Embracing The Journey

Host Lori Burkart Frank interviews Charles "Chuck" Durrett, Nevada City Architect & author who helped bring the idea of co-housing to this country.  Chuck talks about the benefits of co-housing to eliminate loneliness often suffered by seniors.  Co-housing is a way for people to connect and be cared for and care for  their neighbors.

Host Lori Burkart Franks talks with Liz Dreher, Community Relations Mgr for Foothills Compassionate Care and Susan Claydon, Nurse Practitioner with Claydon Geriatrics about FIVE WISHES an advanced directive that talks about your personal, emotional, spiritual and medical wishes.

Host Lori Burkart Frank interviews local author and facilitator of creative writing cancer support groups, Courtney Ferguson.  Courtney shares why she wrote her newest book, " A Few More Miles on Gary's Trail."  She talks about what it means to be there for someone at the end of their life.

Host Lori Burkart Frank interviews Sands Hall, playwright, singer/songwriter, musician and author of "Reclaiming My Decade Lost in Scientology."  Sands discusses the connection between Death and Cults.  What may draw people in and promises of everlasting life through reincarnation.  

Host Lori Burkart Frank interviews Carrie McDowall and Pastor Christian Schweter of Peace Lutheran Church in Grass Valley, California, about the decisions involved in dying.  Peace Lutheran provides a forum for the public to hear from organizations providing services around death and dying.

Host Lori Burkart Frank invites Victor Estrada-Hildebrand and Michael Hildebrand-Estrada to play the Deck Deck game.  It is a 112 card deck of interesting questions, some funny and some deep.  The deck is designed to be thought provoking and invite an easy way to start conversations that can be difficult to initiate.

Lori Burkart Frank interviews Viv Tipton, Founder of this show, Embracing the Journey, former Executive Director of Foothills Compassionate Care and an alchemist for turning her personal grief into love, hope, optimism and a full life.  Shellee Sepko, MA, LMFT is a Jungian psychotherapist and ritual facilitator, facilitating groups based on Francis Weller's book, "the Wild Edge of Sorrow."  Together they share how being in community around our grief provides gifts and support.

Lori Burkart Frank interviews Courtney Ferguson, local author, and Valerie Logsdon, Elder Law Attorney about planning for our passing, transition, death, or whatever word you are comfortable with.  Courtney, just planned not only the legal details of her future passing, but music to be played, obituary and lots of details that are important to her.  This is something we can all do, to make it easier for our loved ones and to address, especially if we don't have family to step in.

Lori Burkart Frank interviews Mary Petersen, grief counselor with Hospice of the Foothills, under the Foothills Compassionate Care umbrella.  Throughout the grieving process there are intervals of grief.  It can be helpful to understand what can show up along the grief journey.

Lori Burkart Frank welcomes Peter Coates back to discuss his experience facing a terminal diagnosis.  Peter's wife, Cathryn joins in the discussion.  Their courage and love are inspiring and powerful.  

Lori Burkart Frank interviews Dr. Scott Neeley, President and CEO of Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital about improving our healthspan.

Lori Burkart Frank interviews Peter Coates, facing a terminal cancer.  Peter shares the songs he has written and recorded which reflect the variety of emotions he faces with is diagnosis.  Peter encourages other people facing a terminal diagnosis to find a creative outlet.

Lori Burkart Frank interviews Mary Ann Davis, Marketing and Events Manager and David Franco, Board Chair from Foothills Compassionate Care, recently known as Hospice of the Foothills.  Why the name change?  Mary Anne and David share the wide variety of services available from our local non-profit, including Hospice, Palliative, Bereavement, Education, Thrift store and more.  Foothills Compassionate Care is the Umbrella name of all these services.  In recent years for profit organizations are providing hospice.  Foothills Compassionate Care, our local non-profit is in a position to provide so much more.

Lori Burkart Frank talks with The Deck Deck co-creator and Licensed Clinical Social Worker for Hospice, Lisa Pahl.  Lisa is passionate about having conversations about death and dying so we can live our lives more fully.  The Death Deck provides opportunity for deep insight, laughter and connection.

Lori Burkart Frank interviews past guest, Anne King, about the dos and don'ts in picking an executor for our estate.  She shares two distinctly different experiences, including finding out she was an executor for a friend after he passed.  In this conversation there is food for thought on what we might want to consider in the legacy we leave, once we are gone.

Lori Burkart Frank interviews Estate Attorney, Dylan Hendricks about the differences in a Will, Trust or Probate.  What happens to our estate once we pass?  What are the benefits to our loved ones when we plan ahead?

Host Lori Burkart Frank plays the Death Deck game with  guests, Gregory Ingram, Chaplain for Hospice of the Foothills and Katie Haskett, Social worker for Hospice of the Foothills.  The death deck is a game that provides a fun, interesting and provocative way to discuss a variety of topics around death.

Lori Burkart Frank interviews Dr. Anya Stanger, Adjunct Professor of Women's Studies of Sierra College and Dr. Kathleen Taylor, Chair of Sierra College Gender Studies.  They discuss caregiving  in relationship to gender, hospice and transformation.  In particular they discuss hospice in the prison system provided by inmates and the transformation occuring.

