In April 2006, I started a series of interviews with a friend dying of ALS. Our recorded conversations eventually became a podcast, Conscious Living, Conscious Leaving, supported by a team of people. This team is now in need of a marketing expert, who can raise the visibility of the podcast to reach a larger audience. See below:

Marketing Maven + Existing High-Performing Team–>Changing the World

We are in need of a creative challenge seeker to find the sweet spot for a high-quality & ground-breaking product. You will be an equity partner, joining a collegial, four-person team of committed pioneers.

The Product:

Conscious Living, Conscious Leaving, interviews with a dying woman on living and dying well, is an iTunes podcast, launched in Sept 2006.  The podcast is based on a series of recorded conversations between Ilene Kouzel, dying of ALS, and Carol Ross, a friend and professional coach. Ilene died in October 2006. Six episodes have been produced and released to the public, with another 12-15 episodes planned.

“I never knew Ilene Kouzel but I have been deeply affected by these podcasts. I think many of us are curious about death—the final mystery—and yet afraid to talk about it with people we know who are dying. These interviews are lucid, courageous, and serene—I have listened to them and ended up teary-eyed, or laughing, or wondering and thoughtful. All of these are good places to visit around the two experiences everyone has—watching people we love go on ahead without us, and eventually dying ourselves. The podcast has the power to help us all experience death and dying in a completely new way.” –Beth Wallace

Infrastructure to support the product includes a blog, www.consciousleaving.com, a branded podcast site, www.consciousliving-leaving.com, and an extended production/support team. When first introduced to iTunes, this podcast was listed as New and Notable in the Religion and Spirituality section and has consistently been in the top 50 podcasts in its sub-category.

Shortly after the podcast was launched and less than a month before her death, Ilene wrote a poem about the Conscious Living, Conscious Leaving project:

A Project Believed In

Amazing thing,
A project believed in
Coming to fruition.

Engaged souls showing up
Just when the next piece is needed.

Ideas, visions, hard work
Paying off,
Finished product, something tangible.

Music gifted when we dreamed it could be.
Friends, acquaintances ravenous . . .
For words and voices to wrap around this.

End of journey,
It faces us all.
Soften it.  Make it palatable.

Tell the truth, your truth.
We are afraid and don’t want to be.
Each eventually creates their own ending.

A dying woman’s dream
To create something meaningful, joyful, inspiring
Of her transition experience.
This joyful, provocative journey
Given a home, in podcast form, “iTune land.”
There for others to find.

Grateful firelight fills my heart.
Hopeful legacy marks a life
Well lived, well died. 

Amazing thing,
A life believed in
Coming to fruition. 

Ilene Kouzel    September 14, 2006

Who We Are Looking For:

• Savvy user of Internet social networking and viral marketing tools, including YouTube, Google Video, and Facebook.   You regularly use these sites for both professional and personal needs and are an early adopter of new features on these sites.

• Experienced in marketing/promotional work within both conventional and emerging media. You know the ins and outs of getting noticed in a crowded market.  Experience in growing an online business is a plus.

• Quintessential networker who delights in initiating relationships with thought leaders in many domains. Winning others over is a natural for you.

• Puts fun at the top of the priority list. If it’s not fun, why do it?

• Comfortable working virtually, over the phone and through the Internet.

• Team player who’s both supportive, yet willing to speak his/her mind. You thrive on hearing all points of view and building off of the collective wisdom. You have an opinion AND you don’t take things personally when it comes to finding the best solution.

This is a freelance gig, not a full-time job. This team works virtually, so you can be located anywhere. However, we would prefer a US-based individual. 

If you are interested in this unique opportunity for meaningful work with significant impact, please email contact@consciousleaving.com.