Before You Go

00:38:28

Bringing Humanity to the Bedside: Inside Inhora with...

Before You Go ·

2026/10/05

In this episode of Before You Go, host Natalie Buster sits down with Miles Gloetzner, founder and executive director of Inhora—an Omega home providing compassionate end-of-life care in Albuquerque, New Mexico.Miles shares his journey from an 11-year nursing career in the VA system to opening a non-medical, community-supported home for the dying. He discusses the story of Inora’s very first guest, Gerald, the Latin roots behind the name "Inhora" (meaning "at the hour"), and how

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00:43:28

DIGNITY, LOVE, AND HARBOR: Inside Solace Friends with...

Before You Go ·

2026/09/28

In this episode of Before You Go, host Natalie Buster talks with Kendra Deja, Executive Director of Solace Friends in Madison, Wisconsin. Solace Friends is an Omega home uniquely dedicated to providing compassionate, dignified end-of-life care exclusively to individuals experiencing housing insecurity and terminal illness.Kendra shares the decade-long journey of bringing Solace Friends to life—from its founding inspiration by palliative care physician Dr. Ann Catlett to opening its doors as a

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00:45:11

Finding Peace in the Caregiver Crisis: Inside...

Before You Go ·

2026/09/21

What happens when families face the physical, emotional, and financial exhaustion of round-the-clock end-of-life care? In this episode of Before You Go, host Natalie Buster sits down with Kelley Scott—Founder and Executive Director of Clarehouse, an Omega Home in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Emeritus Executive Director of the Omega Home Network.Kelley delves into the modern caregiver crisis and discusses her co-authored research published in the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, which

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00:45:34

Finding Joy, Community, and Care at the End of Life...

Before You Go ·

2026/09/14

What does it mean to truly live fully until we die? In this episode of Before You Go, host Natalie Buster sits down with Beth Hoey, newly elected Board President of the Omega Home Network and long-time champion of Francis House, an Omega Home in Syracuse, New York.Together, Natalie and Beth explore the vital role of social model hospice homes—compassionate, community-supported residential homes that provide 24/7 care to individuals in their final days at little to no charge. Beth shares the origin

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00:01:13

Season 4 of BEFORE YOU GO Premieres September 14th!

Before You Go ·

2026/09/01

We're back and this season we're introducing you some of our friends in the Omega Home Network!

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00:38:41

The Art and Soul of Sanctuary: Abode Co-Founders...

Before You Go ·

2025/11/17

For the final episode of the season, host Natalie Buster sits down with the visionaries behind Abode Contemplative Care for the Dying: co-founders Edwin and Patsy Sasek.Edwin and Patsy share the journey of creating Abode, a space that many guests, staff, and volunteers describe not just as a facility, but as "coming home". They detail how their vision transcended mere caregiving, instead weaving their profound love of art, nature, and spirituality into the very foundation of the

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00:24:11

We're All Going to Die: Ossuary Jeweler Kristin...

Before You Go ·

2025/11/10

Natalie Buster welcomes Kristin Bunyard, an artist and author who is not afraid of the podcast's core philosophy: "We're all going to die."Kristin works with death every day, first as an ossuary jeweler, which is Latin for "house of bones." Kristin shares how she ethically sources materials, transforming bones from roadkill and farm animals into stunning, contemplative art and jewelry. She also explains her philosophy on pet memorial pieces, often encouraging sculptural

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00:40:20

Kindred Spirits: From Broadway to Bedside Care with...

Before You Go ·

2025/11/03

Natalie Buster welcomes a cherished, long-time friend and "kindred spirit," Shavonne Conroy. Shavonne is a professional actor, a gifted singer, and the former Interim CEO of Abode Contemplative Care for the Dying.Shavonne shares her incredible, unconventional journey that seamlessly transitioned from a successful career in theater and television (including roles on Late Night with David Letterman and Law & Order) to her current passion for end-of-life care. She discusses the profound

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00:36:12

The Stories Caregivers Carry: Narrative Medicine with...

Before You Go ·

2025/10/27

In this episode of Before You Go, host Natalie Buster sits down with poet, essayist, and narrative medicine facilitator Vive Griffith to explore the often-overlooked emotional landscape of caregiving. Drawing from her own experience caring for her mother through terminal illness, Vive shares how storytelling, poetry, and reflection can help caregivers reconnect with themselves, find community, and feel seen.Through the lens of narrative medicine, Vive offers a powerful reframe: that caregiving is

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00:38:55

Poetry as Survival: Laura Van Prooyen on Grief,...

Before You Go ·

2025/10/20

Host Natalie Buster welcomes poet and restorative writing facilitator Laura Van Prooyen for a conversation about how poetry can become a lifeline in times of grief, trauma, and transition. From her work with soldiers experiencing PTSD to healthcare workers navigating burnout and loss, Laura shares how writing offers a sacred space for emotional honesty, resilience, and healing.Through personal stories—including the loss of her brother and mother—Laura reveals how poetry helped her survive, process,

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00:37:06

Grief Dialogues: Putting Death and Dying on Stage...

