The rise of death doulas

Today, Explained

Vox

Politics, Daily News, News

4.3 • 10.3K Ratings

🗓️ 15 May 2026

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

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

Transcript

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0:00.0	actress icon Nicole Kidman says she's training to be a death dula.
0:07.2	Hot break feels good in a place like this.
0:09.6	No, be serious.
0:10.8	Death dulas are people who help people transition from life to whatever's next.
0:15.9	Some of it is spiritual.
0:17.8	Some of it is logistical.
0:19.5	The profession is about comfort for the dying, yes, but some
0:22.6	of it is also about the living. The director Chloe Zhao, who made Hamnet, told the New York Times that
0:27.2	she's trained as a death dula because? Because I have been terrified of death my whole life.
0:34.0	I still am so afraid. And because I've been so afraid, I haven't been able to live fully.
0:44.2	Coming up on today, explained from Vox, death doulas.
0:47.5	They stare into the abyss and see something kind of wonderful.
0:51.8	Stay tuned for that.
0:59.7	Okay. Something kind of wonderful. Stay tuned for that. Support for her today's playing comes from CNN.
1:02.0	Cool.
1:02.6	Cable News Network.
1:03.4	What's up?
1:04.0	Do you want to live forever?
1:05.5	What?
1:06.2	Yes.
1:07.0	Maybe.
1:07.6	I haven't thought about it that much.
	...

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