Big Feelings

Faced with a terminal cancer diagnosis, Richard is forced to confront his mortality each and every day. Ironically, acknowledging his death has sparked a renewed sense of joy and wonder in his life. Listen as he shares how life's greatest meaning is often derived from the simplest gestures.

Content warning: Today's episode explores themes related to suicide and suicidal ideation, which some listeners may find distressing. While in the grips of depression, Kathleen Saunders contemplated taking her own life, until an unexpected and tragic turn of events stopped her in her tracks. Listen as Kathleen shares her journey to self-acceptance and self-love, while navigating the world with bipolar disorder.

Kids are inquisitive, uninhibited and brutally honest. So who better to tackle a taboo subject like death? On this episode, Lauren talks death with her 3 and 5 year old nephews to hear their take on a subject adults often shy away from. Then, childhood grief expert Andrea Warnick shares some guiding principles on how to support our kids through the harder parts of being human. For more information on how to support kids through grief, check out today's show notes on www.talkdyingtome.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram @talkdyingtome. You can also follow Andrea Warnick @awc_grief.

How do you prepare your kids for a life without you? Megan Roberts grapples with this question each day as she navigates motherhood while living with stage IV cancer. For more information on this episode and others, check out www.talkdyingtome.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram @talkdyingtome.

What if a week was deleted from your life? That is exactly what it felt like when 42 year old Jaclyn Robinson was placed on a ventilator for 8 days after contracting COVID-19. On this episode, she describes the harrowing experience of surviving a critical illness, and how her life has changed after coming so close to death.

How does a body die? On this episode of Talk Dying to Me, Lauren sits down with two palliative care nurses in attempt to demystify the dying process. They talk about what dying looks like, what we know to be true about this important transition we will all one day face, and some of the less tangible parts of dying.

Dying is one thing, but what if what you're dying from has the potential to change who you are in the process? This is exactly the struggle Ashley faces as she lives life with a slow growing brain tumour in her left frontal lobe she calls "Monica." On this episode, Ashley explores her journey to self acceptance in the face of an illness that threatens who she is and how she shows up in the world.

Do you remember the first time you saw a dead body? Lauren and Alysa were just 6 and 10 years old, and the body happened to belong to their mother. In this episode they take a deep dive into the experience of seeing their mom after she died, as well as some of the more mystic moments they shared in the days, months and years following her death. They also explore how living with grief has transformed their lives in countless, beautiful ways.

I'm Lauren. Keeper of death stories, purveyor of good dying, and believer in good living. Talk Dying To Me is my attempt to wake you up to your mortality, because acknowledging death has the power to change your life.

When a young mom dies suddenly, her children are left to make sense of life and death in the aftermath of their tragedy. Join host, Lauren Daley, and her sister Alysa as they rehash details of their mom's untimely passing and contemplate how they've grown through grief.