Articles

“Death is a good companion on the road to living well and dying without regret.” ― Frank Ostaseski, The Five Invitations

Movie Nights

Movie nights in 2023 were a great success! We had fantastic conversations with the directors of several films after the screenings. Compelling discussions. More to come in 2024, stay tuned for dates!

Also, coming locally in January ’24 — The Good Death Book Club. Check back here for dates or sign up for the newsletter, where I’ll announce more information.

Canvas Rebel Article: Meet Diane Hullet

We recently connected with Diane Hullet and have shared our conversation below.

Diane , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

There are so many things my parents did right! But I often think too, that they were a product of their times. I was raised in the 1970s and 80s, and it’s hard to believe it now, but those were decades when fear did not permeate everything from the nightly news to simply attending school. They were turbulent times, for sure, but my parents were able to raise us without the level of anxiety that runs through today’s world and today’s kids.

My brother and I were encouraged to try things, and we had a lot of both freedom and responsibility. We made mistakes. We were outside a lot. We were a family of do-ers, and this meant everything from driving tractors to learning how to tie knots, from having outdoor neighborhood corn roasts to making skateboard ramps. They also didn’t overtly compare the two of us, and so we got to be who we were. We were – and still are – really different people, and those differences weren’t discussed over dinner or used to compare and make us feel “less than” for being ourselves.

Canvas Rebel Article: Meet Diane Hullet

We recently connected with Diane Hullet and have shared our conversation below.

Diane , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

Director Johanna Lunn Discusses the Film The Architecture of Death: The Inner World of Dying

By Diane Hullet, Founder of Best Life Best Death

How can interviews with experts in the end-of-life field light up our understanding of what it means to approach death?
How might we reframe end-of-life discussions to shape our experience, for those who are dying and for the living who remain behind?
How might awareness of death might illuminate life?

Movies serve as powerful cultural touchstones, shaping, reflecting, and conveying shared values, stories, and perspectives. From feature films to documentaries, movies play a vital role in how we understand and discuss life’s profound themes, including death and dying.

In this article, I’m pleased to share excerpts from my conversation on the Best Life Best Death Podcast, Episode #139, with Johanna Lunn, Director of an impactful trilogy of films and Co-Founder of the When You Die Project. We focus on her third film for WYD, The Architecture of Death: The Inner World of Dying. Enjoy!

It's Not Too Late, Until It's Too Late

Conversations about Death and Dying

by Diane Hullet, Founder of Best Life Best Death

Why is it so difficult to have a conversation about the end of life?

How do I get ready for a discussion like this?

What are some actual sentences to truly get me started?

As a death doula and end-of-life guide, I often talk with people about the importance of conversations about death, dying and the end of life.

“Okay,” someone will say. “I know this is important, I get that I should… but how do I start such a conversation?”

Let me explain why these conversations can feel challenging, how to prepare yourself to approach them regardless, and offer you some specific phrases to help you start with confidence.

The Story Behind Best Life Best Death

Excerpt from article in Michigan Voyager, Spring 2024

Diane, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story about you and about Best Life Best Death. Where does your story begin?

I grew up in Michigan and moved to Colorado for college. I love the great lakes, and I love the mountains. I have always felt a call towards end-of-life work, but never knew what that might exactly mean.

My training and background is in teaching, so combining teaching and the subject of death has been a natural mid-life career change. I think it may have surprised some folks in my life, but it was not surprising to me, as it combined my skills, interests and passions in one place.

As an end-of-life guide and death doula… read more here