Before You Go ·

2025/10/13

In this episode of Before You Go, host Natalie Buster explores the power of creative arts and storytelling to normalize conversations about death and grief—a central theme of the podcast's current season.Natalie sits down with Elizabeth Coplan, founder of Grief Dialogues. Elizabeth shares her journey from a corporate career back to her roots in theater and storytelling after a year of profound loss. She explains how she founded Grief Dialogues to utilize the theatrical arts (stage and screen) as

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00:30:26

The Modern Mortician: Green Burials, Grief Dogs, and...

Before You Go ·

2025/10/06

In this lively and heartfelt episode, host Natalie Buster welcomes Melissa Meadow, a funeral concierge, death doula, and social media educator, for a conversation that redefines what it means to care for the dead. From green burials and water cremation to DIY funerals and therapy dogs, Melissa shares her journey from embalmer to advocate, and how she’s helping families reclaim their final rites. Natalie and Melissa explore the artistry of after-death care, the power of nature in grief, and why

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00:29:44

Everybody Dies in the End: Hospice, Humor, and...

Before You Go ·

2025/09/29

In this unforgettable episode, host Natalie Buster sits down with Benjamin Kintisch, a hospice chaplain, cantor, and creator of Life Review: The Musical. Inspired by real-life stories from his time at the bedside, Benjamin transforms grief, memory, and mortality into song. Natalie and Benjamin explore the power of humor in death work, the role of spiritual questioning, and how musical theater can help us confront the hardest truths with compassion and joy. From “Everybody Dies in the End” to “Will

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00:32:01

Landscapes of Loss: Designing Sacred Space with Death...

Before You Go ·

2025/09/22

In this soul-stirring episode, host Natalie Buster welcomes Leah Gundrum, a landscape designer, death doula, and Abode volunteer, for a conversation about how sacred spaces shape our experience of dying. From the contemplative backyard at Abode to green burial parks in Sweden and Pennsylvania, Leah shares how nature, design, and ritual can soften grief and deepen our connection to life. They explore the power of labyrinths, the role of internal landscapes, and why preparing for death is one of the

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00:35:43

Writing Your Resilience with Lisa Cooper Ellison

Before You Go ·

2025/04/28

Grief is an interesting beast. It can curl up inside of you and make itself quite cozy. It can unpack its bags, put up the do not disturb sign on the door and lock itself in. It’s pretty much guaranteed that we will all experience grief at some point. And we can ignore grief, befriend it, or take it out for a walk every now and then. The relationship we have with grief is entirely up to us. My guest today, Lisa Cooper Ellison is an author, speaker, and trauma-informed writing coach who helps

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00:34:09

Memento Mori with Courtney Wynn Sheets

Before You Go ·

2025/04/21

Memento Mori: remember you must die: an invitation to become aware, to bask in the wonder of being alive, to not take anything for granted, to be witness to the painful beauty of this life and all that was, is, and ever will be. It’s these little invitations that we see around us that allow each moment to be that much sweeter. Our guest today, Courtney Sheets, is someone who is constantly inviting people to consider and even embrace their own mortality. She is a certified death doula, a shiatsu

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00:34:33

A Greener Way to be Remembered

Before You Go ·

2025/04/14

The month of April is a beautiful time to be in San Antonio, Texas. It’s bluebonnet season, and the wildflowers are in full bloom. This is a perfect time to take a field trip to LaVernia, Texas, home of a beautiful green burial site called Countryside Memorial Park, owned and operated by our guest today, Sunny Markham. In this episode, Sunny talks about the services she provides people at Countryside Memorial Park, what she wishes more people knew about green burials, and how working in such a

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00:47:43

Influencing Death with Nurse Penny

Before You Go ·

2025/04/07

Imagine a world where people were able to talk about death and dying openly and without fear. Our guest today, Nurse Penny Hawkins Smith is doing just that. Nurse Penny uses social media channels and her recent book, “Influencing Death: Reframing Dying for Better Living” to talk openly about death and dying without fear, thus encouraging others to do the same. We’re excited that Nurse Penny will be our keynote speaker for our Annual Volunteer and Staff Training in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday,

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00:26:44

The Contemplative Nature of End of Life Care

Before You Go ·

2025/03/31

Contemplativeness - a tricky word to say! Yet, it’s the cornerstone of all that we do at ABODE. it’s even a part of our name: ABODE Contemplative Care for the Dying. But what does it mean? At ABODE, we sometimes define it as being in the present moment, being mindful, when time seems to stop. Our guest today, Justin Burton is the embodiment of contemplativeness. Justin serves as ABODE’s Vice Chairperson, he serves on the board of the Alamo Area Home Care Council here in San Antonio, he helps

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00:35:05

A Conversation with a Hospice Nurse

Before You Go ·

2025/03/24

Choosing to go on hospice is a difficult decision for most people. We have been conditioned in our society to “not give up,” and some see hospice as a way of giving up. Our guest today, Jen LeCavalier from Suncrest Hospice in San Antonio, sheds some light on the truth of hospice and all of the wonderful benefits that hospice can provide. Jen has been a hospice nurse for over ten years and finds the beauty and sacredness of being bedside with people at the end of life to be incredibly enriching to

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