The rise of death doulas
5/15/202626 min
Celebrities like Nicole Kidman and Chloé Zhao say they're training in this growing field. What preparing people for death teaches us about life. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by David Tatasciore and Bridger Dunnagan, and hosted by Noel King. Nicole Kidman. Photo by Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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First 90 secondsSpeaker 00:00
[gentle music] Actress icon Nicole Kidman says she's training to be a death doula.
Nicole Kidman· Soundbite0:07
Heartbreak feels good in a place like this.
Speaker 00:09
Now, be serious. Death doulas are people who help people transition from life to whatever's next. Some of it is spiritual. Some of it is logistical. The profession is about comfort for the dying, yes, but some of it is also about the living. The director Chloé Zhao, who made Hamnet, told the New York Times that she's trained as a death doula because...
Speaker 2· Soundbite0:29
Because I have been terrified of death my whole life. I still am so afraid, and because I've been so afraid, I haven't been able to live fully.
Speaker 00:43
Coming up on Today, Explained from Vox, death doulas. They stare into the abyss and see something kinda wonderful. Stay tuned for that.
Speaker 30:52
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