20. Spotlight : with Dr. Martha Jo Atkins // End Of Life Counselor

WELCOME TO EPISODE 20. OF GET YOUR HEART ON!

“My invitation to people is to see what they can learn so they can be present in a different way and maybe set the fear aside a little bit and just BE there” – Dr.Martha Jo Atkins

In this Spotlight feature, I’m super excited for you to meet today’s guest, I know you’re gonna love…. whose specialty is, death and dying – I bet you didn’t see that coming?!

Dr. Martha Jo Atkins wishes we didn’t make dying so complicated.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Master Coach, and author, Dr. Atkins teaches about dying and grief with gentleness and humor. For 30 years, she has worked with people at end-of-life and the ones who love them. She is the author of the book Signpost Of Dying, and her TEDx talk on this subject has more than a million views.

Offering in-person and online education and retreats to individuals and groups, Dr. Atkins helps people around the world learn about dying and how the experience of caring for a dying loved one can be connective, rich, peaceful and, above all, full of Love. — Yes, please…and how amazing is that?!

Martha Jo not only has one of the most fascinating careers and is creating invaluable work in the world, she also has the most kind, genuine heart.

Today, we’ll be talking about extraordinary experiences at end of life and the language of dying and how to create less fear around death. Martha Jo has some fascinating stories and research to share with us, her work is truly educational and inspiring and she’s got a fantastic sense of humor to go right along with it

Quick reminder // this is going to be a longer episode as all my spotlight features typically are. Feel free to listen to it all at once or break it into two parts. So grab your fav beverage of choice, kickback somewhere cozy, and we’d be delighted if you’d join us… Push play!

HIGHLIGHTS // SHOW NOTES

4:00 Introduction + What she’s currently up to
6:00 Filmmaking with Inner View
10:50 In her own words: What do you do?
12:00 How she got started as a death researcher + her own personal experiences with death, dying and healing
15:40 What led to starting the nonprofit, The Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas
20:30 Why she cares so much about creating less fear around dying
23:30 A process/exercise to bring yourself back to the center
25:20 The Deathbed phenomenon + Stories + How to support your loved ones in the dying process
40:55 Near-death experiences
45:55 Hallucinations vs visions
50:40 A few ideas of how to help someone during grief
53:10 Self Care tips for the big-hearted
57:27 Pay it Forward

GET YOUR HEART ON // CALL TO ACTION

In every Spotlight episode, I’m going to ask my guest if there’s one way we can collectively Get Our Hearts On to help them to help someone or pay it forward right now.

Are you ready to help Jo Boxer (seriously how cute is he?:)) and Martha Jo spread some Super Love?! – Heck YES!

Then join in to Get Your Heart On by sharing mini gift cards with somebody who’s especially kind or helpful or makes you laugh.

All you gotta do is keep an eye out for the good and look for the helpers and connect with this little kind gesture.

P.S. Don’t forget to have fun with it!

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RESOURCES // LINKS // GOODIES

• Dr. Martha Jo Atkins – Website
• Book – Sign Posts Of Dying by Dr. Martha Jo Atkins
• TEDx Talk in San Antonio, More to Dying Than Meets The Eye.
• Martha Jo – Facebook – Say hello + follow along!
• Filmmaking Class // Inner View with Nick Askew
• The Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas – Founder + Former Executive Director
• International Association of Near-death Experiences // IANDS
• Book – Final Gifts – written by nurses

Martha Jo, Thank you so much for this much-needed conversation and for shining a hopeful light for us today on a topic that’s not often talked about yet is so important. Big hugs + so much love to you all that you continue to do. And Thank YOU to everyone who joined us today….

I hope you are even more inspired and ready to share your big amazing heart with others in your own beautiful way.

Much Love,
: ) gia

P.S. Make sure to hit SUBSCRIBE on Apple podcasts or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts. And if you want me to also personally let you know when a new episode comes out all you have to do is sign up right here and I’ve got you!