for support. 00:00 You Die Twice 01:56 Meet Ralph Ellervee 03:34 Grandfather’s Siberia Story 04:59 School Project Spark 07:20 Why Books Beat Audio 09:23 Hard Memories Matter 12:28 From Service to App 15:06 Don’t Wait for Dementia 18:00 Family Voices Together 21:43 Photos and AI Context 24:59 Timeless Power of Books 29:05 Every Life Matters 32:19 Stories at End of Life 37:20 Legacy and Second Death 41:16 Where to Find Ethos 42:03 Closing and Next Steps  Homepage: http://ethoslifestories.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theethosbook  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethos.book/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support  Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast.  Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life.  jill@endoflifeclarity.com  https://www.endoflifeclarity.com/end-of-life-planning to learn more about End of Life Care planning and schedule a free 30-minute call. www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok

    43 min
  2. Psychomanteum Mirror Gazing for Grief Healing: with Dr. Irene Blinston

    Jun 21

    Psychomanteum Mirror Gazing for Grief Healing: with Dr. Irene Blinston

    Send us Fan Mail On Seeing Death Clearly, death doula and funeral celebrant Jill McClennen speaks with transpersonal psychologist Dr. Irene Blinston about her research on grief healing, consciousness, and paranormal encounter experiences. Blinston explains the psychomanteum—an environment of darkness, quiet, sensory reduction, and angled mirror gazing originally developed by Dr. Raymond Moody—where grieving participants try to connect with deceased loved ones and become their own medium.  She outlines the three-phase, single-session process (preparation with mementos, up to 60 minutes mirror gazing, and debrief), eligibility screening to avoid harm, and reports that 92% of 100 analyzed participants had reduced grief symptoms that lasted over time. Participants described voices, touch, smells, and rare apparitions, including a major transformation in a mother with prolonged grief.  Blinston also discusses her research on childhood religious apparitions, parallels with near-death and UFO encounter themes, and shares where to find her book and resources. 00:00 Grief Contact Breakthrough 00:16 Show Intro and Guest 01:37 What Is a Psychomanteum 03:55 Who Can Participate 06:36 Three Phase Session 09:02 Debrief and Results 11:17 Apparitions Voices and Senses 15:30 Life Changing Case Stories 18:26 Access and Availability Today 20:23 Certification and Wider Uses 22:24 Consciousness Beyond Death 23:40 Mediumship and Timelines 25:03 Grid of Collective Mind 27:01 Doctoral Apparition Research 30:09 Fatima and UFO Parallels 34:39 Which Religions Appear 37:26 End of Life Visions 39:36 Where to Find Irene 41:46 End of Life Planning Help https://www.youtube.com/@insearchofgnosis https://portaltohealinggrief.com   https://freebook.portaltohealinggrief.com/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support  Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast.  Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life.  jill@endoflifeclarity.com  https://www.endoflifeclarity.com/end-of-life-planning to learn more about End of Life Care planning and schedule a free 30-minute call. www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok

    43 min
  3. A Death Doula's Guide to Dementia Support with Lori Rizzo

    Jun 14

    A Death Doula's Guide to Dementia Support with Lori Rizzo

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Seeing Death Clearly, I speak with Lori Rizzo, a death doula in the Philadelphia area, about her transition from corporate leadership and training into end-of-life care. Lori shares how her personal experiences led her to this work and why she has become especially passionate about supporting individuals living with dementia and the people who care for them. We discuss the challenges many families face after a dementia diagnosis, including stigma, isolation, and the overwhelming amount of information that can be difficult to navigate. Lori explains why education, community support, and early planning can make a meaningful difference for both the person living with dementia and their care partners. Our conversation also explores common misconceptions about hospice care, including the belief that hospice provides around-the-clock caregiving. Lori emphasizes the importance of having conversations about end-of-life wishes long before a crisis occurs and shares her approach of "hope for the best, plan for the rest" when discussing advance care planning. We talk about the role of death doulas in supporting individuals and families through serious illness, the dying process, and grief. Lori shares how doulas can help create comforting bedside environments through music, reading, ritual, and meaningful connection, while also offering a calm and steady presence when circumstances don't unfold as expected. In addition, Lori highlights valuable community resources, including Dementia Friendly Pennsylvania, memory cafés, and support groups that help reduce isolation and build connection for families affected by dementia. Whether you are caring for someone with dementia, planning ahead for the future, or simply curious about the role of a death doula, this conversation offers practical insights, compassionate guidance, and a reminder that no one has to navigate these experiences alone. In This Episode We Discuss: Lori's journey from corporate leadership to death doula workDementia, stigma, and caregiver isolationThe importance of early end-of-life conversationsCommon misconceptions about hospice careAdvance directives and end-of-life planningVigil planning and creating meaningful bedside experiencesThe role of death doulas during serious illness and dyingDementia Friendly Pennsylvania, memory cafés, and support groupsSupporting families through uncertainty, grief, and changewww.compassionatecrossingsdoula.com LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram https://www.dementiafriendlypa.org/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support  Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast.  Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life.  jill@endoflifeclarity.com  https://www.endoflifeclarity.com/end-of-life-planning to learn more about End of Life Care planning and schedule a free 30-minute call. www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok

    46 min
  4. The Jewish Journey Through Loss: Rituals, Grief, and Healing with Batya Ludman and Gina Junger

    Jun 7

    The Jewish Journey Through Loss: Rituals, Grief, and Healing with Batya Ludman and Gina Junger

    Send us Fan Mail Death doula and funeral celebrant Jill McClennen hosts clinical psychologist Batya Ludman and Jewish educator Gina Junger to discuss their book, The Jewish Journey Through Loss: From Death to Healing, and how Jewish mourning traditions support grief and healing.  They explain active rituals like shoveling dirt at burial, tearing a ribbon or garment, and sitting shiva as a week-long “permission to grieve,” with visitors bringing food, stories, and support while mourners set the tone.  They describe stages after shiva, including shloshim and year-long practices, memorial prayers like Mourner’s Kaddish, and customs such as covering mirrors and placing stones on graves.  They also discuss Chevra Kadisha body preparation, simple burial practices, quick burial, differences between Israel and the diaspora, COVID-era online shiva, and the book’s use for mourners, clinicians, and end-of-life decision-making. 00:00 Shiva Permission to Grieve 00:17 Podcast and Guests Intro 02:52 Why They Wrote the Book 04:10 Jewish Funeral Participation 08:41 Sitting Shiva Explained 11:47 Beyond Shiva Ritual Stages 14:07 Chevra Kadisha and Tahara 18:14 Burying Quickly and Memorials 21:14 Differences by Death and Place 25:40 COVID and Zoom Shiva Etiquette 28:34 Covering Mirrors Meaning 31:33 Who the Book Helps 38:19 End of Life and Children 41:18 Where to Find the Book 44:00 Host Closing and Call to Action The Jewish Journey Through Loss: From Death to Healing https://a.co/d/03VvOz5E Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support  Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast.  Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life.  jill@endoflifeclarity.com  https://www.endoflifeclarity.com/end-of-life-planning to learn more about End of Life Care planning and schedule a free 30-minute call. www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok

