Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula

Traci Arieli
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Join host Traci Arieli for "Comforting Closure," a podcast where the often silent topics of aging, death, and grieving are explored with compassion and clarity. Each episode features guests who share practical advice, emotional insights, and spiritual perspectives to illuminate these natural yet seldom discussed aspects of life. Dive into tender conversations designed to demystify and destigmatize these experiences, offering solace and understanding to those navigating life's final chapters. Grab a warm drink and find a moment of peace amidst profound transitions with "Comforting Closure."

  1. 1D AGO

    Protecting Yourself from Scams: Why Stress and Grief Make You an Easy Target

    I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message. In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli speaks with fraud prevention expert Doug Shadel, Managing Director of Fraud Prevention Strategies, LLC. Together, they discuss how scammers use emotion, stress, and grief to manipulate even the most careful people, and what practical steps can help protect you and your loved ones.  Doug shares tips based on decades of experience studying fraud and interviewing individuals convicted of fraud. He explains what happens in the brain during moments of stress, why “urgency” is a scammer’s best weapon, and how to slow down and think clearly before responding.  Key takeaways include:  • How stress and grief can lower your defenses.  • The emotional tactics scammers use to build trust.  • How AI, phone, and online scams are evolving.  • Simple steps you can take right now to reduce your risk.  • What families and caregivers can do to help protect older adults.  This episode helps listeners understand how emotion impacts decision-making and offers grounded, practical advice for staying safe.  Links/Resources  Guest: Doug Shadel – Email: doug@fraudpreventionstrategies.com | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-shadel-58260810 Host: Traci Arieli’s Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com Book Mentioned: Dangerous Dialers by Doug Shadel AARP Fraud Watch Network – https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud   Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes!

    1 hr

  2. FEB 19

    Who Gets to Die with Dignity? Rethinking Palliative Care

    I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message. In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli is joined by Ashley Mollison from the Palliative Approaches to Care in Aging and Community Health Research Program at the Institute on Aging & Lifelong Health at the University of Victoria. Ashley is also a PhD candidate in the Social Dimensions of Health program at the University of Victoria, and her work centers on equity, exclusion, and structural vulnerability at the end of life.  Ashley has spent years walking alongside people who are dying without housing, without family, and often without a place to go. Together, Traci and Ashley discuss what it really means to die with dignity in systems that weren’t built to serve everyone.  Key takeaways include:  Why “You can’t die here” is more than a logistical problem What happens when palliative care ignores people pushed to the margins How harm reduction and outreach workers become informal end-of-life caregivers The emotional toll and grief carried by peer support workers Why equitable care requires rethinking who caregiving is for and who provides it This episode invites you to examine the hidden assumptions built into palliative care and offers a powerful reminder: dignity at the end of life is a reflection of how we show up for each other long before that moment comes.  Links/Resources  Palliative Approaches: https://palliativeapproaches.uvic.ca Ashley Mollison’s Profile: https://www.uvic.ca/research/groups/palliative/our-team/uvic-team/profiles/mollison-ashley.php Institute on Aging & Lifelong Health: https://www.facebook.com/uvic.institute.on.agingHost Traci Arieli’s Website: https://www.comfortingclosure.com   If you’ve found this episode helpful, please like, share, and subscribe. Every action helps more people find and join these essential conversations about aging, dying, and care.

