The Caring Death Doula

Frances
  • 5.0 (2)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE

In a world that rushes past death and ignores grief, The Caring Death Doula stops to listen with tenderness, truth, and time.  Whether you are grieving right now or here to learn how to help those grieving, join your host, Frances, a certified grief educator on the journey of finding connection, conversations, and comfort. Let's make grief and death a natural part of our conversations.

  1. 5D AGO

    Raw Numbing Grief

    The phone rings, life splits, and the air goes thin.  A moment you won’t forget.  That’s the feeling we step into in this episode: raw, sudden grief after an unexpected death in the family, the kind that makes time wobble and ordinary tasks feel impossible. I share what the numbness is like, how disbelief shields the heart in those first days, and why even people who think they’re “ready” are caught off guard by the weight of loss. We pull apart the difference between anticipated and sudden death without ranking anyone’s pain. I talk about how grief reshapes identity—how losing a parent set me on the path to serve as  a caring death doula—and why you can’t simply return to who you were before.  We explore the family side too: children and siblings reacting in their own ways, the shock of unexpected emotions, the simple power of holding each other and showing up in person when it matters most. Then we face a hard truth about work. Too many employers treat bereavement like a short interruption, not a seismic shift. I share a listener’s story of being asked to work during the first week after her spouse died.  If you’re grieving, I’m holding space for you. If you love someone who’s grieving, I’m here for you as well. And if you lead a team, you’ll hear a clear case for changing how we respond to loss at work.  We must start supporting each other better.  Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and tell me: what one change would make grieving less lonely where you live or work? Click here to send me a text. I would love to hear from you your thoughts on this episode. Sign up for my newsletter, ask questions, and get responses via Email: thecaringdeathdoula@gmail.com Follow on FB The Caring Death Doula https://www.facebook.com/share/1CUfH9Kek6/?mibextid=wwXIfr IG The_Caring_Death_Doula https://www.instagram.com/the_caring_death_doula?igsh=MXdjOTF3MWo2a3RpYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    12 min

  2. JAN 29

    Are We Ever Prepared for Grief

    A massive winter storm sets the stage for a conversation we’ve needed to have: you can plan, but you can’t schedule your heart. In this episode, I look at how grief behaves more like weather than a checklist—surprising, shifting, sometimes quiet, sometimes relentless—and why that doesn’t mean you failed to prepare.  I talk about loss in its many forms: the death of a loved one, the goodbye to a beloved pet, the end of a role after children grow, and the identity shock that can follow retirement.  From bedside vigils to last trips and legacy letters, I honor the ways families get ready, then admit the universal truth: the moment still pierces. Grief still hits, and it can surprise you.  Readiness is often a myth we use to feel safe. What helps instead is learning to carry love forward. Tears are not weakness; they are proof of value, attachment, and meaning. It’s okay to feel what arrives without apology. Your way of grieving may not be mine, and that’s the point. Grief is personal because love is personal. If you’re standing in the doorway of a change you chose, or a loss you never wanted, you’re not walking it alone.  I’m here to witness, to name, and to remind you that you still matter, even on days when you feel like you don’t. If this helps, please may I ask that you leave a quick review—your words help others find the support they’re searching for. The Caring Death Doula Click here to send me a text. I would love to hear from you your thoughts on this episode. Sign up for my newsletter, ask questions, and get responses via Email: thecaringdeathdoula@gmail.com Follow on FB The Caring Death Doula https://www.facebook.com/share/1CUfH9Kek6/?mibextid=wwXIfr IG The_Caring_Death_Doula https://www.instagram.com/the_caring_death_doula?igsh=MXdjOTF3MWo2a3RpYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    10 min

