Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula

Traci Arieli

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

    One Last Wave for His Father

    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 sits down with Dan Fischer, founder of the One Last Wave Project, to talk about grief, connection, and what it means to carry on a relationship with someone you love after they die.  After losing his father to pancreatic cancer, Dan found himself searching for a way to process his grief. What started as writing his father’s name on a surfboard and paddling into the ocean became something much larger. Today, the One Last Wave Project honors loved ones by carrying their names into the water on handcrafted boards around the world   In this conversation, Traci and Dan talk about:  What grief feels like when you are in it  How nature can support emotional healing  Continuing bonds and staying connected after someone dies  The story behind the One Last Wave Project and how families participate  This episode offers something many people need but rarely hear. Permission to grieve in their own way, and to find their own path forward.  Whether you work in end-of-life care or are navigating loss yourself, this conversation brings both personal experience and practical understanding to the grieving.  Links/Resources  Guest:Dan Fischer, One Last Wave Project - https://onelastwaveproject.com/  Host: Traci Arieli - https://www.comfortingclosure.com    Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes!

  2. Jul 9

    Using AI in Grief: Memory, Connection, and What’s Real

    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 explores a question more people are beginning to ask: does AI have a place in grief?  Joined by Traci Gwozdz, grief educator and advisor to Reflekta, this conversation looks at how artificial intelligence is being used to preserve memories, support grief, and maintain connection after loss. Drawing from her own experience of losing both parents and her son, Traci G shares how grief evolves, what it means to integrate loss, and how tools like AI reflections are being used in real life.   Together, they discuss the emotional and ethical questions surrounding AI in grief, including what these tools can offer, where their limits are, and how to approach them in a way that supports healing rather than avoidance.  Key takeaways include:  What “grief integration” means and why grief doesn’t follow a timeline  How AI tools are being used to preserve memories and support connection  When someone might be ready, or not ready, to engage with tools like this  How to approach new technology in grief with awareness and intention  This episode is designed to open a conversation. Whether you’re curious, skeptical, or somewhere in between, it offers a grounded look at how people are navigating grief in a changing world.   Links/Resources  Guest: Traci Gwozdz - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracigwozdz/  Reflekta: https://www.reflekta.ai  Host: Traci Arieli's Website - https://www.comfortingclosure.com  David Kessler (Grief Educator): https://www.grief.com    Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes!

  3. Jun 25

    Hospice Care: What a Nurse Wishes Families Knew

    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 sits down with Peter Abraham, BSN, RN, to talk about the real experience of hospice care, beyond what most families are told.  They walk through what hospice nursing looks like today, including heavy caseloads, time pressure, burnout, and the limits nurses face at the bedside. Peter shares firsthand stories about where care breaks down, what families are often unprepared for, and why gaps in education and support still exist.   You’ll also hear about the growing role of end-of-life doulas, how they support families in ways hospice often cannot, and why collaboration between doulas and hospice teams is still evolving.  Key takeaways include:  • What hospice nurses wish families understood before starting care  • How staffing shortages and time constraints impact patient experience  • Why families must advocate for their loved ones  • The emotional toll on hospice professionals  • How doulas help fill critical gaps in time, education, and support  This conversation is direct, grounded, and important. If you’ve ever wondered how hospice really works, or how to better support someone at the end of life, this episode will give you a clearer picture.  Links/Resources  Peter Abraham, BSN, RN: https://compassioncrossing.info  Traci Arieli - https://www.comfortingclosure.com  The Hospice Journey Handbook (by Peter Abraham, available on Amazon)  Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes!

  4. Jun 18

    How Shamanism Helps with Grief: A Different Way to Experience Loss

    I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message. What actuallhttps://www.hjertehagen.nety happens in a shamanic journey, and can it really shift the way we experience grief?  In this episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli looks at the role of shamanism in grief, death, and the unknown. Joined by Lisa Cox, a death midwife and shamanic practitioner, this conversation looks at shamanism as a grounded, experiential practice rather than something abstract or performative.  Together, they discuss what a shamanic journey is, how it differs from meditation or visualization, and why direct experience can change the way we hold grief. The episode also explores the role of ancestry, anticipatory grief, and how engaging with non-ordinary reality can change our relationship with death.  If you are navigating grief, working in end-of-life care, or simply curious about how we relate to death and what may lie beyond it, this episode offers a grounded and thoughtful place to begin.  Links/Resources  Guest: Lisa Cox – https://www.hjertehagen.net Host: Traci Arieli – https://www.comfortingclosure.com  Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes!