    49 min

  3. FEB 12

    Writing Through Grief After Suicide: Finding a Voice Again

    I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message. In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli speaks with Samantha Rose, New York Times Bestselling ghostwriter, writing coach, and author of the newly released and award-winning memoir Giving Up the Ghost. Together, they explore what it means to navigate grief after suicide while still finding a continued relationship with the one who died. They discuss the silence that often surrounds suicide, how writing became a path to healing, and the courage it takes to reclaim one’s voice after loss.  Samantha shares how her mother died by suicide just three weeks before the 2020 lockdown, how she and her sisters each grieved differently, and why transparency with her son became a necessary part of breaking generational silence. She also reflects on the moment she realized she could no longer remain “a ghost in her own life” and how claiming authorship of her own story became an act of visibility, truth-telling, and deep personal restoration.  This episode invites listeners to normalize open conversation around grief, writing, and emotional healing - whether you are a caregiver, grieving family member, or someone who is simply trying to understand what love looks like after loss.  Links/Resources Guest Website (Yellow Sky Media):https://www.yellowskymedia.com Guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samantharose_writer Host Website: https://www.comfortingclosure.com  Book Mentioned Giving Up the Ghost - Samantha Rose https://www.yellowskymedia.com (book available through guest’s site)    If this conversation resonated with you, please like, share, comment, and subscribe to support more healing-centered dialogue around death, grief, and storytelling.

    49 min

  4. FEB 5

    How Kicking the Bucket Helps Us Talk About Dying

    I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message. In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli sits down with multidisciplinary artist and podcast creator Andee Kinzy to explore how fiction, humor, and storytelling can make end of life conversations feel more approachable.  Andee is the creator of the audio fiction series “Kicking the Bucket,” a thoughtful and often funny story about an aging couple facing terminal illness, autonomy, and the emotional realities of planning for the end of life. Through the characters of Dolores and Howard, Andee helps listeners reflect on real decisions families face every day and why talking about dying can ultimately help us live with more clarity and intention.  Together, Traci and Andee discuss medical aid in dying, dementia and cognition in decision-making, the role of humor in navigating heavy topics, intergenerational communication challenges, and how listening clubs are helping communities practice these conversations in a supportive way. Whether you are a caregiver, an adult child, a healthcare professional, or simply someone curious about death and dying, this episode encourages thoughtful dialogue, planning ahead, and embracing honest conversations while we still have the chance.  Links/Resources Guest: Kicking the Bucket website:  https://improvedarts.org/kickingthebucketpodcast Use code: KTBPODCC for early access  Host: Comforting Closure with Traci Arieli: https://www.comfortingclosure.com  Referenced Resources in Conversation: The Conversation Project: https://theconversationproject.org Information on Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD): https://compassionandchoices.org    Please like, share, and subscribe to support these conversations and help others find the show. Leave a comment and tell us what part of this episode resonated with you or how you plan to start conversations in your own life.

    46 min

  5. JAN 29

    How to Talk to Your Doctor About Your Advance Directive

    I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message. In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli sits down with family physician Dr. Eleanor Tanno to talk about one of the most overlooked steps in end-of-life planning: discussing your advance directive with your doctor. Together, they discuss why the form itself is not enough, what to do before the appointment, and how to approach this conversation so your care truly reflects your values.  You will learn how to prepare, what to bring, and which questions lead to more meaningful medical guidance. Dr. Tanno offers a compassionate doctor’s-eye view of what makes these conversations effective and why having them before a crisis protects both patients and families. This episode is valuable for anyone who wants to avoid confusion and ensure their wishes are understood when it matters most.  Links / Resources  Guest: Dr. Eleanor Tanno  Website: https://advancedirectivemd.com Course: https://advancedirectivemd.com/purchase Step-by-step guide: https://advancedirectivemd.com/step-by-step-overview-how-to-create-an-advance-directive Host: Traci Arieli  Website: https://www.comfortingclosure.com Resources to Get Started  The Conversation Project: https://theconversationproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/ConversationStarterGuide.pdf Cedars-Sinai Advance Directive Guide: https://www.cedars-sinai.org/content/dam/cedars-sinai/patients/resources-and-patients/documents/advance-directive-step-by-step-guide-2021.pdf The Death Deck: https://thedeathdeck.com MyDirectives: https://www.mydirectives.com     If you find this conversation helpful, please like, share, and subscribe so more people can learn how to prepare before a crisis. Your support helps normalize these conversations and brings practical, compassionate guidance to more families.

