Shows
Before You GoGrief Dialogues: Putting Death and Dying on Stage with Elizabeth CoplanIn 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 instruments to put death, dying, and grief on display. This work creates a vital space for au...
2025-10-1337 min
Ask a Death DoulaTurning Grief Into Art: Elizabeth Coplan's Journey With Grief DialoguesTHE GOOD DEATH VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR: Suzanne B. O'Brien RN in Conversation with Elizabeth Coplan.
Elizabeth, the visionary behind Grief Dialogues, shares her powerful journey from passionate theater lover to transformative voice in the conversation about grief and death. Born from personal loss and her love for the stage, her poignant 10-minute play became a festival favorite, proving the profound ability of storytelling to create safe, healing spaces for sharing grief. Her work boldly challenges society’s discomfort with mortality, encouraging open and honest dialogue about dying and end-of-life experiences. In exploring the tension between modern medicine’s li...
2025-08-1926 min
Behind The MissionBTM219 - Elizabeth Coplan - The Grief Dialogues: Memorial DayShow SummaryOn today’s episode, we’re featuring a conversation with conversation with playwright and producer Elizabeth Coplan, founder of the Greif Dialogues, a nonprofit theatrical movement that facilitates conversations about dying, death, and grief. We talk about her own connection to service and discuss how Grief Dialogues has developed a specific immersive experience of remembrance and reflection ahead of Memorial DayProvide FeedbackAs a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you about the show. Please take a few minutes to share your...
2025-05-2031 min
The Link PodcastService Users Mini-Series: Episode 5 – Homeward Bound: Creative StorytellingTrigger Warning: This discussion has mention of death, dying and end of life/palliative care. Please refrain from listening if you feel this could be traumatising at this time. There are links for internal (University) and external listeners, if you feel affected or have been affected by any details of this Podcast. On this episode: “Service Users Mini-Series: Episode 5 – Homeward Bound: Creative Storytelling”We speak to Lesley Goodburn from the Service Users Group (SUC’s) but also works within the NHS for the National Experience Care Team for the last 16...
2025-01-211h 06
Something (rather than nothing)Episode 250 - Elizabeth CoplanDeath is the high cost of living. The weight of that knowledge can feel crippling but is it there we find the deepest and most important knowledge of how to live?After tragedy struck in 2013, Elizabeth Coplan turned to writing to express her personal grief. She wrote many published essays, and later, after experiencing three losses in less than a year, she turned to writing plays focused on this global experience known as death. In 2016, Elizabeth developed the groundbreaking play, Grief Dialogues, and built the nonprofit Grief Dialogues, a theatrical movement creating new conversations about dying, death, and grief.Elizabeth...
2024-02-1445 min
Something (rather than nothing)Elizabeth CoplanDeath is the high cost of living. The weight of that knowledge can feel crippling but is it there we find the deepest and most important knowledge of how to live?After tragedy struck in 2013, Elizabeth Coplan turned to writing to express her personal grief. She wrote many published essays, and later, after experiencing three losses in less than a year, she turned to writing plays focused on this global experience known as death. In 2016, Elizabeth developed the groundbreaking play, Grief Dialogues, and built the nonprofit Grief Dialogues, a theatrical movement creating new conversations about dying, death...
2024-02-1445 min
Stage WhisperWhisper in the Wings Episode 288We are so excited to welcome the playwright, Elizabeth Coplan, and producer, Brett Ricci, onto the latest Whisper in the Wings from Stage Whisper. They joined us to talk about their highly anticipated new show, 'Til Death. And just like this episode, the productions should not be missed. So make sure you tune in, and turn up for this show!Abingdon Theatre Presents'Til DeathNovember 24th-December 23rd@ Theater RowTickets and more information are available at abingdontheatre.orgAnd be sure to follow our guests to...
