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. Suicide Loss and Healing Through Writing with Wendy Juergens

    2D AGO

    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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. Grief, Fatherhood, and Breaking the Silence Around Death with Matt Fogelson

    MAY 4

    Grief, Fatherhood, and Breaking the Silence Around Death with Matt Fogelson

    Send us Fan Mail Death doula and funeral celebrant Jill McClennen speaks with Matt Fogelson about growing up in 1980s Manhattan, then losing his workaholic father to lung cancer when Matt was 19 and his father was 46. Matt describes carrying unspoken grief for decades, using pain to stay connected, and how family silence around dying robbed them of meaningful end-of-life conversations. He shares how music and playing guitar became a private outlet for depression and rage, and later a bridge to his own son, helping him heal and avoid repeating emotional absence. The conversation also explores conscious living, legacy, and end-of-life planning, including the regret of devoting life to work over relationships. Matt discusses his Substack “Fine Tuning,” leaving law, and his memoir, “Fatherhood in a Different Key.” 00:00 Facing Mortality 00:16 Meet the Host and Guest 01:19 Growing Up 80s Manhattan 03:05 Life After New York 04:09 His Father’s Diagnosis 06:43 Decades of Hidden Grief 11:29 Music as a Lifeline 13:31 Denial and No Goodbye 14:57 Why We Avoid Death Talk 19:47 Childhood Grief and First Funeral 22:46 Shiva and Grief Advice 24:12 Music as Emotional Outlet 26:06 Soundgarden and Screaming 28:40 Safe Ways to Let It Out 31:07 From Lawyer to Memoirist 33:30 Cats in the Cradle Reflections 35:44 Writing in the Basement 37:03 Quitting Law and Launching 37:51 Regrets of the Dying 39:39 Family Cycles and Workaholism 43:41 Where to Find Matt 44:34 End-of-Life Planning CTA https://www.mattfogelson.com/ https://mattfogelson.substack.com/ Restrung Fatherhood in a Different Key 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
  5. Life Forest Tree Burial Cemetery with Mel Bennett

    APR 26

    Life Forest Tree Burial Cemetery with Mel Bennett

    Send us Fan Mail Death doula and funeral celebrant Jill McClennen interviews Mel Bennett, founder of Life Forest in New Hampshire, a nonprofit cemetery and public arboretum where human and pet cremated remains are buried with newly planted trees. After caring for her mother through early-onset frontal lobe dementia, Mel received her mother’s ashes in a plastic bag and box, which pushed her to create a more meaningful, healing legacy. She explains how the land is conserved, how each tree is legally protected as a burial monument, and how families get long-term, deeded access using GPS coordinates and mapping software. Mel shares the science behind their certified wool shrouds that support soil health, plus QR-code memorial markers for equal memorialization. Life Forest prioritizes accessibility, offers free burial for anyone under 20, supports unclaimed deaths, and helps expand similar cemeteries in other states. 00:00 Her Smile in Bloom 00:18 Show and Guest Intro 01:29 Mel’s Roots and Big Question 02:34 Childhood Fear and Mom’s Wisdom 04:40 Dementia Caregiving Journey 07:13 Ashes in a Bag 09:08 From Idea to Life Forest 11:04 Planting the Dogwood 13:09 Building the Arboretum 16:47 Legal Protections for Trees 18:39 Deeded Rights and GPS Mapping 25:15 Wool Shroud Science 28:59 How Families Prepare Remains 31:18 Choosing the Right Tree 32:12 Soil Sun and Pollination 35:03 Public Arboretum Access 36:20 QR Code Memorials 38:57 Pets Fees and Fairness 42:49 Accessibility and Community 43:31 Child Grief Book Project 50:49 Expanding Life Forest Model 54:40 Where to Find Life Forest 55:16 End of Life Planning Call https://lifeforestcemetery.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

    56 min
  6. Grief, Impermanence, and End-of-Life Planning with Jermaine Ee

    APR 19

    Grief, Impermanence, and End-of-Life Planning with Jermaine Ee

    Send us Fan Mail Death doula and funeral celebrant Jill McClennen hosts Jermaine on Seeing Death Clearly to explore how talking about death can lead to more conscious living.  Jermaine shares how a conversation revealed his mother did not understand how her 401(k) connected to real choices, which led him to help her intentionally live out long-held dreams through travel before she died suddenly from a stroke. They discuss grief, regrets, impermanence, and how cultural habits and fear drive inaction around money, dying, and legacy planning, even when tools exist.  Jermaine describes family, seasons of life, and the importance of using meaningful things now rather than saving them for later, including receiving gifts as expressions of love.  He introduces HeirLight, an AI-guided end-of-life planning tool that helps people create wills and other documents more easily and in multiple languages. 00:00 Compounding Blind Spots 00:20 Meet the Host and Guest 01:37 Jermaine on Family and Travel 03:09 Seasons of Life and Regrets 05:58 Money Fear and Die With Zero 09:26 Mom’s 401k Wake Up Call 12:38 Dream Trip and Sudden Stroke 17:18 Inaction and Cultural Barriers 22:34 Buddhism Stoicism and Impermanence 28:20 Vipassana Retreat Story 31:16 Meditation Intensity and Grace 33:07 War Changes Perspective 35:11 Use the Good Stuff 37:55 Learning to Receive 40:47 Perfect Tuesday Mindset 45:07 Time With Elders 47:40 Community Over Stuff 49:59 Building an Estate App 56:06 How the App Works 01:00:38 Simple Will Basics 01:03:12 Closing and Next Steps https://heirlight.com/en YouTube video of Jermaine and his parents "They came here with nothing. 40 years later, we went back." 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