  3. JAN 26

    Gentle Joy in Grief

    Grief can feel endless until, suddenly, it doesn’t—for a moment. In this episode I share a tender look at how relief sometimes arrives unannounced: a letter from a transplant recipient whose life was saved, a beloved house passing to someone who truly loves it, a monarch butterfly gliding through the yard and sparking a memory that warms instead of stings. These aren’t solutions; they’re gentle shifts that help you breathe and remind you that love keeps moving in unexpected ways. Together, we talk about the small signals that appear along a grief journey—a song on the radio, a favorite movie of your loved one, a simple smile that arrives before the ache.  We have an honest conversation about guilt, timelines, and the myth that healing must look a certain way. You’ll hear clear, compassionate guidance on staying open to moments of ease without chasing them, letting memory evolve from sharp to soft at its own pace. Remember this is your personal path of carrying grief and love. There are no rules.  The goal is simple: help you feel seen, heard, and less alone while offering practical ways to welcome comfort when it’s ready to meet you. If you’ve been waiting for permission to smile again—or to not smile yet—you’ll find it here, along with gentle reminders that hope can coexist with sorrow.  If this conversation supports you, follow the show, share it with someone who is grieving, and leave a review so we can reach more hearts who need a little light. Holding space for you,  Frances, The Caring Death Doula Click here to send me a text. I would love to hear from you your thoughts on this episode. Sign up for my newsletter, ask questions, and get responses via Email: thecaringdeathdoula@gmail.com Follow on FB The Caring Death Doula https://www.facebook.com/share/1CUfH9Kek6/?mibextid=wwXIfr IG The_Caring_Death_Doula https://www.instagram.com/the_caring_death_doula?igsh=MXdjOTF3MWo2a3RpYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    9 min

  4. JAN 23

    Grief can’t be scheduled or planned

    In this episode I ask  whether grief feels heavier during the week or on the weekend, then unpack why sorrow refuses schedules. A planned Monday–Thursday structure gives way to presence, flexibility, and care after life delivers unexpected news. • why rigid episode themes can miss real needs • the myth of timelines and stages in grief • support for the newly grieving and long-term grievers • guidance for friends and caregivers who want to help • a commitment to meet listeners where they are I am The Caring Death Doula and I am here for you.  Click here to send me a text. I would love to hear from you your thoughts on this episode. Sign up for my newsletter, ask questions, and get responses via Email: thecaringdeathdoula@gmail.com Follow on FB The Caring Death Doula https://www.facebook.com/share/1CUfH9Kek6/?mibextid=wwXIfr IG The_Caring_Death_Doula https://www.instagram.com/the_caring_death_doula?igsh=MXdjOTF3MWo2a3RpYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    9 min

  5. JAN 15

    You Don’t Need A Casserole To Show Up for Grief

    In this episode, I share the news of a dear friend losing her son arriving like a punch to the chest, and how it raised a question many of us carry: how do you show up when the worst happens and you’re not even sure you’re “close enough” anymore?  I open up about such a  moment and share the small, steady acts that help someone breathe when the ground falls away—because grief is personal, but it should never be carried alone. We walk through compassionate, practical support that anyone can offer from near or far: sending a text when you don’t have the right words, leaving a voice note that says “I’m here,” arranging a meal delivery or takeout when cooking isn’t your thing, and picking items that can be heated later on the family’s timeline. I talk about the difference between vague offers and specific help, how to respect boundaries while staying present, and why using the child’s name honors love that does not end. We also explore the power of ongoing check-ins—on the month mark, birthdays, and holidays—so care doesn’t fade when everyone else moves on. You’ll hear gentle guidance on listening without fixing, witnessing without comparison, and offering presence that holds more than advice ever could. Whether you have a phone number, a social media connection, or just a shared memory, there’s a way to reach out today.  If your heart is asking how to help, trust that quiet pull and take one small step. If this speaks to you, follow the show, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review so others can find these conversations.  And if you’re grieving, know this: you’re seen, you’re loved, and you don’t have to stand alone. ~ Frances, The Caring Death Doula Click here to send me a text. I would love to hear from you your thoughts on this episode. Sign up for my newsletter, ask questions, and get responses via Email: thecaringdeathdoula@gmail.com Follow on FB The Caring Death Doula https://www.facebook.com/share/1CUfH9Kek6/?mibextid=wwXIfr IG The_Caring_Death_Doula https://www.instagram.com/the_caring_death_doula?igsh=MXdjOTF3MWo2a3RpYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    7 min

