Debra has been a hospital and hospice chaplain for over 35 years. Many times she walked out of a home or a hospital room and thought, "Everyone should have heard that conversation!" Her patients shared their wisdom, insight and laughter with her. One thing they all talked about was how difficult it was to find anybody to listen to them talk about death. She started this podcast so listeners could get comfortable talking about death and--like she usually does--learn some things about life. 

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She is also a writer, a TEDMED main stage speaker and producer of an educational video about palliative care. She is ordained in the United Church of Christ, a liberal, left-leaning, Protestant denomination. She has serious Buddhist leanings.