    45 min
  5. Digital Legacy: Cumulus Memorial Platform with Alexander Josephson

    May 31

    Digital Legacy: Cumulus Memorial Platform with Alexander Josephson

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I talk with Alexander Josephson, a Toronto-based architect whose father's cancer diagnosis unexpectedly led him into the world of digital legacy and remembrance. When his father asked him to design a memorial, Alex began thinking about how we honor and remember the people we love. In a time when so much of our lives exists online, he wondered if there was a better way to preserve stories, memories, photographs, videos, and family history for future generations. That question eventually led him to create Cumulus, a platform designed to bring those pieces together in one meaningful place. During our conversation, we explore grief, legacy, ritual, memorialization, and the ways technology can support connection rather than replace it. We also talk about the importance of creating spaces—both physical and digital—that help families remember, share stories, and stay connected across generations. At one point, Alex gives me a tour of the Cumulus website. If you're listening rather than watching, don't worry. He does a wonderful job describing what he's seeing on screen, making it easy to understand how the platform works and imagine what it offers. 00:18 Meet the Host and Guest 02:13 From Architect to Death Tech 03:24 The Spark Behind Cumulus 06:12 Celebrating Lives and Legacy 07:18 Becoming a Death Doula 09:02 VSED and MAID Debates 16:58 Designing Beautiful Memorial Spaces 21:51 Ritual, Cost, and Modern Funerals 23:59 Building Legacy Continuity 24:36 Marketing End-of-Life Innovation 25:18 Digital Burden After Death 26:11 Storage Trust Vision 28:43 Why Funeral Websites Fail 29:34 Time Capsules for Kids 30:55 Beyond Social Media Grief 32:15 End-of-Life Culture Shift 33:49 Platform Walkthrough Demo 38:01 Shared Control and Costs 39:30 Where to Find Cumulus 40:25 Legacy Projects and Feedback 41:43 Podcast Closing Call to Action alexanderjosephson (instagram) cumulusworld (instagram) cumulus.world (web) partisanarchitecture (instagram) Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support  Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast.  Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life.  jill@endoflifeclarity.com  https://www.endoflifeclarity.com/end-of-life-planning to learn more about End of Life Care planning and schedule a free 30-minute call. www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok

    43 min
  6. Suicide Loss and Healing Through Writing with Wendy Juergens

    May 24

    Suicide Loss and Healing Through Writing with Wendy Juergens

    Send us Fan Mail On Seeing Death Clearly, death doula and funeral celebrant Jill McClennen talks with Wendy Juergens about grief, dying, and healing through writing, including end-of-life planning and conscious living. Wendy shares the story of her son Nick, a Navy veteran who died by suicide nearly 14 years ago at age 32, and how writing her book, Hey, It’s Me, helped her stay connected to him, learn more about his life, and support others facing suicidal crisis or suicide loss.  They discuss the stigma and silence around suicide, the importance of open, age-appropriate talks with children about death—especially through pet loss—and how talking and storytelling can prevent isolation.  Wendy describes researching veterans’ challenges returning home, exploring post-traumatic growth, and creating a “Grief to Growth” workshop while continuing work on a pet loss book and a possible memoir.  00:00 Welcome and Episode Setup 01:09 Meet Wendy Jurgens 02:56 Writing Through Grief 04:19 Pet Loss and Kids 06:14 The Writing Process 10:06 Nick’s Story Begins 13:03 Signs and Medium Messages 16:56 Post Traumatic Growth 19:09 Breaking Suicide Silence 22:26 Talking Openly Saves Lives 24:17 Going Public With the Mission 25:27 Sibling Support Lunches 26:03 Veterans Returning Home 26:46 Nick’s Navy Stressors 29:06 Identity After Leaving 31:04 Losses and Perspective 32:35 Choosing Your Circle 34:20 Feeling Grief Fully 35:50 Book and New Projects 38:27 Writing as Therapy 41:29 Closing and Next Steps  https://www.wendyjuergens.com Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support  Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast.  Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life.  jill@endoflifeclarity.com  https://www.endoflifeclarity.com/end-of-life-planning to learn more about End of Life Care planning and schedule a free 30-minute call. www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok

    43 min
  7. Caring House: Creating Comfort in the Final Days

    May 17

    Caring House: Creating Comfort in the Final Days

    Send us Fan Mail Jill McClennen hosts a conversation with David Zartman and Joanna Franco from Caring House, a nonprofit hospice home in Torrance, California. They explain that Caring House serves people in the final days or weeks of a hospice journey, staffed 24/7 by caregivers, and works with many hospice agencies because it is a non-medical residential care facility.  Families can visit freely, often stay overnight in reclining chairs, and may bring pets; volunteers include chefs, death doulas, and therapy dogs. The guests describe funding through pay-what-you-can fees, donations, grants, and fundraisers, with no one turned away for inability to pay. They discuss rituals, honoring residents after death, flexible time for families to stay, and staff debriefing and grief. 00:00 What Caring House Is 00:15 Meet the Host 01:25 Meet David and Joanna 02:35 Why Caring House Is Different 03:37 Who It Serves 04:25 Working With Hospices 06:43 Life at End of Life 08:39 Food and Volunteers 09:34 Staffing and Overnight Family 12:50 Admissions and Waitlist 13:59 Nonprofit Funding Model 16:14 Hospice Coverage Reality 18:57 Death Doulas in House 20:09 Facing Death and Control 23:53 Grief Lessons From Work 25:27 Losing Sandra Young 26:11 Lessons From Grief 26:49 Staff Facing Death Daily 29:41 Honoring Residents After Death 30:58 Family Time After Passing 33:57 Rituals Music And Goodbyes 35:51 Pets And Therapy Dogs 38:10 Why Caring Houses Matter 43:46 Support Donate And Connect 45:39 Final Thanks And Planning Help https://www.yourcaringhouse.org/ https://www.instagram.com/yourcaringhouse/ https://www.facebook.com/YourCaringHouse/ Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support  Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast.  Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life.  jill@endoflifeclarity.com  https://www.endoflifeclarity.com/end-of-life-planning to learn more about End of Life Care planning and schedule a free 30-minute call. www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok

