Category: Podcasts

As a music therapist Jen utilizes music in clinical settings for healing, building connections, and as a tool to walk with others through struggles and change. She brings healing music to patients and clients in geriatrics, hospice, mental health, and educational settings. Within the medical setting Jen incorporates music therapy into the plan of care to address issues of pain reduction, depression, anxiety, loss of control, quality of life, spiritual support and a host of other needs. She utilizes songwriting and improvisation heavily in her practice with both patients and families. You can find more about Jen Conley here; https://jenconleymusic.com/

Over the past week, the obituary pages of area newspapers have become a haunting litany of “memorial service to be held at a later date,” “no services,” and “services canceled due to COVID-19.” To be sure, this is our new normal, but for funeral directors dealing with the day-to-day business of life and death, the coronavirus and social distancing era has changed the way they help people grieve, and how funeral homes host celebrations of life. 

The lack of widespread screening means the coronavirus may well be present in countless hospital wards without anyone realizing it. Accordingly, many emergency-room workers are now behaving as if they’re already infected and separating from their families. One ER doctor said he has been sleeping in the guest bedroom for weeks. Other doctors have sent their families off to stay at second homes. 

The majority of workers who keep America’s hospitals running don’t have the salary to afford extra bedrooms, much less extra properties. For technicians, respiratory therapists, social workers, chaplains, first responders, cleaning staff, and many others, doing their job is an act of moral complexity. Without enough PPE, they’re putting their own health at risk every time they report for duty, as well as that of their families. With that we say, thank you for your service!

Saul Ebema got his bachelor’s degree in Theology from the Baptist Convention College in Soweto. He then got a Presidential Scholarship from Northern Seminary where he was able to complete his Masters in Divinity and Doctorate in Ministry.

Cassandra is the co-founder of On Purpose Consulting Group; a nonprofit designed to help women live their lives on purpose, for purpose, and with purpose.  She focuses on leadership strategy, coaching, content, and community. For over 12 years, she has also been working as a nurse. Serving in different fields including; oncology, ER, and Home Care.  Cassandra is passionate about helping those who help others to understand the cost of caring and how to effectively combat fatigue. 

Storm has a unique background that includes 25+ years of bringing music to persons in need through her work in a community music school, special education classrooms, physical and mental health hospitals, hospice and elder care facilities.  Her Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Therapy are from Western Michigan University.  She is a regular speaker on the topic of music therapy in university classrooms, regional, and national conferences.

In today’s episode, our hosts Joe Newton and Saul Ebema sit down to talk with Erik Cremeans. Erik shares his journey from childhood and the lessons he has learned along the way that influence his work as a professional hospice chaplain. 

Chaplain Erik is also a theologian, a thinker and a short story writer. He looks at himself as a curator of people’s stories and in his writings, he captures the beauty within those bedside narratives. Here is a piece he wrote for; https://hospicechaplaincy.com/2020/02/16/stone-the-crow-a-chaplains-reflection-on-death-and-dying/

Terri conducts workshops throughout the U.S. to help the dying and the bereaved find healing through meditative, ritual and therapeutic processes that focus on inner transformation rather than external events. 

Her work is acclaimed by physicians, hospice workers, grief counselors, clergy and the bereaved for its pinpoint clarity on the process of dying and grieving, and its heartfelt depiction of consciousness beyond the physical body. 

She is also an author who has written a number of books including;

1.     GRIEF AND GOD: When Religion Does More Harm Than Healing (2019)

2.     ​TURNING THE CORNER ON GRIEF STREET: 
 Loss and Bereavement  as a Journey of Awakening (2014)

3.     EMBRACING DEATH: A New Look at Grief, Gratitude and God (2010)

4.     A SWAN IN HEAVEN: Conversations  Between Two Worlds (2007)

In this week’s episode, Dr. Saul Ebema and Dr. Joe Newton sit down to talk about the challenges of the family members of the hospice patient and how to help them.

When a member of the family is dying, unique problems arise. These problems usually begin at the time of diagnosis. Communications often becomes difficult as family members experience different stages of grief. Early in terminal illness, there are the emotional burdens of learning of the illness and coming to accept a terminal diagnosis, of giving up hope of cure and choosing comfort measures. In addition to grieving for the potential loss of the loved one, there is also the grief for the death of the family unit as it has existed before. Although the family will continue after the death, it will forever be changed by the death.