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

Can Art and Conversation about Death REALLY Change Your Life?

October 29, 2025 • Rev Annalouiza Armendariz & Rev Wakil David Matthews & Jennie Banks • Season 5 • Episode 5

Send us a text

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, we speak with Jennie Banks, the creative director of Death Dancer, about her journey with death awareness and the importance of community support in navigating grief. Jennie shares her personal experiences with death, her work creating art that fosters conversations about grief, and the events and workshops she has organized to help people process their emotions. The discussion highlights the challenges faced in death awareness, the transformative potential of grief work, and the vision for establishing permanent spaces for grief support in communities.

We explore how authenticity in conversations fosters genuine connection with others. Through open dialogue and creativity, viewers can gain valuable life lessons that contribute to personal growth. It encourages self-awareness of how you feel and the importance of emotional regulation in building stronger relationships.

Their Website

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.