  6. JAN 12

    Grief In A New Year

    In this episode, Frances, The Caring Death Doula, speaks to those entering a new year with fresh grief and no desire to plan beyond today. She offers permission to slow down, ignore unhelpful comments, and focus on small steps. • naming fresh grief as numb and foggy • granting permission to feel and cry • narrowing focus to the next hour or day • releasing pressure to plan the month or year • setting boundaries around unhelpful comments • reassurance that support and space remain I am The Caring Death Doula. I am here for you. I am holding space for you.  Click here to send me a text. I would love to hear from you your thoughts on this episode. Sign up for my newsletter, ask questions, and get responses via Email: thecaringdeathdoula@gmail.com Follow on FB The Caring Death Doula https://www.facebook.com/share/1CUfH9Kek6/?mibextid=wwXIfr IG The_Caring_Death_Doula https://www.instagram.com/the_caring_death_doula?igsh=MXdjOTF3MWo2a3RpYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    4 min

  7. JAN 8

    Every Grief is Valid and No One Can Set Your Timeline

    Here in the first episode of our second year, we restate this as a safe space to come if you are grieving. We name losses that don’t fit tidy boxes and reject rigid rules about how grief should look. We affirm that grief is love we carry forward and that no one gets to set our  pace. Join Frances, The Caring Death Doula as she discusses: • naming grief beyond death, including pets, retirement and lost dreams or  identity • rejecting timelines and social scripts for mourning • giving yourself permission to rest, say no and choose rituals • asking others to speak names and sit with silence • understanding grief as love that changes form • finding support that validates rather than polices Click here to send me a text. I would love to hear from you your thoughts on this episode. Sign up for my newsletter, ask questions, and get responses via Email: thecaringdeathdoula@gmail.com Follow on FB The Caring Death Doula https://www.facebook.com/share/1CUfH9Kek6/?mibextid=wwXIfr IG The_Caring_Death_Doula https://www.instagram.com/the_caring_death_doula?igsh=MXdjOTF3MWo2a3RpYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    8 min

  8. 12/29/2025

    Holding Space: Ending A Season, Carrying Love Forward

    We close a season and a year by naming a simple truth: grief has no rules, and love doesn’t end. We offer permission to feel, encouragement to say their names, and practical ways to show up for one another. • ending the season with gratitude and care • no right or wrong way to grieve • rejecting social timelines and pressure • showing up with meals, calls, presence • listening more than fixing • saying their names to honor love • carrying memories into a new year • leaving shame and guilt behind • choosing personal pace If this resonates, follow the show, share it with someone who needs a soft place to land, and leave a review to help others find this space. Your story matters, and you don't have to carry it alone. You can connect me in a variety of ways. (See the end of episode description). I am Frances, The Caring Death Doula and I am here for you.  Click here to send me a text. I would love to hear from you your thoughts on this episode. Sign up for my newsletter, ask questions, and get responses via Email: thecaringdeathdoula@gmail.com Follow on FB The Caring Death Doula https://www.facebook.com/share/1CUfH9Kek6/?mibextid=wwXIfr IG The_Caring_Death_Doula https://www.instagram.com/the_caring_death_doula?igsh=MXdjOTF3MWo2a3RpYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    8 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

In a world that rushes past death and ignores grief, The Caring Death Doula stops to listen with tenderness, truth, and time.  Whether you are grieving right now or here to learn how to help those grieving, join your host, Frances, a certified grief educator on the journey of finding connection, conversations, and comfort. Let's make grief and death a natural part of our conversations.

Information

  • Creator
    Frances
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Caring Death Doula
  • Show Website
    The Caring Death Doula