What if talking about death openly is what actually helps people feel less afraid?

In this episode, Jennifer Muldowney sits down with Eileen Hollis to explore how conversations, community, and education are reshaping death care. Eileen shares her journey from working quietly behind the scenes to becoming a trusted voice online, helping people understand what happens after death and how families can feel more prepared when loss arrives.

They talk about the rise of death education on social media, the responsibility that comes with visibility, and how Eileen navigates misinformation by only sharing what she would say to a family sitting across from her. The conversation also looks at why funeral traditions are changing, how personalization matters more than formality, and what it really means to meet families where they are.

Tune in to hear why opening up about death may be one of the most meaningful ways to support the living.

Key Topics:

-Learning to face death with openness and less fear

-Offering families clarity, honesty, and reassurance

-Bringing humanity back into funeral care

-Honoring personal wishes and lived stories

-Finding connection and comfort through community

Quotes from the episode:

“Talking about death doesn’t make it happen, but avoiding it doesn’t stop it either.”

-Eileen Hollis

“There are bad people in every industry, and that doesn’t define everyone.”

-Jennifer Muldowney

Timestamp:

[00:00] Podcast Intro

[00:25] Eileen Hollis reflected on attending her first national funeral conference, describing how industry connections and emerging innovations inspired her, while also recognizing the time, cost, and staffing challenges for small funeral homes.

[08:49] Eileen shared how she uses social media to foster community in death care, navigate a crowded digital space, address misinformation thoughtfully, and communicate with care and integrity.

[17:09] Eileen explained her approach to social media as an optional educational resource that normalizes conversations around death, planning, and grief while meeting families with openness and respect.

[22:38] Eileen discussed the importance of personalization in funerals, emphasizing comfort, authenticity, trust, and meaningful human connection over rigid traditions or sales-driven practices.

[39:01] Outro

Connect with Eileen Hollis:

Email: HollisFunHome@gmail.com

Website: HollisFunsralHome.com

TikTok: @hollisfuneralhome

Instagram: @hollisfuneralhome

Connect with Jennifer/The Glam Reaper on socials at:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jennifermuldowney/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@therealglamreaper

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheGlamReaperMuldowney

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermuldowney/

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/MuldowneyMemorials/

Email us - glamreaperpodcast@gmail.com

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Listen to The Glam Reaper Podcast on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-glam-reaper-podcast/id1572382989?i=1000525524145

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What if the way we fear death is actually what makes it harder?

In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Hospice Nurse Penny to talk about what really happens at the end of life, the moments most people never see, and the truths that change how we think about dying. Penny shares her journey into hospice later in life, how her own fear of death led her to this work, and why caring for dying people became some of the most meaningful work she’s ever done.

They explore deathbed experiences, the signs people show when they know they’re dying, and why many loved ones pass when family step out of the room. Penny explains how open conversations around death can ease anxiety, bring peace, and help people live more fully long before the end arrives. These are stories that are honest, emotional, and deeply human.

The conversation also dives into how Penny took hospice education online, why one story went viral, and how social media has become a powerful way to normalize death for millions of people. Together, Jennifer and Penny talk about authenticity, trust, misinformation, and why talking about death openly may be one of the most important conversations we’re avoiding.

Tune in to hear the stories we rarely say out loud, and why understanding death might actually help us live better.

Key Topics:

-Finding purpose through caring for the dying

-Losing fear by facing death honestly

-What people reveal at the end of life

-Trust, truth, and authenticity in sharing death stories

-Why talking about death helps us live more fully

Quotes from the episode:

“Talking about death doesn’t make it happen, but avoiding it doesn’t stop it either.”

-Hospice Nurse Penny

“The more we talk about death, the more normal it becomes.”

-Jennifer Muldowney

Timestamp:

[00:00] Podcast Intro

[00:22] Hospice Nurse Penny opens up about finding hospice work later in life, the personal turning points that led her there, and how caring for the dying gave her work lasting meaning beyond a traditional career.

[07:59] Through shared stories of loss and bedside moments, Penny and Jennifer reflect on how direct exposure to dying reshaped their understanding of what comes after and reduced fear around death.

[19:09] Penny explains how the pandemic pushed her to share hospice experiences online, how one story changed her reach overnight, and why each platform serves a different kind of connection.

[28:18] The conversation closes on why authenticity matters more than saturation, how trust is built through honesty, and the responsibility of speaking clearly when discussing death in public spaces.

[39:01] Outro

Connect with Hospice Nurse Penny:

Instagram: @hospicenursepenny

Website: hospicenursepenny.com

Connect with Jennifer/The Glam Reaper on socials at:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jennifermuldowney/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@therealglamreaper

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheGlamReaperMuldowney

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermuldowney/

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/MuldowneyMemorials/

Email us - glamreaperpodcast@gmail.com

Shop Merch - https://the-glam-reaper.printify.me/products

Listen to The Glam Reaper Podcast on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-glam-reaper-podcast/id1572382989?i=1000525524145

The Glam Reaper® AMAZON Storefront - https://amzn.to/4hObpOh

What if the way we talk about death is the reason so many people feel lost when it finally happens?

In this episode of The Glam Reaper Podcast, Jennifer sits down with Symon, a thanatologist working at the intersection of end of life care and technology, to unpack why death education is outdated, why the funeral industry feels confusing to so many families, and how better knowledge can restore choice and peace during some of life’s hardest moments.

Simon shares their deeply personal journey into hospice work and research, explains what thanatology and death technology really mean, and explores how tools like AI could help people understand their options before grief and urgency take over. Together, Jennifer and Simon challenge common myths about funerals, pricing, and planning, and talk honestly about why pre-planning, cultural awareness, and open conversations can change everything.

Tune in for a real, eye opening conversation that will leave you thinking differently about choice, legacy, and how we prepare for the end of life.

Key Topics:

-Choosing to talk about death before crisis

-Finding meaning and comfort in end of life planning

-Honoring personal values over fear and pressure

-Expanding choice through education and awareness

-Building a more humane future for death care

Quotes from the episode:

“My goal is to make death education accessible, modern, and available before people are in crisis.”

-Symon Braun Freck

“Not everyone wants the same ending, and that’s something we need to respect..”

-Jennifer Muldowney

Timestamp:

[00:00] Podcast Intro

[00:18] Simon discussed their work at the intersection of thanatology and technology, and how research and AI can expand access to end of life care information so people can make informed choices with clarity and confidence.

[09:28] Simon reflected on how early, personal experiences with death shaped their path into hospice work and research, and why those experiences now guide their commitment to ethical, culturally aware end of life tools.

[17:07] Simon explored why the funeral industry often feels exploitative, pointing to a lack of preparation and education, and emphasized how early conversations can shift decisions away from fear and toward personal values.

[22:40] Simon addressed how urgency, limited options, and missing knowledge during grief restrict meaningful choice, reinforcing the need for better education, advocacy, and more flexible end of life pathways.

[26:45] Outro

Connect with Symon Braun Freck:

Email: symonbraunfreck@gmail.com

LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/in/symon-braun-freck-833b94197/

Website - symonbraunfreck.com

Connect with Jennifer/The Glam Reaper on socials at:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jennifermuldowney/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@therealglamreaper

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheGlamReaperMuldowney

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermuldowney/

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/MuldowneyMemorials/

Email us - glamreaperpodcast@gmail.com

Shop Merch - https://the-glam-reaper.printify.me/products

Listen to The Glam Reaper Podcast on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-glam-reaper-podcast/id1572382989?i=1000525524145

The Glam Reaper® AMAZON Storefront - https://amzn.to/4hObpOh