What Really Matters: Everyday Spirituality

In this episode I'm taking you along on my journey to the Sonoma Coast where I practiced "grief travel" as I always do when I'm away from home. Grief travel means that I keep my heart and mind open for evidence of grief wherever I go - and I always find it. Every little trek and journey becomes richer and more significant because I am connecting with real life and real grief within each community or location. Here are the highlights I talk about: Doran Beach in Bodega Bay Duncan's Landing and

In order to grow spiritually forgiveness is one of the most important tasks we need to accomplish. And forgiving ourselves is a necessary step before we can fully forgive others. In a companion Soulcode Post I've written about why self-forgiveness is so hard to do. In this episode I share some practical steps to actually move through letting go of self-blame and guilt. This episode includes: Why self-compassion is needed before we start this work Taking an honest look at our past actions that

This special Father's Day episode is a companion to my latest post on Soulcode: We Need Another Word for Grief. I'm sharing some thoughts about how grief grows and changes over time by telling the story of my niece who died too soon of cancer, and a synchronicity involving roses after she died. This episode includes: How Father's Day is a complicated day for many of us and has arrived with the solstice this year How the anniversary of Tracey's death has converged on this day as well Encounter

This episode is a companion to two previous EOLU Podcast episodes and a Substack post on Medical Aid in Dying. Here I share the story of a colleague with ALS who wanted to use MAID and my thoughts about grief after a chosen death. This episode includes: Obstacles faced by many who want to use MAID Ambiguous grief after death by MAID Grief when the ending feels unfinished Remembering not to postpone saying goodbye Learn about my books here Check out End-of-Life University Podcast Read my lat

This episode is a companion to the previous 3 episodes on Levels of Consciousness (173), Kindness (174) and Presence (175.) I share how what we pay attention to in our environment shapes our experience of reality and why we need tools to help us expand our awareness. This episode includes: How the brain is wired to focus on negative events in order to protect us from danger How to shift our attention to more positive occurrences around us Why this is not the same as Toxic Positivity How pres

In this episode I talk about the foundational skill of Presence: being able to focus on the present moment and also remaining calm in the midst of difficulties. This episode includes: Why calm presence is contagious How having greater presence helps you practice kindness How humans are hard-wired to co-regulate their nervous systems Practices for developing greater Presence How to return to calmness after being triggered emotionally Book recommendation: Present Through the End by Kirsten D