    47 min
  8. Behind the Scenes of Funeral Directing with Tasha Dugan and Amanda Kyle of Laurel Hill Cemetery

    May 10

    Behind the Scenes of Funeral Directing with Tasha Dugan and Amanda Kyle of Laurel Hill Cemetery

    Send us Fan Mail Host Jill McClennen, a death doula, end-of-life care planner, and funeral celebrant, interviews Laurel Hill Funeral Directors Tasha Dugan and Amanda Kyle about what funeral directing looks like behind the scenes. They discuss embalming and body preparation, service planning, costs, flowers, paperwork, and supporting families from the first call through the funeral.  Amanda shares her path from animal rights work and veterinary care to funeral service, and Tasha describes moving from insurance and autopsy work into full-time funeral directing. They explore why ritual and personalization matter in grief, how death doulas and funeral directors can work together, and how doulas can help families communicate needs during arrangements.  The conversation also covers weather challenges for burials, hand-dug green burials, pet funerals at Laurel Hill’s pet cemetery, aquamation legislation in Pennsylvania, and how media stories about cremation increase requests for witnessed cremations. 00:00 Doula Trust Story 00:15 Show Intro and Guests 01:59 Amanda’s Path to Death Care 03:20 Tasha’s Funeral Director Journey 06:11 What Funeral Directors Do 10:29 Death Doulas vs Funeral Directors 14:22 Personalization and Embalming Value 15:46 How Doulas Help Arrangements 23:56 Weather and Winter Burials 26:14 Weather Delays Services 27:17 Hand Dug Green Burials 27:59 Pet Cemetery Stories 32:12 Aquamation Legal Push 33:30 Cremation Documentary Fears 35:51 Death Arts Festival Recap 37:46 Death Doulas Meet Funeral Care 41:02 Contact Laurel Hill Team 42:43 Bookstore and Summer Events 44:36 End of Life Planning CTA https://laurelhillphl.com/ https://www.facebook.com/laurelhillphl https://www.instagram.com/laurelhillphl/ From Fear of Death to Funeral Director: Tasha Dugan’s Journey at Philadelphia’s Historic Laurel Hill Cemetery Support the show Support the show financially by doing a paid monthly subscription. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2092749/support  Subscribe to Seeing Death Clearly and leave a 5-star review if you are enjoying the podcast.  Don’t forget to check out my free workbook Living a Better Life.  jill@endoflifeclarity.com  https://www.endoflifeclarity.com/end-of-life-planning to learn more about End of Life Care planning and schedule a free 30-minute call. www.endoflifeclarity.com Instagram Facebook Facebook group End of Life Clarity Circle LinkedIn TikTok

    46 min
See All (169)

5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Seeing Death Clearly is a show that challenges you to think about your beliefs about death, dying, grief, and living life. I am your host, Jill McClennen, a death doula and end-of-life coach. As a death doula, I found through first-hand experience that the more I came to terms with my thoughts and feelings about death and dying, the more present I became in my everyday life and I hope to share that with you too, how you can live a better life by having a healthier relationship with death and dying. Each episode features a guest who shares their beliefs and stories about death and dying. These are honest conversations about a topic most of us avoided talking about our entire lives. I am on a mission to change that, one conversation at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    Jill McClennen
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    169
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Seeing Death Clearly
  • Show Website
    Seeing Death Clearly

You Might Also Like