EP #15 | Death Doula Christa Ovenell Explains What Happens After the Last Breath

This is a conversation you won’t want to miss. Join Nicole as she delves into a profound conversation with Christa Ovenell, who refers to herself as Death's Apprentice. In this episode, Christa shares her unique journey from a career in education to becoming a licensed funeral director and end-of-life doula. Discover the importance of embracing conversations about death, the misconceptions surrounding embalming, and the emotional depth of working in death care. Christa's insights challenge societal norms and encourage listeners to reflect on their own end-of-life plans. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion that promises to change the way you view life's final chapter and consider what preparations you can start discussions with your loved ones about, no matter one’s age. 

Host: Nicole Spencer

Guest: Christa Ovenell

Executive Producers: 

Glenn Milley https://www.instagram.com/goforglenn 

and 

Bessie Fong https://www.instagram.com/bessiefong

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ABOUT THE GUEST:  

Christa Ovenell is a community educator, licensed funeral director, and end-of-life doula, and the founder of Death’s Apprentice Education & Planning. A simple message underpins all her work: death is part of life, and it's time we started treating it that way.

Christa is known for her grounded, approachable way of talking about death and dying: never sensationalizing the subject, just using these conversations as an essential tool for living well. She supports individuals, families, workplaces, and communities to think ahead, talk openly, and prepare thoughtfully for illness, aging, and death. Her approach is neither clinical nor abstract; it is rooted in real-world experience, deep listening, and a belief that informed choice and human connection can dramatically reduce fear and distress.

With a background that spans adult education, funeral service, and hospitality, Christa brings professional expertise and lived understanding to her work. She is particularly interested in “living loss,” dementia, home death, grief-aware workplaces, and values-based end-of-life planning. She also mentors emerging death doulas and educators, offering an honest counterpoint to overly romanticized narratives about death work, and emphasizing sustainable, community-centered models of care.

At the heart of Christa’s work is a simple but radical idea: that death literacy is a form of collective care. By normalizing conversations about mortality, legacy, and care, she helps people reclaim agency, reduce unnecessary suffering, and show up for one another with more confidence and c ...