It may not surprise you that death is the #1 fear in the U.S.. Most of us want to put blinders on and pretend that the inevitable isn’t going to happen. But the truth is, all of us will, at some point, care for a loved one at the end of life and face those final days ourselves, too.

Sure, this may seem like a lot to process on a Monday morning. (Dammit Richelle! I haven’t even had my coffee yet!) 

But, I’ve had the pleasure of learning from one of the most renowned death doula’s and end-of-life educators–Suzanne O’Brien, R.N., and since the day I met her over a Zoom screen, I’ve been an evangelist for her work and how she sees the end of life in a beautiful, holistic and ritualistic way.

One of the first things Suzanne will tell you is that we become less fearful of the unknown when we embrace what is known, and that we should take the time to prepare before we even need to. I’ve watched my grandmother care for my grandfather for years, and then my parents care for my grandmother, and a dear friend care for his wife after the discovery of a horrific brain tumor–and I can say with confidence that educatiung ourselves on how to have a good death, brings more ease and care to the caregivers, too.

This week on the Bound + Determined pod, I’m sitting down with Suzanne to discuss her book The Good Death: A Guide for Supporting Your Loved One Through the End of Life, which includes incredible education around having a good death physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and even financially. You’ll also hear about one of my favorite topics to learn from Suzanne–how to keep death green.

If this topic makes you uneasy, I promise Suzanne is the best person to learn from–she’s an angel. 

Plus, as always, you’ll learn insider info on the book-writing process.