Episodes

  • Being a Death Doula in a Time of War

    Being a Death Doula in a Time of War
    Jun 19 2025
    In this episode, I discuss the recent Israeli bombings happening throughout Iran and how my work as an Iranian-American death doula can help me support my community in this moment. If you're Iranian, join us for Dard-e Del on Thursday, June 19th. Send me a message on IG @hafez.death.care to get the link for the event. For more info: https://www.instagram.com/p/DK6cOL8xyWw/ Let us support each other 🫂 If you'd like to share what this episode brought up for you, leave me a voice note: https://voicenote.hafezdeathcare.com 🎵 Theme song: 'Lullaby' by Iranian oud player Negâr Boubân Learn more about my work at www.hafezdeathcare.com
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    31 mins
  • Meditation for the Iranian Diaspora

    Meditation for the Iranian Diaspora
    Jun 25 2025
    In this special episode of Halva for the Heart, I offer a guided meditation created specifically for the Iranian diaspora. Since Israel' attack on.Iran, many Iranians—myself included—have been struggling with emotional overwhelm, fear, grief, and dissociation. In response, I’ve been hosting grief support spaces for Iranians, and this meditation emerged from those gatherings. Rooted in the teachings of Valerie Kaur, Holly Truhlar, and my death midwifery mentor Narinder Bazen, this episode is a somatic, ancestral, and heart-centered meditation practice. Please find a quiet, comfortable place to rest. Bring your grief, your tenderness, your longing. It's all welcome here. If you'd like to share how this episode made you feel, leave me a voice note: https://voicenote.hafezdeathcare.com 🎵 Theme song: 'Lullaby' by Iranian oud player Negâr Boubân Learn more about my work at www.hafezdeathcare.com
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    22 mins
  • The Origins of my Deathwork

    The Origins of my Deathwork
    Apr 28 2025
    In this episode, you'll hear about: ● what drew me to deathwork ● when I first encountered the term 'death doula' ● why I named my podcast 'Halva for the Heart' Have some tissues ready for this one! I was in tears recording it 💙 Tell me how this episode made you feel. Leave me a voice note: https://www.speakpipe.com/HafezDeathCare Theme song: 'Lullaby' by Negâr Boubân Learn more about my work at www.hafezdeathcare.com Follow me on Instagram @hafez.death.care
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    38 mins
  • Healing with my Sister

    Healing with my Sister
    May 17 2025
    This episode is all about my sister and our relationship. How we've finally found reconciliation after so many years of guilt and resentment from how we each handled our mom's death. We sat down to record this episode while she was visiting me in Korea with the simple topic of "Let's talk about our grief". I didn't know what to expect because we had never really spoken about our grief together before, but recording this episode brought us so much closer to one another. If you have any strained relationships in your life, I hope this brings you some hope and healing 🌹 If you'd like to share with me how this episode made you feel, leave me a voice note here: https://www.speakpipe.com/HafezDeathCare Theme song: 'Lullaby' by Iranian oud player Negâr Boubân Learn more about my work at www.hafezdeathcare.com Follow me on Instagram @hafez.death.care
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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • Poetry and Grief with Mallory Dowd

    Poetry and Grief with Mallory Dowd
    May 27 2025
    In this episode, I'm joined by my friend Mallory Dowd. She is a clinical therapist, intuitive tarot reader, and art witch based in Seoul. Together, we will be hosting a community grief circle soon and I wanted to bring her on the podcast to talk about relationship to grief. 🖤 Content Warning for discussions about grief from a loss by suicide. Get in touch with Mallory on Instagram @mallorydowd or through her website www.mallorydowd.com 🌊 Sign up for the Community Grief Circle at nadispace.as.me/griefcircle If you'd like to share with me how this episode made you feel, leave me a voice note here: https://www.speakpipe.com/HafezDeathCare 🎵 Theme song: 'Lullaby' by Iranian oud player Negâr Boubân Learn more about my work at www.hafezdeathcare.com Follow me on Instagram @hafez.death.care
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    1 hr and 27 mins
  • The Politics of Death & Grief

    The Politics of Death & Grief
    Jun 11 2025
    Death and grief are deeply political, especially during this moment in history. Listen as I discuss how turning towards our grief and deepening out death work can help us as we live through this time of collapse. Join the online Grief & Solidarity event on June 18, 2025: https://solidarity.hafezdeathcare.com If you'd like to share what this episode brought up for you, leave me a voice note: https://voicenote.hafezdeathcare.com 🎵 Theme song: 'Lullaby' by Iranian oud player Negâr Boubân ❤️‍🩹 Cover image is Palestinian docter Dr. Alaa Al Najjar whose nine children were killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza Learn more about my work at www.hafezdeathcare.com Follow me on Instagram @hafez.death.care
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    30 mins