Talking Death and Doulas with David Farrier on Flightless Bird

A Conversation About Death, Dying and the Role of a Death Doula

Back in April, I reached out to David Farrier, a podcaster and documentarian best known for Tickled on Max and the Netflix series Dark Tourist. When I heard his Flightless Bird episode about Loma Linda, I could almost feel his unease around the topic of mortality.

As a death doula based in San Diego, I help people explore their beliefs about dying and prepare for the practical and emotional aspects of the end of life. So I emailed David to say I thought he should absolutely do an episode about death and dying in America, and mentioned that I was completing my death doula certification.

Never in a million years did I think I’d get a reply, let alone an invitation to talk about death on his show.

Meeting in Griffith Park

A few months later, we met on a gorgeous day in Griffith Park to talk about death, dying, and the work of death doulas. David was generous, curious, and easy to talk to—exactly the kind of energy these conversations need.

In our interview, we discussed what it means to sit with fear, the beauty of preparation, and how end-of-life planning can create more peace for the living and the dying alike.

Featuring Alua Arthur from Going with Grace

I also introduced David to my teacher, the incomparable Alua Arthur from Going with Grace. She brings such compassion and clarity to this work, and I’m thrilled that listeners will get to hear her perspective too.

You can hear my part of the conversation from about 33 to 38 minutes in the episode—and yes, being called a “six-year-old emo” was the cherry on top.

Why These Conversations Matter

Death is the one experience we’ll all share, yet it remains one of our greatest taboos. By opening up public conversations—like David’s episode of Flightless Bird—we help normalize end-of-life discussions and invite people to think about advanced care planning, legacy, and what a good death can look like.

For me, this kind of dialogue embodies what the Ever After Collective is all about: helping people approach mortality with curiosity, honesty, and even a little humor.

Listen and Watch the Episode

🎧 The episode, Talking Death and Doulas, is available wherever you get your podcasts—Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

📺 It’s also the first video episode of Flightless Bird, now streaming on YouTube.