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 spiritual significance of dedicating her rich alto voice to comforting the dying and grieving, often singing at the bedside or at funerals.
The two friends explore the compassionate philosophy that drives Abode's work: the giving, loving spirit required to simply meet people where they are without judgment. They discuss the deep satisfaction that comes from recognizing and filling in the "missing pieces" of a dying person's day, whether that's a gentle touch or reading a favorite book. You'll also meet the unforgettable Mikey, Shavonnee’s 155-pound Great Pyrenees, affectionately called the "doggy death doula," who provides loving, quiet comfort to the guests at Abode.
[00:00:18] The Kindred Connection: Natalie introduces Shavonne and describes their long-standing connection, which began in the San Antonio and New York professional theater scenes.
[00:00:37] Planting the Seed: Shavonne first introduced the host to the nonprofit Abode years before the host became affiliated with the organization.
[00:01:28] From Theater to CEO: How Shavonne stepped in as interim CEO of Abode, reuniting the friends to discuss everything from Broadway musicals to end-of-life care.
[00:01:57] A Performer's Life: Shavonne's background as a professional actor and singer, including appearances on shows like Late Night with David Letterman and Law & Order.
[00:02:21] Earning Her Wings: The spiritual significance of Shavonne lending her alto voice to sing at funerals and the bedside of people at the end of life.
[00:03:41] Meet the Doggy Death Doula: Shavonne introduces Mikey, her 155-pound Great Pyrenees, who gets into bed with guests at Abode to provide "doggy comfort" and emotional support.
[00:07:09] The Philosophy of Care: Discussion on the Abode philosophy of meeting people where they are, focusing on connection, and filling in the "missing pieces" of their day, such as a hand on a hand or reading a favorite book.
[00:08:12] How Shavonne Found Abode: Siobhan shares the story of how singing at a particular funeral led her to her first encounter with Abode.
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 not just a task, but a deeply human act worthy of attention, artistry, and healing. Whether you're a caregiver now, have been one, or will be one someday, this conversation is a balm.
Topics Covered:
The four kinds of people in the world, according to Rosalynn Carter
What is narrative medicine, and how does it support caregivers?
Vive’s personal caregiving journey with her mother
How art, poetry, and storytelling create space for healing
The emotional toll of caregiving—and how to replenish
Building community through shared reflection and writing
Resources Mentioned:
Narrative Medicine Program at Columbia University
The Lacemaker by Johannes Vermeer (used in a workshop)
Vive’s workshops for caregivers and clinicians
If you’re a caregiver—or know someone who is—consider exploring narrative medicine circles or expressive arts workshops. You are not alone, and your story matters.
⏱️ Episode Timestamps
00:00 – Opening Quote Rosalynn Carter’s powerful words on caregiving
01:00 – The Invisible Weight of Caregiving Natalie reflects on the emotional and physical toll caregivers carry
02:00 – Meet Vive Griffith Poet, essayist, and narrative medicine facilitator
04:00 – What Is Narrative Medicine? Vive explains the field and its roots at Columbia University
07:00 – The Practice in Action How narrative medicine workshops use art, writing, and reflection
10:00 – Vive’s Caregiving Story Walking with her mother through cancer and end-of-life care
13:00 – The Power of Being Heard Why sharing stories in community is essential for healing
16:00 – The Lacemaker Workshop Using a Vermeer painting to unlock caregiver reflections
19:00 – Universal Threads of Care How narrative medicine connects us to something bigger
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, and transform grief into art. Whether you're intimidated by poetry or drawn to its quiet power, this episode invites you to explore how language can hold us when nothing else can.
Topics Covered:
Laura’s journey from academic poetry to trauma-informed writing workshops
Her transformative work with soldiers at Brooke Army Medical Center
The evolution of grief through writing: from raw emotion to published chapbook
How poetry creates accessible, sacred space for processing loss
The role of emotional honesty in facing mortality
Mission Belonging’s free weekly writing group for healthcare workers
Resources Mentioned:
Gregory Orr’s Poetry as Survival
Mission Belonging’s Tuesday night virtual writing group (free and open to all)
Laura’s upcoming chapbook (Spring release)
Call to Action: Join Laura’s free Tuesday night writing group through Mission Belonging. Whether you’re a caregiver, healthcare worker, or someone navigating grief, this space is for you.
