Episode 17: Loving the work, talking about covid, and philosophical meditations on end of life: Jeff’s Story.

This episode was recorded as part of a series for my End of Life class in my Masters in Social Work program.

Jeff and I had several classes together at PSU, and we connected right away on the topic of death and dying, including a class project on research supporting psilocybin use at end of life! He holds a very clear sense of his purpose and passion for showing up for hospice work, and brings thoughtfulness, curiosity, and energy to that path. I appreciate the way his earnest and unwavering interest in these topics and ideas generate such deep and thought-provoking conversation.

This interview hangs predominantly in a theoretical and philosophical plane, an easy and breezy flow of ideas, which is what I have felt often while talking to Jeff, who makes conversation just move forward to effortlessly. It feels like we could keep the discourse going for many hours and not run out. The world of hospice and end of life care is blessed to receive him into the field, and I am absolutely positive he will make lasting and meaningful contributions to both individuals and the healthcare arena at large.

One small side note: In this conversation, we talk about covid deaths, and I make a reference to a noting that 200,000 lives have been lost to the virus. I just want to make an update, that as of August 2021, the global number of recorded covid-19 deaths is now at 4,430,000 (Four million, four hundred and thirty thousand.) When we talk about the reality that those are millions of individual lives, not to mention families and communities that have been impacted, it’s a completely staggering reminder of the context of death in this moment in time.

Jeff snapped this photo of a tree in transformation in the cemetery down the street from his house.

Piano music by Jeff Buckingham

Interlude from Free Music Archive: