About this episode

This episode discusses the importance of celebrating dying individuals similarly to newborns, featuring insights from death doula Julie Wright Halbert.

If you've ever avoided thinking about death — your own or someone else's — episode 426 of Grief and Happiness is exactly what you need to hear. Death doula and soul coach Julie Wright Halbert joins Emily to challenge everything we've been taught about the end of life, and why dying people deserve the same celebration as newborns. Raw, surprising, and deeply comforting, this conversation will change the way you think about living. In This Episode, You Will Learn: (00:57) From national education attorney to death doula and soul coach  (01:52) How death doulas are transforming end-of-life care  (04:16) The hidden toll caregiving takes — and why supporters need support too (06:17) Why walking toward death is a gift, not a burden  (07:19) How dying people can reclaim their agency  (14:16) Why we celebrate births but not the people we're about to lose  (18:23) How grief and happiness mirror each other through presence  (22:27) Why there is no timeline for grief  (23:08) The signs, numbers, and moments that prove love doesn't die  (31:46) Why people go silent after a death — and what makes all the difference  (35:35) The death doula movement…

People in this episode

Host: Emily Thiroux Threatt

Guest: Julie Wright Halbert

Topics covered

• death doula
• end-of-life care
• grief
• celebration of life
• caregiving
• happiness
• agency in dying

Keywords

• death
• doula
• grief literacy
• celebration
• caregiving
• happiness
• agency
• support

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Council of the Great City Schools

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