00:00 – Opening Reflection Natalie shares her evolving relationship with poetry and how it intersects with mortality and meaning.
02:00 – Introducing Laura Van Prooyen Laura’s background in poetry, education, and trauma-informed writing.
04:00 – Poetry Meets PTSD Laura’s first experience facilitating writing for soldiers at Brooke Army Medical Center—and the unexpected power of six-word memoirs.
07:00 – Grief as Catalyst Laura opens up about losing her brother and how poetry became a survival tool during her deepest grief.
10:00 – Mission Belonging & Weekly Writing Groups Laura describes her free, virtual Tuesday night workshops for healthcare and hospice workers.
13:00 – Writing Through Loss How Laura continued facilitating workshops while grieving her mother—and how the group became a lifeline.
15:00 – Creating Safe, Sacred Space The trauma-informed approach Laura brings to every session, and how poetry invites emotional honesty.
17:00 – Craft, Accessibility, and Prompts Laura’s method for selecting poems, crafting prompts, and guiding participants through reflection and response.
19:00 – Final Reflections The healing potential of poetry, the importance of emotional honesty, and how writing helps us live fully—even as we face death.
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 instruments to put death, dying, and grief on display. This work creates a vital space for audience members to connect with and process their own fears and losses.
Tune in to learn about Elizabeth's mission to address the "death taboo" and why she calls mortality "the great equalizer". You’ll also hear about her highly-regarded work, including the short play, "Hospice: A Love Story," and her Pulitzer-nominated full-length play, "Till Death".
[00:00:14] Host Introduction/The Power of Creative Arts: Natalie introduces the season's focus on using creative arts to hold space for the stories of people who have died.
[00:01:11] Guest Introduction: The host introduces Elizabeth Coplan as a former actor who pivoted from a corporate career after a personal tragedy to found Grief Dialogues.
[00:03:21] Elizabeth's Storytelling Journey: Elizabeth shares how her lifelong passion for theater and storytelling came into clear focus as her "dharma" or life's mission after her mother died.
[00:05:41] The Inspiration for Grief Dialogues: Elizabeth realized people recoil from conversations about death after she shared details of a family member dying, calling it "the one thing we're all gonna do".
[00:06:03] The "Great Equalizer": Elizabeth discusses why she refers to mortality as "the great equalizer".
[00:06:57] The Cornerstone Play, "Hospice: A Love Story": Elizabeth describes turning her firsthand account of a cousin’s final days into a short play that became the foundation for Grief Dialogues.
[00:08:15] The Full-Length Play, "Till Death": Elizabeth details the transition of Grief Dialogues during COVID-19 and the development of her full-length play which had an Off-Broadway debut and was nominated for a Pulitzer.
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 funeral professionals should embrace—not fear—the rise of death doulas. Plus, meet Kermit, the grief therapy dog who’s changing lives one cuddle at a time.
Guest: Melissa Meadow
Founder of The Modern Mortician
Funeral consumer advocate, educator, and licensed funeral director
Certified death doula and green burial expert
Therapy dog handler (Kermit, the OG funeral pup)
Website: TheModernMortician.com
Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook: @TheModernMortician
Highlights:
[00:02:00] Morticia Addams and the myth of the mortician
[00:05:00] Green burial, water cremation, and the “three C’s” of funeral choice
[00:12:00] Kermit the grief therapy dog: how he comforts families and inspires funeral homes
[00:18:00] DIY funerals, shades of green, and empowering families with options
[00:24:00] Death doulas and the shifting funeral industry landscape
[00:30:00] Contemplative arts, nature, and the dance of after-death care
[00:36:00] Melissa’s dream: a natural burial park with goats, kids, and community
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 It Still Snow?”, Benjamin’s songs offer a spoonful of sugar for the bitter pills of life—and death.