Hospice Nurse Julie is an internet viral sensation who talks about her work as a hospice nurse in Southern 
California.  She found there is an insatiable desire for knowledge about the end of life.

Host Lori Burkart Frank talks about Palliative Care with Michelle Tagg of Hospice of the Foothills and Lauren Swinney, Palliative Care Manager at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital.

Lori Burkart Frank interviews Kelly Carpenter, Adult Services Program Manager and Public Guardian for the County of Nevada.  Kelly talks about the services provided by Adult Services including Conservatorship.

Host Lori Burkart Frank brings together Hospice of the Foothills Executive Director, Viv Tipton, and Marketing and Events Manager, Mary Anne Davis,  to play "The Death Deck Game."  Conversations around death and dying along with curious and even humorous responses to questions from the Deck occur.

Lori Burkart Frank interviews Dying Vigil Volunteers, Linda High and Judy Lay.  They share what a dying vigil volunteer provides for someone actively dying and what an honor it is to be with the person in their final hours and moments of life.

Lori Burkart Frank talks to David Franco, Board President of Hospice of the Foothills and Jon Blinder, Trustee for Hospice of the Foothills about The Five Wishes and Advanced Directives.  

Lori Burkart Frank interviews Reverend Brad Helmuth, Rector, Pastor of Holy Trinity.  Reverend Brad talks about Spiritual Care at the end of life. Reverend Helmuth has supported the community spiritually through Youth Ministry, Spiritual Care Counselor for Hospice and a variety of roles at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Nevada City before becoming the Rector in 2018.

Lori Burkhart Frank speaks with Ann King about creating eulogies, a written or spoken tribute to one who has passed on. Ann is an award winning toastmaster and has significant experience delivering eulogies.

Discussions about Life and Death inspired by the documentary, "Jack Has a Plan."

Guests: Akhila Murphy, End-of-Life Doula, Founding Director of Full Circle of Living and Dying - and Andrea Deerheart, PhD, ELP, President of The Heart Way.

Discussions about Life and Death inspired by the documentary, "Jack Has a Plan."

Guests: Akhila Murphy, End-of-Life Doula, Founding Director of Full Circle of Living and Dying - and Andrea Deerheart, PhD, ELP, President of The Heart Way.

Lori Burkart Frank interviews Reverend Karyn Packard, participant in the development of the Five Wishes, end of Life living will advanced directive that talks about your personal, emotional and spiritual needs as well as your medical wishes.

Lori Burkart Frank interviews award winning poet, Jenny Qi.  She is the author of a book of poems, Focal Point and a Ph.D in Cancer Biology.  Together with Eliza Tudor, Executive Director of Nevada County Arts Council they talk to Jenny about how poetry can support us in facing death and grief.

Lori Burkart Frank interviews Elder Law Attorney Valerie Logsdon about choosing your Power of Attorney. Taking this action can provide us with the assistance we need when we are no longer able to take on all the responsibilities we once felt up to.

Topic:  Natural organic reduction after death, also called human composting

Guests:  Anna Swenson, Outreach Manager for Recompose in Washington State and Jennifer Bliss, widow of Amigo Bob Cantisano an early pioneer of the organic farming movement and long-time resident of Nevada County.

In this episode you’ll hear what it is like to receive a terminal diagnosis and prepare yourself, family and friends for the inevitable.  From practical preparations such as cleaning out an office, listing passwords and planning your own service to reaching out to family and friends to share the news and then make new memories, to finding ways to be of service. Lori Burkart Frank interviews her own father, Ed Burkart, who is living with terminal stage 4 bone cancer metastasized from prostate cancer.

Lori Burkart Frank talks to Viv Tipton - Mother, Daughter, Sister, and Executive Director for Hospice of the Foothills - about how grief is a part of her life, along with Susan Canavan, Bereavement & Community Services Coordinator for Hospice of the Foothills.  Grief is something all of us have or will experience.

Lori Burkart Frank interviews Dr. Corbett Riley, a health Advocate who helps patients navigate our fragmented health care system to get the best care, make good decisions about their health care and identify resources.

Lori Burkart Frank interviews Michelle Tagg, MSW and Community Liaison and Donna Brown, RN CHPN and Hospital Liaison with Hospice of the Foothills in a discussion about Signs of Decline.  The transition from living with a chronic disease to the initial stages of dying from a chronic disease can be confusing.  Seeing the big picture and understanding these signs of decline help to make care plans, reframe what hope looks like, and provide comfort.

Host Lori Burkart Frank interviews “Driving Miss Norma,” authors Tim Bauerschmidt and Ramie Liddle.  Saying YES to life when facing a terminal diagnosis is what Tim’s mother chose to do at 90 years old when she toured the US in an RV with her son and daughter-in-law.  Her joy and zest for life touched the hearts of millions around the world.

Lori Burkart Frank interviews Akhila Murphy and Linda More with Full Circle of Living and Dying.  They talk about Death Doulas, Natural Organic Reduction, End of life options and education and resources around end of life.

Lori Burkart Frank interviews end-of-life caregivers Rosie Mariani and  Amada Kenney.  They talk about those last days, hours and moments before  a loved one passes.