Let's Talk Death! ... a HealGrief® program Various Guest Speakers

In this episode, Colin brings us back in time to the tragic day when his two children died in a car accident after being hit by a drunk driver. He shares how instrumental community was and continues to be in his journey to live life.
Colin Campbell is a writer and director for theater and film. The short film, Seraglio, which he wrote and directed with his beautiful and talented wife, Gail, was nominated for an Academy Award. Campbell teaches screenwriting at Chapman University and theater at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. He has a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and an MFA from Columbia University.

Yet, for this episode, Colin comes to us as a bereaved father. Colin and his wife were in a car accident with a drunk driver and lost their teenage children. 

Years after, Colin has written a beautiful and helpful book from the ashes of that profound loss titled, Finding the Words: Working Through Profound Loss with Hope and Purpose. In addition, he is developing a solo performance piece titled Grief: A One Man Shit-Show.
 
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In this episode, Alexandra shares how as a writer, she had no words to express the grief she experienced after her husband's death. Yet today, she looks back and finds the beauty and love her experience brought to her "new self."

Alexandra Vassilaros is a Pulitzer Finalist, Playwright, Mother, and Founder. Alexandra's work in the theater is extensive. Her plays were commissioned and premiered at American theatres On and Off-Broadway, as well as in featured international festivals. She was the winner of a Jefferson Award for Best New Play at Steppenwolf Theatre Company and was a co-finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the play Omnium Gatherum. In addition, she's been a guest artist at premier theater institutions such as Juilliard and New York University.

In 2016, one year after the passing of her husband of 23 years, Alexandra pivoted from writing for the theater and founded the Make Meaning Workshop.

Alexandra continues to develop her work with hundreds of women, men, and young adults facing the challenges that loss, crisis, and change inevitably bring.

She is the mother of 3 wonderful young men.
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In this episode, Marni, a lawyer responsible for her mother's advanced directives, shared her emotional block around completing paperwork that had to do with her mother's death.

Marni Blank is a trained death doula, mediator, lawyer, and female-founded small business owner.

Marni's goal is to create a safe space to learn and talk about death, dying & grief, including one's accountability in completing advance care directives & end-of-life planning, creating legacy projects, and helping with pre and post-death logistics. She brings deep compassion, active listening, practical resources, and a healthy dose of humor to her work.

Death and grief affect us all. The more we connect with our families, communities, and ourselves, the less fear plays into these critical discussions and decisions.

She has written articles for Trust & Will and Lantern.
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In this episode, Matthew shares the story of his mother's long journey with addiction to medically prescribed opioids and the trauma and the relief of her death.

Matthew Kennedy is a self-taught ceramic artist whose professional career has spanned more than 25 years. Matthew set himself apart from others as one of the first who began using a tattoo machine as a carving tool on ceramics. Today his artwork is featured in many offline & online galleries.

Matthew says he has a mission to serve people with his creative ability. He helps memorialize loved ones by giving them a special, unique resting place with his one-of-a-kind urns.

Custom Military Urns
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In this episode, Daniel shares his experience about his time spent with his dying mother. During her last year, he spent hours with her weaving together the life stories of his parents.

Daniel Kenner holds a Master's in Educational Theatre from NYU and a BA in Theater from George Washington University and is a proud member of Actor's Equity, SAG-AFTRA, and National Players Tour 60.

In the Spring of 2017, and within a month of each other, Daniel became an orphan after both parents died. However, they left behind their legacy, Daniel, who spent hours with his mother during her last year weaving together their life stories. Room for Grace is a love story of family and community told by a mother through her son, detailing the 60 years of a life well lived.

In the spring of 2022, Daniel facilitated a five-week storytelling residency that utilized the power of storytelling as a processing tool to cope with the demanding stress of caregiving.

Through Daniel's experience, he's created art-based research projects titled, Tuning In, A Window at the Moment, and Branching Out.
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In this episode, Dean shares memories of his time with his son hours before his son's suicide. Dean shares his experience finding his son's body and the blessings he found in the tragedy.

Dean Lambert has worked with funeral professionals for nearly 30 years to help them connect and serve the families facing one of the most challenging moments of their lives: the loss of a loved one.
As a father who has experienced the loss of a child, he knows firsthand the grief that clouds the vision needed to honor a life well-lived. 
Dean is leading The Love Always Project with a team of experienced subject matter experts and people committed to its purpose: encouraging people to think more positively and proactively about end-of-life issues and funeral prearrangement.
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