Death By Design

Emma is a seasoned technology entrepreneur, MIT graduate, and award-winning change-agent, who started building online communities before Netscape was born. Her 25 year career leading online and mobile projects has included building tools to register young people to vote, creating online networks of support for families facing health challenges, and launching North America’s first online crisis intervention line. She also founded a scrappy, action-oriented, national non-profit focused on women & technology, that broke boundaries and developed leaders for 17 years.Grief Coach combines Emma's passion for mobile technology and engagement, with her deep commitment to giving people the confidence and tools they need to support each other through grief. She knows that, while nothing makes grief go away, supporting someone through loss is powerful and transformative for the supporter, and alters the trajectory for the grieving person too.https://grief.coach

Sarah Bamford Seidelmannwas a fourth-generation physician living a nature-starved, hectic lifestyle until a walrus entered her life and changed everything. She is a shamanic healer and has trained at Michael Harner’s Foundation for Shamanic Studies and is a Master Coach trained at the Martha Beck Institute. She is the author ofSwimming with Elephants(Conari Press) andThe Book of Beasties: Your A-to-Z Guide to the Illuminating Wisdom of Spirit Animals(Sounds True, June 2018). She lives in northern Minnesota. For more, visitfollowyourfeelgood.com.

“Nobody likes to sit down and listen to a talk about life’s challenges. But somehow, Rachel makes it all Okay. Her warmth and sensitivity, and especially her story, enables us to hear brutal honesty and embrace it, rather than fear it. Bravo, Rachel Kodanaz.”—Ora DeMorrow, Senior Financial Advisor, Vice President Merrill LynchNo one knows better how to embrace life’s challenges than Rachel herself. Overcoming her own adversity of being widowed at 31 years old with a 2-year-old daughter, she “wows” audiences with her down-to-earth, current and relevant presentations – helping attendees to reach their potential by embracing and learning from all of life’s complexities. Having worked in management for Fortune 100 companies, she is fully aware of the see-saw created when personal and professional challenges collide.Rachel has been speaking passionately to national audiences of all sizes for 20 years, addressing all aspects of change, growth, and acceptance that comes with embracing life’s challenges – those expected and unexpected. Through her books, Living with Loss, One Day at a Time and Grief in the Workplace, Rachel offers a wealth of knowledge, inspiration and practical advice for those who have lost a loved one or are supporting someone who has lost a loved one.​On October 1, 2019, Rachel released her third book, Finding Peace, One Piece at a Time. This book providesencouragement and tools for those seeking to down-size, right-size or sortthrough a loved one’spossessions. Whether they are in physical or electronic form, those possessions tell the story of the person’s life. Rachel’s book shares practical ways to thin, repurpose, and redistribute these possessions so they continue to share the story with future generations.Rachel is available for speaking appearances, educational programs, interviews and community outreach.https://www.rachelkodanaz.com

Absolutely Delicious: A Chronicle of Extraordinary DyingAfter a life marbled with exploration, academia, and domesticity, the writer Valerie Lester retired to a residential hospice and set about enjoying the final act of her life. She died nine weeks later, having engaged in dying with equanimity, curiosity, and even amusement.In Absolutely Delicious, Valerie’s daughter describes a journey that illuminates the benefits of acceptance and the many gifts offered by daring to own one’s end.“As a palliative care physician I've read countless stories about dying patients but none as engaging and original as this, opening my eyes to what's possible for future patients and families I care for.” - Jane deLima Thomas, MD, Palliative Care Physician, Harvard Medical Schoolhttp://www.alisonjeanlester.com

Vicky Roncero is a certified Usui Reiki Master Practitioner/ Instructor with a private practice, in Upper Montclair, New Jersey. She is grateful to be working with Reiki and empowering clients to use this beautiful energy in whatever way is helpful to them. Some clients are healing from illness and injury, or managing stress and anxiety. Others are looking to feel more centered or grounded and are balancing their Chakras, to keep their energy flowing optimally.If you are feeling stuck or looking for more energy or inspiration, Reiki can be the key to breaking a habit, or cyclical behavior. Reiki truly can help you discover the new chapters of your life story, which are waiting to unfold.Vicky works with clients in private sessions, at her studio, and remotely, through distance sessions. She also conduct workshops and private training and instruction. Reiki can help from near or far, in groups or one-on-one.Work with Vicky. Reiki can help you manifest the goals you are looking to achieve and can help you balance your energy body, to maintain optimal wellness in your physical body. Reiki is for everyone.Vicky is also a writer/producer and have worked in television for over twenty-five years. She has been a storyteller. Vicky believes that Reiki is the ultimate story telling tool, as it takes you into someone’s energy field and helps you discover areas where they are holding trapped energy, which is keeping them stuck.Vicky's writing and producing experience, infused with Reiki training, is helpful in working with clients, to realize their dreams and spark their creativity, in all areas of life. Your stories are what got you here, but they don’t define you. You can turn the page to new beginnings, at any time.https://ronceroreiki.com

Phyllis Shacter courageously shares the first personal story ever written about Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED). This memoir and guidebook follows the journey she took with her husband, Alan.Alandecided to VSED – so he didn’t have to live into the late stages of Alzheimer’s disease.This is their love story, their partnership, the brave territory they traversed, including how they prepared themselves with proper medical and legal guidance when electing to VSED.Choosing to Dieis filled with emotional depth and sensitivity as well as practical information outlining the process from beginning to end.Phyllis shares every detail, including what Alan experienced during the nine-and-a-half days it took for him to die, and how the experience transformed Phyllis. This book providesa deeper understanding of end of life choices, and for thosediagnosed with a degenerative disease.Phyllis Shacter is a retired teacher, business consultant, life coach, and public speaker.Choosing to DieandPhyllisShacter.com are the most comprehensive resources on the subject of VSED available today.