News & Notes: Media Moves

Jun 10, 2014 | 0 comments

https://agoodgoodbye.com/radio-tv/a-good-goodbye-tv-series/Just got news yesterday from the National Federation of Press Women that my TV show A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die is a winner in the national 2014 NFPW Communications Contest. It won second place for television talk shows. It’s a thrill to have the national recognition.

After more than a year of producing the weekly A Good Goodbye Internet radio show, the program is going on hiatus. Don’t be surprised to hear about another show down the road.

In future emails, I’ll keep you updated on interesting news stories regarding getting the conversation started about end-of-life issues and the party no one wants to plan. Meanwhile, top tips from last week’s show, upcoming events and a humorous quote follow. Please call 505.265.7215 if I can be of assistance!

Live long and prosper,

Gail Rubin, CT
Certified in Thanatology: Death, Dying and Bereavement
The Doyenne of Death®

Top Tips from Last Week’s Show

Dr. Diane Polasky

Dr. Diane Polasky

On last week’s A Good Goodbye Radio program, Dr. Diane Polasky, a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and certified death educator, discussed the physical impacts of grief. A few interesting bits of information from that program:

  • Grief is not a pathology. It’s a normal reaction to an abnormal situation. The level of love equates to the level of loss. It takes energy to grieve, and it takes energy to repress emotions.
  • Loss is a trauma that triggers the “fight or flight” response. The tension can wreak havoc within the body’s immune and endocrine systems, resulting in all sorts of physical issues – headaches, sleeplessness, inflammation, allergy responses, upset stomach, and more.
  • The body is a biochemical as well as electromagnetic organism. When you have spent many years sleeping with the same person, and suddenly that person’s electromagnetic presence is gone, that absence can make a real impact on one’s ability to sleep well.
  • Ceremony and ritual to celebrate the life is important. Shielding children from death and funerals is not healthy.

Want to hear more? Download the podcast!

Upcoming Events and a Funny Quote

Saturday, June 28, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Albuquerque Death Cafe at Sheila’s Sweets, 8600 Louisiana Blvd. NE. More information about the Death Cafe movement. Join the Meetup group!

Thursday, July 24, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. “A Good Goodbye” funny film clip talk at David Specter Shalom House (free). 5500 Wyoming Blvd NE, Albuquerque.

Wednesday July 30 through August 1: Gail attends The Purposeful Planning Institute’s 2014 Rendezvous in Denver, Colorado. The event brings together 180-200 individuals representing more than 20 disciplines and professions for two days of collaborative dialogue, keynotes, and breakout sessions centered on best practices for legacy families and families in business. More information on the Rendezvous.

Gail with wicker basket casket

Gail with wicker basket casket

Tuesday, August 5, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Albuquerque OASIS presentation – “We Can Do That? New Trends in Death Care”

The modern funeral is changing. Learn about aid-in-dying, rising cremation rates, green burial, DIY/home funerals, alkaline hydrolysis, QR codes and celebrant-led services in this upbeat, fact-filled talk. Register for $8 with OASIS by calling 505-884-4529 (over 75 people are already registered!)

Wednesday, August 6: Gail Rubin presents at the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association’s 77th annual convention in Dallas. “A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die” will show how comedy movie clips can open the door toward pre-need planning.

Wednesday, August 20, 1:30 p.m.: Gail Rubin presents “Doctor, How Long Do I Have?” at the New Mexico Conference on Aging at Isleta Resort and Casino, 11000 Broadway SE, Albuquerque. This one-hour film clip-illustrated talk focuses on how to have a good doctor-patient conversation in the face of a serious diagnosis.

“Animals have these advantages over man: They have no theologians to instruct them, their funerals cost them nothing, and no one starts lawsuits over their wills.” — Voltaire

A Good Goodbye