2023-11-1841 min
The Next Room with Jane AsherGrief Dialogues with Elizabeth CoplanElizabeth Coplan believes that art can heal. She understands that everyone dies but no one wants to talk about it. Grief Dialogues is a project that includes a podcast, stories, artwork, and more sent in by readers who have been impacted by grief. Find out more about this ongoing project here Connect with Jane Asher here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-05-0328 min
Grief Dialogues Out of Grief Comes Art Podcast SeriesInterview with Paul Taylor-McCartneyInterview with poet Paul Taylor-McCartney
Read his poem The Choosing and Unfinished on stories.griefdialogues.com
Paul Taylor-McCartney is a doctoral researcher with Leicester University, following a part-time PhD in Creative Writing. His interests include dystopian studies, children’s literature and initial teacher education. His poetry, short fiction and academic articles have appeared in a range of notable UK and international publications including Aesthetica, The Birmingham Journal of Language and Literature, Education in Practice (National Association of Writers in Education), Intima: A Journal of Narrative Medicine, Dyst: A literary Journal, and most recently in Bandit Ficti...
2021-04-0528 min
The Seattle Public Library - Author Readings and Library EventsVirtual It's About Time Writers' Reading Series, Meeting 368This month’s online presentation features Kait Heacock, Suzanne Edison and Alison Eckels.Kait Heacock is a book publicist, the Pacific Northwest editor for Joyland, and sits on the Advisory Board for the Mineral School artist’s residency. Her fiction has appeared in Esquire, Joyland, KGB Bar Lit Mag, Portland Review, Tin House, and Vol. 1 Brooklyn. Her nonfiction has appeared in Crab Creek Review, Largehearted Boy, Literary Hub, The Millions, PANK, The Women’s Review of Books, and The Washington Post. Her debut short story collection, Siblings and Other Disappointments, came out in 2016. She is currently at work on a novel...
2021-03-1347 min
Death By DesignElizabeth CoplanUntold: Creating Space for Loss After StillbirthTuesday, December 1, 5 p.m. Pacific Time Join us for a live performance of Elizabeth Coplan's play Untold, and join Dr. Jillian Tullis, University of San Diego, to discuss communication challenges and grief that arise after a stillbirth.Veteran Grief Dialogues actors (Left to Right) Gretchen Douma, Shane Regan, and Joanne Burger perform in this live performance.Following the performance, Dr. Jillian Tullis will discuss the communication challenges from witnessing a baby’s death. Is it truly "the smallest yet most powerful thing we can...
2020-11-2517 min
Grief Dialogues Out of Grief Comes Art Podcast SeriesInterview with Vena Wilson LCSWI met Vena Wilson through another Las Vegas therapist when I brought our play, Grief Dialogues, to the Cockroach Theatre in Las Vegas. The show, in honor of the first responders of the Las Vegas Strip Shooting a year prior, required a therapist for our talk back. When the original therapist was unable to attend and moderate the post-show discussion, she recommended Vena, and a new professional friendship was born.
Since that day in late September 2018, I’ve had the pleasure to work with Vena on other projects including a reading of Grief Dialogues: The Book for the Ne...
2020-07-0600 minGrief Dialogues Out of Grief Comes Art Podcast SeriesPeggie Dickens Interview Where Are We Now?An update from mental health counselor and coach Peggie Dickens on what’s happening in our medical community. What has changed for healthcare providers in the last month?
2020-06-0500 minGrief Dialogues Out of Grief Comes Art Podcast SeriesFuneral Celebrant Paul BoardmanHow funerals have changed in time of COVID
2020-06-0300 minGrief Dialogues Out of Grief Comes Art Podcast SeriesInterview with Peggie Dickens, M.A., LHMCElizabeth Coplan interviews mental health counselor and coach Peggie Dickens, M.A., LHMC in this inaugural podcast for health care professionals. Peggie Dickens shares her experience with health care providers navigating their way through the current unknowns they're facing during the unprecedented global COVID-19 pandemic, covering her thoughts on the place the mind/body connection will play in healing moving forward.
