Peaceful Exit

We live in a culture that avoids death and Peaceful Exit is an invitation to be in candid conversation about it. Writer and host Sarah Cavanaugh believes talking about death will work to dispel our natural fear and build courage in the face of death. She’s talking to authors who have written extensively on the topic to help us normalize death as part of the human experience, no matter who you are, no matter your politics, spiritual faith or socioeconomic status. Peaceful Exit explores how to radically accept our eventual demise, how to talk about it and even plan for it. But it’s not all doom and gloom – there's joy, meaning and connection to be found in exploring the messiness of death, dying and grief.

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Top 10 Peaceful Exit Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Peaceful Exit episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Peaceful Exit for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Peaceful Exit episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Prayer As a Place of Peace with Pastor Daryl Horton

Peaceful Exit

03/18/25 • 39 min

Daryl Horton is the senior pastor at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Austin, Texas. He explains why community is a key tennant of his faith and why it's so critical that we preserve Black churches. We also talk about the death of his brother, getting the call to ministry and how the church can be a critical voice in the conversation about racial justice.

You can learn more about Pastor Horton's work here: https://www.mtzion-baptist.org/content.cfm?id=577

Grieving and Google Docs with Valarie Kaur (re-release)

Peaceful Exit

03/12/24 • 22 min

This week, we’re re-releasing one of our earliest episodes, and still one of my favorite conversations. Author and activist Valarie Kaur shares personal stories from her work as an activist, which led her to write her book, “See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love.” Valarie’s message really resonated with me because she approaches strangers as if a part of them is a part of you that you don’t know yet. Her openness to conversations with strangers is deeply needed right now. We all need to promote love and understanding. She also shares the beautiful, tangible actions she uses for herself and her family to embrace mortality.

You can find Valarie’s book and more about her work at https://valariekaur.com/

Widowed Fathers Reimagining Life

Peaceful Exit

01/30/24 • 47 min

Don Rosenstein and Justin Yopp are both psychiatrists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. They started a support group for widowed fathers of young kids, whose partners died from cancer. The group was supposed to meet for six sessions, but ended up meeting regularly for nearly four years. Their book, “The Group: Seven Widowed Fathers Reimagine Life,” details the participants’ experiences and the role the support group played in grieving and healing. In this interview, Don and Justin reflect on the men’s unimaginable loss, recount key conversations they had together, and share what helped the men each find a path forward. The group found solace in their very specific shared experience as widowed fathers, but the insights about grief in this interview are relevant to a much wider audience.

https://widowedparent.org/

Forgiving the Unforgivable with Anita Sanchez

Peaceful Exit

05/23/23 • 22 min

Dr. Anita Sanchez shares Indigenous wisdom for living in today’s world. A big focus of the conversation is about forgiving the unforgivable. She explains how forgiveness can come even after someone has died. Anita also shares the beautiful story of her mother’s death, and what a peaceful exit means to her.

You can learn more about Anita's work at https://anita-sanchez.com/

Grieving and Google Docs with Valarie Kaur

Peaceful Exit

04/11/23 • 21 min

Activist Valerie Kaur shares with us some of her transformative experiences with death and the way grieving in community expanded her capacity for joy. She gives us practical advice for how we can start these conversations with our loved ones and face the hard stuff together.

https://valariekaur.com/

Trailer

Peaceful Exit

03/01/23 • 2 min

For more information about Peaceful Exit

Original Music by Ricardo Russell, find him on Band Camp

Produced by Larj Media

The Other Side of Yet with Michelle Hord

Peaceful Exit

11/05/24 • 36 min

Michelle Hord, author of 'The Other Side of Yet,’ recounts the devastating loss of her daughter, Gabrielle, who was murdered by her ex-husband. The conversation delves into how Michelle navigated her grief and transformed it into action, hope, and resilience. She reflects on her faith, the support of her community, and how starting the nonprofit Gabrielle's Wings has helped pain into action. Michelle also discusses the personal impact of other significant losses in her life and the importance of allowing oneself to feel joy again.

Find Michelle’s book at: https://michelledhord.com/the-other-side-of-yet

This podcast is produced by Larj Media.

Conscious Grieving with Claire Bidwell Smith

Peaceful Exit

06/04/24 • 36 min

Claire Bidwell Smith knows grief well. When she was 14, both of her parents were diagnosed with cancer at the same time. Her mom died when Claire was only 18, and her dad died when she was 25. After getting her master's degree in clinical psychology and becoming a therapist, she worked with hospice. She's also written five books about grief, including her latest, Conscious Grieving: A Transformative Approach to Healing from Loss. In a culture that avoids sad feelings at all costs and where bereavement leave is severely inadequate, Claire gives us the tools and a map for embracing grief and incorporating it into life.

You can learn more about Claire’s work and her books at https://clairebidwellsmith.com/

Curb Appeal: Finding Home After Loss with Rev. Steven Tomlinson

Peaceful Exit

12/03/24 • 39 min

Steven Tomlinson, Episcopal priest, playwright, and former economist, shares his personal journey through grief and healing after the sudden loss of his partner, David. Tomlinson reflects on how community, faith, and the process of writing his play Curb Appeal helped him navigate the complexities of loss.

With wisdom drawn from his unique career in theology, theater, and business, Steven explores the raw realities of grief, the role of love in healing, and how faith has shaped his understanding of death and resurrection. His story offers deep insights into the power of presence, the mystery of life after death, and finding peace amidst the uncertainties of loss.

This podcast is produced by Larj Media.

Reflections - Looking Back at Special Moments

Peaceful Exit

12/31/24 • 11 min

As Sarah looks forward to the future of a Peaceful Exit, we take a look back at some memorable moments of the past year with some of her most impactful guests.

Link to Katy Butler’s book:

http://www.katybutler.com/author/the-art-of-dying-well/

Link to Louisa Zondo’s book:

https://www.amazon.com/Dearest-MaRiky-Mothers-Journey-through-ebook/dp/B0C81LH954

Link to Mary-Frances O’Connor

https://maryfrancesoconnor.org/

Link to Leslie Gray Streeter

https://lesliegraystreeter.com/

Link to Michael Wiegers

https://www.coppercanyonpress.org/authors/michael-wiegers/

This podcast is produced by Larj Media.

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