When you hear the word “doula,” you probably think of someone who assists another person through the child-birthing experience. But you may not know that doulas also assist people through other massive transitions, including at the end of life. The term “death doula” may not be one you’ve heard before, but it’s a growing profession. Death doulas are not providers of medical care—they’re different from doctors or nurses. They assist in important non-medical ways, from listening, to helping people connect with their priorities and values, to offering emotional support both for a dying person and also, perhaps, for their family. In this episode, we discuss what exactly a death a doula is, what they do, and how we might benefit from thinking in deeper ways about our own mortality, even if we’re far from the end of our lives. Host David B. Feldman speaks with Francesca Lynn Arnoldy, community doula, death literacy advocate, and author of three books, including The Death Doula’s Guide to Living Fully and Dying Prepared: An Essential Workbook to Help You Reflect Back, Plan Ahead, and Find Peace on Your Journey.