Stephen Jenkinson
What does it take to “Die Wise”? How can we start the conversation in our death-avoidant culture? Stephen Jenkinson, the author of Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul, has a lot to say on the topic.
He joined me for a special extended conversation on A Good Goodbye Radio in advance of his appearances in Albuquerque and Santa Fe coming up March 17, 18, 19 and 20.
In this 33-minute interview, we discuss the death avoidance prevalent in the dominant North American culture, the drawbacks of having More Time as a hospice or palliative care patient, the consequences of being hopeful when dying, and ways to change language and to change behaviors related to death and dying.
Jenkinson, an activist, teacher, author, and farmer, worked in what he calls the death trade as a palliative care social worker. In Die Wise, he tells stories about the patients he met and worked with, and stories of people who died badly.
Jenkinson has a master’s degree in theology from Harvard University and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Toronto. Formerly a program director at a major Canadian hospital and medical-school assistant professor, Stephen is now a sought-after workshop leader, speaker, and consultant to palliative care and hospice organizations. He is the founder of The Orphan Wisdom School in Canada and the subject of the documentary film Griefwalker. His website is www.OrphanWisdom.com.
Here are the appearances he is scheduled to make in New Mexico:
Thursday, March 17, 2016 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. in Albuquerque
Die Wise book reading/talk — First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque — Tickets are $10-$20
Friday, March 18, 2016 7:00 – 9:30 p.m. in Santa Fe
Griefwalker showing and Q&A — LTC Auditorium and Lobby Institute of American Indian Arts — General Admission tickets are $15.00
Saturday, March 19, 2016 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. in Santa Fe
Die Wise Teaching CLE — CC Commons, Room 201, Institute of American Indian Arts — Click here for ticket information
Sunday, March 20, 2016 9:00 a.m. in Santa Fe at the Mountain Cloud Zen Center — $15 at the door. Learn more at www.MountainCloud.org.