    58 min

  6. JAN 22

    Choosing When to Die: A Conversation on Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking

    I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message. In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli sits down with Crystal Flores, an end-of-life doula and owner of The Grateful Death® to discuss Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED) as a compassionate and empowering end-of-life option. Together, they discuss what VSED really looks like, from the moment a person chooses it, to the emotional and practical support that follows.  Crystal shares her personal and professional experiences, including walking alongside a beloved family member during their VSED process. With gentleness and clarity, she talks about what this choice entails and how it can offer peace and autonomy at the end of life.  Key takeaways include:  What VSED is and what it is not How to emotionally and practically support someone through it The importance of honest conversations and choosing your own path The role of doulas, caregivers, and community in planning a peaceful death Links/Resources  Guest: Crystal Flores - https://www.thegratefuldeath.org Host: Traci Arieli’s Website - https://www.comfortingclosure.com   Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes!

    52 min

  7. JAN 15

    Beyond Borders: Seeking Medical Aid in Dying Abroad with Bryan Rigg

    I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message. In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli speaks with Bryan Rigg, founder of Axios Consulting, about what happens when Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) isn’t available where you live.  After helping a close family member access MAiD through Dignitas in Switzerland, Bryan created a consulting practice that now supports others in navigating the emotional, legal, and logistical journey of seeking MAiD abroad. Together, they disucss what it takes to prepare for this path, how laws limit access, and what it means to say goodbye with intention.  Key takeaways include:  Why current MAiD laws exclude people with conditions like ALS, dementia, and heart failure What families face when traveling internationally for end-of-life care The role of legacy interviews and memory-making before death How Axios supports clients with care, clarity, and compassion Whether you’re a caregiver, a professional, or someone wondering what your own options might look like, this episode offers practical information on MAiD.  Links/Resources  Guest: Bryan Rigg, Axios Consulting - https://www.axiosconsulting.org Host: Traci Arieli’s Website - https://www.comfortingclosure.com Resources:  Dignitas - http://www.dignitas.ch Bryan’s book: Hitler’s Jewish Soldiers   If this episode moved you, please like, share, and subscribe. Your support helps normalize conversations around aging, dying, and grief and makes it easier for others to find this resource.

    52 min

  8. JAN 8

    How to Avoid Probate and Protect Your Family

    I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message. In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli speaks with estate planning attorney Jeannette Marsala about probate, why it is so common, and how families can best avoid it with thoughtful planning.  Together, they discuss what probate is, how people often end up in court even when they believe they planned ahead, and why a will alone is often not enough. Jeannette explains how living trusts work, the small details that frequently cause estate plans to fail, and the practical steps families can take to keep their loved ones out of probate court.  The conversation also addresses the emotional side of estate planning. Traci and Jeannette talk openly about the fear that keeps many people from starting, the stress families face after a death, and how planning ahead can reduce confusion and conflict during grief.  Topics covered include:  What probate is and why it can take months or longer The difference between a will and a trust How living trusts help families avoid probate Common mistakes that send families to court What to look for when choosing an estate attorney Why planning early matters, especially before illness or loss of capacity This episode is intended for both professionals and everyday listeners. It normalizes conversations about aging, death, and planning, while offering clear and compassionate guidance that families can use in real life.  Links and Resources Guest: Jeannette Marsala, Estate Planning Attorney - https://sanjoselivingtrust.com  Host: Traci Arieli - https://www.comfortingclosure.com    If this episode was helpful, please like, share, and subscribe. Doing so helps more people find these conversations and start planning with care.

    50 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Join host Traci Arieli for "Comforting Closure," a podcast where the often silent topics of aging, death, and grieving are explored with compassion and clarity. Each episode features guests who share practical advice, emotional insights, and spiritual perspectives to illuminate these natural yet seldom discussed aspects of life. Dive into tender conversations designed to demystify and destigmatize these experiences, offering solace and understanding to those navigating life's final chapters. Grab a warm drink and find a moment of peace amidst profound transitions with "Comforting Closure."

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