2020-04-2500 min
Skylight Books Podcast SeriesSEAWITCHES, VOL. 4 w/ Olivia VanDamme & Margaret SeelieSeawitches is a bi-annual print publication with the eternal theme of water. Within the water theme we’ve explored menstruation, mental health, white privilege, technology, environmental issues, and more.
Every issue has an Artist In Residence (AIR), including Leah Koransky (1), Caitlin Mattisson (2), and Savannah Rusher (4). Writers include Easkey Britton, Serena Renner, Kehinde Apara, Margaret Seelie, Maureen Murphy, Coco Peezy, and more. Artists include Amelia Coplan, Andrew Kaineder, Bleen Photography, Chris Duncan, Cristine Blanco, Elizabeth Pepin Silva, Rebecca Schillinger, Kaylee Savage-Wright, Kimberly Rose Wendt, Luke Allen, Marley Reynosa, Paige Laverty, Preston Richardson, Sarah Beeby, Susan Mattisson, Yoni Matatyaou, and...
2020-03-1843 minGrief Dialogues Out of Grief Comes Art Podcast SeriesMary Ormbrek Shares Her Story of Love and LossMary’s story losing both her parents within two years is not uncommon. Hear how this former addict built a strong on a dead bed promise to her mother.
2019-10-1800 minGrief Dialogues Out of Grief Comes Art Podcast SeriesNovelist Tara Marta Reflects on Her Own Grief to Write Look Back to YesterdayBy the year 2009, Tara lost all the people that was close to in her life. She wanted to write a story about loss specifically to share her own experiences of loss and combine it with a fantastical idea of being sent back in time to deal with her grief.
2019-08-2500 min
Death By DesignReimagine End of Life - New York CityReimagine End of Life is a community-wide exploration of death and celebration of life through creativity and conversation. Drawing on the arts, spirituality, healthcare, and design, we create weeklong series of events that break down taboos and bring diverse communities together in wonder, preparation, and remembrance.322 Events105 Art Exhibits60 Interactive Rituals 32 Performances15 Comedy Shows1 Universal TopicThe five boroughs of New York City are joining together to create over 250 events exploring death and celebrating life...from all perspectives.After attending a Reimagine...
2019-08-081h 51Grief Dialogues Out of Grief Comes Art Podcast SeriesAuthor Elliott Rose speaks to Grief Dialogues about New Audio Drama, Works of Love, and the Importance of Mr. Rogers when Discussing GriefWorks of Love is an audio drama about love: the possession of and loss of it. It centers on recent widower Julian Silver as he re-launches his wife’s old show, the eponymous “Works of Love”. Each week Julian reads a new essay about love and one of its variations, be it romantic, familial, fraternal, or existential. Through other’s words he strives to remember the reason why we love if the cost is grief. And once again we learn that Out of Grief Comes Art.
2019-08-0500 minGrief Dialogues Out of Grief Comes Art Podcast SeriesGrief Coach Emma Payne Discusses Her New Text Messaging ServicePERSONALIZED SUPPORT, DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR PHONE
Grief Coach is a text-messaging service that delivers personalized content, tips and reminders, to people who are grieving, as well as to the friends and family who want to support them. Find out more at www.grief.coach.
2019-05-0600 minGrief Dialogues Out of Grief Comes Art Podcast Series"Mysterious Moments" with clinical psychologist Dr. Jane WilliamsSpecial Grief Dialogues host Kimberly C. Paul, author and founder of Death by Design interviews Dr. Jane Williams on her book Mysterious Moments: Thoughts that Transform Grief. Dr. Williams shares some of her stories and thoughts on the transformative changes that can occur through "aha" or mysterious moments that can change how we experience our griefs. She explains how isolating grief can make us, but how our thoughts can help change our narratives surrounding the grief process and us heal.
Dr. Broadbent is interviewed by Kimberly C. Paul, also a fellow contributor to the book.
