End of Life Conversations

We are now posting a monthly newsletter on Substack. It contains announcements about end-of-life classes and events, previews of our upcoming episodes, and many resources for planning and learning. Articles and POETRY, of course.

You can subscribe to our Substack here: https://endoflifeconvos.substack.com

We will also be asking our readers (that’s YOU!) for articles, poetry, or event listings.

If you would like to be added to our list (can cancel anytime), please contact us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com

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Annalouiza and Wakil offer classes on end-of-life planning, grief counseling, and interfaith (or no faith!) spiritual direction. If you are interested in any of these, please don't hesitate to contact us via email at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

In this podcast, we'll share people’s experiences with the end of life. We have reached out to experts in the field, front-line workers, as well as friends, neighbors, and the community, to have conversations about their experiences with death and dying. We have invited wonderful people to sit with us and share their stories with one another.

Our goal is to provide you with information and resources that can help us all navigate and better understand this important subject.

You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. Additionally, we would appreciate your financial support, and you can subscribe by clicking the Subscribe button. Subscribers will be sent a dynamically updated end-of-life planning checklist and resources document. They will have access to premium video podcasts on many end-of-life planning and support subjects. Subscribers at $8/month or higher will be invited to a special live, online conversation with Annalouiza and Wakil and are eligible for a free initial session of grief counseling or interfaith spiritual direction.

We would love to hear your feedback and stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

We want to thank Wakil and his wife's children for the wonderful song that begins our programs. We also want to acknowledge that the music we are using was composed and produced by Charles Hiestand. We also acknowledge that we live and work on unceded indigenous peoples' lands. We thank them for their generations of stewardship, which continues to this day, and honor them by doing all we can to create a sustainable planet and support the thriving of all life, both human and more than human.

All Episodes

End of Life Conversations

Halloween Special Episode - Worldwide Death Rituals and The Connection Between Death and Love

October 30, 2025 • Rev Annalouiza Armendariz & Rev Wakil David Matthews • Season 5 • Episode 6

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You can view this as a video on YouTube! We encourage you to do so and to like and subscribe to our channel. And it really helps our statistics if you listen all the way to the end, where we include a bonus conversation!

In this conversation, Rev Wakil David Matthews and Annalouiza explore the cultural differences surrounding Halloween, its historical origins, and the evolution of death rituals across various cultures. They discuss how Halloween has transformed into a commercialized holiday in the U.S. and the impact of Christianity on traditional death celebrations. The hosts emphasize the importance of reconnecting with ancestors and the natural cycles of life and death, encouraging listeners to reclaim Halloween as an opportunity to honor loved ones and engage in meaningful conversations about death.

The episode emphasizes the importance of talking about death and dying openly and honestly to improve the overall end-of-life experience. Understanding grief and loss is an integral part of coping with death and navigating the complex emotions that arise. It also highlights the role of hospice and death education to assist people during end-of-life situations.

Support the show

You can find us on SubStack, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one on one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.

And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.