    1h 5m
  7. Breast Cancer, Medical Choice, Informed Consent with Joy Jolie

    APR 5

    Breast Cancer, Medical Choice, Informed Consent with Joy Jolie

    Send us Fan Mail Death doula and funeral celebrant Jill McClennan hosts a conversation with Joy Jolie about how repeated loss, grief, and serious illness shaped Joy’s views on dying, healing, and end-of-life planning.  Joy describes multiple breast cancer diagnoses in her family, including her own, and shares how her mother declined chemo and radiation, while her sisters faced lasting harm and, in one case, workplace pressure to undergo treatment. Joy explains why she questioned standard cancer care, sought resources like Crispy Cancer and The Truth About Cancer, and emphasized informed consent and personal medical choice.  The episode also discusses Canada’s MAID program, supporting choice while warning about coercion and lack of support, and touches on psychedelics for depression and death anxiety. Joy shares her shift toward conscious living, legacy, and helping others through her Joy of Resilience work. 00:00 Suffering and Growth 00:17 Meet Jill and Joy 01:31 Joy’s Losses and Awakening 04:12 Seven Breast Cancer Diagnoses 04:54 Coercion and Treatment Pressure 06:53 Searching for Causes 11:26 Informed Consent and Choice 20:49 Quality of Life Conversations 25:00 Sister’s Final Journey 27:09 A Call for Medical Autonomy 27:26 Health Choices Matter 28:31 Hope and Culture Shift 28:43 MAID and Personal Choice 29:55 Slippery Slope Concerns 36:00 Hospice Policies and Oversight 37:59 Eugenics and Human Value 39:27 Mental Illness Gray Areas 40:15 Psychedelics as Treatment 41:27 Family Impact and Nuance 44:40 Grief and Die Wise 48:37 Division and Complexity 50:44 Building Joy Resilience 52:11 Services and Resources 54:49 End of Life Planning https://joyofresilience.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

    56 min
  8. Pet Loss Grief with a Pet Death Doula Jessica LeBeau-Richman

    MAR 29

    Pet Loss Grief with a Pet Death Doula Jessica LeBeau-Richman

    Send us Fan Mail Host Jill McClennen, a death doula and funeral celebrant, talks with Jessica LeBeau-Richman, a South Jersey pet death doula, about the often overlooked grief of losing an animal and how people can stay connected through ritual, keepsakes, and conscious goodbyes.  Jessica shares how her rescue cat Sammy led her from years of nonprofit social services into end-of-life doula work for pets, and how she supports families with anticipatory grief, quality-of-life decisions, vet-visit advocacy, and after-death choices like burial or cremation.  They discuss the lack of cultural support for pet grief, including shame and limited workplace compassion, and both describe in-home euthanasia as a beautiful experience.  The conversation highlights how honoring pet loss can support healing, legacy, and more present, intentional living. 01:24 Jessica’s Pet Doula Path 03:11 Sammy’s Story Begins 04:55 Shelter Work to Doula Work 07:13 Why Pet Grief Hits Hard 07:50 In Home Goodbye Rituals 09:52 Keepsakes and Ongoing Bonds 11:55 Older Pets and Second Chances 13:49 Euthanasia Versus Human Endings 15:31 When Is It Time 16:26 Sammy’s Final Day 21:30 Support During Loss 22:46 Becoming a Pet Doula 23:12 Pet vs Human Care 23:45 Quality of Life Assessment 24:29 Pet Memorialization Options 25:53 Pet Doula Training 26:56 Building the Business 29:19 Pet Burial Options 29:56 Backyard Pet Burials 30:54 Personal Burial Stories 32:33 Honoring Animal Remains 34:55 Appreciating Life Through Death 35:49 Tactile Moments with Pets 37:46 Connect with Jessica 38:37 End of Life Planning Website: https://jessicaendoflifepetdoula.carrd.co/ Instagram: @jessica.petlossdoula 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

    40 min
See All (164)

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
    164
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Seeing Death Clearly
  • Show Website
    Seeing Death Clearly

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