Why End-of-Life Planning is the Key to a Good Death

from Ask a Death Doula · host Suzanne B. O’Brien RN

THE GOOD DEATH VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR: Suzanne B. O'Brien RN in Conversation with Reena Lazar. Imagine finding unexpected peace in facing mortality—and letting that awareness transform the way you live right now. In this episode, Reena shares her remarkable journey from surviving a life-changing car accident at sixteen to becoming a pioneer in end-of-life education and co-founding Willow with Michelle Pante, a groundbreaking platform reshaping how we talk about and prepare for death. Together, they champion a pay-what-you-feel approach to workshops that empower people to plan ahead, downsize, and leave behind a final legacy of love and ease for those they cherish. Reena’s experiences, including her eye-opening peace work in Israel and Palestine, reveal how compassion, courage, and community can help us dismantle fear and embrace life with radical gratitude. This conversation invites you to discover how facing death can awaken you to what really matters—connection, forgiveness, and living with purpose before your time is up. (00:02) Exploring End-of-Life Education and Awareness (08:49) Navigating End-of-Life Planning and Downsizing (19:49) Fostering Compassion Through Connection (27:17) Embracing Life Through End-of-Life Work Register to join us for FREE: THE GOOD DEATH BOOK CLUB EXPERIENCE: 12 MONTH FREE DEATH AND DYING COURSE Or visit our website here! GET THE GOOD DEATH BOOK Here Meet our guest: Reena Lazar Owner and Managing Director, Willow EOL Education & Planning Website: www.willoweol.com LinkedIn: Willow End of Life Education and Planning Facebook Group: willoweol Instagram: @willoweol YouTube: WillowEoL Please Share! Know someone who is a caregiver, healthcare worker, or spiritual seeker? Share this episode and invite them to join this sacred and supportive experience. Listen & Subscribe: Available on Apple Podcasts • Spotify • Google Podcasts • YouTube JOIN MY FREE TRAINING AND MEMBERSHIP SITE This is a community-supported group hosted by Suzanne B. O'Brien RN, founder of the International Doulagivers Institute for training those who want to be professional End of Life Doulas, Doulagiver Practitioners and for anyone wanting more EOL education Join Here: 4491664174178077 ⚑ SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL ⚑ If you want to do great things you need to have a great environment. Create the life you want by surrounding yourself with positivity and watching daily. Click here to subscribe! ツ CONNECT WITH ME ツ Leave a comment on this video and it'll get a response. Or you can connect with me on different social platforms too: Instagram Facebook TikTok Website Podcast #deathdoula #deathdoultraining #dyingwell #death #life #deatheducation #doulagivers #hospice #hospicecare #hospicenurse #deathdoula #soulmidwife #deathmidwife #endoflifeplanning #healthcareproxy #funerals #fearofdeath #endoflifedoula #thegooddeath #hospice #grief #deathawareness #birth #endoflife #deathpositivity #consciousdying #dying #advanceplanning #deathpositive #gooddeath #consciousliving #endoflifedirective #palliativecare #advancedirective #livefully #suzannebobrien. #lifecafe #consciousness #awarenes

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jul 29, 2025

What this episode covers

In this insightful podcast episode, listeners are introduced to Reena, co-founder of Willow. This platform is dedicated to changing cultural perceptions of death through community education. The episode explores Reena’s transformative journey following a near-death experience at 16, which led her to focus on end-of-life education and intentional living. Reena advocates for the greening of death and empower individuals with a unique pay-what-you-feel approach to workshops on end-of-life planning. The conversation delves into the emotional and practical benefits of downsizing and organizing personal affairs, providing peace of mind for individuals and their loved ones. Reena also shares her profound experiences in Israel and Palestine, where she learned about the power of compassion and understanding through direct interactions. The episode underscores the importance of confronting mortality to live a fuller, more purposeful life and highlights the ongoing success of the Willow EOL Educator Program in Canada. Through stories of love, loss, and connection, this episode encourages listeners to embrace life with awareness and gratitude, urging them to ”wake up before your time’s up.”

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This episode is 42 minutes long.

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This episode was published on July 29, 2025.

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