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The Sunday Magazine

Dead Mom Talking - a Rachel Matlow documentary

Don't let the title scare you. "Dead Mom Talking" is a tender and loving tale of a mother and daughter who re-connect, through the magic of radio. It was produced by Rachel Matlow; and is a winner at the 2016 Third Coast International Audio Festival.
CBC Radio ·
Elaine and Rachel on the rooftop of the Park Hyatt Hotel. This, their last visit, was less than two months before Elaine died.
The Sunday Edition14:28Documentary: Dead Mom Talking by Rachel Matlow (May 2016)

In May, we broadcast an extraordinary documentary, called "Dead Mom Talking," produced by Rachel Matlow.

This week, we learned that it has been chosen as a winner at the 2016 Third Coast International Audio Festival, based in Chicago.

Rachel Matlow

"Dead Mom Talking" is a documentary about love, connection and gratitude. So on this Thanksgiving Day, we thought it appropriate to air it again.

Elaine Mitchell was a teacher, writer and avid traveller.

When she found out that she didn't have long to live, her daughter Rachel moved in to take care of her. A final adventure (of sorts), that they would go on together. 

During the last seven weeks of her life, they binge-watched TV…traded dark humour…and even as Elaine's voice began to fade, they talked.  

About life, loss, and how to cope in the aftermath. 

Rachel recorded the conversations.

That way, many months after her mother's death, Rachel was able to make something remarkable happen.

Get in one more conversation with the person she needed most, to help her through the grief. 

Here's Rachel Matlow's documentary, "Dead Mom Talking."

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