In this deeply moving episode of Spiritually Hungry Podcast, we sit down with Julie McFadden, registered nurse and New York Times bestselling author of Nothing to Fear. Her path from intensive care to hospice has fueled her mission to change how we talk about death. After years of watching patients and families struggle in silence, Julie began to speak up—holding honest conversations, offering education, and creating space for truth in life’s most vulnerable moments. She believes that when we stop resisting death and allow it to unfold, the journey can be profoundly sacred. Join us as Julie shares how preparation allows us to experience this sacredness fully, helping us be present with our loved ones instead of consumed by fear.

Further Readings:

Nothing to Fear, by Julie McFadden, RN

https://www.hospicenursejulie.com/book

The Nothing to Fear Journal, by Julie McFadden, RN

Unrealistic and unspoken expectations are like invisible wedges quietly pushing us apart from the people we love most. In this episode, we explore why it’s so important to bring expectations into the light and talk about them openly. Relationships thrive when partners can share not only what they need now, but also who they’re becoming and where they hope to go. The key is staying connected through those changes, rather than being blindsided by them. We’ll also unpack how unspoken expectations can breed resentment and how to spot shifts in energy before unspoken expectations become full-blown conflicts.

The key to managing expectations lies in knowing which are reasonable and which were never promised to us in the first place. In this episode, we explore the kabbalistic wisdom that peace comes from walking through life with fewer expectations, trusting that everything—every twist, every challenge—comes from the Creator and is meant to prompt spiritual growth. We’ll talk about how life’s constant changes mean our expectations are meant to be ever evolving. What if the universe is already giving you exactly what you need? And what if the only thing standing in the way of receiving it… is what you thought should happen instead?