Guest: Benjamin Kintisch
Hospice chaplain and Jewish cantor
Creator of Life Review: The Musical
Website: LifeReviewMusical.com
Instagram: @benjaminkintisch
Highlights:
[00:02:00] Benjamin’s journey from cantor to hospice chaplain
[00:05:00] The birth of Life Review: The Musical
[00:08:00] “Everybody Dies in the End”—humor as an entry point to grief
[00:14:00] Musical monologues and the influence of A Chorus Line and Fiddler on the Roof
[00:20:00] The character of Rabbi David and the theological wrestling of “Send Me a Sign”
[00:26:00] Mr. Leroy Washington: honoring real-life friendships in hospice
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 most life-affirming acts we can take. Whether you’re a caregiver, a mourner, or simply curious, this episode offers gentle wisdom and practical inspiration.
Guest: Leah Gundrum
Landscape designer and end-of-life doula
Volunteer at Abode Contemplative Care for the Dying
Tango dancer and teacher in San Antonio
Passionate about sacred space, green burial, and contemplative design
Highlights:
[00:02:00] What is an “internal landscape” and how does it support end-of-life care
[00:06:00] The design of Abode’s backyard: live oaks, labyrinths, and prayer walls
[00:14:00] Lessons from green burial parks in Pittsburgh and Sweden
[00:21:00] Why grief must be witnessed, not fixed
[00:26:00] Advanced directives and the case for “death paperwork parties”
[00:33:00] How tango dancing cultivates presence and empathy
[00:38:00] Leah’s wish “before she goes”: to live by the ocean
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 people navigate, process, and maybe even befriend their grief through writing and storytelling. She’s the host of the Writing Your Resilience podcast and works and writes at the intersection of storytelling and healing, and combines her personal experiences with suicide loss and CPTSD with her clinical training to help writers turn tough experiences into art. Her essays and stories have appeared on Risk! and in The New York Times, HuffPost, Hippocampus Literary Magazine, and Kenyon Review Online, among others. Lisa recently completed her memoir Please Stage Dive Carefully: How I Survived My Brother’s Suicide and Forgave Myself.
Learn more about Lisa here: https://lisacooperellison.com/
Follow Lisa on her Substack here: https://lisacooperellison.substack.com/
Listen to the Writing Your Resilience podcast here: https://writingyourresilience.com/writing-your-resilience-podcast/
Learn more about ABODE here: https://abodehome.org/
Learn more about Natalie here: https://www.nataliebuster.com/
Donate to keep ABODE’s mission going: https://abodehome.org/donate/
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 practitioner, an end of life navigator, and a mixed media artist who specializes in memento mori art - both as a philosophy and a medium to express herself.
Learn more about Courtney here: https://endoflifearts.com/
View some of Courtney’s art here: https://courtneywynnsheets.com/
Learn more about ABODE here: https://abodehome.org/
Learn more about Natalie here: https://www.nataliebuster.com/
Donate to keep ABODE’s mission going: https://abodehome.org/donate/
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 beautiful environment has shaped her life.
Read more about Countryside Memorial Park here: https://countrysidememorialpark.com/
Learn more about ABODE here: https://abodehome.org/
Learn more about Natalie here: https://www.nataliebuster.com/
Donate to keep ABODE’s mission going: https://abodehome.org/donate/
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, September 20, 2025. Send us a message at info@abodehome.org for ticket information.
Read more about Nurse Penny here: https://www.hospicenursepenny.com/
Buy her book, “Influencing Death: Reframing Dying for Better Living” here: https://bookshop.org/a/103660/9781959411963
Learn more about ABODE here: https://abodehome.org/
Learn more about Natalie here: https://www.nataliebuster.com/
Donate to keep ABODE’s mission going: https://abodehome.org/donate/
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 seniors navigate through the aging process by helping them find a place to spend their final hours. And he does it all with grace and serenity.
Read more about Justin’s work here: https://www.facebook.com/jmbmangementllc/
Learn more about ABODE here: https://abodehome.org/
Learn more about Natalie here: https://www.nataliebuster.com/
Donate to keep ABODE’s mission going: https://abodehome.org/donate/
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 her own life.
Read more about Suncrest Hospice here: https://www.suncrestcare.com/location/san-antonio/
Learn more about ABODE here: https://abodehome.org/
Learn more about Natalie here: https://www.nataliebuster.com/
Donate to keep ABODE’s mission going: https://abodehome.org/donate/
“If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song”
These lyrics by The Band Perry offer a beautiful description of honoring a loved one who has passed. Our guest today, Dawn Walsh provides such a service for the people she cares for after they pass. Dawn is the Executive Director of The Lily House, a community home for living and dying in Wellfleet, Massachusetts. Dawn came to ABODE to lead a workshop on after-death care and shrouding and sat down with Natalie while she was in town to talk about the work she does.