2019-03-2700 minGrief Dialogues Out of Grief Comes Art Podcast SeriesGrief Dialogues Contributor Kimberly C. Paul interviews Noha Waibsnaider of GatheringUSElizabeth Coplan met Noha when they were both on a panel at ReimagineNYC this fall. Intrigued by the beauty and simplicity of the Noha’s idea, Grief Dialogues reached out to the founder for a podcast about https://www.gatheringus.com/.
Kimberly C. Paul interviewed Noha, whose large family included planning an of memorials and funerals at her home in Brooklyn, NY. Noha felt the challenges of organizing family and friends during these difficult times and yearned for a simpler way to mobilize everyone and commemorate loved ones. She created GatheringUS to gather family and friends after the...
2019-02-2100 minGrief Dialogues Out of Grief Comes Art Podcast SeriesGrief Dialogues: The Book Contributors Rachel Greenberg and Sharon Ehlers Share Their StoriesRachel Greenberg (Connections of Hope) and Sharon Ehler (Grief Reiki) describe the stories that lead to their writings published in Grief Dialogues: The Book.
2019-01-2800 minGrief Dialogues Out of Grief Comes Art Podcast SeriesKaren Vargas InterviewListen in on our MLK Day interview with Karen Vargas. We talk about the differences in grieving and how we are ultimately all the same.
2019-01-2100 minGrief Dialogues Out of Grief Comes Art Podcast SeriesCreating Memories with Dr. Karen SmithJoin Elizabeth Coplan and Dr. Karen Smith, Clinical Ethicist, LCSW, Ph.D., Henry Ford Health System. She is also VP of the Funeral Consumer Alliance. Dr. Smith provides independent ethics consultations, ethics policy development and ethics education for hospital staff. Her passion is sharing ethics with medical professionals and the community and assisting families during difficult decisions. She specializes in death and dying issues and lecture on a variety of healthcare related ethical issues.
Today on our podcast Dr. Smith talks of her work with families to create memorable dying memories. The concept is that during that awful...
2018-07-2100 minGrief Dialogues Out of Grief Comes Art Podcast SeriesComing HomeEver wonder what to do with your loved ones ashes? Chuck Munat wanted his ashes scattered around the world. More specifically, he wanted his ashes sprinkled in Ireland, on Squirrel Island in Maine, and in Akaroa, New Zealand.
After Chuck died, Florrie, his wife and caretaker, took his remains to New Zealand where Chuck was welcomed home by family, friends, and three hundred pairs of nesting little blue penguins.
Florrie wrote about her experience in her essay “Coming Home” from our book Just a Little More Time.
2018-02-2300 minGrief Dialogues Out of Grief Comes Art Podcast SeriesBe BraveFlorrie Munat, formerly an English teacher, a reference librarian, and Young Adult book reviewer, describes the six years as her husband’s caretaker as he struggle with dementia in her new book Be Brave: A Wife’s Journey Through Caregiving.
Today on our podcast we asked Florrie more about this journey of love. The chapter titled “The Power of Love” offers a glimpse of Florrie’s ability to help us understand the complicated jumble of heartache and letting go.
2018-02-2300 minGrief Dialogues Out of Grief Comes Art Podcast SeriesWidows Wear StilettosHave you ever seen Vogue–The Widow’s Edition? Have you heard of the latest Stella McCartney collection–for Widows? No? Neither had Kate Ruffing when she found herself a young widow at age 38 she decided to set a new trend–one her deceased husband would approve.
2017-05-1200 minGrief Dialogues Out of Grief Comes Art Podcast SeriesTil Death Do Us PartIt wasn’t suppose to be this way. The vows said ‘til death do us part but that was not for years, decades, a 50th anniversary party. Listen to Kate Ruffing as she describes how, after 4 years of trying everything she could - rehab centers, detox wards, countless emergency room visits, interventions and therapists–she knew that soon death would indeed part the young couple.
2017-04-2500 minGrief Dialogues Out of Grief Comes Art Podcast SeriesGrief BurstsKate Ruffing, a widow of not quite two years, as she describes what it feels like to be a young widow. It's nothing like you expect it to be.
2017-03-1600 min