  5. Jun 11

    Funeral Planning Before a Crisis: What Families Need to Know

    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 explores funeral planning and why it matters long before a death occurs.  She is joined by Dan Ford, President of Alderson-Ford Funeral Homes and President of the National Funeral Directors Association. Drawing from his experience working with families, Dan shares what happens when no plans are in place and how that affects loved ones during an already difficult moment.  Together, they talk about when families typically reach out to a funeral director, what people wish they had done earlier, and why leaving no guidance often leads to confusion, conflict, and rushed decisions. The conversation also touches on funeral costs and debt, the pressure families face when decisions are made in crisis, and the balance between honoring someone’s wishes and supporting those left behind.  They also discuss the role of ritual and cultural practices in grief, even for those who do not identify as religious, and discuss how funeral directors and end-of-life doulas can work together to better support families before, during, and after a death.  This episode is for anyone who wants to make things easier for the people they love and begin thinking about funeral planning before it becomes urgent.    Links/Resources  Dan Ford - https://www.fordfh.com  Traci Arieli - https://www.comfortingclosure.com  National Funeral Directors Association - https://nfda.org Resources: National Funeral Directors Association consumer resources - https://nfda.org/consumer-resources   If this conversation was helpful, please like, share, comment, and subscribe so more people can find it.

  6. Jun 4

    Homeless Palliative Care: Who Gets Left Behind?

    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 sits down with Michael A. Light, Clinical Social Worker at Harborview Medical Center, to talk about what happens when someone is seriously ill and has nowhere to go.  In the United States, many people assume care will be there when it’s needed. But that is not the reality for everyone. For people experiencing homelessness, serious illness often unfolds across the street, shelters, and hospital systems that are not built to support them. Many die decades earlier than the general population.  Michael shares what this looks like in practice. What happens when someone is discharged from the hospital without a home. And why we need to bring care to people, instead of expecting them to come to the system.  The conversation also explores how trust is built after repeated harm, how relationships become the care itself, and what it means to show up for someone in a way that honors their humanity.  Links/Resources  Harborview Homeless Palliative Care Program – https://www.uwmedicine.org/specialties/palliative-care/homeless-care  Palliative Care Training Center, University of Washington – https://pctc.uw.edu Host: Traci Arieli – https://www.comfortingclosure.com    Like, share, and subscribe if you want to keep having conversations like this.

  7. May 28

    Psychomanteum for Grief: What Really Happens

    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 explores grief, connection, and a little-known practice called the psychomanteum. Joined by Dr. Irene Blinston, researcher, author, and grief practitioner, they talk about what this experience actually looks like, how it is used in grief work, and what people report during and after a session.  This conversation breaks down the structure of a psychomanteum, including the controlled environment, altered state of consciousness, and guided process. Dr. Blinston discusses her research, including measurable reductions in grief symptoms and the importance of preparation, screening, and debriefing.   Key takeaways include:  What a psychomanteum is and how it works  What people experience, beyond expectations of “contact”  Why healing can occur even without seeing or hearing a loved one  The role of environment, ritual, and altered awareness in grief processing  Who this work is and is not appropriate for  Whether you approach this topic from a psychological, spiritual, or curious perspective, this episode offers a grounded look at how people process grief and maintain connection after loss. It opens the door to conversations that are often avoided, while keeping safety, ethics, and personal meaning at the center.    Links/Resources  Dr. Irene Blinston: https://portaltohealinggrief.com  Traci Arieli - https://www.comfortingclosure.com Get a free copy of Dr. Blinston’s eBook, “Gazing into the Afterlife" at https://freebook.portaltohealinggrief.com  Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes.

  8. May 21

    When Is It Time for Hospice? What to Know and How to Talk About It

    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 discusses one of the hardest questions families face: when is it time for hospice. Joined by David Zartman and Joanna Franco from Caring House Hospice, they talk about what hospice really is, why families often wait too long, and how to start the conversation with a loved one.  This conversation focuses on real experiences inside a hospice home, including what care looks like, how families respond, and what shifts when support is in place. You’ll hear how caregivers recognize change, why the word “hospice” can feel so heavy, and how quality of life becomes the center of decision-making.  Key takeaways include how to approach the hospice conversation, what families often misunderstand, and why support matters not just for the person who is dying, but for everyone around them.   This episode is for caregivers, families, and professionals who want a clearer, more grounded understanding of hospice and end-of-life care. It aims to normalize these conversations and give you a way to start them earlier, with more clarity and less fear.    Links/Resources  Caring House Hospice: https://www.yourcaringhouse.org  Host: Traci Arieli - https://www.comfortingclosure.com    Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated with our latest episodes!

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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
9 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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