Read more about The Lily House here: https://www.thelilyhouse.org/
Learn more about ABODE here: https://abodehome.org/
Learn more about Natalie here: https://www.nataliebuster.com/
Donate to keep ABODE’s mission going: https://abodehome.org/donate/
Our guest today, Colleen McCool-Pierce definitely turns heads and inspires conversation wherever she goes. Whether she’s pulling up for gas in her hearse or wearing a bright and colorful clown costume, Colleen is the epitome of living life to the fullest. It doesn’t surprise us that she embraces life so exuberantly due to her lifelong contemplation on death. In today’s episode, Natalie chats with Colleen about her outlook on life, her son who she named Coffin, and how she inspires others to contemplate death so they can live as full of a life as she does. She’s the friend you want to have at your dinner table, she’s the friend you want to have in your life. She’s the ultimate death doula.
Read more about Colleen here (and check out her death-friendly reading list): https://www.colleenmccool.com/
Learn more about ABODE here: https://abodehome.org/
Learn more about Natalie here: https://www.nataliebuster.com/
Donate to keep ABODE’s mission going: https://abodehome.org/donate/
Fred Rogers, of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood fame has a famous quote: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” In today’s episode, Natalie sits down to talk with one such helper. Jen Ferguson is a San Antonio hospice social worker - a helper for families who are facing grief and bereavement due to the terminal diagnosis of their beloved family member. She describes what a hospice social worker does and why she feels drawn to be a helper - in so many ways in her life.
Connect on Instagram with Jen at momfergof2
Learn more about ABODE here: https://abodehome.org/
Learn more about Natalie here: https://www.nataliebuster.com/
Donate to keep ABODE’s mission going: https://abodehome.org/donate/
Planning your Parting with theParting Planner
Welcome to Season Two of Before You Go - the official podcast of ABODE Contemplative Care for the Dying. In this episode, Natalie sits down with Lynn Perez, founder of the Parting Planner, an organization in San Antonio, Texas designed to guide and support families who wish to create meaningful and personalized tributes for their loved ones who have passed. We don’t always know how to act when it comes to death. And especially end of life celebrations like funerals and wakes…what’s the proper protocol? Can we show emotion or not? Who orders the cake? Lynn helps people answer those questions.
Learn more about Lynn and the Parting Planner here:https://thepartingplanner.com/
Learn more about ABODE here:https://abodehome.org/
Learn more about Natalie here:https://www.nataliebuster.com
Donate to keep ABODE’s mission going:https://abodehome.org/donate/
Eminem once said “You only get one shot,” and we at ABODE took that to heart this year. We had such an amazing 2024 and we’re excited to share our most memorable events with you!
While we’re sad that this is our last episode of Season One, we’re so grateful for the memories and experiences we’ve explored on this podcast. We’re also incredibly grateful to you, our listeners, for being a part of our community. #eatthesandwich
Check out ABODE Academy here: https://abodehome.org/category/education/abode-academy/
If you’re in the San Antonio area, please come by for a tour of ABODE!
In our line of work, we come across things that challenge us. We like to call them opportunities for growth, or sticky situations. When you work with people, you’re bound to have challenges. Family dynamics often come into play when someone is dying. It’s a very tender time, it’s a very emotional time. So learning to be aware and not overreact when faced with any number of situations has been a very rewarding growth opportunity for us to take things in stride and not need to solve things right away for anyone. In this episode, Mary and Natalie talk about some sticky situations they’ve encountered when working with people at the end of life, and their philosophies surrounding those situations.
If you’re in the San Antonio area, please come by for a tour of ABODE!
Join co-host Natalie Buster as she takes us through a simple technique to create healthy boundaries while working in death care. Learn how to “open the shop” to arrive fully present and ready to do your work, and then learn how to “close the shop” so you don’t take your work home with you. These techniques are particularly effective for people who work in death care, but can be very valuable for people in all professions.
If you’re in the San Antonio area, please come by for a tour of ABODE!